
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine improvement in sound quality, clean  the 
tape  player. 
Clean  your tape player  with a 
wiping-action,  non-abrasive  cleaning 
cassette,  and follow the directions 
provided  with  it. 
Cassettes are subject to wear  and  the 
sound quality  may degrade over time. 
Always  make sure that  the cassette tape is 
in  good condition before  you have  your 
tape player serviced. Fixed  Mast  Antenna 
The  fixed  mast  antenna can  withstand 
most  car washes  without  being damaged. 
If  the  mast  should ever become  slightly 
bent,  you  can  straighten it out  by  hand.  If 
the  mast  is badly  bent, as  it might  be  by 
vandals,  you  should replace 
it. 
Check every once in a while to be  sure 
the  mast  is  still tightened  to the  fender. 
Care of Your  Compact  Discs 
Handle  discs carefully.  Store them  in  theil 
original cases or other protective cases 
and  away from direct sunlight and dust. 
U 
the surface  of a disc  is soiled, dampen  a 
clean, soft  cloth in a mild,  neutral 
detergent solution  and  clean 
it, wiping 
from  the  center to  the edge. 
Be  sure never 
to touch  the signal surface 
when  handling discs.  Pick  up discs by 
grasping the outer edges or  the edge 
of 
the hole and the outer edge. 
121 .I   

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 Your Driving and the Road 
Slow down, especially on higher 
speed roads.  Your headlights 
can light 
up  only 
so much  road  ahead. 
0 In remote areas, watch  for animals. 
0 If you’re tired, pull off the  road  in a 
safe place  and rest. 
Night Vision 
No one  can see  as well at night  as in  the 
daytime.  But as we  get  older  these 
differences increase.  A 50-year-old  driver 
may  require  at least twice  as much  light to 
see the same thing at night as  a 
20-year-old. 
What  you  do in the daytime can also 
affect your night vision. For example,  if 
you  spend the  day  in bright sunshine  you 
are wise  to wear sunglasses.  Your eyes 
will have less trouble adjusting  to night. 
But  if you’re driving, don’t wear 
sunglasses at night. They  may cut down 
on glare  from headlights,  but they also 
make  a lot  of things invisible. 
You  can be temporarily blinded  by 
approaching lights. 
It can take  a second  or 
two,  or even several seconds,  for your 
eyes  to  readjust to  the dark.  When  you  are 
faced  with severe glare  (as from  a driver 
who  doesn’t lower the  high beams,  or a  vehicle 
with misaimed headlights), slow 
down 
a little.  Avoid  staring directly into 
the approaching lights. 
Keep your windshield  and  all  the glass on 
your vehicle clean 
- inside and out. 
Glare  at night  is  made  much  worse by dirt 
on  the glass. Even the inside  of the glass 
can build  up a film caused  by dust.  Dirty 
glass makes lights dazzle and flash more 
than  clean glass would, malung the pupils 
of  your  eyes contract repeatedly. 
Remember  that your headlights light  up 
far  less  of a roadway  when  you  are in a 
turn  or curve. 
Keep  your eyes moving; that  way,  it’s 
easier  to pick out dimly lighted objects. 
Just  as your  headlights should  be 
checked regularly for proper  aim, 
so 
should your eyes be examined regularly. 
Some drivers suffer from night blinduess 
- the  inability  to  see in dim light - and 
aren’t even aware  of 
it. 
Driving in the Rain 
Rain and  wet roads can  mean driving 
trouble.  On a wet  road  you can’t  stop, 
accelerate  or turn  as well because  your 
tire-to-road  traction isn’t as good as  on 
dry roads. And,  if your tires don’t have 
much  tread left, you’ll get even less 
traction.  It’s  always wise 
to go slower 
and  be cautious  if rain starts  to fall 
while  you  are driving. The surface  may 
get  wet  suddenly  when  your  reflexes 
are  tuned for driving on  dry pavement. 
The heavier the rain, the harder  it  is to 
see. Even  if your windshield wiper blades 
are  in good shape,  a heavy rain can  make 
it harder to see  road signs and traffic 
signals, pavement markings, the edge of 
the road,  and even people walking. 
. . .I34   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving  and the Road 
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. 
Some  Other Rainy Weather Tips 
0 
0 
0 
Turn  on  your  low-beam  headlights - 
not just  your  parking  lights - to help 
make  you  more  visible  to others. 
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. 
Have  good tires with  proper  tread 
depth. (See  “Tires” 
in the  Index.) 
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. 
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. 
. . .136   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. 
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 entrdnce ramp,  you should  3egin 
to  check  traffic. Try to determine 
where 
you expect to blend  with  the flow. 
Try to merge  into the gap at  close  to the 
prevailing  speed. Switch  on  your 
turn 
signal, check your mirrors  and glance 
wer  your  shoulder 
as often as  necessary. 
Iiy to blend smoothly with the traffic 
flow. 
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. 
Before changing lanes, check  your 
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. 
Once  you are moving  on the  freeway, 
make certain  you allow  a reasonable 
following  distance. Expect  to move 
slightly slower  at  night. 
When 
you want to leave  the freeway, 
move  to  the  proper lane  well in advance. 
If  you  miss  your  exit  do 
not, under  any 
circumstances,  stop and  back  up.  Drive 
on 
to the next exit.  The 
exit  ramp  can be curved, sometimes 
luite  sharply.  The  exit speed is usually 
losted.  Reduce  your  speed  according to 
lour  speedometer,  not to your sense 
of 
notion. After driving  for any distance at 
ligher speeds, 
you may  tend  to think  you 
we  going slower  than 
you actually are. 
Before  Leaving  on  a Long Trip 
Make  sure you’re  i-eady. Try to be  well 
hted. 
If you  must  start when  you’re not 
iresh 
- such  as after  a day’s  work - 
jon’t plan to make too many  miles that 
first  part  of the  journey.  Wear comfortable 
zlothing  and  shoes you can easily  drive 
Ln. 
[s your vehicle  ready for  a long trip?  If 
yob 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. 
Here  are  some things  you can check 
before  a trip: 
0 Windshield  Washer  Fluid: Is  the 
reservoir  full? Are all windows clean 
inside  and outside?   

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 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. 
145. I   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving  and the Road 
Driving  on  Grades 
Reduce speed and  shift to a lower gear 
before  you  start down  a long  or steep 
downgrade.  If you  don’t  shift down,  you 
might  have  to use your brakes 
so much 
that  they  would get  hot and no longer 
work  well. 
On  a long  uphill  grade, shift down and 
reduce  your  speed  to around 
45 mph 
(70 kmh)  to reduce  the  possibility  of 
engine  and  transmission  overheating. 
If  you  are  towing  a trailer and you 
have  an  automatic transmission  with 
Overdrive,  you  may  prefer  to drive 
in “D’ 
instead of Overdrive (or,  as  you  need to, 
a  lower  gear).  Or, 
if you have a  manual 
transmission  with  fifth (or sixth) gear 
and  you  are towing a  trailer,  it’s  better 
not  to use  fifth  (or sixth)  gear. Just drive 
in fourth gear  (fifth gear if  you  have  a 
six-speed  manual  transmission) (or, as you 
need  to,  a lower  gear). 
Parking  on  Hills 
You  really  should  not  park  your vehicle, 
with  a trailer attached,  on a 
hill. If 
something goes  wrong,  your  rig  could 
start  to  move.  People  can  be  injured, and both  your  vehicle  and  the  trailer  can  be 
damaged. 
But  if  you 
ever have  to park  your 
rig on  a 
hill,  here’s  how  to do  it: 
1. Apply  your  regular brakes,  but  don’t 
shift into 
“P’ (Park)  yet, or into gear 
for a manual  transmission. 
2. Have someone  place chocks  under  the 
3. When  the  wheel  chocks are in  place, 
release  the regular  brakes until the 
chocks absorb  the load. 
trailer wheels. 
4. Reapply  the 
regular brakes. Then 
apply  your  parking  brake,  and  then 
shift  to 
“P” (Park),  or “R” (Reverse) 
for a  manual  transmission. 
5. Release the regular brakes. 
When You Are  Ready  to  Leave  after 
Parking  on  a  Hill 
1. Apply  your  regular brakes  and  hold 
the  pedal  down while you: 
Start your engine; 
0 Shift into a gear;  and 
Release the  parking  brake. 
2. Let  up on the  brake  pedal. 
3. Drive  slowly  until  the  trailer is clear 
4. Stop ahd  have someone  pick  up  and 
of  the 
chocks. 
store  the chocks. 
Maintenance  When  Trailer  Towing 
Your  vehicle  will  need  service  more often 
when  you’re  pulling a trailer. See the 
Maintenance  Schedule for more  on  this. 
Things  that are especially important  in 
trailer  operation are  automatic 
transmission  fluid (don’t overfill), engine 
oil,  axle  lubricant,  belts, cooling system, 
and  brake  adjustment.  Each  of these is 
covered  in  this manual,  and 
the Index will 
help  you  find them  quickly. If you’re 
trailering,  it’s  a good  idea to review  these 
sections  before you start  your 
trip. 
Check  periodically  to  see that all  hitch 
nuts  and  bolts  are tight. 
. . ,146