1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Owners Manual

Fuel Gage When the ignition is on, your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left. When the indicator nears E (Empty), you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon. Here are four things that some owners ask about. None of these show a problem with your fuel gage: At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads I: (Full).

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the tank. The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. The gage doesn’t go back to E when you turn off the ignition.

For your fuel tank capacity, see Service Station Information on the last page of this manual.

I80 110- -

hgine Coolant Temperature Gage With the ignition in the Run position, this gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU BADLY! In Problems on the Road, this manual shows what to do. See the Index under Engine Overheating.

Low Coolant Warning Light (3.1 L V6 ENGINE) If this light comes on and stays on, your system is low on coolant and the engine may overheat. See the Index under Coolant and have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can.

Features & Controls

I CHECK

closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See Towing Your Vehicle in the Index.)

II

Charging System Light The charging system light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition and the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. Then it should go out. If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the electrical charging system. It could indicate that you have a loose generator drive belt, or another electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.

... 86

9rake Sysfem Warning Light tour Chevrolet’s hydraulic brake ;ystem is divided into two parts. If one )art isn’t working, the other part can ;till work and stop you. For good )raking, though, you need both parts vorlting well. [f the warning light comes on, there zould be a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away. rhis light should come on as you start the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. [f the light comes on while you are jriving, pull off the road and stop zarefully. You may notice that the pedal .s harder to push. Or, the pedal may go

The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your parking brake, and it will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem.

If the regular brake system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See Brake System Warning Light earlier in this part. If the anti-lock brake system warning light ever flashes, your anti-lock brake system is still working but needs service as soon as possible.

SHIFT \

Shift Light (MANUAL TRANSAXLE) This light comes on when you need to shift to the next higher gear. See the Index under Manual Transaxle.

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light With anti-lock, this light will come on when you start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds. That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your Chevrolet needs service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes.

Features & Controls ~~

I CHECK

NOTICE: If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while the emission controls won’t work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty.

Malfunction lndicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission control systems. This light should come on when the ignition is on, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. If it does not come on at all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes on while you are driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for service soon.

... 88

Liftgate Ajar Light (WAGON) This light will come on if the liftgate is not fully closed. Have your vehicle serviced if this light comes on and stays on after the liftgate is closed.

r

CHECK ’

OAGES

If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a moment. This is normal.

NOLANT

D)(8, I Check Gages Light

This light will come on briefly when yo1 are starting the engine. If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving, check your various gages to see if they are in the warning zones. This light will also come on when the fuel level is low, 1 to 3 gallons (3.8 to

liters)

Oil Warning Light (2.2~ ~4 ENGINE) If you have a low engine oil pressure Iroblem, this light will stay on after yob start your engine, or come on when you ue driving. This indicates that your mgine is not receiving enough oil. The mgine could be low on oil, or could haw some other oil problem. Have it fixed immediately. The oil light could also come on in two other situations: When the ignition is on but the engin is not running, the light will come on as a test to show you it is working, but the light will go out when you turn the ignition to Start. If it doesn’l come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away.

NOTICE: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.

Features & Controls

\ \

oil PfeSSUI'e Gage (3.7L V6 ENGINE) The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil presure in psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in 1tPa. Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside temperature, and oil viscosity, but readings above the red warning zone indicate the normal operating range. A reading in the red zone may be caused by a dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low oil pressure. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.

NOTICE: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.

I n this part you'll find out how to operate the comfort control systems and audio systems offered with your Chevrolet. Be sure to read about the particular system supplied with your vehicle.

Part 3 Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

Climate Control System ............................................................................................ 92 Air Conditioning System .......................................................................................... 93 Rear Window Defogger ............................................................................................. 95 Setting the Clock ....................................................................................................... 97 AM/FM Stereo Radio ................................................................................................ 97 AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette Tape Player .................................................... 99 AM/FM Stereo Radio with Compact Disc Player.. ................................................ 101 Understanding Radio Reception. ............................................................................ 104 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ......................................................................... 104 Care of Your Compact Discs .................................................................................. 105 Fixed Mast Antenna ................................................................................................ 105

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

HTR (Heater): This setting brings heated air through the heater ducts, and some through the windshield defroster vents. If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use it during cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly provide heat because the engine coolant is already warmed. See the Index under Engine Coolant Heater. BLEND: This setting divides the air flow equally between the heater duets and the windshield defroster vents. DEF (Defrost): This setting directs most air through the windshield defroster vents, and some through the heater ducts.

Defogging Windows To defog the windows, slide the lower lever to HOT, set the upper lever to DEF and turn the fan control to HI.

I Climate Control System Nith this system, you can control the rentilation and heating in your vehicle. four vehicle also has the flow-through Jentilation system described later in this rection. Lever Controls: The upper lever :hanges the functions of your system. rhe lower lever changes the temperature If the air coming through the system. Slide the upper control lever to OFF to :urn off the system. 3f: Sets the fan speed. To select the :orce of air you want, turn the knob.

VENT: Use when outside temperatures are mild and little heating or cooling is needed. Air flow is through the instrument panel outlets. Set the lower lever to the temperature desired. B/L (Bi-Level): Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting brings in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body through the instrument panel outlets, and slightly warmer air is directed through the heater ducts and defroster vents. At times, this temperature difference may be more apparent than others.

Air Conditioning System

(OPTION)

The air conditioner and heater work best if you keep your windows closed while using them. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. Lever Controls: The upper lever changes the functions of your system. The lower lever changes the temperature of the air coming through the system. Slide the upper control lever to OFF to turn off the system. 3f: Selects the fan speed. To select the force of air you want, turn the h o b . The fan is always running unless the upper lever is moved to OFF.

Air Conditioning The upper lever has three air conditioner settings. On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot inside air escape. This reduces the amount of work your air conditioner's compressor will have to do, which should help fuel economy. A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to enable the air conditioner compressor. The indicator light will glow when the button is pressed. Press the button again to turn off the air conditioner compressor. The air conditioner compressor operates automatically (and the light glows) when in the MAX setting, or in the DEF (Defrost) setting when the

outside temperature is higher than about 40°F (4.5"C). Below 40°F (4.5"C), the light will glow in these settings, but the compressor will not turn on. MAX (Maximum): Use for maximum cooling. This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle so it maximizes fuel economy and your air conditioner's performance. VENT: Use on pleasant days when little heating or cooling is needed, to direct outside air into the vehicle. In this setting, the air flow is through the instrument panel outlets. B/L (Bi-Level): Use on cool, but sunny days. This setting brings in the outside air, but directs it in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper portion of your body through the instrument panel outlets, and slightly warmer air is directed to the lower portion of your body through the heater ducts and defroster vents. At times, this temperature difference may be more apparent than others.

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

HTR (Heater): Use this setting to direct most of the air flow through the heater ducts, and some through the windshield defroster vents. If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use it during cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly provide heat because the engine coolant is already warmed. See the Index under Engine Coolant Heater. BLEND: This setting divides the air flow equally between the heater ducts and the windshield defroster vents. DEF (Defrost): This setting directs most air through the windshield defroster vents, and some through the heater ducts.

... 94

Defogging Windows with the Air Conditioning System Slide the lower lever to HOT. To defog the windshield, set the upper lever to DEF and turn the fan control to HI.

To defog the side windows, set the upper lever to B/L, the fan control to HI, and press the A/C button. Aim the side vents toward the side windows. For increased air flow to the side vents, close the center vents.

Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the defogger grid on the rear window.

NOTICE: Don’t use a razor blade or something else sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

Flow-Through Ventilation System Your Chevrolet’s flow-through ventilation system lets outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air conditioning fan is running.

Rear Window Defogger (owlonr) The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the and rear window. Press the button an indicator light will glow. The defogger will turn off automatically after about 10 minutes of use. If you turn it on again, the defogger will operate for about five minutes only. You can also turn the defogger off by pressing the button again, or by turning off the ignition.

95 ‘ I .

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

Audio Systems The following pages describe the audio systems available for your Chevrolet, and how to get the best performance from them. Please read about the system in your vehicle. Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it. To help avoid hearing loss or damage:

Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.

NOTICE: Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle - like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio - be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, DelcoB radio or other systems, and even damage them. And, your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.

Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. In cold weather, turn the blower fan to HI for a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.

If-

pwR-VOL TREBLE

VSEEKA

1 2 3 4 s E T

I ILSCANA I '

TUNE

BASS

No matter which audio system you have in your vehicle, setting the clock is easy. 1. With the ignition on and the radio on or off, press SET. The SET indicator will appear on the digital screen for five seconds.

2. You must begin to set the clock to the correct hour and minute during those five seconds. If your audio system does not have a CD player: Press VSEEK to set the hour. Press SEEKA to set the minute.

If your audio system has a CD player:

. Press SCAN to set the hour.

Press VSEEK to decrease minutes or SEEKA to increase minutes.

AMIFM Stereo Radio The digital display indicates information on time or radio station frequency, the AM or FM radio band, whether the station is in stereo, and other radio functions. PWR-VOL (Power-Volume): With the ignition on, rotate the upper knob to turn the system on and off, and to control the volume. Press the upper knob to change between the clock and the radio station frequency displayed when the radio is on, and to display the time when the ignition is off.

R L (Balance): The control ring behind the upper knob adjusts the right/left speaker balance. TUNE: Rotate the lower knob to tune in radio stations. AM/FM: Press the lower knob to change between AM and FM bands. F R (Fade): The control ring behind the lower knob adjusts the fronthear speaker balance. TREBLE: Slide this lever up to increase treble, or down to decrease it. If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the treble.

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

BASS: Slide this lever up to increase bass, or down to decrease it.

SEEK A: Press to seek and stop on the next station higher or lower on the radio band. SCAN: Press both SEEK buttons together to listen for a few seconds to the next station on the AM or FM band; the scan will continue every few seconds to the next station on the AM or FM band. The radio will scan upward if you press SEEKA first and downward if you press V SEEK first. When the radio is scanning stations, the word SCAN will appear on the digital display. Press either of the SEEK buttons or the PWR-VOL knob to cancel SCAN and select a station.

To Preset Radio Stations: The four pushbuttons under the digital display can be used to preset up to 14 radio stations (seven AM and seven FM stations). 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. The word SET will

appear on the digital screen for five seconds.

3. While SET is displayed, press one of the four pushbuttons. Whenever you press this button again, the preset station will be tuned in.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each of the four

AM and four FM stations.

Up to three additional stations on each band may be preset by “pairing” pushbuttons: 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET, and within five seconds press any two adjacent pushbuttons at the same time. Whenever you press these buttons again, the preset station will be tuned in.

PWR-VOL

TREBLE

AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette Tape Player The digital display indicates information on time or radio station frequency, the AM or FM radio band, whether the station is in stereo, and other radio functions. PWR-VOL (Power-Volume) : With the ignition on, rotate the upper lmob to turn the system on and off, and to control the volume. PROG-RCL (Program-Recall): Press the upper knob to change between the clock and radio station frequency

displayed when the radio is on, to display the time when the ignition is off, and to change sides of the tape when a cassette is playing. R L (Balance): The control ring behind the upper knob adjusts the right/left speaker balance. TUNE Rotate the lower knob to tune in radio stations. AM/FM: Press the lower knob to change between the AM and FM bands. F R (Fade): The control ring behind the lower knob adjusts the fronthear speaker balance.

TREBLE: Slide this lever up to increase treble, or down to decrease it. If a station is weak or noisy, reduce the treble. BASS: Slide this lever up to increase bass, or down to decrease it. VSEEKA: Press to seek and stop on the next station higher or lower on the radio band. SCAN: Press both SEEK buttons together to listen for a few seconds to the next station on the AM or FM band; the scan will continue every few seconds to the next station on the AM or FM band. The radio will scan upward if you press SEEKA first and downward if you press VSEEK first. When the radio is scanning stations, the word SCAN will appear on the digital display. Press either of the SEEK buttons or the PWR-VOL knob to cancel SCAN and select a station. To Preset Radio Stations: The four pushbuttons under the digital display can be used to preset up to 14 radio stations (seven AM and seven FM stations).

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. The word SET will

appear on the digital display for five seconds.

3. While SET is displayed, press one of the four pushbuttons. Whenever you press this button again, the preset station will be tuned in.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each of the four

AM and four FM stations.

Up to three additional stations on each band may be preset by “pairing” pushbuttons: 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET, and within five seconds press any two adjacent pushbuttons at the same time. Whenever you press these buttons again, the preset station will be tuned in.

Fast Forward Press the button with the arrow pointing in the same direction that the tape is playing. To stop fast forward, press the STOP-EJECT button. Reverse: Press the button with the arrow pointing in the opposite direction that the tape is playing. To stop reverse, press the STOP-EJECT button. STOP-EJECT: To stop playing a tape, fully press this button (the cassette will be partially ejected, and the radio will begin playing).

AUTO DNR: This unit is equipped with an automatic Dynamic Noise Reduction system that reduces background hiss on AM or FM radio broadcasts, as well as on cassette tapes. Cassette Tape Player With the power on, insert a tape into the cassette door. Do not use tapes that are longer than 45 minutes on each side. When the left arrow is lit, selections listed on the top side of the cassette are playing. When the right indicator arrow is lit, selections listed on the bottom side of the cassette are playing. To change sides of the tape, press the upper control knob (PROG) while the cassette is playing. The tape player automatically begins playing the other side when it reaches the end of the tape.

Comfort Concr

5 & Audio Systems

4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each of five AM

and five FM stations. Compact Disc Player Many of the controls for the radio also have functions for the compact disc player, as explained here. Don’t use mini-discs that are called singles. They won’t eject. Use only full- size compact discs. 1. Turn the PWR-VOL knob to turn on

the power.

2. Insert a disc part-way into the slot,

with the label side up. The player will pull it in. Within a few seconds, the disc should play.

If the disc comes back out and/or Err appears on the display:

The disc may be upside down. The disc may be dirty, scratched or wet. There may be too much moisture in the air (wait about one hour and try again). The player may be too hot, or the road may be too rough for the disc to play. As soon as things get back to normal, the disc should play. 102

While a disc is playing, the CD indicator is displayed on the digital screen, as is the clock. RCL (Recall): Press this button once to see which track is playing. Press again while the track number is still displayed to see how long your selection has been playing. The track number also will be displayed when the volume, bass, or treble is changed or a new track starts to play. COMP (Compression): Pressing this button makes soft and loud passages more equal in volume. Press again to resume normal play. RDM (Random): Press to play tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. This feature remains active until the RDM button is pressed again.

REV (Reverse): Press and hold to rapidly reverse the disc. Release to resume playing. FWD (Fast Forward): Press and hold to rapidly advance the disc. Release to resume playing. SCAN: Press this button to sample ten seconds of each track. Press again to stop scanning. PREV (Previous): Press to play a track again. If you keep pressing the PREV button, the disc will keep backing up to previous tracks. NEXT: Press to advance to the next track. If you keep pressing the NEXT button, the disc will keep advancing to other tracks. When Finished with the Compact Disc Player: If you turn off the radio, or turn off the ignition, the disc will stay in the player

and start again when you turn on the ignition or the PWR-VOL button. The disc will begin playing at the point where it had been stopped. ST-PL (Stop-Play): Press to stop the disc player; the radio will play. Press again to play the disc (the player will start playing the disc where it had stopped earlier). EJCT (Eject): Press to eject the disc; the radio will play. The disc will start at track 1 when you reinsert it. EJCT works even when the radio or the ignition is off.

CD Player Anti-Theft Feature Delco LOC II@ is a security feature that can be used or ignored. If you ignore it, the radio will play normally. If you use it, your radio cannot be turned on if it is stolen. These instructions will tell you how to enter a secret code into the radio. If battery power is lost for any reason, the secret code must be entered again before your audio system can be turned on. To Set the Anti-Theft System: 1. Write down any six-digit number and keep it in a safe place. This is your secret code.

2. Turn the ignition on. 3. Rotate the PWR-VOL knob to turn

the radio off. 4. Press station preset buttons 1 and 4 at the same time and hold until "- - -" shows on the display. You now have only 15 seconds between each of the following steps.

5. Press SET and 000 will appear on

the display.

6. Press SCAN until the first digit of

your code appears.

7. Press SEEK until the second and third digits of your code appear. 8. Press the TUNE knob (000 will

appear on the display).

9. Press SCAN until the fourth digit of

your code appears.

IO. Press SEEK until the fifth and sixth

digits of your code appear.

11. Press the TUNE knob (rEP will

appear for five seconds, then 000 ) .

12. Repeat steps 6 through 10. Then

press the TUNE knob again. SEC

will appear, indicating that Delco LOC I P is set, and your radio is secure. If "- - -" appears, the steps were not successful and you must repeat the entire procedure.

To Disable the Anti-Theft System: Enter your secret code by following these steps (you will have only 15 seconds between each step). 1, Turn the ignition on and the radio off, then press station preset buttons 1 and 4. SEC will appear, showing the radio is secure.

2. Press SET and 000 will appear on

the display.

3. Press SCAN until the first digit of

your secret code appears.

4. Press SEEK until the second and third digits of your code appear. 5. Press the TUNE knob (000 will

appear on the display).

6. Press SCAN until the fourth digit of

your code appears.

7. Press SEEK until the fifth and sixth

digits of your code appear.

I03

Comfort Controls & Audio Systems

8. Press the TUNE knob. If the display shows "- - -," the radio is unsecured and will play again. If the display shows SEC, the steps were not successful and the numbers did not match the secret code.

If you lose or forget your code, see your dealer. If you lose battery power, when the battery is reconnected the radio will not turn on and IX)C will appear. Follow steps 1-8 for disabling your system, and the time will appear if you are successful. If SEC appears, the numbers did not match and YOUK unit is still locked.

Understanding Radio Reception FM Stereo FM Stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 l a ) . Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other, AM can also pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. To lower this noise, try reducing the treble level.

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly is subject to reduced sound quality, ruining the cassette, or damaging the mechanism. Tape cassettes that are not properly stored in their plastic cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme heat may not operate properly and could cause premature failure the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned monthly or with every 15 hours of use, as regular maintenance. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If the second cassette results in no improvement in sound

of

Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender.

quality, try cleaning the tape player. Proper tape player cleaning should be done with a wiping action nonabrasive cleaner cassette. To properly clean your tape player, you should follow the directions on the cleaning cassette. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always verify that the cassette tape is in good condition before obtaining service on your tape player.

.,"

c.

Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Notes

H e r e you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions . We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving .

Part 4 Your Driving and the Road

. .

Drlvmg

Defensive 108 Drunken Driving ..................................................................................................... 108 Control of a Vehicle

....................................................................................................

Braking ................................................................................................................. 110 Anti-Lock Brakes ................................................................................................. 111 Steering Tips ......................................................................................................... 113 Steermg m Emergencies ....................................................................................... 114 Passing .................................................................................................................. 115 Driving at Night ...................................................................................................... 117 Driving in the Rain .................................................................................................. 118 City Driving ............................................................................................................. 119 Freeway Driving ...................................................................................................... 120 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ............................................................................... 121 Hill and Mountain Roads ........................................................................................ 122 . . Winter Drnmg 123 Recreational Towing ................................................................................................ 125 Towing a Trailer ...................................................................................................... 126

.........................................................................................................

.........

107

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Chevrolet: Buclde up. (See Safety Belts in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistaltes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.

I Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:

Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision

Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol - a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedestrian, had been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. About 20,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur each year because of alcohol, and thousands of people are injured.

Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no one should drink alcohol and then drive. But if one does, then what’s “too much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:

How much alcohol is in the drink. The drinker’s body weight. The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking. The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.

Drinking That WIN Resuit in a BAC of -05% in the Time Shown

3 HOURS

2 HOURS

1 HOUR

According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 H ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka. It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level.

100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240

BOQY WEIGHT IN POUNDS

rhe law in most U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than that. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the

effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance of having an accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chances are twenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse. That’s especially

Your Driving and the Road

true for brain, spinal cord and heart injuries. That means that if anyone who has been drinking - driver or passenger - is in a crash, the chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking. And we’ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is higher for drinking drivers.

Condrol of a Khkk You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy ta ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control af your vehicle.

Bruking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception the. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction the. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s 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 3/4 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.

L

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition of your brakes. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts - heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking - rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. Your 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 engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

- 20 - 10

9nti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your Chevrolet has an advanced dectronic braking system that will help prevent skidding. rhis light on the instrument panel will 30 on when you start your vehicle. When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise.

Your Driving and the Road

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And you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on or flash. See Anti-lock Brake System Warning Light in the Index.

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS. A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer wil separately work the brakes at each fro] nt wheel and at the rear wheels. The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could.*The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions.

You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. To Use Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.

Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

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.

Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s 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’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you’re 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. 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’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your 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.

Your Driving and the Road

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.

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can De 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 can't; there isn't room. That's the time for evasive action - steering around the problem. Your Chevrolet can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible

I Off-Ruad Recovery You may find sometime that your right lvheels have dropped off the edge of a soad onto the shoulder while you're hiving. :f the level of the shoulder is only ;lightly below the pavement, recovery ;hould be fairly easy. Ease off the iccelerator and then, if there is nothing n the way, steer so that your vehicle itraddles the edge of the pavement. You :an turn the steering wheel up to 1/4 urn until the right front tire contacts he pavement edge. Then turn your ;teering wheel to go straight down the toadway.

Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents - the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing:

“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your

pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance. When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.

If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot. Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn.

Your Driving and the Road

If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right. Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.

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 Chevrolet’s three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels aren’t 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 and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. 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’ll 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 engine braking 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 anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking slid.

Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest. Night Vision 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 may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things invisible. You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for

your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean - inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, malting the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlights light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness - the inability to see in dim light - and aren’t even aware of it.

Driving at Night Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired - by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively. Don’t drink and drive. Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles.

Your Driving and the Road

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.

Driving in the Rain Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.

Your Driving and the Road

Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.

Freeway Driving Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules. The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you &ive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the

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flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night. When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted.

Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh - such as after a day’s work - don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Chevrolet dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it. Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?

Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape? Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels? Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure? Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the

rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips:

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior. Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the. sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently. If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.

Your Driving and the Road

Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

4 Winter Driving Here are some tips for winter driving:

Have your Chevrolet in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine coolant mix is correct.

You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your trunk.

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.

Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places wnere your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very careful. What’s 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 may offer the least traction of all. You can get “wet ice” when it’s about freezing (32°F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.

Your Driving and the Road

Whatever the condition - smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow - drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti- to begin lock braking system, you’ll want stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See Anti-lock in the Index. Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may 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’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. I24

I . .

If You’re 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 your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no 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. You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, malte 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 your headlights. Let the heater run for awhile. 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 out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes.

~~ Recreational Towing If your vehicle has a manual transaxle, you can tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for use at your destination. Be sure to use proper towing equipment designed for recreational towing. Follow the instructions for the towing equipment.

Towing Your Vehicle from the Front Tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground. Follow these steps: 1. Set the parking brake. 2. Turn the ignition key to OFF to

unlock the steering wheel. OFF will also prevent the automatic door locks from locking.

3. Shift your manual transaxle to N

(Neutral).

4. Release the parking brake.

NOTICE: Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed 55 mph (90 l m ) , or your vehicle could be badly damaged.

Your Driving and the Road

n 0

Towing Your Vehicle from the Rear

I NOTICE:

Do not tow your vehicle from the rear. Your vehicle could be badly damaged and the repairs would not be covered by your warranty.

Towing A Trailer

Your Chevrolet is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer.

Part 5 Problems on the Road

H e r e you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .

Hazard Warning Flashers ....................................................................................... 128 Jump Starting .......................................................................................................... 128 132 Towing Your Vehicle .............................................................................................. Engine Overheating ................................................................................................. 136 If a Tire Goes Flat ................................................................................................... 145 Changing a Flat Tire ................................................................................................ 146 151 Compact Spare Tire ................................................................................................ 152 If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow .........................................................

Problems on the Road

Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your Chevrolet. But please follow the steps below to do it safely.

Hazard Warning Flashers Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lights will flash on and off.

Move the switch to the right to male your front and rear turn signal lights flash on and off. Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in. To turn off the flashers, move the switch to the left. When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work. Other Warning Devices If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.

NOTICE: Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Trying to start your Chevrolet by pushing or pulling it could damage your vehicle, even if you have a manual transaxle. And if you have an automatic transaxle, it won’t start that way.

To Jump Start Your Chevrolet: 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have

a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system. NOTICE: If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.

2. Get the vehicles. close enough so the jumper cables can reach, Ijut be suke the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your Chevrolet, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transaxle in P (Park) or a manual transaxle in N (Neutral). 3. Turn off the ignition on both

vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!

NOTICE: If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

4. Open the hoods and locate the

batteries.

Find the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each battery.

Problems on the Road

5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too. Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (+) to (-) or you’ll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too.

6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to

the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.

Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

8. Now connect the black negative (-)

cable to the good battery’s negative (-) terminal. Don’t let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative cable doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goer to a heavy unpainted metal part on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery.

9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches

(45 cm) away from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.

IO. Now start the vehicle with the good

battery and run the engine for a while.

11. Try to start the vehicle with the

dead battery. If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

~~

12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch each other or any other metal.

Problems on the Road

I Towing Your Vehicle Try to have a GM dealer or a xofessional towing service tow your Zhevrolet. The usual towing equipment S : :A) Sling-type tow truck :B) Wheel-lift tow truck C) Car carrier f your vehicle has been changed or nodified since it was factory-new by ldding aftermarket items like fog lamps, iero skirting, or special tires and uheels, these instructions and llustrations may not be correct. Before you do anything, turn on the lazard warning flashers.

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. I

When you call, tell the towing service: That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front with sling-type equipment. That, if you have the 2-24, your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or rear with sling-type equipment. That your vehicle has front-wheel drive. The make, model, and year of your vehicle. Whether you can still move the shift lever. If there was an accident, what was damaged.

When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transaxle should be in N (Neutral) and the parking brake released. Don’t have your vehicle towed on the front wheels, unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the front wheels, don’t go more than 35 mph (56 k d h ) or farther than 50 miles (80 lun) or your transaxle will be damaged. If these limits must be exceeded, then the front wheels have to be supported on a dolly.

Towing from the Front-Vehicle Hookup Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all the information in Towing Your Vehicle earlier in this section. 1. Attach T-hook chains into the slots in the bottom of the floor pan, just behind the front wheels, on both sides.

Problems on the Road

NOTICE: Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle. Damage can occur from vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift equipment. To help avoid damage, install a towing dolly and raise vehicle until adequate clearance is