1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER light

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
You might
not be aware of hydroplaning.
You could drive along for some time
without realizing your tires aren’t
in
constant contact with the road. You
could find out the hard way: when you
have to slow, turn, move out to pass-or
if you get hit by a gust of wind. You could
suddenly find yourself
out of control. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But
it
can
if your tires haven’t much tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It
can happen if a lot of water is standing
on the road. If
you can see reflections
from trees, telephone poles, or other
vehicles, and raindrops “dimple’’ the
water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher
speeds. There just isn’t
a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best
advice is to slow down when
it is
raining, and be careful.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your headlights-not just your
parking lights-to help make you
more
visible to others.
Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming
from behind. You may want
to use
your headlights even
in daytime if it’s
raining hard.
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. If
the road spray is so heavy you
are actually blinded, drop back. Don’t
pass until conditions improve. Going
more slowly is better than having an
accident.
Use your defogger if it helps.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. (See
the Index under fires.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Driving in Fog, Mist and Haze
Fog can occur with high humidity or
heavy frost. It can be
so mild that you
can see through it for several hundred
feet (meters). Or it might be
so thick
that you can see only a few
feet (meters)
ahead. It may come suddenly to an
otherwise clear road. And it can be a
major hazard.
When
you drive into a fog patch, your
visibility will be reduced quickly. The
biggest dangers are striking the vehicle
ahead or being struck by the one
behind. Try to “read” the fog density
down the road.
If the vehicle ahead
starts to become less clear or, at night, if
the taillights are harder to see, the fog is
probably thickening. Slow down to give traffic behind you a chance to slow
down.
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Everybody then has a better chance to
avoid hitting the vehicle ahead.
A patch of dense fog may extend only
for a
few feet (meters) or for miles
(kilometers); you can’t really tell while
you’re
in it. You can only treat the
situation with extreme care.
One common fog condition-sometimes
called mist or ground fog-can happen
in weather that seems perfect, especially
at night or in the early morning
in valley
and low, marshy areas.
You can be
suddenly enveloped
in thick, wet haze
that may even coat your windshield.
You
can often spot these fog patches or mist
layers with your headlights. But
sometimes they can be waiting for
you
as you come over a hill or dip into a
shallow valley. 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, even in
daytime. You’ll see-and be
seen-better.
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

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine something between you and moving
vehicles-space, trees, telephone poles,
a private driveway, anything that
removes you from other traffic.
zf 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 prepared 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.
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city
streets is the amount
of traffic on them.
You’ll want to watch out for what the
other drivers are doing and pay attention
to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety in
city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you
are going. Try not to drive around
trying to pick out a familiar street or
landmark. Get a city map and plan
your trip into an unknown part
of the
city just as
you would for a cross-
country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and
crisscross most large cities. You’ll save
time and energy. (See the next section,
Freeway Driving.)
Treat a green light as a warning
signal.
A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need it.
When
a light turns green, and just
before you
start to move, check both
ways for vehicles that have not cleared
the intersection or may be running the
red light.
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.
clear
of intersections when you see or
hear emergency vehicles.
Obey all posted speed limits. But
Pull to the right (with care) and stop
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
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.
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.
Switch on your
turn signal, check your
rearview mirrors as you move along,
and glance over your shoulder as often
as necessary. Try to blend smoothly
with the traffic flow.
Driving on fhe Freeway
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.
If you are on a two-lane freeway, treat
the right lane as the slow lane and the
left lane as the passing lane. If you are
on a three-lane freeway, treat the right
lane as the slower-speed through lane,
the middle lane as the higher-speed
through lane, and
the left lane as the
passing lane.
Before changing lanes, check your
rearview 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you are moving from an outside to a
center lane on a freeway having more
than two lanes, make sure another vehicle isn’t about to move into the same
spot. Look at the vehicles two lanes
over and watch for telltale signs: turn
signals flashing, an increase in speed, or
moving toward the edge of the lane. Be
prepared
to delay your move.
Once you are moving on the freeway,
make certain you allow a reasonable
following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
Leaving the Freeway
When you want to leave the freeway,
move to the proper lane well in advance.
Dashing across lanes at the last minute
is dangerous. If you
miss your exit do
not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
At each exit point is
a deceleration lane.
Ideally it should be long enough for you
to enter it at freeway speed (after
signaling, of course) and then do your
braking before moving onto the exit
ramp. Unfortunately, not all deceleration
lanes
are long enough-some are too
short for all the braking. Decide when
to start braking. If you must brake on
the through lane, and if there is traffic
close behind you, you can allow a little extra
time and flash your brake lights (in
addition to your turn signal) as extra
warning that you are about to slow
down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply. The exit speed is usually
posted. Reduce your speed according to
your speedometer, not to your sense
of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually
are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h)
might seem like only
20 mph (30 km/h).
Obviously, this could lead to serious
trouble on a ramp designed for
20 mph
(30 km/h)!
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
made on freeways, there are still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and
regular highways is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the
vehicle prepared, you drive at higher-
than-city speeds, and there are longer
turns behind the wheel. You’ll enjoy
your trip more
if you and your vehicle
are in good shape. Here are some tips
for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well Here are some things you can check
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 Chevrolet dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
I’
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
Have you checked all levels?
lenses clean? safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
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?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Weather Forecasts: What’s the

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine On 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 some 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 centers 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.
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 second, 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 frequently and your
instruments from time to time. This
can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light.
Glare can cause drowsiness. But don’t
wear sunglasses at night. They will
drastically reduce your overall vision
at the very time you need
all the
seeing power you have.
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.
As in any driving situation, keep pace
with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
L

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Torque Lock
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
If you are parking on a hill and you
don’t shift
your transaxle into P (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may find it difficult
to pull the
shift lever out of P (Park).
This
is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, always be sure to shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see the
Index under Shiftirtg Into P (Park),
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out
of P (Park) before you
release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need
to have another vehicle push yours a
little uphill to take some
of the pressure
from the transaxle,
so you can pull the
shift lever out
of P (Park).
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Chevrolet in good shape for
winter. Be sure your engine coolant
mix is correct.
Snow tires can help in loose snow, but
they may give you less traction on ice
than regular tires.
If you do not expect
to be driving in deep snow, but may
have to travel over ice,
you may not
want to switch to snow tires at all.
You may want to put winter
emergency supplies in your trunk or
rear area.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush
or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight,
a
red cloth, and a 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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