Seats & Safety Belts
Q: Why don’t they just put in air bags
so people won’t have to wear safety
belts?
Restraint systems, are in some
vehicles today and
will be in more of
them
in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only
- so they
work
with safety belts, not instead of
them. Every “air bag” system ever
offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even
if you’re in a
vehicle that has “air bags,” you still
have to buckle up to get the
most
protection. That’s true not only in
frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.
A: “Air bags,” or Supplemental Intlatable
---2o
Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never
drive far from home, why should
I
wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if
you’re in an accident - even one that
isn’t your fault
- you and your
passengers can be hurt. Being
a good
driver doesn’t protect you from things
beyond your control, such
as bad
drivers.
Most accidents occur
within 25 miles
(40 km) of home. And the greatest
number
of serious injuries and deaths
occur at speeds
of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
Safety Belt Reminder
Light
When the key is turned to Run or Start,
a light will come on for about eight
seconds to remind people
to fasten their
safety belts. Unless the driver’s safety belt
is buckled, a chime will also sound.
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Features & Controls
Door Locks
I CAUTION:
I ... 50
A
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
Passengers
- especially children
- can easily open the doors and
fall
out. When a door is locked,
the inside handle won’t open
it.
Outsiders can easily enter through
an unlocked door when you slow
down
or stop your vehicle.
This may not be
so obvious: You
increase the chance
of‘ being
thrown
out of the vehicle in a
crash if the doors aren’t locked.
Wear safety belts properly, lock
your doors, and you will be far
better
off whenever you drive your
vehicle. There
are several ways
to lock and unlock
your vehicle:
From the outside: Use your door
key.
From the inside: To lock the door, move
the
lock control on the door back.
To unlock the door. move the lock control
on
the door forward.
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Features & Controls
NOTICE:
you put things in the hatchback
I
-9.52
area, be sure they won’t break the
glass when you close it. Never slam
the hatch down. You could break thL
glass or damage
the defogper grid
(if equipped).
A
It can be dangerous to drive
with the hatch open. Carbon
monoxide
(CO) gas can come into
your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness
and even death.
If you must drive
with the hatch
open:
Make sure all other windows
Turn the fan on your heating
are
shut.
or cooling system to its
highest speed with the setting
on
9 . That will force
outside air into your vehicle.
See “Comfort Controls”
in
the Index.
If you have air vents on or
under the instrument panel,
open
them all the way.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in
some cities. Although your Chevrolet has
a number of theft-deterrent features, we
know that nothing we put
on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are
ways you can help.
Key in the ignition: If you walk away
from your vehicle with the keys inside,
it’s an easy target for
joy riders or
professional thieves
- so don’t do it.
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Features & Controls
I
I
I'o Get Out of Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the
Cruise Control:.
1. Step lightly on the brake pedal or push
the clutch pedal,
if you have a manual
transmission:
OR
2. Move the Cruise switch to OFF.
To Erase Speed Memory
When you turn off the Cruise Control or
the ignition, your Cruise Control set speed
memory
is erased.
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle's lighting system
(headlights, parking lights,
fog lamps,
side marker lights and taillights) meet all
applicable federal lighting requirements,
certain states and provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may
require special attention before you
operate these lights. For example, some
jurisdictions may require that
you operate
your lower beam lights with fog lamps at
all times, or that headlights be turned on
whenever you must use your windshield
wipers.
In addition, most jurisdictions
prohibit driving solely with parking
lights, especially at dawn or dusk. It is
recommended that you check with your
own state or provincial highway authority
for applicable lighting regulations.
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4. Press the lower knob.“000” will
appear on the display.
digit of your code appears. Release the
button.
6. Press SEEK 4 or and hold until the
fifth and sixth digits of your code
appear. Release the button.
7. Press the lower knob. “SEC” will
appear and the unit will work. If
“LOC” shows, the numbers did not
match and the
unit is still locked.
5. Press SCAN and hold until the fourth
How to Change Your Security Code
You can change your security code by
following these steps:
1. Using your old code, follow the
directions given under “Shutting Off
the Theft-Deterrent Feature.’’
2. Repeat directions of “Setting Your
Security Code” with your new
security code.
Understanding Radio Reception
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound.
But FM signals will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). And, tall
buildings or hills can interfere with
FM signals, causing the sound to come
and go.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater
than for FM, especially at night. The
longer range, however, can cause stations
to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and
power lines. Try reducing the treble to
reduce this noise
if you ever get it.
I
127---
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Your Driving and the Road
I
,
I
... 140
There’s something else about drinking
and driving that many people don’t know.
Medical research shows that alcohol
in a
person’s system can make crash injuries
worse. That’s especially true for brain,
spinal cord and heart injuries. That means
that
if anyone who has been drinking -
driver or passenger - is in a crash, the
chance
of being killed or permanently
disabled
is higher than if that person had
not been drinking. And we’ve already
seen that the chance of a crash itself
is
higher for drinking drivers.
IU I I .
urrnKing ana men awing IS
very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, and judgment
will be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You could have a serious
- or even fatal - accident if you
drive after drinking. Please don’t
drink
and drive or ride with a driver
who has been drinking. Ride home
in a cab; or if you’re with a group,
designate
a driver who will not
drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your
vehicle
go where you want it lo go. They
are the brakes,
the steering and the
accelerator. All three systems have to do
their work
at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on
snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those
control systems
than the tires and road
can provide. That means you can lose
control
of your vehicle.
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Your Driving and the Road
So here are some tips for passing:
0
0
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road,
to the sides, and
to crossroads for
situations that might affect your
passing patterns. If you have
any
doubt whatsoever about making a
successful pass, wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement
markings, and lines. If you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your
pass.
A broken center line usually
indicates
it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear).
0
0
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 you suspect that the driver of the
vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware
of your presence, tap the horn a
couple of times before passing.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you
want to pass while you’re awaiting an
opportunity. For one thing, following
too closely reduces your area
of
vision, especially if you’re following a
larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have
adequate space
if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows
or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
0 When it looks like a chance to pass is
coming up, start to accelerate but stay
in the right lane and don’t get too
close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes
to
move into the other lane. If the way is
clear to pass, you
will have a “running
start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose
by dropping
back. And
if something happens to
cause you to cancel your pass, you
need only slow down and drop back
again and wait for another
opportunity.
.. = 150
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Your Driving and the Road
The three types of skids correspond to
your Chevrolet’s three control systems. In
the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling. In the steering or cornering skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And
in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to
spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid
are best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle
starts to slide (as when you turn a corner
on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road),
ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal as
soon as you feel the vehicle start to slide.
Quickly steer the way
you want the vehicle to
go. If you
start steering quickly
enough, your vehicle will straighten out.
As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction
is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll want to
slow
down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While
driving on a surface
with reduced
traction,
try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide.
You may not
realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues
- such as enough
water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make
a “mirrored surface” - and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
Steer the way you want to go.
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