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Using Your Radio Properly
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting
the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help
avoid hearing loss or damage:
1. Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
2. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle-like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone
or two-way radio-be sure you can add
what you want.
If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s
(Continued)
I NOTICE: (Continued)
engine, Delco@ radio or other systems, and even
damage them. And, your vehicle’s systems may
interfere with the operation
of sound equipment
that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your retailer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly is subject to
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes that are not properly stored
in their plastic cases away from contaminants, direct
sunlight, and extreme heat may not operate properly and
could cause premature failure of the tape player.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always verify that the cassette tape is
in
good condition before obtaining service on your tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned with every
50 hours of
use to provide optimum perfornxmce. Your radio may
display “Cln” to remind you that you have used your tape
player for
50 hours without re-setting the tape clean timer.
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Page 185 of 372

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wi~~clsl~ield Wcuher F11,fid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blcrdes: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other. Fluicls: Have YOLI checked
all levels?
Lunlps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
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'?
Weatl?er Forecnsts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should
you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Mcrps: Do you have up-to-date maps'?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as "highway nypnosis"?
Or is
it just plain fdling 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 tlml u second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that
it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service,
or parking area and take
a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
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Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving
in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and
also the brakes, tire.s, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain
roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know
is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to
a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
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Page 200 of 372

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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and
then shift to PARK (P).
Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
I. 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 LIP 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.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important
in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, belt, cooling system, and brake adjustment.
Each of these
is covered in this manual, and ;he Index will
help you find them quickly. If you’re trailering, it‘s a good
idea to review these sections before you stat your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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You should always use the remote positive (+)
terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on your
battery.
To open the remote positive (+) terminal box, pull
the tab and open the cover.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some things
you should know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative (-) or a metal
engine part. Don’t connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other
parts, too.
5-5
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The coolant level
should be at or above
FULL COLD. If it
isn’t and the LOW
ENGINE COOLANT
message appears on
the Driver Inforn~ation
Center, you may have
a leak
in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water
pump
or somewhere else in
the cooling system.
I NOTICE:
Engine damage if you keep running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
See “Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode” in the Index.
I
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan(sj are running. If the engine
is overheating, both fan(sj should be running. If they
aren’t, your vehicle needs service.
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Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
U.S. or Canada, unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do
not use leaded gasoline. If you use even one tankful,
your emission controls won't work well or at
all. With
continuous use, spark
plugs can get fouled, the exhaust
system can corrode, and your engine oil can deteriorate
quickly. Your vehicle's oxygen sensor
will be damaged.
All of that means costly repairs that wouldn't be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact
a major oil company that does business in the
country where you'll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell
LIS where you're going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
LlH 8P7
Remote Fuel Door Release
The remote fuel door release can help keep your fuel
tank from being siphoned. Always be sure the fuel door
is closed and latched after refueling.
To open the fuel door
(on the left of the
vehicle), press the
button next to the
trunk release button,
to
the right of the
steering column. The
ignition need
not be
on. The remote fuel
door release
will work
in all transaxle
positions.
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Engine Accessory Belt
The 4.0L Aurora engine uses an engine accessory belt.
This diagram shows the features connected by the belt
routing. See”Maintenance Schedu1e”in the Index for
when to check the belt.
1. Tensioner Arm Pulley
2. Power Steering Pump Pulley
3. Idler Pulley 4.
Alternator Pulley
5. Air Conditioner Compressor Pulley
6. Harmonic Balancer
Engine Oil
If the CHECK 01L LEVEL message or the oil warning
light on the instrument panel comes
on, it means you
need to check your engine oil level right away.
For more
information, see “Check Oil Level Message” or
“Oil
Warning Light” in the Index. You should check your
engine
oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
It’s a
good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
Turn off the engine and give the
oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
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