Of course, traction is reduced when water, I
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 braking 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
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.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
0 Since you can’t see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
0 Slow down, especially on higher
speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the mad in a
safe place and rest.
Night Wsion
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.
129...
ProCarManuals.com
Your Driving ,and the Road ’
Night Vision (CONT.)
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, making 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
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim
light
-- and aren’t even aware of it.
130
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
fo
driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to
see. Even if your windshield wiper blades
xre
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 inserts when they show
signs of streaking or
missing areas on the
windshield, or when strips of rubber start
to separate from the inserts.
ProCarManuals.com
Lights on Reminder .............. 77
Loading Your Vehicle
........... 197
Locks. Door
.................... 47
Automatic Door Lock .......... 48
Rear Door Security Locks
...... 49
Low Battery
................... 149
Low Oil Pressure Warning
...... 95. 96
Lubricants and Fluids
............ 238
Lumbar Support
.................. 9
Maintenance Record ........... 240
Maintenance Schedule
........... 223
Maintenance Services. Scheduled
. . 225
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...... 100
Manual 4-Way Adjustable Seat ...... 8
Manual Front Seat ................ 8
Manual Lumbar Support
........... 9
Manual Transaxle
Adding Fluid ............ 187. 215
Checking Fluid
.............. 186
Parking
..................... 69
Shifting
..................... 64
Starting Your Engine
........... 56
Upshift Indicator Light
......... 67
Master Cylinder. Brake .......... 191
Methanol in Gasoline ........ 171. 172
Mileage Indicator (see “Odometer
Mirrors
& Speedometer”)
Convex Outside .............. 83
Inside Manual Daymight
....... 82
Manual Remote Control
........ 83
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Power Remote Control ......... 84
Mountain Driving
............... 134
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Requirements .................. 54
Night Driving
.................. 129
Night Vision
................... 129
Octane Requirements (see “Fuel
Requirements”) ............... 17 1
Odometer
& Speedometer ......... 92
Off Road Recovery
............. 127
Oil. Engine
.................... 179
Pressure Gage ................ 96
Quality
.................... 180
Thickness .................. 180
Used Oil
................... 182
When to Change
.............. 182
Operation of Lights .............. 77
Outside Rearview Mirrors
......... 83
Overheated Engine
.............. 156
Overheated Engine Coolant Warning
Light ......................... 94
Owner Checks
& Services ........ 232
Oil Warning Light ............... 95
Parking
On Hills .................... 145
With the Engine Running
.... 68. 70
Parking Brake
................... 66
Over Things That Burn ......... 69
Park . Shifting Into ............ 60. 67
Passenger Belts (see “Safety Belts”)
Passenger Side Cup
Holder/Storage Area ............ 85
Passing
....................... 127
Polishing and Waxing (see
Power Door Locks ............... 48
Power Mirrors
.................. 84
Power Seat Controls
............... 9
Power Steering Fluid ............ 190
Power Window Lock-Out Switch ... 72
Power Windows
................. 72
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
During ....................... 26
Problems on the Road
........... 147
Publications (see “Service
Publications”) ................ 250
Radiator Overheating
(see “Overheated Engine”) ....... 156
Radio (see “Audio Systems”)
..... 106
Reading Lights
.................. 79
Rear Door Security Locks
......... 49
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
... 30
Rear Seat. Split Fold-Down ........ 11
Rear Window Defogger
.......... 105
Rearview Mirrors ................ 82
Reclining Seatbacks
............... 9
Recommended Fluids
& Lubricants 238
Remote Fuel Filler Door
......... 174
Remote Trunk Release
............ 53
Replacement Brakes
............. 193
“Appearance Care”)
267 . .
ProCarManuals.com