Rear Window Defogger
K2112 J
You can tell if your vehicle has this option by looking at the rear window. If
you see lines running across the glass, you have it. These are the wires
which heat your window.
NOTICE
I Scraping the inside of your rear window could cut and damage the
defogger. Your warranty would not cover this damage. And don't put
decals there, you might have
to scrape them off. I
For best results, clear the window of as much snow or ice as possible first.
To turn on the rear window defogger, find the switch marked REAR DEFOG
on your instrument panel, just below the heater system. Press \
the right side
of the switch, with the defog symbol on it, until the light in the switch comes
on, then release
it. The rear window defogger will only work if the ignition
switch
is turned to RUN.
You can turn the defogger off at any time by pressing the left, lighted side of
the switch. The defogger will shut itself
off after several minutes, so that the
glass does not get too hot.
If the defogger shuts off, and the window still
isn't clear, turn the defogger on again.
3-1 1
Pavement Markings
NO PASSING ZONE
AM40201 6
Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals. They give information to
drivers without taking attention from the roadway. A solid yell\
ow line on your
side of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”
Your Own Signals
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only more polite, it’s safer, to let other
drivers know what you are doing. And in some places the law requires driver
signals.
Turn and lane change signals: Always signal when you plan to turn or
change lanes.
If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window: Left arm straight out
for
a left turn, down for slow or about-to-stop, and up for a right\
turn.
Slowing down: If time allows, tap the brake pedal once or twice in advance
of slowing or stopping. This warns the driver behind you.
Disabled: Your four-way flashers signal that your vehicle is disabled or \
is a
hazard. See “Hazard Warning Flasher” in the Index.
Traffic Officer
The traffic police officer is also a source of important information. The officer’s
signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights or other signs say. \
The next part discusses some of the road conditions you may e\
ncounter.
4-8
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained,
it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in your vehicle’s
dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and w\
illing to help
if
you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
e
e
On
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about
100 miles (160 km) or two
hours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for s\
ome refreshment
like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do stop and move
around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend
to make some people
sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations not usually found
on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping cen\
ters with
direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones, vehicles
turning left and right
off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and
even animals.
4-45
t
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
I-
.
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 o\
n 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.
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
I from the wind. This will help keep CO out.
4-55
Your Driving and the Road
AN480044
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 headlights. Let the heater
run for awhile. Then,
shut the engine off and close the window almost all the
way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when
you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so
until help comes.
If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep snow without
damaging it. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Towing a mailer
I A If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive properly, you can
lose control when
you pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well-or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured. Pull a trailer only
if you have
followed all the steps in this section.
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I
If you have a rear-most window open and you pull a trailer with \
your
can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness or death (See
“Engine Exhaust” in the Index).
To maximize your safety when towing
a trailer:
- vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle. You
Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks and make
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle through a window in the
rear or another opening, drive with your front, main heating or
cooling system
on and with the fan on any speed. This will
bring fresh, outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use RECIR
because it only recirculates the air inside your vehicle. See
“Comfort Controls” in the Index.
necessary repairs before starting on your trip.
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.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when you’re towing a tr\
ailer.
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 left, just move your 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 Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than n\
ormal. Do this so
your trailer wheels won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or
other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
4-61
If No Steam Is Coming From Your C gine:
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.
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. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral).
window
as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten 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, push the accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed. Bring the engine speed back to
normal idle speed after two or three minutes.
Now 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.
5-9
Service & Appearance Care
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid.
P
K2470
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in your master cylinder
might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake
system.
If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’\
t work at all.
So, it
isn’t a good idea to “top
off your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a leak.
If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then you’ll have \
too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add (or remove)
brake fluid, as necessary only when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
.
4 If you---have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the engine. The fluid
will burnhhe engine is hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only when \
work
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to check your brake
fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance” in the Index,
To Check Brake Fluid:
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid levels should \
be above the
MIN
mark. If they aren’t, have your brake system checked to see if there is a leak.
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