Braking In Emergencies; Stabilitrak System - GMC 2008 Sierra 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual

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.
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StabiliTrak System
Your vehicle may be equipped with the StabiliTrak
system which combines antilock brake, traction
and stability control systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When you first start your vehicle and begin to drive away,
the system performs several diagnostic checks to ensure
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. The system should initialize
before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h). In some
cases, it may take approximately two miles of driving
before the system initializes.
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak
light along with one of the following messages will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):
TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE
STABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear, make
sure the StabiliTrak
off using the StabiliTrak
steering wheel clockwise from the nine o'clock position
to the three o'clock position. If this clears the
message(s), your vehicle does not need servicing. If
this does not clear the message(s), then turn the vehicle
off, wait 15 seconds, and then turn it back on again to
reset the system. If any of these messages still
appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC), your
vehicle should be taken in for service. For more
information on the DIC messages, see Driver
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Information Center (DIC) on page 3-52.
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system has not been turned
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on/off button. Then turn the
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4-5