
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the driver’s
seat.
Sun VisorsNanity Mirrors
To block out glare,
you can swing down
the top and bottom visors.
You can also
swing the bottom
visor from side to
side.
Your visors may
have an extension that
can
be pulled out for
additional glare
protection and a strap
for holding small
items, such as maps.
Some visors have a
lighted mirror. Just lift
the cover
up to turn on
the mirror lights.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Normal operating range shows your engine speed during normal driving
conditions. For example, when the needle points
to 2, it means the engine is
running at
2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). The tachometer needle will
vary all the time that the engine is running.
The red warning range tells you that your engine speed is reaching its upper
limits. Don’t drive very long with the tachometer in the red warning range.
If you have a manual transmission, shift to a higher gear as soon as possible.
If you have an automatic transmission, lift your foot off of the accelerator
pedal. If
you drive for very long with the tachometer in the red danger
range, engine damage will result.
I NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in the red range,
or engine damage
will occur.
The red danger range tells you that your engine speed is at its upper limits.
You should immediately shift to a higher gear, or lift your
foot off of the
accelerator pedal. If you drive for very long with the tachometer in the red
danger range, engine damage will result.
Warning Lights and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your
vehicle.
The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it
becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or replacement.
Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your
vehicle’s functions.
As you will see in the details on the next few pages,
some warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let
you know they’re working. If
you are familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one
of your
vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you
know when there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are
driving, or when one
of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the
section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
- and even dangerous. So please get to
know your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Indicator Lights
Indicator lights go on when you use your turn signals, change from low
beam headlights
to high beams, or when you use your hazard flashers. The
next few pages will also tell you about the indicator lights on your vehicle
and help
you locate them.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (SERVICE ENGINE SOON
Light)
The amber
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
Light) is located at the
top of your instrument
panel.
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
A computer monitors operation of your fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should come
on when the ignition is on, but the engine is
not running, as a check to show you it is working. If it does not come
on at
all, have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or it comes on while you are
driving, the computer is indicating that
you have a problem. You should
take your vehicle in for service
soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after awhile
the emission controls won’t work as well, your fuel economy
won’t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead
to costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
If Your Vehicle is Equipped with OBD I1
Certain vehicles with 4.3 liter engines are equipped with a new emission
diagnostic system. You can tell whether your vehicle has this system
by
reading your tune-up label located under the hood. If the label says “OBD
11” on it, the following instructions apply.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Sur$ace Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock,
log, hole, rut, or bump can startle you if you’re not prepared for them. Often
these obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
0 Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
0 Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s more discussion
of these subjects later.)
0 Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction quickly?
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 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, down, or across a hill. Driving safely
on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle
can and can’t do. There are some hills that simply can’t be driven, no matter
how well built the vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible to approaching
traffic
on trails or hills.
0 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 stalls, or is about to stall, and I
can’t make it up the hill?
A: 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 PARK (P) (or, shift to NEUTRAL
(N) 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, you’ll be able to tell if your
wheels are straight and maneuver as
you back down. It’s best that you
back down the hill with your wheels straight rather than in the left or
right direction. Turning the wheel
too far to the left or right will
increase the possibility of a rollover.
Here are some things you
must not do if you stall, or are about to stall,
when going up a hill.
4-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
behind you.
space
between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light
up
only so much road ahead.
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, 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,
4-24

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road
is wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or
no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much
tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot
of water
is standing on the road. If
you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, th\
ere
could be hydroplaning.
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
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.)
4-26

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The
exit speed is usually posted.
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 GM 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?
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?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Should
you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
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.
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