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
. . .132
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.
. ..
I
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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped
in a straight-ahead
position, with a clamping device designed
for towing service. Do not use the
vehicle’s steering
column lock for this,
The transmission should be in “Neutral”
and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the rear
wheels, unless
you must. If the vehicle
must be towed on the rear wheels, don’t
go more than 35 mph (55 km/h) or
farther than
50 miles (80 km) or your
transmission will be damaged. If these
limits
must be exceeded, then the rear
wheels have to be supported on a
dolly.
?ront Towing Hook-Ups
Ittach T-hook chains to slots in frame
*earward of front wheels on both sides.
NOTICE:
Do not attach winch cables or “J”
hooks to suspension components
when using car carrier equipment.
Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook
slots.
. . .154
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
3. Shut the engine off and replace the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up like this. 10. Then fill the coolant recovery tank
For
a complete drain, flush and refill,
see your Chevrolet dealer or a Chevrolet
Camaro Service Manual.
To purchase a
service manual, see “Service
Publications’’ in the Index.
to
the proper level.
If Q Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while
you’re driving, especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a
tire, it’s much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if
you should ever have a
“blowout,’’ here are a few tips about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that
side. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like
a skid and may require the
same correction you’d use in a skid. In
any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way
you
want the vehicle to go. It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to
a stop, well off the road
if possible.
If your tire goes flat,
the next section
shows how to use your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
. . ,166
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If You’re Stuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle
is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can help
you get out
when you’re stuck, but you
must use caution.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the
tires.
If you spin the wheels too fast
while shifting your transmission
back and forth, you can destroy
your transmission.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That
will clear the area around
your front wheels.
If your vehicle has
ASR, you should turn the system off,
(See “ASR System”
in the Index.)
Then
shift back and forth between “R”
(Reverse) and a forward gear (or with a
manual transmission, between First or
Second gear and Reverse), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when
the transmission is in gear. If that
doesn’t get you out after a
few tries, you
may need to be towed out.
If you do
need
to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle’’
in the Index.
177..