Page 100 of 404

on the instrument
panel also will be on.
Windshield Wipers
turning the band with
the wiper symbol on
it.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
MIST. Hold it there until the
wipers start, then let go. The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want
more cycles, hold the band on
MIST longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between wipes. This
can be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay
time. The closer to
LO, the shorter the delay.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to the
LO position. For high
speed wiping, turn the band further, to
HI. To stop the wipers, move the
band to the
off symbol.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you from seeing well
enough to drive safely,
To avoid damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from
the wiper blades before using them. If they
are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become damaged, get new
blades or blade inserts.
.. . .-
.Y
ProCarManuals.com
Page 190 of 404

Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road y\
ou 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.
It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and \
keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper ins\
erts when
they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when
strips
of rubber start to separate from the inserts.
4-26
ProCarManuals.com
Page 194 of 404

Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend
to
think you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh
- such as after a day’s work - don’t plan to make too many
miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you 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 Vehicle
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:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape‘?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean‘?
0 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‘?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip
a short time to avoid a major storm system?
0 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.
4-30
ProCarManuals.com
Page 334 of 404

Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM Part No. 1050427)
or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and
dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals
on the inside rear window, since they may have to be
scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged. Any temporary
license should not be attached across the defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield washer, or if the
wiper blade chatters when running, wax or other material may be on the
blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@
(GM Part No. 105001 1). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form when
you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked
on a regular basis and replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth of color, gloss
retention and durability.
6-84
ProCarManuals.com