Page 53 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your transmitter housing snaps apart for ease in battery replacement. To
open the housing:
1. Insert a dime
between two
halves
of the
transmitter
housing near the
key ring hole.
2. Remove the
bottom by
twisting the dime.
3. Remove and replace the batteries with two Duracell @-type batteries
4. Align and snap together the back and top transmitter housings.
(DL2016
or equivalent), positive side down.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your
vehicle has a number
of theft deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put
on it can make it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can
help.
Key in the lgnition
If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an easy target
for joy riders or professional thieves
- so don’t do it.
When
you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door, you’ll hear a chime
reminding you
to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you.
Always do this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition.
If you have an automatic transmission, taking your key out also
locks your transmission. And remember
to lock the doors.
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Page 54 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking at Nlght
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out
of sight. Put them in a storage area, or take them
with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching your vehicle, it’s best
to lock
it up and take your keys. But what if you have to leave your ignition
key? What
if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate “break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
0 Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the first 500
miles (804 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed - fast or slow - for the first
500 miles (804 km). Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) or
so. During this time your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this “breaking-in” guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during “break-in.” See “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index for more information.
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Page 55 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Ignition Switch
2
Use your key to start your vehicle. The key lets you turn the ignition switch
to five different positions.
1.
OFF
2. RUN
3. START
4. ACC
5. LOCK 5
ACC (Accessory) - ACC lets you use things like the radio and the
windshield wipers when the engine is off. To get into ACC, push in the key
and turn it toward
you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it
was before you inserted the key.
Don’t operate accessories in the ACC position for long periods
of time. Prolonged operation
of accessories in the ACC position
could drain your battery and prevent you from starting your
vehicle.
LOCK - This position locks your ignition, steering wheel and
transmission. It’s a theft deterrent feature. You will only
be able to remove
your key when
the ignition is turned to LOCK.
OFF - This position lets you turn off the engine but still turn the steering
wheel. Use
OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion while the engine is
off (for example, if your vehicle
is being pushed).
RUN - This is the position for driving.
START - This starts your engine.
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Page 56 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t turn it, be sure
it is all the way in. If it is, then turn the steering wheel left and
right while you turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your vehicle needs
service.
Key Release Button
The key cannot be
removed
from the
ignition
of manual
transmission vehicles
unless the
key release
button
is used.
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Page 57 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To Remove the Key
On manual transmission vehicles, turn the key to the LOCK position while
pressing the key release button down at the same time. Pull the key straight
out.
On automatic transmission vehicles,
turn the key to LOCK and pull it
straight out.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left
of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number” in the Index.) Follow the proper steps to start the
engine.
Automatic transmission:
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t
start in any other position
- that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you
do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only
when your vehicle is stopped.
Manual transmission:
The gear selector should be in neutral. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor and
start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start
if the clutch pedal is not all the
way down
- that’s a safety feature.
To start your 2.2 Liter engine:
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your ignition key to
START, When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will
go down as your engine gets warm.
r
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage your starter motor.
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Page 62 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the \
cord as
it
was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you
don’t, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends
on the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that
you contact your GM
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission
There are several
different positions for
I
your shift lever.
If your vehicle
is equipped with automatic transmission, it now features an
electronic shift position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is-capable
of being moved out of
the
PARK (P) position. This means that if your key is in the OFF position,
but
not locked, there will be a small current drain on your battery which
could discharge your battery over a period of time. If you have
a need to
leave your key in the ignition in
the OFF position for an extended period for
any reason, it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable from
the battery
to prevent discharging your battery.
PARK (P) -This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best position to use
when
you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
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Page 67 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you
quickly change the position of the accelerator. Ignore the SHIFT light when
you downshift.
Four- Wheel Drive Vehicles Only:
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped with a manual
transmission, disregard the shift light when the transfer case is in
4LO.
Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your rear axle can give you additional traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It
works like a standard axle most of the
time, but when one
of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does, the
locking feature will allow the wheel with traction
to move the vehicle.
Parking Brake
To Set the Parking Brake:
To Release the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your
right
foot. Push down
the parking brake
pedal
with your left
foot. If the ignition is
on, the brake system
warning light will
come on.
Hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the
brake release lever.
It
is located on the
bottom driver's side
of
the instrument panel.
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Page 69 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Move the shift
lever into PARK
(P) position like
this:
Pull the lever toward you.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive with a manual transfer case shift lever, be
sure the transfer case
is in a drive gear - not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Move the key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the key in your hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Models Only)
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