
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Start your windshield wipers and washer, to help clear accumulated road
dirt. Slow down carefully.
Tips on Driving in Fog
If you get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low beam: (en In
daytime. You’ll see -- and be seen -- better. Use your fog lignts if your
vehicle has them.
Don’t use your high beams.
The light will bounce off the water droplets
that make up fog and reflect back at
you.
Use your defogger. In high humidity, even a light buildup of moisture on
the inside
of the glass will cut down on your already limited visibility. Run
your windshield wipers and washer occasionally. Moisture can build up
on the outside glass, and what seems to be fog may actually be moisture
on the outside of your windshield.
Treat dense fog as an emergency. Try to find a place to pull off the road,
Of course you want to respect another’s property, but you might need to
put something between you and moving vehicles
-- space, trees, telephone
poles,
a private driveway, anything that removes you from other traffic.
If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are unsure whether you are.
away from the road, turn your lights
on, start your hazard warning
flashers, and sound your horn at intervals or when you hear approaching
traffic.
Pass other vehicles
in fog only if you can see far enough ahead to pass
safely.
Even then, be preparcd to delay your pass if you suspect the fog is
worse up ahead. If other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Obey all posted speed limits. But remember that they are for ideal
road, weather and visibility conditions.
You may need to drive below
the posted limit
in bad weather or when visibility is especially poor.
Pull to the right (with care) and stop clear of intersections when you
see or hear emergency vehicles.
FREEWAYDIWTNG
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.
Entering the Freeway
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.
If traffic is light, you may have no problem. But if it is
heavy, find a gap as you move along the entering lane and time
your
approach. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You
should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things
to
do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn
on your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put
on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats
-- anything you
can wrap around yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
I A CAUTION:
I
l IOW 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 was 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains. \
Always
leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And, never allow
safety chains
to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
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.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into your vehicle’s
brake system. If you do, both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you’ll want
to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight
of
the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly so responsive as your vehicle is by
itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector, lights, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then apply the
trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This
lets you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and any trailer brakes are
still working.
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need scrvice more often when you‘re pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid
(don’t overfill), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system, and brake
adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that
all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. Put the cap back on
the coolant surge
tank.
5. Start the engine and as the engine runs the coolant will circulate
through the cooling system. Any air that was introduced while adding
coolant will purge itself and rise to the top of the surge tank.
If the
“ENGINE COOLANT LOW” message does not appear on the
Driver Information Center, coolant is at the proper
fill level. If an
“ENGINE COOLANT LOW” message does appear, repeat steps
1
through 4 or see your dealer.
IFA TIRE GOES FLAT
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out7’ while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely
to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake
to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle
to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can
still steer. Gently brake to
a stop, well off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What about gasoline with blending materials that contain oxygen, such as
MTBE or alcohol?
MTBE is “methyl tertiary-butyl ether.” Fuel that is no more than
15%
MTBE is fine for your car.
Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol. Properly-blended fuel that is no more
than
10% ethanol is fine for your car.
Methanol
is methyl or wood alcohol.
r 1
NOTICE:
Fuel that is more than 5% methanol is bad for your vehicle.
Don’t use it. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and
also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t be
covered under your warranty. And even at
5% or less, there must
be 6Ccosolvents” and corrosion preventers in this fuel to help
avoid these Droblems.
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
Your use
of gasoline with detergent additives will help prevent deposits
from forming in your engine and fuel system. That helps keep your
engine
in tune and your emission control system working properly. It’s
good for your vehicle, and you’ll be doing your part for cleaner air.
Many gasolines are now blended with materials called oxygenates.
General Motors recommends that you use gasolines
with these blending
materials, such as
MTBE and ethanol. By doing so, you can help clean
the air, especially in those parts
of the country that have high carbon
monoxide levels.
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing reformulated
gasolines. These gasolines are specially designed to reduce vehicle
emissions. General Motors recommends that you use reformulated
gasoline. By doing
so, you can help clean the air, especially in those parts
of the country that have high ozone levels.
You should ask your service station operators if their gasolines contain
detergents and oxygenates, and
if they have been reformulated to reduce
vehicle emissions.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
NOTICE:
1
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transaxle fluid level if you
have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating
temperature, which is
180’F to 200°F (82°C to 93OC).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km) when
outside temperatures are above
50°F (10” C). If it’s colder than 50’F
(10 C), you may have to drive longer.
To check the fluid level:
0 Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in “P” (Park) with the parking brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. The\
n,
position the shift lever
in “P” (Park).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three to five minutes.
277