2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 316

- Driving on frozenlakes, ponds or rivers e 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 onsafe surfaces only. I vingthroughrushing wa can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream and you and your passengers could drown. If only shallow water, can it's it still wash away the ground from under your tires, and you could lose traction and roll the vehicle over. Don't drive through rushing water. Driving in 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's deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles or exhaust pipe, don't try it - you probably won't get through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle and other vehicle parts. See Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 4-37 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 body structure, steering, suspension, 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. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for additional information. 4-35 If the water isn'ttoo deep, drive slowly through it. At faster speeds, water splasheson your ignition system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling also occur if you get your can tailpipe under water. And, long as your tailpipe is as under water, you'll never able to start your engine. be When you go through water, remember that when your brakes get wet, it may take longer to stop. you