
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  an  advanced  electronic  braking  system  that  can  help\
  keep it 
under  control. 
When  you  start  your  vehicle  and  begin  to drive  away,  you  may  hear 
a 
momentary  motor  or  clicking  noise.  This  is  the ABS system  testing  itself. 
AM41 5006 
Here’s  how  anti-lock  works.  Let’s  say  the  road  is  wet.  Y\
ou’re  driving  safely. 
Suddenly  an  animal  jumps  out  in  front  of  you. 
You slam  on  the  brakes.  Here’s  what  happens  with ABS. 
A computer  senses  that  wheels  are  slowing  down.  The  computer  sepa\
rately 
works  the  brakes  at  each  front  wheel  and  at  the  rear  wheels. \
 The  anti-lock 
system  can  change  the  brake  pressure  faster  than  any  driver  co\
uld.  The 
computer  is  programmed  to  make  the 
most of available  tire  and  road 
conditions.  You can  steer  around  the  obstacle  while  braking  hard. 
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AM440002 
I Getting  out  on  the  downhill  (low)  side of a  vehicle  stopped  across  an 
- , incline  is  dangerous. If  the  vehicle  rolls  over,  you  could  be  crushed 
or  killed.  Always  get  out  on  the  uphill  (high)  side  of the  vehicle  and 
stay  well  clear  of the  rollover  path. F 
Driving In Mud, Sand, Snow, Or Ice 
When  you  drive  in  mud,  snow  or  sand,  your  wheels  won’t  get\
  good  traction. 
You  can’t  accelerate  as  quickly,  turning  is  more  difficult,  and  \
you’ll  need 
longer  braking  distances. 
It’s best  to  use  a  low  gear  when  you’re  in  mud-the  deeper  the  \
mud,  the 
lower  the  gear.  In  really  deep  mud,  the  idea  is 
to keep  your  vehicle  moving 
so you  don’t  get  stuck. 
When  you  drive  on  sand,  you’ll  sense  a  change  in  wheel  tra\
ction.  But 
it will 
depend  upon  how  loosely  packed  the  sand  is.  On  loosely  packed \
 sand  (as 
on beaches  or  sand  dunes)  your  tires  will  tend  to  sink  into  the\
  sand.  This 
has  an  effect  on  steering,  accelerating,  and  braking.  You  may  want to  reduce 
the  air  pressure 
in your  tires  slightly  when  driving  on  sand. This will  improve 
traction. 
Hard  packed  snow  and ice  offer  the  worst  tire  traction.  On  these  surfaces,  it’s 
very  easy  to  lose  control.  On  wet  ice,  for  example,  the  tract\
ion  is 
so poor 
that  you  will  have  difficulty  accelerating.  And 
if you do get  moving,  poor 
steering  and  difficult  braking  can  cause  you  to  slide  out 
of control. 
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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  s\
urface,  there  could  be  hydroplaning. 
Hydroplaning  usually  happens  on higher  speed  roads.  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  ma\
ke 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  be\
tter  than 
having  an  accident. 
Use  your  defogger 
if it  helps. 
Have  good  tires  with  proper  tread  depth.  (See  “Tires”  in\
  the  Index.) 
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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. 
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Your Driving and 0% Road 
Will  you  have to make  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. 
Safety Chains 
You  should  always  attach  chains  between  your  vehicle  and  your  trail\
er.  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  trailer  manufacturer.  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 
If  your  trailer  weighs  more  than 1,000 pounds (450 kg)  loaded,  then  it  needs 
its  own  brakes-and  they  must  be  adequate.  Be  sure 
to read  and  follow  the 
instructions  for  the  trailer  brakes 
so you’ll  be  able  to install,  adjust  and 
maintain  them  properly. 
Don’t tap  into  your  vehicle’s  brake  system if the  trailer’s  brake  system  will use 
more  than 
0.02 cubic  inch (0.3 cc)  of fluid  from  your  vehicles  master  cylinder. 
If it does,  both  braking  systems  won’t  work  well.  You could  even  lose  your 
brakes. 
Will the  trailer  brake  parts  take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa)  of  pressure? If 
not,  the  trailer  brake  system  must  not  be  used  with  your  vehi\
cle. 
If everything  checks  out  this far, then  make  the  brake  fluid  tap  at  the 
port  on  the  master  cylinder  that  sends  fluid 
to the  rear  brakes.  But  don’t 
use  copper  tubing  for  this. 
If you  do,  it  will  bend  and  finally  break off. 
Use  steel  brake  tubing. 
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  trail\
er  brake  controller 
by  hand  to be  sure  the  brakes  are working.  This  lets vou  check  your 
electrical  connection  at  the  same  time. 
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Service & Appearance Care 
Replacing  Brake  System  Parts ........................................................................\
.. 6-33 
Other  Maintenance  Items 
........................................................................\
........... 6-34 
Lubrication 
........................................................................\
.................................... 6-35 
Electrical  System 
........................................................................\
......................... 6-37 
Battery 
........................................................................\
...................................... 6-37 
Bulb  Replacement 
........................................................................\
.................... 6-37 
Fuses  and  Circuit  Breakers 
........................................................................\
.... 6-43 
Exhaust  System 
........................................................................\
........................... 6-45 
Loading  Your  Vehicle 
........................................................................\
.................. 6-46 
Tires 
........................................................................\
.............................................. 6-48 
Inflation-Tire  Pressure 
........................................................................\
........... 6-49 
Tire  Inspection  and  Rotation 
........................................................................\
.. 6-52 
When  It’s  Time  for  New  Tires ........................................................................\
 6-53 
Buying  New  Tires 
........................................................................\
.................... 6-53 
Uniform  Tire  Quality  Grading 
........................................................................\
.. 6-54 
Wheel  Alignment  and  Tire  Balance 
............................................................... 6-55 
Wheel  Replacement 
........................................................................\
................. 6-55 
Tire  Chains 
........................................................................\
............................... 6-56 
Appearance  Care 
........................................................................\
........................ 6-57 
Cleaning  the  Inside  Of  Your  Vehicle 
............................................................. 6-58 
Cleaning  the  Outside 
Of Your  Vehicle .......................................................... 6-61 
Appearance  Care  Materials 
........................................................................\
........ 6-64 
Vehicle  Identification  Number 
........................................................................\
..... 6-65 
Service  Parts  Identification  Label 
...................................................................... 6-67 
Specification  Charts ........................................................................\
..................... 6-68 
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Loading Your Vehicle 
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP L-4 
I 
. , .. .-. .. ,. . ,FFECT 
CROWN ABOVE. 
1 
TIRE SIZE 
-EL XISPEED RIM PSVKPA (COLD) 
SPA 
SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION 
K2134 
The  Certificationflire  label is  found  on  the  rear  edge  of  the  driver's  door.  The 
label  shows  the  size  of  your  original  tires  and  the  inflation \
 pressures  needed 
to  obtain  the  gross  weight  capacity  of  your  vehicle.  This  is  called  the  GVWR 
(Gross  Vehicle  Weight  Rating).  The  GVWR  includes  the  weight  o\
f  the  vehicle, 
all  occupants,  fuel  and  cargo. 
The  Certificationnire  label  also  tells  you  the  maximum  weights  for  the  front 
and  rear  axles,  called  Gross  Axle  Weight  Rating  (GAWR).  To find  out  the 
actual  loads  on  your  front  and  rear  axles,  you  need  to  go  to\
  a  weigh  station 
and  weigh  your  vehicle.  Your dealer  can  help  you  with  this.  Be  sure  to 
spread  out  your  load  equally  on  both  sides  of  the  centerline. \
Never  exceed  the  GVWR 
for your  vehicle,  or  the  Gross  Axle  Weight  Rating 
(GAWR)  for  either  the  front  or  rear  axle. 
And, 
if you do have  a  heavy  load,  you  should  spread it out. 
A 
Do not  load  your  vehicle  any  heavier  than  the  GVWR  or the I 
maximum  front  and  rear  GAWRs.  If  you  do,  parts  on  your  vehicl\
e 
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. 
Using  heavier  suspension  components 
to get  added  durability  might not 
change  your  weight  ratings. Ask your  dealer  to  help  you  load  your  vehicle  the 
right  way. 
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ProCarManuals.com 

Poorly  maintained  and  improperly  used  tires  are  dangerous. Overloading  your  tires  can cause  overheating  as 
a result  of too 
much  friction.  You could  have an  air-out  and  a  serious  accident. 
See  “Loading  Your  Vehicle” 
in the  Index. 
The  resulting  accident  could  cause  serious  injury.  Check  all  tires 
frequently  to  maintain  the recommended  pressure.  Tire  pressure 
should 
be checked  when  your  tires  are  cold, 
0 Overinflated  tires  are  more  likely  to  be  cut,  punctured,  or  broken 
by  sudden  impact,  such  as  when  you  hit a  pothole.  Keep tires 
at  the  recommended  pressure. 
0 Worn,  old tires  can cause  accidents, If your  tread  is  badly  worn, 
or  if  your  tires  have  been damaged,  replace  them. 
Even if it’s  legal,  don’t  drive over 85 mph (135 kmh) if you 
have 
16 inch  tires. 
See  “Special  Tire  Inflation” 
in this  section  for  more  information  on 
loading 
and inflation  pressures  at  speeds  above 65 mph (105 kmh). 
Underinflated  tires  pose the same  danger  as  overloaded  tires. 
Inflation-Tire Pressure 
The  Certification/Tire  label  which  is on  the  rear  edge of the  driver’s  door,  or 
on  the  incomplete  vehicle  document  in the  cab,  shows  the  correct  inflation 
pressures  for  your  tires,  when  they’re  cold.  “Cold”  mea\
ns  your  vehicle  has 
been  sitting  for  at  least  three  hours  or  driven  no  more  than  a  mile. 
You  can  operate  some  vehicles  at  reduced  inflation  pressures  only  when  you’ll 
be  carrying  reduced  loads.  On  those  vehicles,  the  minimum  cold \
 inflation 
pressures  for  a  typical  reduced  load are printed 
on the  “Improved  Ride  Tire 
Pressure”  label  located  on  the  driver’s  door.  Weigh  the  v\
ehicle  to find  the 
load  on each  tire  and see  the  label  for  the  minimum  cold  inflation  pressures 
for  that  load. 
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