1994 Chevrolet Tracker Owners Manual

’ress the switch t o turn on the defogger. 9n indicator light n,ill come on below the ;witch to remind you that the defogger is m. Press the switch again to turn the jefogger off. The rear window defogger vi11 also turn off if you turn the ignition ;witch to ”ACC” or “LOCK.” l o not attach anything like a temporary xhicle license or a decal across the lefogger grid on the rear window.

. .86

Vow- Through Ventilation system ’our Geo‘s flow-through ventilation ,ystem supplies outside air into the whicle when it is moving. Outside air v i l l also enter the vehicle when the heater )r the ilir conditioning flln is running.

Audio Systems

Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco@ system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.

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 inter- fere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delco8 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.

87 ...

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. When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, move the fan lever t o w a r d s 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.

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Setting the Clock AM/FM Stereo 1, Press and hold "RCL" (TIME SET).

At the same time. press and hold "TUNE 4'' (HR) until the correct hour appears.

2. Press and hold "RCL" (TIME SET).

At the sane time press and hold "TUNE b" (MIN) until the correct minute appears.

AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player 1. Press and hold "RCL/PROG"

(TIME

SET). At the same time, press and hold "TUNE 4" (HR) until the correct hour appears.

2. Press and hold "RCL/PROG"

(TIME

SET). At the same time press and hold "TUNE b" (MIN) until the correct minute appears.

AMlFM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player 1. Press and hold "RCL TA" (TIME SET). At the same time, press and hold "TUNE 4" (HR) until the correct hour appears.

2. Press and hold "RCL TA'' (TIME SET). At the same time press and hold "TUNE b" (MIN) until the correct minute appears.

..A8

STEREO

1:o §

AM/FM Stereo To Play the Radio Turn the "ON/VOL" knob to turn the system on or off. Volume: Turn the "ON/VOL" knob to adjust the volume. Finding a Station Hand: Press "AM-FM" to get AM or FM. The lighted display shows your selection.

Tune: Press "TUNE b "or "TUNE 4" to go to a higher or lower station. Press and hold to continue tuning and release when you find your station. The display will show the frequency of each station tuned. Seek: Press "SEEK b "or "SEEK 4" and the radio will tune to the next higher or lower station and stay there.

Pushbuttons: The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to 12 stations (6 AM and 6 FM), just: 1. Tune in the station. 2. Press and hold one of the

pushbuttons for at least two seconds. The sound will go away for a second and will return when the station is stored.

Repeat these steps for each pushbutton. Setting the Tone Treble: Turn the “TREB” knob to the right to hear more treble. Bass: Turn the “BASS” control behind the “TREB” knob to the right to hear more bass. Adjusting the Speakers Fade: Turn the “FADE’ knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers. Balance: Turn the “BAL” conrrol behind the “FADE’ knob to move the sound between the left and right speakers. Recall Press “RCL” to see the station being played for a moment. Or, press it if you want to see the time when the ignition is off.

AM!FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player To Play the Radio Turn the “ON/VOL” knob to turn the system on or off. Volume: Turn the “ON/VOL” knob to adjust the volume. Finding a Station Band: Press “AM-FM” to get AM, FM1 or FM2. The lighted display shows your selection.

Tune: Press and hold “TUNE b’, or “TUNE 4’’ to go to higher or lower stations. Release when you find your station. The display will show the frequency of each station tuned. Seek: Press “SEEK b” or “SEEK 4’’ and the radio will tune to the next higher or lower station and stay there.

89. ..

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Pushbuttons: The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to 18 stations (6 AM, 6 FM1 and 6 FM2), jus#: 1. Tune in the station. 2. Press and hold one of the pushbuttons for more than two seconds. The sound will go away for a second and will return when the station is stored.

settings designed for “ROCK,” “NEWS,” ”POP,” “JAZZ’ and “CLASSICAL.” “ROCK” will appear when you first press “TONE SELECT.” Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it after “CLASSICAL” and tone control will be back to the treble and bass knobs.

Repeat these steps for each pushbutton. Preset Scan: Press the “PRESET SCAN’ button to hear each of your preset stations for a few seconds. When you want to stop at a Chosen statioq, press “PRESET SCAN” again.

Setting the Tone Treble: Turn the “TREB” knob to the right to hear more treble. Bass: Turn the“BASS” control behind the “TREB” knpb to the right to hear more bass. Treble and bass cannot be adjusted manually when “TONE SELECT” is on. Loud: To increase the bass tone at low volumes, press the “LOUD” button. Tone Select: Press “TONE SELECT” to choose preset treble and bass equalization ... 90

Adjusting the Speakers Fade: Turn the “FADE’ knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers. Balance: Turn the “BAL” control behind the “FADE” knob to move the sound between the right and left speakers.

Recall Press “RCL” to see the station being played for a moment. Or, press it if you want to see the time when the ignition is off.

To Play a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player.

The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If you hear nothing or hear just a garbled sound, it may not be in squarely. Press “MA” to remove the tape and start over. Once the tape is playing, use the knobs for volume, fade and balance, just as you do for radio. The lighted arrows show which side of the tape is playing. Metal Tapes: Your bias is set automatically. When a metal or chrome tape is inserted, “MTL” will appear on the display. Fast Forward: Press “FF” to advance rapidly to another part of the tape. Press “FF,” “RCL/PROG’ or “HA” to return to playing speed. Rewind: Press “ R E V to reverse the tape rapidly. Press “RW,” “RCL/PROG” or “.A” Next Selection: Press “NEXT” to go forward to the beginning of the next selection. Press “NEXT” again or press “RCLPROG’ or ‘,.A’’ to cancel this function. For “NEXT” to work properly, your tape must have at least three or four seconds of silence between each selection.

to return to playing speed.

Previous Selection: Press “PREV” to go back to the beginning of the last selection. Press “PREV” again or press “RCL/PROG” or “HA’, to cancel this function. Program: Press “RCL/PROG” to switch from one side of the tape to the other. Your cassette tape player can play continuously because the player has an auto-reverse feature. Noise Reduction: Press 00 @to remove noise from Dolby@ B NR-encoded tapes. Dolby@ B Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolby@” and the 00 @symbol are trademarks of Dol by Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Eject: Press “HA’, to remove the tape and switch to radio. Radio Monitor: Press the “RADIO MNTR” button to hear the radio when you are fast forwarding or reversing a cassette tape. You can use the “TUNE,“ “SEEK” and “PRESET-SCAN?’ buttons while in the radio monitor mode.

rheft Deterrent Feature The theft deterrent feature for the AM/FM ;tereo with cassette tape player can be lsed or ignored. If ignored, the system Aays normally. If it is used, your system won‘t be usable if it’s ever stolen.

You are now ready to enter your security code. Don’t wait more than 15 seconds between steps. 5. Press “4 SEEK b’’ and/or “+ TUNE ,’’ on the display.

and “0000” will appear

Setting Your Security Code The instructions below tell you how to mter a security code into the system. If qour vehicle loses battery power for any -eason, you must enter the security code lgain before the system will turn on. 1. Write down any four-digit number and

keep it in a safe place.

2. Turn on the ignition switch to the

“ACC” or “ON” position. 3. Turn the audio system off. 4. Press the “1” and “4” buttons together. Hold them down until “- - - -” shows on the display.

6. Press “SEEK+” and hold it until the

first digit of your code appears. Release the button.

7. Press “SEEK F” and hold it until the

second digit of your code appears. Release the button.

8. Press “TUNE +” and hold it until the

third digit of your code appears. Release the button.

9. Press “TUNE F” and hold it until the

fourth digit of your code appears. Release the button.

10. Press “AM-FM” after you have

checked that the code you entered is the one you wrote down. “rEP” will appear in the display, which means you need to repeat steps 5 through 9. 11. Press “AM-FM” again and the displaJ

will now show “SEC.”

91 ...

5. Press the “TUNE b” button and hold it until the fourth digit of your code appears.

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems How to Shut Off the Theft-Deterrent Feature If your radio is secured (“SEC” shows on the display) and you wish to disable it, enter your security code as follows, pausing no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Press the “1” and “4” buttons together. Hold them down until “SEC” shows on the display. You are now ready to enter your security code.

checked that the code you entered matches the one you wrote down. 6 4 ---- ” should now appear in the display.

If the code is correct, the radio will now operate. If the code is wrong, “Err” will appear in the display.

6. Press “AM-F’”’ after you have

2. Press the “SEEKA” button and hold it

until the first digit of your code appears.

3. Press the “SEEK b” button and hold it

until the second digit of your code appears.

4. Press the “TUNE 4” button and hold

it until the third digit of your code appears.

... 92

To Unlock the System After a Power Loss If power is disrupted to the radio while in the “SEC” mode, the unit will not work and “LOC” will show on the display whenever the ignition is on. To unlock the unit: 1. Press ‘‘4 SEEK F’’ and/or

‘‘4 TUNE by’ and “000.0” will appear on the display.

2. Press the “SEEKd” button and hold it

until the first digit of your code appears.

3. Press the “SEEK b” button and hold it

until the second digit of your code appears.

4. Press the “TUNE 4” button and hold

it until the third digit of your code appears.

5. Press the “TUNE b” button and hold it until the fourth digit of your code appears.

6. Press “AM-FM” after you have

checked that the code matches the one you wrote down. Now “SEC” will appear on the display.

L (STOP) (EJECT)

AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player To Play the Radio Turn the “ON/VOL” knob to turn the system on or off. Volume: Turn the “ON/VOL” knob to adjust the volume.

Finding a Station Band: Press “AM-FM” to get AM, FMl or FM2. The lighted display shows your selection. %ne: Press and hold “TUNE F” or “TUNE 4’’ to go to higher or lower stations. Release when you find your station. The display will indicate the frequency of each station tuned.

Seek: Press “SEEK F” or “SEEK 4’’ and the radio will tune to the next higher or lower station and stay there. Pushbuttons: The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. To set the pushbuttons for up to 18 stations (6 AM, 6 FM1 and 6 FM2), just: 1. Tune in the station. 2. Press and hold one of the pushbuttons

for more than two seconds. The sound will go away for a second and will return when the station is stored. Repeat these steps for each pushbutton. Preset Scan: Press the “PSCAN’ button to hear each of your FM preset stations for a few seconds. When you want to stop at a chosen station, press “PSCAN” again. Setting the Tone Treble: Turn the “TREB” knob to the right to hear more treble. Bass: Turn the “BASS” control behind the “TREB” knob to the right to hear more bass. Treble and bass cannot be adjusted manually whenl“TONE SELECT” is on. Loud: To increase the bass tone at low volumes, press the “LOUD” button.

93 ...

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems :ach side. Tapes longer than that are so Tone Select: Press “TONE SELECT” to :hin they may not work well in this player. choose preset treble and bass equalization settings designed for “ROCK,” “NEWS,” The longer side with the tape visible “POP,” “JAZZ” and “CLASSICAL.” ;hould face to the right. If you hear lothing or hear just a garbled sound, it “ROCK” will appear when you first press nay not be in squarely. Press “STOP’ or “TONE SELECT.” Each time you press ‘EJECT” to remove the tape and start it, another setting will appear on the mer. display. Press it after “CLASSICAL” and tone control will be back to the treble and Once the tape is playing, use the knobs bass knobs. For volume, fade and balance, just as you io for radio. The lighted arrows show which side of the tape is playing. Metal Tapes: Your bias is set automatically. When a metal or chrome tape is inserted, “MTL” will appear on the display. Fast Forward: Press “FF” to advance rapidly to another part of the tape. Press “FF,” “RCLVA” or “STOP’ to return to playing speed. Rewind: Press “REW’ to reverse the tape rapidly. Press “REW,” “ R C L ~ A ” or “STOP’ to return to playing speed. Next Selection: Press “NXT” to go forward to the beginning of the next selection. Press “NXT” again or press “RCL vA’’ or “STOP” to cancel this function.

Adjusting the Speakers Fade: Turn the “FADE” knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers. Balance: Turn the “BAL” control behind the “FADE’ knob to move the sound between the right and left speakers.

Recall Press “RCLVA” to see the station being played for a moment. Or, press it if you want to see the time when the ignition is off.

To Play a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on ... 94

Previous Selection: Press “PRV” to go lack to the beginning of the selection. ?rem “PRV” again or press “RCL VA” or ‘STOP’ to cancel this function. Por “NXT” and “PRV” to work properly, your tape must have at least three or four seconds of silence between each selection. Repeat: Press “RPT” to go to the beginning of the selection and play it 3gain. Press “RPT” again to cancel this Function. Noise Reduction: Press 00 to remove noise from Dolby@ B NR-encoded tapes. Dolby@ B Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. “Dolbya7’ and the 00 symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Radio Monitor: When playing a tape, press “RDM” during “FF” or“REW’ to hear the radio. Press “RDM’ again to turn the radio off. During “RDM’ operation, only “TUNE,” “SEEK’ and “PSCAN’ will work. Tape Sides: Press “RCL VA” to switch from one side of the tape to the other.

Stop: Press “STOP” to stop the tape and switch to radio. Eject: Press “EJECT” to remove the tape and switch to radio.

To Play a Compact Disc Don’t use the mini-discs (3” singles). They won’t eject. Use full-size compact discs. Insert your disc into the CD slot on your audio system. If the disc comes back out, it could be that: 0 The disc is upside down. 0 It is dirty, scratched, or wet.

There is too much moisture in the air. (If there is, wait about one hour and try again.)

If you see “Err” on the display, the disc player is too hot to play the disc. Press “RCL VA’’ to take “Err” off the display. Track Number and Playing Time: Press “RCL VA” to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing.

The track number also appears when the disc is inserted or you change the volume. Previous Track: Press “PRV” to hear a track again. If you hold this button, or press it more than once, the disc will return to previous tracks. Next Track: Press ”NXT” to hear the next track now (instead of waiting until the present track is finished). If you hold this button, or press it more than once, the disc will advance further. Rewind: Press and hold “REW” to return rapidly to a favorite passage. Release it to play the passage. Fast Forward: Press and hold “FF” to advance quickly within a track. Release it to resume playing. Compression: Press “COMP’ to make soft and loud passages more nearly equal in volume. Repeat: Press “RPT” once to hear a selection over again. Rasdom: Pressing “RDM” will cause the CD player to play the tracks back in random order. To cancel the random feature, press “RDM,” “STOP” or “RPT.”

Stop: Press “STOP” to stop playing the disc and switch to radio. Press “STOP” again to restart the disc at the point where it stopped. Press “AM-FM” to cancel CD operation and listen to the radio. CD-Tape: Press “CD-TP” to switch between playing a tape and a CD when both are inserted. Eject: Press “EJECT” to eject the disc and the radio will play. The disc will start playing at track 1 when you reinsert it.

Special Eject If you choose, you can eject only the tape or CD when you have both a CD and a tape in your audio system.

CD Only: To eject only the CD, press “EJECT” and then press “REW.” Tape Only: To eject only the tape, press “EJECT” and then press “PRV.”

95 ...

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Theft Deterrent Feature The theft deterrent feature for the AMEM stereo with cassette tape and compact disc player can be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally. If it is used, your system won’t be usable if it’s ever stolen.

You are now ready to enter your security code. Don’t wait more than 15 seconds between steps. 5. Press “4 SEEK b” and/or

“4 TUNE b” and “0000” will appear on the display.

6. Press “SEEKI” and hold it until the

first digit of your code appears. Release the button.

7. Press “SEEK b” and hold it until the

second digit of your code appears. Release the button.

8. Press “TUNE 4” and hold it until the

third digit of your code appears. Release the button.

9. Press “TUNE b” and hold it until the

fourth digit of your code appears. Release the button. 1 p. Press “AM-FM’ after you have

checked that the code you entered is the one you wrote down. “rEP’ will appear in the display, which means you need to repeat steps 5 through 9.

11. Press “AM-FM” again and the display will now show “SEC.”

Setting Your Security Code The instructions below tell you how to enter a security code into the system. If your vehicle loses battery power for any reason, you must enter the security code again before the system will turn on. 1. Write down any four-digit number and

keep it in a safe place.

2. Turn on the ignition switch to the

“ACC” or “ON’ position. 3. Turn the audio system off. 4. Press the “1” and “4” buttons together. Hold them down until “- - - -” shows on the display.

... 96

How to Shut Off the Theft-Deterrent Feature If your radio is secured (“SEC” shows on the display) and you wish to disable it, enter your security code as follows, pausing no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Press the “1” and “4” buttons together. Hold them down until “SEC” shows on the display. You are now ready to enter your security code.

2. Press the “SEEKI” button and hold it

until the fist digit of your code appears.

3. Press the “SEEK b” button and hold it

until the second digit of your code appears.

4. Press the “TUNE 4” button and hold

it until the third digit of your code appears.

5. Press the “TUNE b” button and hold

it until the fourth digit of your code appears.

6. Press “AM-F’”’ after you have

checked that the code you entered matches the one you wrote down. LL ---- ” should now appear in the display.

If the code is correct. the radio will operate. If the code is wrong, “Err” will appear in the display.

To Unlock the System After a Power Loss If power is disrupted to the radio while in the ”SEC” mode, the unit will not work and ”LOC” will show on the display whenever the ignition is on. To unlock the unit: 1.

Press “4 SEEK b“ and/or ‘‘4 TUNE b” and “0000” will appear on the display. Press the “SEEK 4“ button and hold it until the first digit of your code appears. Press the “SEEK b‘* button and hold it until the second digit of your code appears. Press the “TUNE 4’‘ button and hold it until the third digit of your code appears. Press the “TUNE b” button and hold it until the fourth digit of your code appears. Press “AM-FM” after you have checked that the code matches the one

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

you wrote down. Now “SEC” will appear on the display.

Understanding Radio Reception

FM Stereo FM stereo will give you rhe best sound. But FM signals will reach only about I O to 40 miles ( 16 to 65 ktn). And, tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go-

A 1LI 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 pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored i n their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight. and extreme heat. If they aren’t. they may not operate properly or cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly each month or after every I5 hours o f use. If you notice a reduction in sound quality. try a known good cassette lo see if‘ the tape or the tape player is at f‘ault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality. clean the tape player.

97 . .

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Clean your tape player with a wiping-action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, and follow the directions provided with it. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure that the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced.

Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in thei original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. 11 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 c grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

InteQna Jse the knob on the end of the antenna to aise the antenna or to push it back down. :eep the antenna mast clean for good erformance. dways lower the antenna before entering car wash. If you have the convertible ~ p , also lower the antenna before :moving or installing the top.

... 98

I

H e r e YOU'II 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

. . .

. . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defensive Driving 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Drunken Driving 102 Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Driving Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Off-Road Driving with Your GL'O Four-wheel Drive Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 DrivingatNight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 117 Driving in the Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Freeway Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 125 Towin~aTrL?iler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recreational Vehicle Towing 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 99 ...

The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC j 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.

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving

Drunken Driving

The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Geo: Buckle 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 mistakes. 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.

. . ,100

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: 0 Judgment 0 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 ifa person plans to drive‘? Ideally, no one should drink alcohol and then drive. But if one does, then what’s “too much”‘? It :an be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem.

RESULT IN A BAC OF .05%

DRINKING THAT Will IN THE TIME SHOWN

1 HOURS

’ HOURS

HOUR

100

120

la0

160

160 200 220 240

BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS

The 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 t o 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 RAC 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.

101 .

m .

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 - 1/2 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 t o 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level.

Your Driving and the Road 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 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.

Control of a Vehicle 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 to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle.

. . . I O 2

Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. 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. 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, ir may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your vehicle has an advanced electronic braking system that can help you keep it under control. 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 the rear wheels are slowing down. If one of the rear wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will work the brakes at the rear wheels. It is programmed t o make the most of available tire and road conditions.

As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on rear 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: Use rear-wheel anti-lock like regular brakes. You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise outside your vehicle, but this is normal. Let anti-lock work for you, but remember: Your front wheels can still stop rolling. If

1 0 3 . .

Your Driving and the Road Steering that happens, release enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels rolling again Power Steering so that you can steer. If you lose power steering assist because With the four-wheel drive option, you the engine stops or the system is not won’t have anti-lock braking when you functioning, you can steer but it will take shift into four-wheel drive. But you will much more effort. have regular braking. When you shift back into two-wheel drive, you will have anti-lock again. Braking in Emergencies At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard braking. You have the rear-wheel anti-lock braking system. Your front wheels can stop rolling when you brake very hard. Once they do, the vehicle can’t respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was headed when the front wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic. So, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you maximum braking while maintaining steering control. You do this by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure. When you do, it will help maintain steering control. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking. . . . l o 4

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 apply the brakes. Both control systems - steering and braking - have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the hard braking can demand too much at those places. You can lose control. The same thing can happen if you’re steering through a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems - steering and acceleration - can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or 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.

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 can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action - steering around the problem. Your Geo can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes, but not enough to lock your front wheels. 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.

4n emergency like this requires close ittention 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.

Iff-Road Recovery 7ou may find sometime that your right ,heels have dropped off the edge of a oad onto the shoulder (A) while you’re riving. f the level of the shoulder is only slightl: lelow the pavement, recovery should be airly easy. Ease off the accelerator and hen, if there is nothing in the way, steer o that your vehicle straddles the edge of he pavement. You can turn the steering vheel up to 1/4 turn (B) until the right ront tire contacts the pavement edge. ?hen turn your steering wheel to go traight down the roadway.

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Your Driving and the Road 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

. . . l o 6

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. 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 system (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 Geo's three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels are.n't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering i n a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And i n 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.

I f your vehicle starts t o slide, ease your foot 011' 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. 41ways be ready for ;I sccond 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 t o these conditions. It is important t o 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, o r braking (including engine braking by shifting EO a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until yout- vehicle is skidding. Learn t o recognize such a s enough water, warning clues ice or packed snow on the road to make ;1 "nlir~-or.ed surf'rlce" - and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: The rex-wheel anti-lock braking system (RWAL) helps avoid only a rear braking skid. In a braking skid (where the front wheels are no longer

rolling), release enough pressure o n the brakes t o get the front wheels rolling again. This restores steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have t o stop suddenly. As long as the I'ront wheels are rolling, you will have sleering control.

Driving Guidelines

This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined as a utility vehicle in Consumer Information Regulations issued by the National I-lighway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation. Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road allowing you to anticipate problems. They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds a s conventional 2-wheel drive vehicles any no re than low-slunl 7 .'p '-, orts cars are designed to perform satisfitctorily under off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid shurp turns or abrupt maneuvers.

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Your Driving and the Road As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover.

Off-Road Driving with Your Geo Four-wheel Drive Vehicle

This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Also, see “Anti-lock Brakes” in the Index. If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t drive off-road unless you’re on a level, solid surface. Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have some definite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. “Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American road system behind. Traffic lanes aren‘t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no road signs. Surfwes can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short, you’ve gone right back to nature. Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s why it’s very important that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. = . . l o 8

Before You Go Off-Roading There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure t o have a l l necessary maintenance and service work done. 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-roacting where you’ll be driving? If you don’t 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. Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving There are some important things to remember about how to load your vehicle.

The heavies1 things should be on the load floor and forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items a s far forward a s you can.

e Be sure the load is secured properly,

so driving on the off-road terrain doesn’t toss things around.

You’ll find other important information in this manual. See “Vehicle Loading” and ”Tires” i n the Index.

With your arms, hands, feet, and body you’ll 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: 0 you approach things faster and you have less time to scan the terrain for obstacles.

0 you have less time to react. 0 you have more vehicle bounce when

you drive over obstacles.

0 you’ll need more distance for braking, especially since you’re on an unpaved surface.

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’s 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’ll want to know how to use it properly.

Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving It’s a good idea to practice in an area that’s safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different driving skills. Here’s 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.

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’re 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: 0 Is the path ahead clear? 0 Will the surface texture change

abruptly up ahead?

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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 “Drunken Driving” in the Index.)

Driving On Off-Road Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, jown, or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can md can’t do. There are some hills that ;imply can’t be driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.

Your Driving and the Road 0 Does the travel take you uphill or

downhill? (There’s more discussion of these subjects later.)

0 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’re not prepared. When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you can’t control the vehicle as well or at all. Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s 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 isn’t. Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the . . .I10

Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it’s one of those hills that’s 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 won’t have to make turning maneuvers? Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)? What’s beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you don’t know. It’s the smart way to find out.

0

Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of the hill. Attach a flag to the vehicle to tnake you more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills. Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to let opposing traffic know you’re there. Use your headlights even during the day. They make you more visible t o oncoming traffic.

0 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.

Driving Uphill Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you need to take some special steps. 0 Use a low gear and get a firm grip on

the steering wheel. Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain your speed. Don’t use more power than you need, because you don’t want your wheels to start spinning or sliding. Try to drive straight up the hill if at a1 possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to find another route.

Q: What should I do if my vehicle

stalls, or is about to stall, and I can’t make it up the hill?

A:

If this happens, there are some things you should do, and there are some things you must not do. First, here’s what you should do: Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking brake. I f your engine is still running, shift the transmission into reverse, release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in reverse. If your engine has stopped running, you’ll need to restart it. With the brake pedal depressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the transmission to “P” (Park) (or, shift to “N” (Neutral) if your vehicle has a manual transmission) and restart the engine. Then, shift to reverse, release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in reverse. As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position. This way,

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Your Driving and the Road

0: Suppose, after stalling, I try t o back down the hill and decide I just can't do it. What should I do?

A: Set the parking brake, put your

transmission in "P'* (Park) (or the manual transmission in first gear). and 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 thc transfer case to "N" (Neutral) when you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.

you'll be able t o tell if your wheels are stl-aisht and maneuver as you back down. It's best t h u r ~ hill with your wheeis straight rather than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or right w i l l increase the possibility of a rollover.

i);\c.l; c'lown the

Here are some things you must not do if you stall, or are about to stall, when going up a hill.

Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into "N" (Neutral) (or depressing the clutch. if you have a manual transmission) to "rev-up" the engine and regain forward rnornentum. This won't 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 into reverse, release the parking brake, and slowly back straight down. 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's steep enough to cause you to roll over if y o u turn around. If you can't make it up the hill, you must back straight down the hill.

. . .112

Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, JOU'II want to consider a number of hings: D How steep is the downhill'? Will

able to maintain vehicle control'? D What's the surfilce like? Smooth?

I be

Rough'! Slippery'? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel'?

0 Are there hidden surface obstacles?

Ruts? Logs? Boulders?

0 What’s 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 won’t have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times.

Q: Are there some things I should not

do when driving down a hill?

Q: Am I likely to stall when going

downhill?

A: Yes! These are important because if

you ignore them you could lose control and have a serious accident.

When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that’s not too steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down. Never go downhill with the transmission in “N” (Neutral), or with the clutch pedal depressed in a manual shift. This is called “free-wheeling.” Your brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade. Avoid braking so hard that you lock the front wheels when going downhill. If your front wheels are locked, you can’t steer your vehicle. If your wheels lock up during downhill braking, you may feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways. To regain your direction, just ease off the brakes and steer to keep the front of the vehicle pointing straight downhill.

A:

It‘s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if it happens going downhill, here’s what to do. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes. Apply the parking brake. Shift to “P” (Park) (or to Neutral with the manual transmission) and, while still braking, restart the engine. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake, and drive straight down. If the engine won’t 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 happeris, you have to decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here are some things to consider: 0 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

113 :. .

Your Driving and 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 whecls) 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. Surfkce conditions can be a problem when you drive across il hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots. or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways. it can h i t something that will trip it ( a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over. 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 o r depression. your vehicle can tilt even more.

Stalling on an Incline If your vehicle stalls when you’re crossing an incline, be sure you (and your 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’ll 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.

Road

Drivihg across an incline that’s 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, don’t drive across it. Find another route instead.

Q: What if I’m driving across an

incline that’s not too steep, but I hit some loose gravel and start to slide downhill. What should I do‘?

A: 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 come” so you know what the surface is like bcforc you drive it.

For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether to try t o drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean you have to drive it. The last vehicle t o iry it might have rolled over. . . .I14

It's best to use a low gear when you're i n mud -the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle moving so you don't get stuck. When you drive on sand, you'll sense a change in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed sand (as on beaches or sand dunes) your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This has an effect on steering. accelerating, and braking. You may want to reduce the air pressure in your tires slightly when driving on sand. This will improve traction. Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction. On these surfaces, it's very easy to lose control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating. .4nd if you do get moving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause you to slide out of control.

A CAUTION:

Driving in Water Light rain causes no special off-road driving problems. But heavy rain can mean tlash flooding, and tlood 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 il - you probably won't get through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle and other vehicle parts. If the water isn't too deep, then drive through it slowly. At fast speeds. water splashes on your ignition system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get your tailpipe under water. ,4nd, as

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A CAUTION:

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice When you drive i n mud, snow or sand, your wheels won't get good traction. You can't accelerate as quickly, turning is more difficult, and you'll need longer braking distances.

Your Driving and the Road long as your tailpipe is under water, you'll 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.

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 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.

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

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vehicle with Inisaimed headlights), slow. down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights. Keep your windshield and a l l the glass on your vehicle clean - inside and out. Glare at night is nladc much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a f i l m caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would. making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your hcacilights light up far less of' LI roadway when you are i n a turn or curve. Kecp your eycs moving: that way, it's casier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlights should be checked regularly for proper aim. so should your eyes be examined regulurly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness - the inability to see i n dim light - and aren't even aware of it.

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 md rest.

Night Vision No one can see 11s well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A SO-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing a ( night :is a 20-year-old. What you do i n the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example. if you spend the day i n bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes t o night. will have less trouble adjusting 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 c;tn take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes t o readjust to the dark. When you are k e d with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn't lower the high beams. or a

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 f a l l while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. The heavier the rain. the harder it is t o 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.

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Your Driving and the Road 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.

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Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

Turn on your low-beam headlights - not just your parking lights - to help make you more visible to others.

0 Besides slowing down, allow some

extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more

clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray.

0 Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See "Tires" in the Index.)

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.

City Driving

One ofthe biggest problems with city streets is the arnount of trafl'ic o n them. You'll want t o watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals. Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: 0 Know the best way to get t o where

you are going. Get a city rnap and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip. Try t o use the freeways that rlrn and crisscross tnost large cities. You'll save time and energy. (See the next section, "Freeway Driving.")

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Your Driving and the Road

3egin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance wer 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.

I’he exit ramp can be curved, sometimes pite sharply. The exit speed is usually 3osted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of