1994 CHEVROLET CAMARO brakes

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This is a mistake. Your brakes may not
have time to cool between hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if
you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep
pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
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.
inti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
tour Chevrolet has an advanced
klectronic braking system that
will help
- revent sludding.
ABS
INOP
?his light on the instrument panel will go
m when you start your vehicle.
Nhen you start your vehicle, or when yo1
)egin to drive away, you may hear a
nomentary motor or clicking noise. And
’ou may even notice that your brake
bedal moves a little while
this is going on
:his
is the ABS system testing itself. If
here’s a problem with the anti-lock brake
ystem, the anti-lock brake system
varning light will stay
on or flash.
;ee “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
ight” in the Index.
1
127 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out
in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer
is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions.
of you.
You can
steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time
you need to get your foot up to the
brake pedal.
If you get too close to the
vehicle in front of you,
you won’t have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop,
even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal. When your anti-lock
system
is adjusting brake pressure to help
avoid a braking skid, the
“LOW TRAC”
light will come
on. See “Low Traction
Light”
in the Index.
ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation) System (Option:
LT1 VS Engine)
Your vehicle may have an ASR system
that limits wheel spin. This
is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only
if it senses that one
or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning
to lose traction.
When this happens, the system works the
rear brakes and reduces engine power (by closing the throttle and managing spark)
to limit wheel spin.
The “LOW TRAC” light will come on
when your
ASR system is limiting wheel
spin. See “Low Traction Light” in the
Index. You may
feel the system working,
or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal.
The
ASR system may operate on dry
roads under some conditions, and you
may notice a reduction
in acceleration
when this happens.
This is normal and
doesn’t mean there’s a problem with
your
vehicle. Examples of these conditions
include a hard acceleration
in a turn, or
an abrupt upshift or downshift.
. . .I28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Steering
Power Steering
If you lase power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system
is not
functioning, you can steer but it will
take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving
on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned
on the news happen on curves.
Here’s
why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving
on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you
turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in
the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a carve
depends
on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in
a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
I
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve, Then
you suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems
- steering and
acceleration
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you
have traction control and the system is
on, adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease
up on the accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want
it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves
warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to
go
slower.
If
you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do it before
you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are opt
of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be
more effective than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and find
a truck
stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly
pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars and stops
right in front
of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking
- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your Chevrolet can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
. . ,130

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
a
a
indicates it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear).
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.
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.
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.
0
a
a
a
If other cars are lined up to pass a
slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over
your shoulder and check the blind
spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out of
the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough ahead of the passed vehicle
to see its front in your inside mirror,
activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you just
passed may seem to be farther away
from you than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle
at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving
vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
brake lights are not flashing, it may be
slowing down
or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy
for the following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to
the right.
loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most
skids by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Chevrolet’s three control systems. In
the brakmg 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
. . .132

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield
washer tank filled. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show
signs of streaking or missing areas on the
windshield, or when strips of rubber start
to separate from the inserts.
Driving too fast through large water
puddles or even going through some car
washes can cause problems, too. The
water may affect your brakes. Try to
avoid puddles. But if you can’t, try to
slow down before you hit them.
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.
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.
135.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
e
e
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?
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 and your instruments
frequently.
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.
Hill and Mountain
Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving
in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep
:ountry, or
if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle
in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work
hard on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most
important thing
to know is this: let
your engine do some of the slowing
. . .13%

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine down. Shift to a lower gear when you
go down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they wouldn’t
work well. You would then have
poor
braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to
let your engine assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
I
m
Know how to go uphill. You may
want
to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb
the
hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving
on two-lane roads
in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay
in your own
lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be
alert. There could be something
in
your lane, like a stalled car or an
accident.
You may see highway signs on
mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert
to these and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your Chevrolet in good shape
for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant
mix is correct.
139 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Slip Regulation (ASR) System” in the
Index.
If you don’t have the traction control
system, accelerate gently. Try not to break
the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your
ability to make a hard stop on a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-lock
braking system, you’ll want to begin
stopping sooner
than you would on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in
the Index.
0
0
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road
might be fine until you hit a spot that’s
covered with ice. On an otherwise
clear road, ice patches may appear
in
shaded areas where the sun can’t
reach: around clumps of trees, behind
buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface
of a curve or
an overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see
a patch of ice ahead of you, brake
before you are on
it. Try not to brake
while you’re actually on the ice, and
avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
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 warrn, but
be careful.
141 . I