
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Air Bag Readiness Light 
There  is an air  bag  readiness  light  on the instrument 
panel,  which  shows AIR BAG  or 
the air bag  symbol. 
The  system  checks  the  air  bag’s electrical  system  for 
malfunctions.  The  light  tells you 
if there  is an electrical 
problem.  The system  check  includes  the  air  bag  sensors, 
the  air bag  modules,  the wiring and the  crash  sensing 
and  diagnostic  module.  For more information  on 
the 
air bag  system,  see  “Air Bag” in the  Index. 
AIR BAG 
You  will see this light flash 
for 
a few  seconds  when you 
turn your ignition  to 
RUN 
or  START.  Then  the  light 
should  go out.  This  means 
the system  is ready. 
If  the  air bag  readiness  light doesn’t  come  on when you 
start your vehicle,  or stays  on, or comes 
on when  you 
are  driving,  your  air bag system  may 
not work properly. 
Have  your vehicle  serviced  right away. 
Charging System Light 
VOLTS 
The charging system light 
will  come  on  briefly when 
you  turn  on  the ignition, 
as 
a check  to show you  it’s 
working.  Then  it should 
go  out. 
If it stays  on, or comes  on while  you are  driving,  you 
may  have 
a problem  with the charging system.  It could 
indicate  that you have  a  loose  drive belt or  another 
electrical  problem.  Have 
it checked right away. Driving 
while this light  is on  could  drain your battery. 
If  you  must drive 
a short  distance  with the light on, be 
certain  to turn  off all your  accessories,  such as the radio 
and  air  conditioner. 
2-43   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You  may also  choose  a  non-scrubbing  action, wet-type 
cleaner  which uses 
a cassette  with a fabric  belt to clean 
the tape head.  This type of cleaning  cassette will  not 
eject.  It  may  not clean  as thoroughly  as the  scrubbing 
type cleaner. 
Cassettes are subject  to wear and  the sound quality  may 
degrade over time. Always make sure that 
the cassette 
tape  is 
in good  condition before  you have your tape 
player serviced. 
C---e of Your Compact Discs 
nandle  discs carefully.  Store them in their original cases 
or other protective  cases and away from direct sunlight 
and  dust.  If the surface 
of a  disc is soiled, dampen  a 
clean,  soft cloth 
in a mild, neutral detergent solution and 
clean  it,  wiping from the  center to the  edge.  Be 
sure  never to  touch the signal  surface when handling 
discs. 
Pick up  discs  by grasping the  outer  edges  or  the 
edge  of  the  hole and  the  outer  edge. 
Fixed Mast Antenna 
The fixed  mast antenna can withstand  most car washes 
without being damaged.  If the mast should  ever become 
slightly bent,  you can straighten 
it out by hand.  If the 
mast 
is badly bent, as it might be  by vandals,  you should 
replace it. 
Check every once  in a while 
to be  sure  the mast is still 
tightened  to the fender. 
3-22   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Section 4 Your Driving and the Road 
Here you’ll  find information  about driving on different 
kinds  of roads and 
in varying  weather  conditions. We’ve 
also included many other useful tips on driving. 
Defensive Driving 
The best  advice  anyone  can give about  driving  is: 
Drive defensively. 
Please start with 
a very  important  safety device in your 
Chevrolet:  Buckle  up. (See  “Safety Belts” 
in the Index.) 
Defensive  driving really  means “be ready  for  anything.” 
On city  streets, rural roads  or  freeways, 
it means 
“always  expect  the unexpected.” 
Assume  that pedestrians 
or other drivers  are  going to  be 
careless  and make mistakes.  Anticipate what they might 
do. 
Be ready  for their  mistakes. 
Rear-end  collisions  are about  the most  preventable 
of  accidents.  Yet they  are  common.  Allow enough 
following  distance. 
It’s the best  defensive  driving 
maneuver,  in both city and rural  driving. You never 
know  when the vehicle  in front  of 
you is going to brake 
or  turn suddenly.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Off-Road Recovery 
An emergency  like this requires close attention  and a 
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel  at 
the recommended 
9 and 3 o’clock positions,  you can 
turn 
it a  full 180 degrees  very quickly without removing 
either  hand. But you  have  to act fast, steer quickly, and 
just 
as quickly straighten the wheel  once you have 
avoided the object. 
The  fact  that such emergency situations  are always 
possible 
is a  good reason to practice  defensive driving at 
all times  and wear safety belts properly. 
You may  find  sometime  that your right wheels have 
dropped  off 
the edge of a road onto  the shoulder while 
you’re driving. 
edge of paved Surface 
If  the  level  of  the  shoulder  is  only  slightly  below  the 
pavement,  recovery  should  be  fairly  easy.  Ease 
off the 
accelerator  and  then, 
if there is nothing  in  the  way,  steer so 
that  your  vehicle  straddles  the  edge  of  the  pavement.  You 
can  turn  the  steering  wheel 
up to  one-quarter turn until  the 
right  front  tire  contacts  the  pavement  edge.  Then  turn  your  steeling  wheel  to  go  straight  down  the  roadway. 
4-10   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 
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. 
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,  belts, cooling  system and brake adjustment. 
Each  of these  is covered 
in this manual,  and the Index 
will  help  you find  them  quickly.  If you’re  trailering,  it’s 
a good idea to review these sections before you start 
your trip. 
Check periodically to 
see that  all hitch  nuts and bolts 
are tight.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Buying  New  Tires 
To find  out  what kind  and size of tires  you need,  look at 
the Tire-Loading  Information  label. 
The  tires installed  on  your vehicle when 
it was new  had 
a  Tire  Performance  Criteria  Specification (TPC Spec) 
number  on each  ti.re’s  sidewall.  When 
you get new  tires, 
~~ - -I - ~ 4 
load range, speed rating and construction type  (bias, 
bias-belted  or  radial)  as  your  original  tires. 
get  ones 
with that same 
TPC Spec  number.  That way 
your vehicle will  continue  to  have tires that are  designed 
to  give  proper  endurance,  handling, speed  rating, 
traction,  ride and other things  during  normal  service  on 
your vehicle. 
If your  tires  have  an all-season tread 
design,  the TPC  number  will be  followed  by an 
“MS” 
(for  mud  and  snow). 
If  you  ever  replace  your tires with  those not having  a 
TPC SDec  number.  make  sure  thev are  the  same  size,  Mixing  tires  could  cause 
you to lose  control  while 
driving. 
If you  mix  tires  of different  sizes  or  types 
(radial  and  bias-belted  tires),  the  vehicle may  not 
handle  properly,  and  you could  have  a  crash. 
Using  tires of different  sizes  may  also  cause 
damage  to  your  vehicle. Be sure  to  use the 
same  size and  type  tires  on  all  four  wheels. 
It’s  all  right  to  drive  with  your  compact  spare, 
though.  It was  developed  for  use on  your  vehicle. 
Uniform Tire Quality  Grading 
The  following  information  relates  to  the  system  developed 
by  the  United  States  National  Highway  Traffic  Safety 
Administration,  which  grades  tires  by treadwear,  &action 
and  temperature  performance. 
(This applies only to 
vehicles  sold  in  the  United  States.)  The  grades  are  molded  on  the  sidewas 
of most passenger  car  tires.  The  Uniform 
Tire  Quality  Grading  system  does  not  apply  to  deep  tread,  winter-type  snow  tires,  space-saver  or temporary  use  spare 
tires,  tires 
with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches 
(25 to 30 cm), or to  some  limited-production  tires.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning  Leather 
Use a  soft  cloth with  lukewarm water and  a mild soap  or 
saddle 
soap. 
For  stubborn  stains,  use a GM Vinylkeather  Cleaner 
or  equivalent  product. 
Never use  oils,  varnishes,  solvent-based  or  abrasive 
cleaners,  furniture  polish or shoe  polish on leather. 
Soiled  leather  should be cleaned  immediately. If 
dirt is allowed  to work into the  finish, it can harm 
the leather. 
Cleaning  the Top of the  Instrument  Panel 
Use only mild  soap and water to  clean the top  surfxes 
of 
the instrument  panel. Sprays  containing  silicones  or 
waxes  may cause  annoying  reflections 
in the windshield 
and  even  make 
it difficult to see through the windshield 
under certain  conditions. 
Care of Safety  Belts 
Keep belts  clean  and dry. 
/;1 4UTION: 
Do not  bleach or dye  safety  belts.  If  you  do,  it 
may  severely  weaken  them.  In a  crash  they  might 
not  be  able to  provide  adequate  protection. 
Clean  safety  belts only  with  mild  soap and 
lukewarm  water. 
z 
Glass 
Glass  should  be cleaned  often. GM Glass  Cleaner (GM 
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household  glass  cleaner 
will  remove  normal tobacco  smoke and dust films. 
Don’t use  abrasive  cleaners  on glass,  because 
they may 
cause  scratches.  Avoid placing decals on the  inside rear 
window, since they  may have  to be  scraped  off later. 
If  abrasive  cleaners  are used  on  the inside  of the rear 
window,  an electric  defogger  element 
may be damaged. 
Any temporary  license should  not  be attached across the 
defogger  grid.   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Schedule 
I Short  Trip/City  Definition 
Follow the Short TripKity  Maintenance  Schedule if any 
one  of these conditions is  true  for your vehicle: 
0 Most trips  are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km). 
This  is particularly important when  outside 
temperatures  are below freezing. 
0 Most trips include  extensive idling (such as frequent 
driving  in stop-and-go  traffic). 
0 Most  trips are through  dusty  areas. 
You frequently tow a trailer  or use  a carrier on top  of 
0 If the vehicle  is  used for delivery service, police, 
One  of the reasons you shouldjollow  this  schedule ifyou 
operate your vehicle under any of these  conditions  is  that 
these  conditions  cause engine  oil  to  break down sooney: 
your vehicle. 
taxi, or other commercial application. 
I Short  Trip/City  Intervals I 
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km): Engine  Oil and Filter 
Change  (or 
3 months, whichever occurs  first). 
Short  Trip/City  Definition 
Every  6,000  Miles (10 000 km): Chassis Lubrication 
(or 
6 months, whichever  occurs first). 
At 6,000 Miles (10 000  km) - Then  Every 
12,000 Miles (20 000 km): Tire Rotation. 
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter 
Inspection,  if driving  in dusty conditions. 
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter 
Replacement. 
Fuel Tank,  Cap and Lines Inspection. 
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic Transaxle 
Service  (severe conditions  only). 
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory 
Drive  Belt Inspection. 
At 60,000  Miles (100 000 km),  Then  Every 
15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Camshaft Timing Belt 
Inspection 
(3.4L Code X engine  only). 
Every  100,000  Miles  (166 000 km): Cooling  System 
Service  (or  every 
60 months, whichever occurs first). 
Spark  Plug  Wire Inspection.  Spark  Plug Replacement. 
These intervnls  only  summarize maintenance services. 
Be  sure  to follow  the complete  maintenance schedule 
on the following  pages. 
7-4