2008 Hummer H3 Owners Manual

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the message and clear it from the display. 3-46 SERVICE CHARG (Charge) SYS (System) This message displays if there is a problem with the battery charging system. Under certain conditions, the battery warning light may also turn on in the instrument panel cluster. See Charging System Light on page 3-32. The battery will not be charging at an optimal rate and the vehicle will lose the ability to enter the fuel economy mode. The vehicle is safe to drive, however have the electrical system checked by your dealer/retailer. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. SERVICE STAB (Stability) SYS (System) This message displays if there is a problem with the StabiliTrak® system. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer. See StabiliTrak® System on page 4-7 for more information. STAB (Stability) SYS (System) OFF This message displays when the StabiliTrak® system is turned off. See StabiliTrak® System on page 4-7 for more information. TRAC (Traction) OFF This message along with the traction off light displays when the Traction Control System (TCS) is turned off by pressing the TCS button. See Traction Off Light on page 3-34 and Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5 for more information. TRACTION FAULT This message displays if there is a problem with the Traction Control System (TCS). Check the TCS as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5 for more information. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. TURN SIGNAL This message displays when the turn signal is on for about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of travel. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the display. 3-47 Audio System(s) Determine which radio your vehicle has and then read the pages following to familiarize yourself with its features. {CAUTION: This system provides you with far greater access to audio stations and song listings. Giving extended attention to entertainment tasks while driving can cause a crash and you or others can be injured or killed. Always keep your eyes on the road and your mind on the drive — avoid engaging in extended searching while driving. Keeping your mind on the drive is important for safe driving. See Defensive Driving on page 4-2. Here are some ways in which you can help avoid distraction while driving. While your vehicle is parked: Familiarize yourself with all of its controls. Familiarize yourself with its operation. 3-48 (cid:129) Set up your audio system by presetting your favorite radio stations, setting the tone, and adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite radio stations using the presets and steering wheel controls if the vehicle has them. Notice: Before adding any sound equipment to your vehicle, such as an audio system, CD player, CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make sure that it can be added by checking with your dealer/retailer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. If sound equipment can be added, it is very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or other systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added. Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can be played even after the ignition is turned off. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-20 for more information. Setting the Time Press and hold H until the correct hour and AM or PM displays. Press and hold M until the correct minute displays. The time can be set with the ignition on or off. (cid:129) (cid:129) Radio(s) Radio with Single CD Radio with Six-Disc CD Player Your vehicle has one of these radios as its audio system. 3-49 Playing the Radio P (Power/Volume): Press to turn the system on and off. Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or to decrease the volume. DISP (Display): Press to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. When the ignition is turned off, press to display the time. For XM™ (if equipped), press the DISP button while in XM™ mode to retrieve four different categories of information related to the current song or channel: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY (program type), Channel Number/Channel Name. To change the default on the display, press the DISP button until you see the desired display, then hold this knob for two seconds. The radio produces one beep and the selected display becomes the default. AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): With automatic volume, the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive. Set the volume at the desired level. Press to select LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH. Each higher setting allows for more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds. Then as you drive, automatic volume increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any 3-50 speed. The volume level should always sound the same to you as you drive. NONE displays if the radio cannot determine the vehicle speed. To turn automatic volume off, press until AVOL OFF displays. Finding a Station BAND: Press to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). The selection displays. e (Tune): Turn to select radio stations. t SEEK u: Press and release the arrows to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for more than two seconds. SCN or SCAN displays and the radio produces one beep. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either arrow again or one of the pushbuttons to stop scanning presets. To scan preset stations, press and hold either arrow for more than four seconds. PSC or PSCN displays and the radio produces two beeps. The radio goes to a preset station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next preset station. Press either arrow again or one of the pushbuttons to stop scanning presets. The radio only seeks and scans stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band. 4 (Information) (XM™ Satellite Radio Service): If the current station has a message, the information symbol displays. Press to see the message. The message can display the artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc. If the entire message is not displayed, parts of the message appears every three seconds. To scroll through the message, press and release this button. A new group of words display after every press of this button. Once the complete message has displayed, the information symbol disappears from the display until another new message is received. The last message can be displayed by pressing the 4 button. You can view the last message until a new message is received or a different station is tuned to. When a message is not available from a station, NO INFO displays. 1-6 (Preset Pushbuttons) (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player): Press to play stations that are programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons. The radio only seeks preset stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band. Setting Preset Stations Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press AUTO EQ to select the equalization. 5. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until a beep sounds. When that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station that was set, returns and the equalization that was selected, is stored for that pushbutton. 6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. 3-51 Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) e (Balance/Fade): To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, press and release until BAL displays. Turn to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, press and release until FAD or FADE displays. Turn to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle position, press this knob, then press it again and hold it until one beep sounds. To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, press and hold when no tone or speaker control is displayed. CEN or ALL CENTERED displays and a beep sounds. Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) e (Bass/Treble): Press and release until BAS/BASS, or TRE/TREB displays. Turn to increase or to decrease. The display shows the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or has static, decrease the treble. To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position, press and hold this knob. The radio produces one beep. To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, press and hold when no tone or speaker control is displayed. CEN or ALL CENTERED displays and a beep sounds. AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press to select customized equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, press and release the e knob until MANUAL displays. For the Radio with Six-Disc CD Player, the equalization one through seven options are included only if your vehicle is equipped with the Bose® system. Press the AUTO EQ button to select equalization settings designed for equalization one through seven. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, push and release this knob until BASS and TREB displays. 3-52 Finding a Category (CAT) Station (XM™ Satellite Radio Service Only) To select and ﬁnd a desired category perform the following: 1. Press the CAT button to activate program type select mode. A category displays. 2. Press the CAT button to select a category. For the Radio with Six-Disc CD Player, turn the e knob to select a category. 3. Once the desired category is displayed, press either SEEK arrow to select and to take you to the categories ﬁrst station. 4. To go to another station within that category and the category is displayed, press the CAT button once. If the category is not displayed, press the CAT button twice to display the category and then to go to another station. For the Radio with Six-Disc CD Player, press either SEEK arrow to go to another station within that category and the category is displayed. 5. Press CAT to exit program type select mode. If CAT times out and is no longer on the display, go back to Step 1. If the radio cannot ﬁnd the desired program type, NONE or NOT FOUND displays and the radio returns to the last station you were listening to. BAND (Alternate Frequency) (Radio with Single CD): Alternate frequency allows the radio to switch to a stronger station with the same category. To turn alternate frequency on, press and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ON displays. The radio can switch to stations with a stronger frequency. To turn alternate frequency off, press and hold BAND again for two seconds. AF OFF displays. The radio does not switch to other stations. This function does not apply for XM™ Satellite Radio Service. Radio Messages CAL ERR (Calibration Error): The audio system has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL ERR displays it means that the radio has not been conﬁgured properly for your vehicle and it must be returned to your dealer/retailer for service. LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take your vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. 3-53 (cid:129) (cid:129) XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM™ is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM™ Satellite Radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. During your trial or when you subscribe, you will get unlimited access to XM™ Radio Online for when you are not in your vehicle. A service fee is required to receive the XM™ service. For more information, contact XM™ at www.xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and www.xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 in Canada. Radio Messages for XM™ Only See XM Radio Messages on page 3-60 later in this section for further detail. Playing a CD Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD with the ignition off, ﬁrst press the Z (eject) button or the DISP knob. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. 3-54 When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays. The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. Care of Your CDs If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. Handle them carefully. Store CD-R(s) in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc. If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or not at all. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process starts from the center to the edge. If a label is added to a CD, or more than one Care of Your CD Player Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD with a marking pen. The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism. Notice: CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the CD player could be damaged. While using the CD player, use only CDs in good condition without any label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris. If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in this section. For vehicles that have a radio with a Six-Disc CD player, see the following: LOAD: Press to load CDs into the CD player. This CD player holds up to six CDs. To insert one CD, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and release the LOAD button. 3. Wait for the indicator light, located to the right of the slot, to turn green. 4. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls the CD in. To insert multiple CDs, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and hold the LOAD button for two seconds. A beep sounds and the indicator light, located to the right of the slot, begins to ﬂash and LOAD # displays. 3. Once the light stops ﬂashing and turns green, INSERT CD # displays, load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls the CD in. Once the CD is loaded, the indicator light begins ﬂashing again. Once the light stops ﬂashing and turns green, you can load another CD. The CD player takes up to six CDs. To load more than one CD but less than six, complete Steps 1 through 3. When ﬁnished loading CDs, press the LOAD button to cancel the loading function. The radio begins to play the last CD loaded. If more than one CD has been loaded, a number for each CD displays. 3-55 Playing a Speciﬁc Loaded CD For every CD loaded, a number displays. To play a speciﬁc CD, ﬁrst press the CD button, then press the numbered pushbutton that corresponds to the CD. A small bar appears under the CD number that is playing and the track number displays. If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in this section. Z (Eject): Press to eject CD(s). To eject the CD that is currently playing, press and release this button. To eject multiple CDs, do the following: 1. Press and hold for ﬁve seconds. A beep sounds and the indicator light, located to the right of the slot, begins to ﬂash and EJECT ALL displays. 2. Once the light stops ﬂashing and turns green, REMOVE CD # displays. The CD ejects and can be removed. Once the CD is removed, the indicator light begins ﬂashing again and another CD ejects. To stop ejecting the CDs, press the LOAD or the eject button. 3-56 If the CD is not removed, after 25 seconds, the CD automatically pulls back into the player. If CD is pushed back into the player, before the 25 second time period is complete, the player senses an error and tries to eject the CD several times before stopping. Do not repeatedly press the CD eject button to eject a CD after you have tried to push it in manually. The player’s 25-second eject timer resets at each press of the eject button, causing the player to not eject the CD until the 25-second time period has elapsed. Z (Eject) (Radio with Single CD): Press to eject a CD. Eject can be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed ﬁrst. 1 r (Previous) (Radio with Single CD): Press to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. The previous symbol and the track number displays. If this button is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward through the CD. r (Reverse) (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player): Press to reverse within the track. 2 [ (Next) (Radio with Single CD): Press to go to the next track. The next symbol and the track number displays. If this button is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving forward through the CD. [ (Fast Forward) (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player): Press to fast forward within the track. N (Repeat): With repeat, one track or an entire CD can be repeated. To use repeat, do the following: To repeat the track you are listening to, press and release this button. RPT ON displays. Press again to turn off repeat play. RPT OFFdisplays. To repeat the CD you are listening to, press and hold this button for two seconds. RPT ON displays. Press again to turn off repeat play. RPT OFF displays. 4 y (Random) (Radio with Single CD): Press to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. The random symbol displays. Press again to turn off random play. y (Random) (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player): With random, you can listen to the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order, on one CD or on all of the CDs. To use random, do one of the following: To play the tracks on the CD you are listening to in random order, press and release this button. RANDOM ONE displays. Press again to turn off random play. To play the tracks on all of the CDs that are loaded in random order, press and hold this button for more than two seconds. A beep sounds and RANDOM ALL displays. Press again to turn off random play. t SEEK u (Radio with Single CD): Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current or the previous track. Press the right arrow to go to the start of the next track. Pressing either arrow for more than two seconds searches the previous or next tracks at two tracks per second. Release either arrow to stop searching and to play the track. t SEEK u (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player): Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current track, if more than ten seconds have played. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. If either arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward or forward through the CD. To scan one CD, press and hold either arrow for more than two seconds until SCAN displays and a beep sounds. The radio goes to the next track, plays for 10 seconds, then goes to the next track. Press either arrow again, to stop scanning. 3-57 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) To scan all loaded CDs, press and hold either arrow for more than four seconds until CD SCAN displays and a beep sounds. Use this feature to listen to 10 seconds of the ﬁrst track of each loaded CD. Press either arrow again, to stop scanning. DISP (Display): Press to see how long the current track has been playing. The elapsed time of the track displays. To change the default on the display, track or elapsed time, press until you see the desired display, then hold for two seconds. The radio produces one beep and the selected display becomes the default. BAND: Press to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD(s) remains inside the radio for future listening. B (CD): Press to play a CD while listening to the radio. The CD symbol displays when a CD is loaded. AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press to select an equalization setting while playing a CD. The equalization is set when a CD is played. See “AUTO EQ” listed previously for more information. If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it is activated each time you play a CD. Using Song List Mode (Radio with Six-Disc CD Player) R (Song List): The six-disc CD changer has a feature called song list. This feature is capable of saving 20 track selections. To save tracks into the song list feature, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on and load it with at least one CD. See “LOAD CD” listed previously in this section for more information. 2. Check to see that the CD changer is not in song list mode. S-LIST should not display. If S-LIST is present, press the R button to turn it off. 3. Select the desired CD by pressing the numbered pushbutton and then use the right u SEEK arrow to locate the track to be saved. The track begins to play. 4. Press and hold the R button to save the track into memory. When this button is pressed, one beep sounds. After two seconds of continuously pressing this button, two beeps sounds to conﬁrm the track has been saved. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for saving other selections. 3-58 To delete the entire song list, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on. 2. Press the R button to turn song list on. S-LIST displays. 3. Press and hold the R button for more than four seconds. One beep sounds, followed by two beeps after two seconds, and a ﬁnal beep sounds after four seconds. S-LIST EMPTY displays indicating the song list has been deleted. If a CD is ejected, and the song list contains saved tracks from that CD, those tracks are automatically deleted from the song list. Any tracks saved to the song list again are added to the bottom of the list. To end song list mode, press the R button. One beep sounds and S-LIST is removed from the display. S-LIST FULL displays if you try to save more than 20 selections. To play the song list, press the R button. One beep sounds and S-LIST displays. The recorded tracks begins to play in the order they were saved. Seek through the song list by using the SEEK arrows. Seeking past the last saved track returns to the ﬁrst saved track. To delete tracks from the song list, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on. 2. Press the R button to turn song list on. S-LIST displays. 3. Press either SEEK arrow to select the desired track to be deleted. 4. Press and hold the R button for two seconds. When this button is pressed, one beep sounds. After two seconds of continuously pressing this button, two beeps sound to conﬁrm that the track has been deleted. After a track has been deleted, the remaining tracks are moved up the list. When another track is added to the song list, the track is added to the end of the list. 3-59 CD Messages XM Radio Messages CHECK CD: If this message displays and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons: It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play. (cid:129) You are driving on a very rough road. When the road becomes smoother, the CD should play. The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again. The format of the CD might not be compatible. There could have been a problem while burning the CD. The label could be caught in the CD player. If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer/retailer when reporting the problem. xL (Explicit Language Channels): These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696). Updating: The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds. No Signal: The system is functioning correctly, but the vehicle is in a location that is blocking the XM™ signal. When the vehicle is moved into an open area, the signal should return. Loading XM: The audio system is acquiring and processing audio and text data. No action is needed. This message should disappear shortly. CH Off Air: This channel is not currently in service. Tune in to another channel. CH Unavail: This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned. Tune to another station. If this station was one of the presets, choose another station for that preset button. No Info: No artist, song title, category, or text information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. 3-60 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Not Found: There are no channels available for the selected category. The system is working properly. XM Locked: The XM™ receiver in your vehicle may have previously been in another vehicle. For security purposes, XM™ receivers cannot be swapped between vehicles. If this message is received after having your vehicle serviced, check with your dealer/retailer. Radio ID: If tuned to channel 0, this message will alternate with the XM Radio 8 digit radio ID label. This label is needed to activate the service. Unknown: If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there may be a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer. Chk XMRcvr: If this message does not clear within a short period of time, the receiver may have a fault. Consult with your dealer/retailer. Navigation/Radio System Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system. The navigation system has built-in features intended to minimize driver distraction. Technology alone, no matter how advanced, can never replace your own judgment. See the Navigation System manual for some tips to help you reduce distractions while driving. Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it does not operate and LOCKED displays. When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinking red light indicates that THEFTLOCK® is armed. With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio does not operate if stolen. Radio Reception Frequency interference and static during normal radio reception can occur if items such as cellphone chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external electronic devices are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If there is interference or static, unplug the item from the accessory power outlet. 3-61 Fixed Mast Antenna The ﬁxed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it. Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still tightened to its base. If tightening is required, tighten by hand, then with a wrench one quarter turn. XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System The XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roof of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of snow and ice build up for clear radio reception. If your vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of the XM™ system may be affected if the sunroof is open. Loading items onto the roof of your vehicle can interfere with the performance of the XM™ system. Make sure the XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is not obstructed. AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause station frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio reception, most AM radio stations boost the power levels during the day, and then reduce these levels during the night. Static can also occur when things like storms and power lines interfere with radio reception. When this happens, try reducing the treble on your radio. FM Stereo FM stereo gives the best sound, but FM signals reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause loss of the XM™ signal for a period of time. The radio may display NO SIGNAL to indicate interference. 3-62 Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2 Defensive Driving ...........................................4-2 Drunk Driving .................................................4-2 Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-3 Braking .........................................................4-3 Antilock Brake System (ABS) ...........................4-4 Braking in Emergencies ...................................4-5 Traction Control System (TCS) .........................4-5 Locking Rear Axle ..........................................4-6 StabiliTrak® System ........................................4-7 Steering ........................................................4-8 Off-Road Recovery .......................................4-10 Passing .......................................................4-10 Loss of Control .............................................4-10 Off-Road Driving ...........................................4-12 Assist Steps .................................................4-31 Driving at Night ............................................4-32 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................4-33 Before Leaving on a Long Trip .......................4-34 Highway Hypnosis ........................................4-34 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................4-34 Winter Driving ..............................................4-35 If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow .....................................4-39 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out .................4-40 Recovery Loops ...........................................4-40 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-42 Towing ..........................................................4-48 Towing Your Vehicle .....................................4-48 Recreational Vehicle Towing ...........................4-48 Towing a Trailer ...........................................4-50 Trailer Recommendations ...............................4-62 4-1 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Defensive Driving Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The ﬁrst step in driving defensively is to wear your safety belt — See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-10. {CAUTION: Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and be ready. In addition: (cid:129) Allow enough following distance between you and the driver in front of you. (cid:129) Focus on the task of driving. Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in injury or possible death. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life. 4-2 Drunk Driving {CAUTION: Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reﬂexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink. Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a global tragedy. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and attentiveness. Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured. For persons under 21, it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological, and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking. Control of a Vehicle The following three systems help to control your vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 5-3. Braking See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-33. Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time. Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second. But that is only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. 4-3 This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If your vehicle ever loses electrical power while you are driving, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal could get harder to push down. If your vehicle loses electrical power, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop, the brake pedal will be harder to push, and you might experience longer pedal travel. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 5-3. Antilock Brake System (ABS) Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid. When you start the engine and begin to drive away, ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is going on. This is normal. If there is a problem with ABS, this warning light will stay on. See Antilock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-34. Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what happens with ABS: A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each wheel. 4-4 ABS can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, the computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have ABS. Using ABS Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down ﬁrmly and let antilock work for you. You might feel the brakes vibrate or notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking. Traction Control System (TCS) Your vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that any of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system applies the brakes to limit wheel spin and also reduces engine power. You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. The Traction Control System may operate on dry roads under some conditions. When this happens, you may notice a reduction in acceleration or a pumping sound. This is normal and doesn’t mean there’s a problem with your vehicle. Examples of these conditions include hard acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of the transmission or driving on rough roads. If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control. See Cruise Control on page 3-11. If your vehicle has a Driver information Center (DIC), a TRACTION FAULT message will appear when a Traction Control System or Anti-Lock Brake System problem has been detected and the vehicle needs service. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-43 for more information. 4-5 When this message is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control system off if you ever need to. To turn the system off, press and hold the TCS button for ﬁve seconds. This light will come on steady when the traction control system has been turned off. This light ﬂashes when TCS is active. If you press and hold the TC button for ﬁve seconds, the traction control system will turn off and a TRAC OFF message will appear on the DIC. Press the TC button again to turn the system back on. The TRAC OFF message will then go off. The traction control system will reset itself at each ignition cycle. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 5-3 for more information. Locking Rear Axle Your vehicle may have this feature. The locking rear axle can give your vehicle additional traction from the rear wheels when traveling in off-road situations such as mud, snow, sand, steep hills and uneven terrain. The button used to turn this feature on or off is located to the right of the transfer case buttons on the center of the instrument panel. 4-6 To lock the rear axle, do the following: 1. Place the transfer case in the 4LO Lock mode. This is the only mode which will allow the rear axle to lock. See Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-27 for more information regarding the transfer case and 4LO Lock mode. 2. Press the button with the vehicle stopped or moving less than 2 mph (3 km/h). If you try to lock the rear axle while your You must wait for the light in the button to stop ﬂashing and remain illuminated before the rear axle is locked. Notice: vehicle is stuck and the tires are spinning, you could damage your vehicle’s drivetrain. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always lock the rear axle before attempting situations and/or navigating terrain which could possibly cause the vehicle to become stuck. The locking rear axle will be disengaged when the wheel speed is greater than 20 mph (32 km/h), if the vehicle’s battery is low and/or the transfer case is shifted out of 4LO Lock mode. Notice: pavement, you could damage your vehicle’s drivetrain. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not use the locking rear axle on pavement. If you need four-wheel drive when traveling on pavement, use only 4HI. If you lock the rear axle while driving on StabiliTrak® System Your vehicle has a vehicle stability enhancement system called StabiliTrak®. It is an advanced computer controlled system that assists you with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. StabiliTrak® activates when the computer senses a discrepancy between your intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak® selectively applies braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to assist the driver with keeping the vehicle on the intended path. When you ﬁrst start your vehicle and begin to drive away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to insure there are no problems. You may hear or feel the system working. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with your vehicle. If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak®, a SERVICE STAB SYS message will be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC). See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-43 for more information. When this message is displayed, the system is not operational. Adjust your driving accordingly. 4-7 StabiliTrak® comes on automatically whenever you start your vehicle. However, when the transfer case is placed in Four-Wheel-Low Lock mode, StabiliTrak® is automatically disabled. See Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-27 for more information. To help assist you with directional control of the vehicle, you should always leave the system on. You can turn StabiliTrak® off if you ever need to using the TC (traction control) on/off button. If you press and hold the TC button for ﬁve seconds, the StabiliTrak® system and the traction control system will turn off. When this is done, the STAB SYS OFF message will be displayed on the DIC. Press the TC button again to turn StabiliTrak® back on. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5. If your vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak® activates, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. See Cruise Control on page 3-11 for more information. Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. 4-8 Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here is why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of the tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems — steering and acceleration — have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5 and StabiliTrak® System on page 4-7. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you will want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while the front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can drive through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modiﬁcations on page 5-3. Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and ﬁnd a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes you cannot; there is not room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply the brakes. See Braking on page 4-3. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. 4-9 Off-Road Recovery You may ﬁnd that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you are driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. 4-10 Passing Passing another vehicle on a two-lane road can be dangerous. To reduce the risk of danger while passing, we suggest the following tips: Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect a successful pass. If in doubt, wait. (cid:129) Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines that could indicate a turn or an intersection. Never cross a solid or double-solid line on your side of the lane. (cid:129) Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass. Doing so can reduce your visibility. (cid:129) Wait your turn to pass a slow vehicle. (cid:129) When you are being passed, ease to the right. Loss of Control Let us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems — brakes, steering, and acceleration — do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. (cid:129) Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction system is off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5 and StabiliTrak® System on page 4-7. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. 4-11 Before You Go Off-Roading There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance and service work done. Check to make sure all underbody shields are properly attached. Make sure any equipment you may need — ﬁrst aid kit, cell phone, ﬂashlight, etc. — is securely stored in the vehicle. Be sure you read all the information about your four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is there enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inﬂated? Are the ﬂuid levels up where they should be? What are the local laws that apply to off-roading where you will be driving? If you do not know, you should check with law enforcement people in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land? If so, be sure to get the necessary permission. Off-Road Driving This off-road guide is meant to provide advice for when you drive your vehicle off paved roads. Also, see Braking on page 4-3. Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have some deﬁnite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. The airbag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. “Off-roading” means you have left the great North American road system behind. Traffic lanes are not marked. Curves are not banked. There are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short, you have gone right back to nature. Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that is why it is very important that you read this guide. You will ﬁnd many driving tips and suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. 4-12 There are some important things to remember about how to load your vehicle. The heaviest things should be on the load ﬂoor and forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items in the rear area, as far forward as you can. (cid:129) Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on the off-road terrain does not toss things around. You will ﬁnd other important information in this manual. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-42 and Tires on page 5-54. Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving {CAUTION: (cid:129) Cargo on the load ﬂoor piled higher than the seatbacks can be thrown forward during a sudden stop. You or your passengers could be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the seatbacks. (cid:129) Unsecured cargo on the load ﬂoor can be tossed about when driving over rough terrain. You or your passengers can be struck by ﬂying objects. Secure the cargo properly. (cid:129) Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over. You can be seriously or fatally injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward and low as possible. 4-13 (cid:129) Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your route. You are much less likely to get bad surprises. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Try to learn of any blocked or closed roads. It is also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle. If something happens to one of them, the other can help quickly. Does your vehicle have a winch? If so, be sure to read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck. But you will want to know how to use it properly. High Mobility Characteristics Your vehicle has a 10 inch (25.4 cm) running ground clearance (A), a 9 inch (22.8 cm) axle to ground clearance (B), and a low center of gravity. Environmental Concerns Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying recreation. However, it also raises environmental concerns. We recognize these concerns and urge every off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting the environment: (cid:129) Always use established trails, roads, and areas that have been specially set aside for public off-road recreational driving; obey all posted regulations. (cid:129) Avoid any driving practice that could damage the environment — shrubs, ﬂowers, trees, grasses — or disturb wildlife. This includes wheel-spinning, breaking down trees, or unnecessary driving through streams or over soft ground. (cid:129) Always carry a litter bag — make sure all refuse is removed from any campsite before leaving. Take extreme care with open ﬁres (where permitted), camp stoves, and lanterns. (cid:129) Never park your vehicle over dry grass or other combustible materials that could catch ﬁre from the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system. 4-14 (cid:129) Your vehicle has an approximate approach angle (A) of 37.5 degrees and a departure angle (B) of 35.5 degrees, depending on suspension packages. 4-15 Design speciﬁcations required a minimum gradeability of 60% (31 degrees) slope, with the vehicle fully loaded, on high friction surfaces with maximum vehicle speed not to exceed 6 mph (9.7 km/h). The vehicle is expected to traverse this grade only for short durations. Never stop and idle the vehicle or park it on this grade. Also, your vehicle should be able to traverse a 40% (22 degrees) side slope at 6 mph (9.7 km/h) while fully loaded on high friction surfaces. 4-16 Brake and Accelerator Operation Techniques for Off-Road Driving For logs, walls, rocks, severe ditches, hills, sand, etc. 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Do not rev the engine. 2. Select the proper transmission and transfer case gear range; usually FIRST (1) gear, Four-Wheel-Low Lock for such obstacles. 3. If wheel spin is experienced, maintain steady throttle, with your foot off the brake pedal, to allow the Traction Control System (TCS) to control the wheel spin. TCS might not operate if the brakes are applied. 4. If wheel spin cannot be controlled by the TCS system, fully press the brake pedal with your left foot so all wheel spin is stopped. 5. Back away from the obstacle so that a new approach can be tried. 6. As the ﬁrst wheel crosses the obstacle, be prepared to alternate the brake and accelerator pedal to maintain control and avoid tire drop-off from obstacles. Repeat this process for the other wheels. 4-17 Your vehicle can climb a 16 inch (40.6 cm) vertical step. Step climbing is best done by approaching the step at an angle rather than straight on. For mounds, washouts, loose up-hill slopes, ditches, etc. When wheel spin occurs as the vehicle is moving, the driver may notice a slight shaking or shuddering of the vehicle. This should be stopped as soon as possible to prevent damage to vehicle components. This is the indication that a loss of traction is occurring on this terrain. The operator should: 1. Reduce speed and apply the brakes. 2. Assess the terrain properly and adjust vehicle speed and gear ranges accordingly: Four-Wheel High position for higher speeds and Four-Wheel-Low Lock for more torque and lower speeds. Transmission FIRST (1) gear is generally recommended. 3. Apply slight pressure to the brake when the shaking or shuddering sensation is felt, keeping the vehicle moving in a controlled manner. 4. Be prepared to alternate between braking and accelerating through the adverse terrain. Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different skills. Here is what we mean. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet, and body, you will need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce. Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds: (cid:129) You approach things faster and you have less time to scan the terrain for obstacles. (cid:129) You have less time to react. (cid:129) You have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles. (cid:129) You will need more distance for braking, especially since you are on an unpaved surface. 4-18 {CAUTION: When you are driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you are driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts. Scanning the Terrain Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Here are some things to consider. Surface Conditions: Off-roading can take you over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow, or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering, acceleration, and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer braking distances. Surface Obstacles: Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startle you if you are not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or even the rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider: Is the path ahead clear? (cid:129) Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead? (cid:129) Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? There is more discussion of these subjects later. (cid:129) Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction quickly? When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a ﬁrm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands if you are not prepared. When possible, it is a good practice to survey the landscape ahead on foot prior to driving to observe hidden obstacles. When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, the wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the vehicle as well or at all. 4-19 (cid:129) Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is especially important to avoid sudden acceleration, sudden turns, or sudden braking. In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of alertness from driving on paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment about what is safe and what is not. Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special alertness and driving skills, your reﬂexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. See Drunk Driving on page 4-2. Crossing Obstacles Approach Angle — a Key to Mobility If you encounter a large dip in the terrain, do not enter straight on; enter at an angle — 15 degrees minimum approach (A), 75 degrees maximum approach angle (B). For very large dips, ditches, or small washes, coast in, using the engine as a brake (transmission and transfer case lowest gears). Then, use the low ranges in the transmission and transfer case to power out. 4-20 Roll Your Tires Over Large Rocks Do not straddle large rocks; drive over them, letting the tire cover the rock. The tread of the tire is thicker and tougher than the sidewall of the tire and is more resilient to impact than underbody components. Log Crossing Using the proper technique, your vehicle will cross logs up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter. Approach the log at approximately a 15 degree angle (A) with the transmission in FIRST (1) and the transfer case in Four-Wheel-Low Lock and “walk” your vehicle over, one tire at a time. It may be necessary to modulate your brake pedal and accelerator to avoid spin-out. Ease the vehicle down from the log with your brake. 4-21 Driving on Off-Road Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can and cannot do. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven, no matter how well built the vehicle. {CAUTION: Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive down them, you cannot control your speed. If you drive across them, you will roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness, do not drive the hill. 4-22 Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it is one of those hills that is just too steep to climb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you may not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs. Here are some other things to consider as you approach a hill: Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in places? Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire slipping? Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you will not have to make turning maneuvers? (cid:129) Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts? (cid:129) What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way to ﬁnd out. Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion. (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Driving Uphill Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you need to take some special steps: (cid:129) Use transmission and transfer case low gear and get a ﬁrm grip on the steering wheel. (cid:129) Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain your speed. Do not use more power than you need, because you do not want the wheels to start spinning or sliding. Let the traction system work to control any wheel slippage. The traction control system allows for moderate wheel spin with some capability to dig in and power up the hill. (cid:129) Do not continue if the vehicle shudders or exhibits suspension hopping. This can cause damage to the driveline or suspension components. Improper driving technique is not covered by your vehicle warranty. {CAUTION: Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up. Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to ﬁnd another route. (cid:129) Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of the hill. (cid:129) Attach a ﬂag to the vehicle to make you more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills. 4-23 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to let opposing traffic know you are there. (cid:129) Use your headlamps even during the day. They make your vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic. {CAUTION: Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can cause an accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You could be seriously injured or killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert. There are some things you should do if the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot make it up the hill: (cid:129) Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking brake. If your engine is still running, shift the transmission to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R). If your engine has stopped running, you will need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed, apply the parking brake. If you have an automatic transmission, shift the transmission to PARK (P). Restart the engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in REVERSE (R). (cid:129) As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position. This way, you will be able to tell if your wheels are straight and maneuver as you back down. It is best that you back down the hill with your wheels straight rather than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or right will increase the possibility of a rollover. 4-24 (cid:129) (cid:129) There are also some things you must not do if you stall, or are about to stall, when going up a hill: (cid:129) Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine and regain forward momentum. This will not work. Your vehicle will roll backwards very quickly and you could go out of control. Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake. Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back straight down. (cid:129) Never attempt to turn around if you are about to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep enough to cause you to roll over if you turn around. If you cannot make it up the hill, you must back straight down the hill. If, after stalling, you try to back down the hill and decide you just cannot do it, set the parking brake. If you have an automatic transmission, shift to PARK (P). Turn off the engine. Leave the vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do not shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL when you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear. {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P), or, if you have a manual transmission, even if you are in gear. This is because the NEUTRAL position on the transfer case overrides the transmission. You or someone else could be injured. If you are going to leave your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift the transmission to PARK (P), or, put the manual transmission in FIRST (1). But do not shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL. Leave the transfer case in the Four-Wheel High, Four-Wheel-High Lock, or Four-Wheel-Low Lock position. 4-25 Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to consider a number of things: (cid:129) How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain vehicle control? (cid:129) What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel? (cid:129) Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders? (cid:129) What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks? If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and they will not have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times. {CAUTION: Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control. 4-26 There some things not to do when driving down a hill. These are important because, if you ignore them, you could lose control and have a serious accident: (cid:129) When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you do not drive straight down. (cid:129) Never go downhill with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). This is called “free-wheeling.” Your brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade. Your vehicle is much more likely to stall when going uphill. But if it happens when going downhill: 1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes. Apply the parking brake. 2. If you have an automatic transmission, shift to PARK (P). While still braking, restart the engine. 3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake, and drive straight down. 4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help. Driving Across an Incline Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here are some things to consider: {CAUTION: Driving across an incline that is too steep will make your vehicle roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness of the incline, do not drive across it. Find another route instead. (cid:129) A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be too steep to drive across. When you go straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel base — the distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels — reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end. But when you drive across an incline, the much more narrow track width — the distance between the left and right wheels — may not prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels. This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover. 4-27 Stalling on an Incline {CAUTION: Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed. Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path. (cid:129) Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over. (cid:129) Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more. For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes across the incline does not mean you have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over. When driving across an incline that is not too steep, the vehicle can hit some loose gravel and start to slide downhill. If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn downhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However, a much better way to prevent this is to get out and “walk the course” so you know what the surface is like before you drive it. 4-28 Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, your wheels will not get good traction. You cannot accelerate as quickly, turning is more difficult, and you will need longer braking distances. It is best to use a low gear when you are in mud — the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle moving so you do not get stuck. Be careful to keep mud from building up and washing onto the engine cooling system. When you drive on sand, you will sense a change in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes, your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This has an effect on steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. 4-29 If your vehicle stalls when you are crossing an incline, be sure you, and any passengers, get out on the uphill side, even if the door there is harder to open. If you get out on the downhill side and the vehicle starts to roll over, you will be right in its path. If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the path the vehicle will take if it does roll over. Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get moving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause you to slide out of control. Driving in Water {CAUTION: {CAUTION: Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could fall through the ice and you and your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on safe surfaces only. Driving through rushing water can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream and you and your passengers could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can still wash away the ground from under your tires, and you could lose traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive through rushing water. Heavy rain can mean ﬂash ﬂooding, and ﬂood waters demand extreme caution. Find out how deep the water is before you drive through it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe, do not try it — you probably will not get through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle and other vehicle parts. Your vehicle is capable of depths up to 20 inches (50 cm). Know how to judge whether the water is deeper than this before proceeding into it. 4-30 If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it. At faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your tailpipe is under water, you will never be able to start your engine. When you go through water, remember that when your brakes get wet, it may take you longer to stop. See Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 4-33 for more information on driving through water. After Off-Road Driving Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These accumulations can be a ﬁre hazard. After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked. These substances can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the engine and oil coolers and underbody skid shields for mud accumulation. Thoroughly and carefully clean these devices to allow proper cooling. Check the body structure, steering, suspension, underbody shields, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage. Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to off-road use. See the Maintenance Schedule for additional information. Assist Steps If your vehicle has removable side steps, remove the steps prior to off-roading to give your vehicle more ground clearance and to prevent damage to the vehicle from the side steps dragging and/or catching on obstacles. Notice: Do not drive off-road with the side steps attached to your vehicle. You can damage the side steps and/or your vehicle’s frame if they get caught or drag against an obstacle. This damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. Always remove the side steps prior to any off-road driving. 4-31 Driving at Night Night driving is more dangerous than day driving because some drivers are likely to be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Night driving tips include: (cid:129) Drive defensively. (cid:129) Do not drink and drive. (cid:129) Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside rearview mirror. (cid:129) Slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles because your headlamps can only light up so much road ahead. (cid:129) Watch for animals. (cid:129) When tired, pull off the road. (cid:129) Do not wear sunglasses. (cid:129) Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps. (cid:129) Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle clean — inside and out. (cid:129) Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or curves. No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But, as we get older, these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. 4-32 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid driving through large puddles and deep-standing or ﬂowing water. {CAUTION: Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not work as well in a quick stop and could cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until the brakes work normally. Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. Driving through ﬂowing water could cause your vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore police warnings and be very cautious about trying to drive through ﬂowing water. Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under your vehicle’s tires so they actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet. Other Rainy Weather Tips Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips include: (cid:129) Allow extra following distance. (cid:129) Pass with caution. (cid:129) Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape. (cid:129) Keep the windshield washer ﬂuid reservoir ﬁlled. (cid:129) Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires on page 5-54. 4-33 Before Leaving on a Long Trip To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing. Things to check on your own include: (cid:129) Windshield Washer Fluid: Reservoir full? Windows clean — inside and outside? (cid:129) Wiper Blades: In good shape? Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: All levels checked? Lamps: Do they all work and are lenses clean? Tires: Are treads good? Are tires inﬂated to recommended pressure? (cid:129) Weather and Maps: Safe to travel? Have up-to-date maps? Highway Hypnosis Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundings while driving. If you become tired or sleepy, ﬁnd a safe place to park your vehicle and rest. Other driving tips include: (cid:129) Keep the vehicle well ventilated. (cid:129) Keep interior temperature cool. (cid:129) Keep your eyes moving — scan the road ahead and to the sides. (cid:129) Check the rearview mirror and vehicle instruments often. Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on ﬂat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include: (cid:129) Keep your vehicle serviced and in good shape. (cid:129) Check all ﬂuid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission. (cid:129) Going down steep or long hills, shift to a lower gear. 4-34 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) {CAUTION: If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let the engine assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope. {CAUTION: Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have the engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. (cid:129) Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in your lane (stalled car, accident). (cid:129) Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks area, winding roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take appropriate action. See Off-Road Driving on page 4-12 for information about driving off-road. Winter Driving Here are some tips for winter driving: (cid:129) Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. (cid:129) You might want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle. Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer ﬂuid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a ﬂashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reﬂective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle. Also see Tires on page 5-54. 4-35 (cid:129) Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where the tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice between the tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You have a lot less traction, or grip, and need to be very careful. What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it can offer the least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed, blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution. The Traction Control System (TCS) improves your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road. TCS improves your ability to accelerate. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-39. Even though you have TCS, slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions. Under certain conditions, you might want to turn the TCS off, such as when driving through deep snow and loose gravel, to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5 and StabiliTrak® System on page 4-7. 4-36 The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS, begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-4. (cid:129) Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. (cid:129) Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ﬁne until you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches can appear in shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. If You Are Caught in a Blizzard If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on the hazard warning ﬂashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you have been stopped by the snow. (cid:129) Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, ﬂoor mats — anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. 4-37 (cid:129) (cid:129) {CAUTION: Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it or smell it, so you might not know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking the exhaust pipe. And check around again from time to time to be sure snow does not collect there. Open a window just a little on the side of the vehicle that is away from the wind. This will help keep CO out. Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with the headlamps. Let the heater run for a while. You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful. 4-38 Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get

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2008 Hummer H3 Owners Manual