1994 CHEVROLET CAMARO steering

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
There’s something else about drinlcing
md 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 card 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 penmmently
disabled is higher than
if that person had
not been &inking. And we’ve already
seen that the chance of a crash itself is
higher far drinkine drivers.
itn~ have three systems that make you
rehide go where you want it to go. They
ue the brakes, the steering and the
um&mtor.
All thee systems have to do
heir work at the places where the tires
neet the road.
Zametimea;, as when you’re driving on
mow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those
:ontrol systems than the tires and road
can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle.
Br4king
hkblg WtiQIl hVlolV(eB
and reaction time.
First,
you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That% perception time,
Then you have to bring up yslur foot
and
do it. That’s
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If your vehicle is in cruise control when
the ASR system begins
to limit wheel
spin, the cruise control will automaticallq
disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See
“Cruise Control” in the Index.)
The “ASR” warning light will come on
when you tu-n the ASR system off. Whe~
the system is on, this light will come on
to let you know if there’s a problem with
your ASR system.
See “ASR System
Warning Light” in the Index.
When this warning light is on, the system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
drjving accordingly.
ASR
The ASR system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can
turn the ASR system
off if you ever need
to. (You should turn the system
off if
your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand,
mud, ice or snow.
See “Rocking Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
To turn the system
off, press the button on
the console near the cigarette lighter. The
“ASIC” warning light will come on and
stay on. -If the ASR system is limiting
wheel spin when you press the button, the
system won’t turn off right away. It will
wait until there’s no longer a current need
to limit wheel spin. You
can turn the system back on at any
time by pressing the button again. The
*‘ASR’ warning light should go
off.
[f your car is equipped with P245/50ZR16
tires, the ASR system will automatically
turn
off at speeds above 108 mph (173
km/h). (The “ASR” warning light will
not come on.) When vehicle speed drops
below
103 mph (165 km/h), the system
will automatically turn on again.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can
steer and brake
a1 the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
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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,
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine to the left or right depending on the space
available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision. If you are
holding the steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a
full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find sometime that your right
wheels have dropped
off the edge of a
road onto the shoulder (A) while you’re
driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slight11
below the pavement, recovery should be
fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. You can
turn the steering
wheel up to
1/4 turn (B) until the right
front tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then
turn your steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass
another on a two-lane highway waits for
just the right moment, accelerates, moves
around the vehicle ahead, then goes back
into the right
lane again. A simple
maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle
on a two-lane highway is a potentially
dangerous move, since the passing
vehicle occupies the same lane as
oncoming traffic for several seconds. A
miscalculation, an error
in judgment, or a
brief surrender to frustration or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face to
face with the worst of all traffic accidents
- the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“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
131.. .

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
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine much throttle causes the driving wheels to
spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by
easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If you have the ASR system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If
you do not have traction control, or
if the
system is
off, then an acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your foot
off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot
off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
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 bralung 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.
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4
Driving at Night
\Tight driving is more dangerous than day
hiving. One reason is that some drivers
tre likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or
lrugs, with night vision problems, or by
atigue.
lere
are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more
space between
you and other vehicles.
133 ...

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

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If you do, both brake systems
won’t work well, or at all.
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 trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working.
This lets
you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
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 trailer. 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
to the left, just move that 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 normal.
Do this so your
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher and
extra wiring. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lights will also
flash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
Dn your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you
are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
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