Your Driving and the Road
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can
steer and brake at the same time. In
many emergencies, steering can help
you more than even the very best
braking.
130
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change
the time you need to get your foot up to
the brake pedal.
If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you won’t
have time to apply your brakes
if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to stop,
even though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you.
You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise,
but this
is normal.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose 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 curve
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.
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. 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.
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
on 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.
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 ltm/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have
an automatic transaxle with Overdrive,
you may want to drive in
3 instead of D
(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.
2. Have someone place choclts under
the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel choclts are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
choclts absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
P (Park).
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;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
147
8. Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fans.
9. By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base of the
filler neck.
10. Then replace the pressure cap. At
any time during this procedure if
coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the arrows on the
pressure cap.line up like this.
11. Check the coolant in the recovery
tank. The level in the coolant
recovery tanlc should be at the
HOT
mark when the engine is hot or at
the
COLD mark when the engine is
cold.
Ifa 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 slid 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 a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
165
Problems on the Road
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers. The
following steps will tell-you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is in the
trunk.
1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of
the trunk.
2. Turn the center retainer bolt on the
compact spare tire housing
countercloclmise to remove it, then
lift the tire cover.
Maintenance Schedule
242 ~
Explanation of~scheduled
Mainfenance Services
Following are explanations of the
services listed in Schedule I and
Schedule
11.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use
are listed in Section D. Make sure
whoever services your vehicle
uses
these. All parts should be-replaced and
all necessary repairs done before you or
anyone else drives the vehicle.
ITEM SERVICE
NO.
1. Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving I1 oils of proper viscosity.
The “SH” or “SG” designation may
be shown alone or in combination
with others, such as “SH/CD,” “SH,
SG, CD,”“SG/CD,” etc. To
determine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE 5W-
30 or SAE 10W-30), see
Engine Oil
in the Index.
2. Chassis Lubrication - Lubricate
suspension and steering linkage.
Lubricate the transaxle shift linkage,
and parking brake cable guides,
underbody contact points and
linkage.
3. Tire and Wheel Rotation and
Inspection
- For proper wear and
maximum tire life, rotate your tires
following the instructions in this
manual. See
Tires, Inspection 6
Rotation in the hdex. Check the
tires for uneven wear or damage.
If
you see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment. Check for
damaged wheels also.
Inspection *‘ - Inspect the belt for
cracks, fraying, wear and proper
tension. Replace as needed.
5. Camshaft Timing Belt Inspection
(3.4L Code X engine only) * -
Inspect for cracks, wear or oiliness.
Check tensioner for proper operation.
See the service manual.
(To purchase
4. Engine Accessory Drive Belt
a service manual, see Service
Publications
in the Index.) Replace
parts as needed.
6. Cooling System Service* - Drain,
flush and refill the system with new
or approved recycled. coolant
conforming
to GM Specification
1825M. Keep coolant at the proper
mixture as specified. See
Coolant in
the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion
inhibitor level and maintains proper
engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace
if they are
cracked, swollen or deteriorated.
Clean the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser. Wash the
pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we
recommend a pressure test of both
the cooling system and the pressure
cap.
7. Transaxle Service - Change both
the fluid and filter .every
15,000 miles
(25
000 lm) if the vehicle is mainly
270
Flash-to-Pass ................................... 79
High/Low Beam Changer
............... 79
Pulse Windshield Wipers
................ 76
Turn
& Lane Change Indicator ...... 73
Turn Signal Indicator
...................... 73
Windshieid Washer
......................... 77
Windshield Wipers
.......................... 76
Underhood Electrical
Unleaded Gasoline
........................... 177
Khicle Identification Number
Center
............................ 220. 224.
225
Upholstery Care
............................... 212
(VIN)
............................................. 219
Vehicle Loading
............................... 205
Vehicle Storage
............................... : 196
Ventilation
................................ 104, 110
VIN
................................................... 219
Visor Vanity Mirrors
.......................... 83
Voltmeter ............................................. 95
Warning Flashers. Hazard
............ 150
Warning Lights Anti-Lock Brake System
................. 96
Battery
............................................. 98
Brake
................................................ 96
Fasten Belts
..................................... 18
Low Coolant .................................... 94
Coolant
Temperature
...................... 94 Oil
.................................................... 94
Safety Belt
....................................... 15
Sewice Engine Soon
....................... 97
Washer. Windshield
........................... 77
Weight Gross Axle Rating (GAWR)
......... 205
Gross Vehicle Rating (GVWR)
.... 205
wheel^ Alignment & Tire Balance ... 210
Wheel Covers.
How to Remove ....... 167
Wheel Nut Torque
................... 171. 228
Wheel Nuts
....................................... 167
Wheel Replacement
......................... 210
Windows Passenger Lockout Switch .............. 72
Power
............................................... 72
Standard
.......................................... 71
Windshield Washer
............................ 77
Fluid
................................................. 191
.Windshield Wipers
............. 76. 216. 226
Windshield Wiper Replacement
...... 205
Winter Driving
................................. 140
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Deep
Snow
........................................... 173
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard ...... 142
Wrecker Towing
............................... 154