1994 CHEVROLET TRACKER light

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
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.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in thei
original cases or other protective cases
and away from direct sunlight and dust.
11
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
the hole and the outer edge.
c grasping the outer edges or the edge of
InteQna
Jse the knob on the end of the antenna to
aise the antenna or to push
it back down.
:eep the antenna mast clean
for good
erformance.
dways lower the antenna before entering
car wash. If you have the convertible
~p, also lower the antenna before
:moving or installing the top.
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According to the American Medical
Association,
a 180-pound (82 kg) person
who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml)
bottles
of beer in an hour will end up with
a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person
would reach the same BAC by drinking
three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or
three mixed drinks if each had
1 - 1/2
ounces (45 ml)
of a liquor like whiskey,
gin or vodka.
It’s
the amount of alcohol that counts. For
example,
if the same person drank three
double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of
liquor each) within an hour, the person‘s
BAC would be close
to 0.12 percent. A
person who consumes food just before
or
during drinking will have a slightly lower
BAC level.
DRINKING THAT Will
IN THE TIME SHOWN
RESULT IN A BAC OF .05%
1 HOURS
’ HOURS
HOUR
100 120 la0 160 160 200 220 240
BODY WEIGHT IN POUNDS
The law in most U.S. states sets the legal
limit at
a BAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada
the limit is 0.08 percent, and
in some
other countries it’s lower than that. The
BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three
to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as
we’ve seen.
it depends on how much
alcohol is
in the drinks, and how quickly
the person drinks them. But it’s very important
to keep
in mind
that
the ability to drive is affected well
below a RAC of
0.10 percent. Research
shows that the driving skills
of many
people are impaired at a BAC
approaching 0.05 percent, and that the
effects are worse at night.
All drivers are
impaired at BAC levels above 0.05
percent. Statistics show that the chance
of
being in an accident increases sharply for
drivers who have a BAC
of 0.05 percent
or above.
A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a
180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled
his
or her chance of having an accident.
At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the
chance of that driver having an accident
is
six times greater; at a level of 0.15
percent, the chances are twenty-five times
greater! And, the body takes about
an
hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one
drink. No amount of coffee or number of
cold showers will speed that up.
‘‘I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer.
What
if there’s an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when
a child darts
into the street? A person with
a higher
BAC might not be able
to react quickly
enough
to avoid the collision.
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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 out 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 Geo can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes, but not enough
to lock your front
wheels. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or right depending on the space
available. 4n
emergency like this requires close
ittention 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.
Iff-Road Recovery
7ou may find sometime that your right
,heels have dropped off the edge of a
oad onto the shoulder
(A) while you’re
riving.
f the level of the shoulder is only slightl:
lelow the pavement, recovery should be
airly easy. Ease off the accelerator and
hen, if there is nothing in the way, steer
o that your vehicle straddles the edge of
he pavement. You can turn the steering
vheel up to
1/4 turn (B) until the right
ront tire contacts the pavement edge.
?hen turn your steering wheel to go
traight down the roadway.
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Your Driving and the Road
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
0
0
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
0
0
0
0
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.
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Your Driving and the Road
0 Does the travel take you uphill or
downhill? (There’s more discussion of
these subjects later.)
change direction quickly?
0 Will you have to stop suddenly or
When you drive over obstacles or rough
terrain, keep a firm grip
on the steering
wheel.
Ruts, troughs, or other surface
features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands
if you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or
other obstacles, your wheels can leave
the
ground. If this happens, even with one or
two wheels, you can’t control the vehicle
as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved
surface,
it’s especially important to avoid
sudden acceleration, sudden turns, or
sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a
different kind of alertness from driving on
paved roads and highways. There are no
road signs, posted speed limits or signal
lights.
You have to use your own good
judgment about what is safe and what
isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very
dangerous on any road. And this
is
certainly true for off-road driving. At the
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very time you need special alertness and
driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol.
You could have
a serious - or even fatal - accident if
you drink and drive or ride with a driver
who has been drinking. (See “Drunken
Driving”
in the Index.)
Driving On Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up,
jown, or across a hill. Driving safely on
hills requires good judgment and an
understanding of what your vehicle can
md can’t do. There are some hills that
;imply can’t be driven, no matter how
well built the vehicle.
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to
decide if
it’s one of those hills that’s just
too steep to climb, descend, or cross.
Steepness can be hard
to judge. On a very
small
hill, for example, there may be a
smooth, constant incline with only a small
change
in elevation where you can easily
see all the way to the top. On a large hill,
the incline may get steeper as you near
the top, but you may not see this because
the crest of
the hill is hidden by bushes,
grass,
or shrubs.
Here are some other things
to consider as
you approach a hill.
Is there a constant incline, or does the
hill get sharply steeper in places?
Is there good traction on the hillside,
or will the surface cause tire slipping?
Is there a straight path up or down the
hill so you won’t have to make turning
maneuvers?
Are there obstructions on the hill that
can block your path (boulders, trees,
logs or ruts)?
What’s beyond the hill?
Is there a cliff,
an embankment, a drop-off, a fence?
Get out and walk the
hill if you don’t
know. It’s the smart way to find out.
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0 Is the hill simply too rough‘? Steep hills
often have ruts, gullies, troughs and
exposed rocks because
they are more
susceptible
to the effects of erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up
the hill,
you need to take some special
steps.
0 Use a low gear and get a firm grip on
the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try
to maintain your speed. Don’t use
more power than
you need, because
you don’t want your wheels
to start
spinning or sliding.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at a1
possible.
If the path twists and turns,
you might want to find another route.
0
0
0
0
Ease up on your speed as you
approach the top
of the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to tnake
you more visible to approaching
traffic on trails
or hills.
Sound the
horn as you approach the
top
of the hill to let opposing traffic
know you’re there.
Use your headlights even during the
day. They make you more visible
to
oncoming traffic.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle
A:
0
0
0
0
stalls, or is about to stall, and I can’t
make
it up the hill?
If this happens, there are some things
you should do, and there are some
things you must not do. First, here’s
what you should do:
Push the brake pedal
to stop the
vehicle and keep
it from rolling
backwards. Also, apply
the parking
brake.
If your engine is still running, shift the
transmission into reverse, release the
parking brake, and slowly back down
the
hill in reverse.
If your engine has stopped running,
you’ll need to restart it. With the brake
pedal depressed and
the parking brake
still applied,
shift the transmission to
“P” (Park) (or, shift to “N” (Neutral)
if your vehicle has a manual
transmission) and restart
the engine.
Then, shift
to reverse, release the
parking brake, and slowly back down
the
hill as straight as possible in
reverse.
As you are backing down the hill, put
your left hand
on the steering wheel at
the
12 o’clock position. This way,
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A CAUTION:
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 traction. 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 traction is
so poor that you
will have difficulty accelerating. .4nd
if
you do get moving, poor steering and
difficult braking can cause
you to slide
out of control.
A CAUTION:
Driving in Water
Light rain causes no special off-road
driving problems. But heavy rain can
mean tlash flooding, and tlood
waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you
drive through it.
If it's deep enough to
cover your wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe, don't
try il - you probably won't
get through.
Also, water that deep can
damage your axle and other vehicle parts.
If the water
isn't too deep, then drive
through
it slowly. At fast speeds. water
splashes on your ignition system and
your
vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if
you get your tailpipe under water. ,4nd, as
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Your Driving and the Road
long as your tailpipe is under water, you'll
never be able to
start your engine. When
you go through water, remember that
when your brakes get wet, it may take
you longer to stop.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected
on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations can
be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the
brake linings cleaned and checked. These
substances can cause glazing and uneven
braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system
for damage.
Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling system for any
leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent
service due to off-road
use. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule for additional
information.
4 Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely
to be impaired - by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here 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.
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