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Press the button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning, and SCAN will appear on the display. If you press SCAN for more than two seconds, the radio will change to P SCAN mode. P SCAN will appear on the display.
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PUSHBUTTONS: The five numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 15 stations (five A M , five FM1 and five FM2). Just: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons.
The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. P SCAN: Press SCAN for more than two seconds, and P SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press SCAN again to stop scanning. Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass.
TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Then pull the knob all the way out. Turn it to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.
Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press the knob lightly so it extends. Then pull the knob all the way out. Turn it to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.
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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)
Playing the Radio PWR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob to the right. Turn it to the left to decrease volume.
If you
RCL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the RCL button until you see the display you want, then hold the RCL button until the display flashes. press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds. Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. SCAN: Press this button and release it to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press the button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning, and SCAN will appear on the display. If you press SCAN for more than two seconds, the radio will change to P SCAN mode. P SCAN will appear on the display.
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Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press the knob lightly so it extends. Then pull the knob all the way out. Turn it to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. Playing 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 the ignition is on, but the radio is off, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, FADE, BAL, TREB, BASS, TONE, SEEK and SCAN controls just as you do for the radio. The display will show TP with a
box around it and an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. Your tape bias is set automatically. When a metal or chrome tape is inserted, HI-BIAS appears on the display. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition is off, first press EJECT or RCL. If E and a number appear on the radio display, the tape won’t play because of an error.
E10: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub to the left with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. hubs do not tum easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make m e your player is working properly. Ell: The tape is broken. Try a new tape.
If the
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your retailer. If your radio displays an error number, write to your retailer when reporting the problem. REV (1): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape reverses. You may select stations during REV operation by using TUNE.
it down and provide it
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FWD (2): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape advances. You may select stations during F W D operation by using TUNE. PROG (3): Press this button to play the other side of the tape. 00 (4): Press this button to reduce background noise. Note that the double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. TONE: Press this button to select a tone while playing a cassette. The tone will be automatically set whenever you play a cassette tape. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to search for the next or previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for SEEK to work. SCAN: Press this button to listen to each selection for a few seconds. The tape will go to the next selection, stop
for a few seconds, then go on to the next selection. Press this button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute, SCAN will appear on the display and the tape direction arrow will blink while scanning. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. The tape will stop but remain in the player. TAPE AUX: If you have a tape inserted and the radio is playing, press TAPE AUX to play your tape. To return to the radio while a tape is playing, press AM-FM. The inactive tape will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. EJECT: Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettes may be loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is pressed first. CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.
It will still play
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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)
Playing the Radio PVVR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob to the right. Turn it to the left to decrease volume.
If you
is off, the clock will
RCL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the RCL button until you see the display you want, then hold the RCL button until the display flashes. press the button when the ignition show for a few seconds. Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, F M 1 and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. SCAN: Press this button and release it to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press the button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning, and SCAN will appear on the display. If you press SCAN for more than two seconds, the radio will change to P SCAN mode. P SCAN will appear on the display.
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PUSHBUTTONS: The five numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 15 stations (five AM, five FM1 and five FM2). Just: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press TONE to select the equalization that best suits
the type of station selected.
5. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons.
The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return and the tone that you selected will also be automatically selected for that button.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. P SCAN: Press SCAN for more than two seconds, and P SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press SCAN again to stop scanning.
Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. When you use this control, the radio’s tone setting will switch to manual. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Then pull the knob all the way out. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. When you use this control, the radio’s tone setting will switch to manual. or noisy, you may want to decrease Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for jazz, vocal, pop, rock and classical stations. JAZZ will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after CLASSIC appears and MANUAL will appear. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. Also, if you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and MANUAL will appear.
If a station is weak the treble.
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Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press the knob lightly so it extends. Then pull the knob all the way out. Turn it to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. Playing 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 the ignition is on, but the radio is off, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, FADE, BAL, TREB, BASS, TONE, SEEK and SCAN controls just as you do for the radio. The display will show TP with a
box around it and an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. Your tape bias is set automatically. When a metal or chrome tape is inserted, HI-BIAS appears on the display. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition is off, first press EJECT or RCL. If E and a number appear on the radio display and the tape won’t play because of an error, it could be that: 0 E10: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn the
tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub to the left with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly. Ell: The tape is broken. Try a new tape.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your retailer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your retailer when reporting the problem. REV (1): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape reverses. You may select stations during REV operation by using TUNE.
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FWD (2): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape advances. You may select stations during FWD operation by using TUNE. PROG (3): Press this button to play the other side of the tape. 00 (4): Press this button to reduce background noise. Note that the double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. TONE: Press this button to select a tone while playing a cassette. The tone will be automatically set whenever you play a cassette tape. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to search for the next or previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for SEEK to work. SCAN: Press this button to listen to each selection for a few seconds. The tape will go to the next selection, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next selection. Press
this button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning, SCAN will appear on the display and the tape direction arrow will blink while scanning. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. The tape will stop but remain in the player. TAPE-CD: Press this button if you have a disc loaded in the CD player and the radio is playing, to play a compact disc. Press AM-FM to return to the radio when a compact disc is playing. Press TAPE-CD to switch between the tape and compact disc if both are loaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. The display will show TP and CD. EJECT: Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettes may be loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is pressed first. CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.
It will still play
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Playing a Compact Disc With the ignition on, insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the disc should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD when the ignition is off, first press EJECT or RCL. The CD player will play either normal-size discs or the smaller 8 cm discs with an adapter. Note that when the disc is inserted, CD will be displayed. When the disc is playing, a box will appear around CD on the display. If you select a tone setting for your CD, it will be activated each time you play a CD. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear in the display. If E (error) and a number appear on the radio display and the disc comes out, it could be that: 0 E20: The road is too rough. The disc should play
when the road is smoother. E20: The disc is duly, scratched, wet or upside down.
0 E20: The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour
and try again.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your retailer. If your radio
displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your retailer when reporting the problem. REV (1): Press and hold this button to quickly reverse within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced volume. The display will show elapsed time. FWD (2): Press and hold this button to quickly advance within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced volume. The display will show elapsed time. RDM (5): Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM will appear on the display when you press this button. TONE: Press this button to select a tone while playing a compact disc. The tone will be automatically set whenever you play a compact disc. SEEK: Press the down arrow to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. Press the up arrow to go to the next track. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving rearward or forward through the disc. SCAN: Press this button to listen to each selection for a few seconds. The disc will go to the next selection, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next selection. Press this button again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning, SCAN will appear on the display.
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the button until
RCL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing. To change what is normally shown on the display (track or elapsed time), press the button until you see the display you want, then hold the display flashes. While elapsed time is showing, EL TM will appear on the display. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc is in the player. TAPE-CD: Press this button to change to the tape or disc function when the radio is on and either a tape or CD is inserted. Press AM-FM to return to the radio while a CD or tape is playing. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. If you have the optional CD changer and the CD changer is loaded, the TAPE-CD button will activate the changer and a box will be lighted around CDC in the display. EJECT: Press this button to remove the compact disc or cassette tape. The icon with the box around display will eject and the radio will play. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettes and compact discs may be loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is pressed first.
it on the
if stolen.
Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is removed. The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the is radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK activated, your radio will not operate When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power is removed. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate. Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature The instructions which follow explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system. It is recommended that you read through all nine steps before starting the procedure. NOTE: If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4. 1. Write down any three or four-digit number from
000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON. 3. Turn the radio off. 4. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down
until --- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down.
5. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display. 6. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. LOC appears when the ignition is on. 2. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display. 3. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree
with your code.
7. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree
4. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree
with your code.
8. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show REP to let you know that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code.
9. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show
SEC to let you know that your radio is secure.
with your code.
5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the
code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.
If you enter the wrong code eight times, INOP will appear on the display. You will have to wait an hour with the ignition on before you can try again. When you try again, you will only have three chances to enter the correct code before INOP appears. If you lose or forget your code, contact your retailer.
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To help avoid hearing loss or darnage: 0 Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. 0 Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE: vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile Before you add any sound equipment to your 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, Delco Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage them. 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 retailer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.
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 in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they.may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate for 50 hours without that you have used your tape player resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, your cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if it is the tape or the tape player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. The recommended cleaning method for your cassette tape player is the use of a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your retail facility (GM Part No. 12344789).
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When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because your unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature If and a cleaning cassette may appear as a broken tape. the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type to clean cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure 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 their original cases or other protective cases and away Erom 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. Care of Your Compact Disc Player The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. 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.
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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve asu included many other useful tips on driving.
4-2 4-3 4-6 4-6 4-9 4-11 4- 12 4- 13 4- 14 4-16
Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Driving at Night Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
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City Driving Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer
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it means
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, “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. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task -- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor -- makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.
Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Oldsmobile: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)
is:
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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 affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination 0 Vision
Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor vehcle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, over 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 2 1 , it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to solve this highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if the driver plans to drive? It’s 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 Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things: 0 The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking
0 The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According to the American Medical Association, a 180-lb. (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.
--
---___ - - ~--.
Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some other countries, it’s even lower. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. 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 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 a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
of
It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 9Oml of liquor each) within an how, the person’s BAC would be clo,se to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drhking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men.
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.
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 krn/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; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. 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.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.
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‘Me anb-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.
is wet. jumps out in
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal 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 will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at both rear wheels.
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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 neea to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you 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.
Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies 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. Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort.
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.
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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 vehicle can perform very well these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the right depending on the space available.
in emergencies like
left or
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.
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Off-Road Recovery You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you're driving. I OFF-ROAD RECOVERY /
I '
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.
w-/ T/
edge of paved surface
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right fiont tire contacts the pavement edge. Then tum your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
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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? lvot 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 traf%c 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.
if the
in the right lane and don’t
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 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 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 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 isn’t trying to your turn. But take care that someone pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.
if
0
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 trylng 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 vehicle’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 is 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.
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Driving at Night
ice,
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, 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 brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
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.
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Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively. Don’t drink and drive. Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps 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
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Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
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. 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. in It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled with washer fluid. 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.
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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.
‘
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally.
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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 do not have much tread or if the pressure 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.
in one or
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water, water can come in through your engine’s air intake and badly damage your engine. Never drive through water that is slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If you can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive through them very slowly.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
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. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
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City Driving
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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. 4-20
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin 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 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 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 proper
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? Lumps: 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 time to avoid a major storm system? Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
a short
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Hill and Mountain Roads
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 secund, 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.
Driving on steep hills or mountains driving in flat or rolling terrain.
is different from
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If you drive regularly in steep count., or if you’re planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 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 downhills. 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.
I =
~~
~~
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hiIl. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
0 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.
0 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, passiag or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your mnk.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer and a clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth 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.
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Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where 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 to drive on. But wet snow or ice can be slick and hard 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. 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.
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~~
~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~
..~ .
Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to begin 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.
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If You’re Caught in a Blizzal
in a If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be 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.
0 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.
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you. You can’t see it or smell it, so you might not know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around again from time to time to be sure snow doesn’t collect there. Open a window just a little on the side of the vehicle that’s away from the wind. This will help keep CO out.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
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~~
~~~~
~~~
~~
-Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while. 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 Vehicle Towing You can tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for use at your'destination. Be sure to use the proper towing equipment designed for recreational towing. Follow the instructions for the towing equipment.
Towing Your Vehicle from the Front There are two ways to tow your vehicle
from the front.
To tow your vehicle with a dolly, follow these steps: 1. Put the front wheels on a dolly. 2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P). 3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key. 4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed
for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
To tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground, follow these steps:
1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it. 2. Turn &.ignition switch to OFF. 3. Set the parking brake. 4. Remove the following fuses from the left side of the
instrument panel fuse block A) Radio, B) Wiper, H) Powertrain Control Module, K) Body Function Control Module, Cluster. This will prevent your battery from draining while towing. See “Instrument Panel Fuse Block - Left” in Section 6 for the location of these fuses.
5. Turn the ignition switch to ACC. 6. Shift your transaxle to NEUTRAL (N). 7. Release the parking brake. Remember to replace the fuses once you reach your destination. To replace a fuse: 1. Set the p a r h g brake. 2. Remove the key from the 3. Replace the fuse.
ignition switch.
I NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed 65 mph (105 km/h), or your vehicle could be badly damaged.
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8
.-
Loading Your Vehicle
LBS.
TOTAL
m. CTR. RR. MAX. LOADING & GVWR SA'ME AS VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT CO'LD~TIRE PRESSURE PSIKPa
S P E D RTG
TIRE'SIZE
X X X
KG
. 5 " -, 1 , .;: " IF TIRES ARE 'HOT, ADD 4PS1128KPa SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
:I
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.
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
total weight that you can carry. this^ weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight, and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed options.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out. Don’t carry more than 132 lbs. (60 kg) in your trunk.
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can break, or it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control. Also, overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle.
MFDBYGENERALMOTORSCORP DATE GVWR GAWR FRT GAWR
RR
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI- CABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.
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Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 Ian) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 lun/h)) to save wear on your vehicle’s parts.
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Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.
You can ask your retailer for our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at:
Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 30095 Lansing, MI 48909
Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg). But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be if you tow a trailer, you must riding in the vehicle. And add the tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index for more information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
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Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s door or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue. Hitches It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are some rules to follow:
lr you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a weight-distributing hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B). After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
the bumper.
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to Will you have to maJse any holes in the body of your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt and water can, too.
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Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Trailer Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain them properly. And because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both systems won’t work well, or
at all.
kes
~~
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Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. Passing You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane. Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you.
Making n r n s
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
tums When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need additional wiring. Check with your retailer. The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop. When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
NOTICE:
Do not tow on steep continuous grades exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher than normal engine and transaxle temperatures may result and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops are very important to allow the engine and transaxle to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well. On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating. Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the indicator is in the red area, turn off the air conditioning to reduce engine load (see “Engine Overheating” in the Index).
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Parking on Hills You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the hailer can be damaged. But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it: 1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels. 3. When the chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
W e n You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you: 0 Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
4-39
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2 5-2 5-3 5-8 5-12
Hazard Warning Flashers Other Warning Devices Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle Engine Overheating
5- 15 5-22 5-22 5-32 5-33
Cooling System If a Tire’Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire Compact Spare Tire If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
5-1
To turn off the flashers, press the switch again. When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals m n ' t work. Other Warning Devices
Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use mother vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the steps here to do it safely.
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because: 0 They contain acid that can burn you. 0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite. 0 They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all of these things can hurt you.
I-OTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
~~
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.
5-3
~ i
5. Find the positive (+) and negative (-) te
Fans or other moving engine parts can iajare you badly. Keep your bane away from .moving parts once the engine is running.
I
13. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch each other or any other metal.
10.
11.
12.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The elactrical connection is just as goad there, but the chance of sparks gettmg back to the battery is much less. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part B . Good Battery C. Dead Battery
I,
5-7
Towing Your Vehicle Try to have a retder or a professional towing service tow your vehicle. They can provide the right equipment and know-how to tow your vehicle without damage. (See ”Roadside Assistance” in the Index.) If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding aftemarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct. Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers. When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or rear with sling-type equipment, as described later in this section. That your vehicle cannot be towed from the rear with the front wheels on the ground.
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is bemg towed. Never tow faster than safe or posted,speeds. Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured. Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the tow truck. Always secure the vehi'cle on each side with separate safety chains when towing it. Never use J-hooks. Use T-hooks instead.
- -
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn't
5-9
Front Towing
NOTICE: (Continued)
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 the vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension components when using car-carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots.
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or fascia damage will occur. Use wheel-lift or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for car-carrier equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.
NOTICE: (Continued)
Rear Towing
I NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear bumper valance will be damaged. Use wheel-lift or car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping may be required for carcarrier equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.
(Continued)
NOTICE:
NOTICE: (Continued)
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 the vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment. Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to suspension components when using car-carrier equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots.
5-11
Engine Overheating You will find a coolant temperab Ire gage on vehicle’s instrument panel. see “Engine Coo Temperature Gage” in the Index. You will also find a low coolant level waming light on your vehicle’s instrument panel. See “LOW Coolant Warning Light” in the Index.
your dant
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
5-12
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or coolant before you open the hood. If you keep driving when your engine is overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
~~
5-13
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on, you , can drive normally. If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away. If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see if the warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down. You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day. Stop after high-speed driving. a Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so: 1. Turn off your air conditioner. 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while driving -- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or THIRD (3).
5-14
Cooling System When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:
/!II CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can start up even when the engine is not runnimg and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and away from any underhood electric fan.
tools
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling, don’t do anytlung else until it cools down.
A Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans
The coalant level should be at or above FULL COLD m-ark .or slightly higher. If it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them. If you do, you can be burned. Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could cause an engine fire, and you could be burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
1 NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running. engine is overheating, both fans should be running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
If the
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank If you haven’t found a problem yet, but isn’t at FULL COLD mark or slightly higher, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL’ coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. (See “Engine Coolant’’ in the Index for more infomation.)
the coolant level
Steam and scaldmg liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge tank pressure cap -- even a little -- they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the coolant
