
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shift  Light 
A 
SHIFT 
You have  the 
if you have  a 
transmission. 
SHIFT light 
manual  This light 
comes 
on very briefly as a 
bulb check  when you start 
the  engine. Shifting  when 
the  indicator light  is  on  will 
help  you get 
the best fuel 
economy.  See “Shift Light” 
in the Index. 
Daytime  Running  Lamps  Indicator  Light 
:::O 0.0 
You  have  this  light  on  the 
instrument  panel. 
It goes on whenever  the 
DRL are on, the  ignition 
is  on,  the headlamp switch 
is  off  and the parking  brake 
is  released. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check  Gages  Light 
The CHECK GAGES light 
will  come on  briefly  when 
you  are starting  the  engine. 
CHECK 
GAGES 
If the light comes  on  and  stays on  while  you  are  driving, 
check  your  coolant temperature  and  engine oil pressure 
gages  to see  if they  are 
in the  warning  zones. 
Fuel Gage 
When  the  ignition is on, the 
fuel  gage  tells 
you about 
how  much  fuel 
you 
have  remaining. 
Here  are  four  things  that  some owners  ask  about.  None 
of these  show  a problem  with  your  fuel gage: 
At the  gas  station,  the  gas pump shuts off  before  the 
It takes  a little  more  or less  fuel  to fill  up than the 
gage  reads 
FULL (F). 
gage  indicated.  For  example, the gage  may  have 
indicated  the  tank  was  half  full, but  it  actually  took  a 
little  more  or less  than  half  the  tank’s  capacity  to fill 
the  tank. 
The  gage  moves  a little  when  you  turn  a corner or 
speed up. 
The  gage  doesn’t go back  to EMPTY (E) when you 
turn  off  the  ignition. 
2-62   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tips About Your Audio  System 
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: 
0 Adjust  the volume control to the lowest setting. 
0 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 
engine,  Delco radio  or  other  systems, and even 
damage  them. 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  dealer  and  be  sure  to  check Federal  rules 
covering  mobile  radio  and  telephone  units. 
3-17   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Care of Your Cassette  Tape  Player 
A tape  player  that  is not  cleaned  regularly  can cause 
reduced  sound quality,  ruined  cassettes or a  damaged 
mechanism.  Cassette  tapes  should  be  stored 
in their 
cases  away  from  contaminants,  direct  sunlight  and 
extreme  heat. If they  aren’t,  they  may  not  operate 
properly  or may  cause failure  of  the  tape  player. 
Your  tape  player  should  be cleaned  regularly  after  every 
50 hours of use. If you notice a  reduction in sound 
quality,  try 
a known  good  cassette to see  if the  tape  or 
the  tape  player  is  at fault.  If this other  cassette  has  no 
improvement  in  sound quality,  clean the  tape  player. 
Cleaning  may be done  with  a  scrubbing action, 
non-abrasive  cleaning  cassette with pads  which  scrub 
the  tape  head  as the  hubs  of 
the cleaner  cassette  turn.  It 
is  normal  for the  cassette 
to eject  while  cleaning.  Insert 
the  cassette  at  least  three  times 
to ensure thorough 
cleaning. 
A scrubbing  action  cleaning cassette  is 
available  through  your 
GM dealer. 
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. 
Care of Your Compact Discs 
Handle  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. 
3-18   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid  needless  heavy  braking. Some people  drive in 
spurts -- heavy  acceleration  followed by  heavy 
braking 
-- rather  than  keeping  pace  with  traffic.  This 
is  a mistake.  Your brakes  may  not  have  time  to cool 
between  hard  stops. Your brakes  will  wear  out much 
faster  if  you 
do a lot of heavy  braking.  If you keep pace 
with  the traffic  and  allow  realistic following  distances, 
you  will  eliminate a  lot 
of unnecessary  braking.  That 
means  better  braking  and longer brake  life. 
If  your  engine ever stops while you’re  driving,  brake 
normally  but  don’t  pump  your  brakes.  If  you do, 
the 
pedal  may  get harder to push  down.  If your  engine 
stops, 
you will  still  have  some power  brake assist.  But 
you  will  use  it when  you  brake.  Once the  power  assist  is 
used  up, 
it may  take  longer to stop and  the  brake pedal 
will  be  harder  to push. 
Anti-Lock Brakes 
Your  vehicle  has  anti-lock  brakes  (ABS).  ABS  is  an 
advanced  electronic  braking  system  that  will  help 
prevent 
a braking  skid. 
When  you  start  your  engine and begin  to drive  away, 
your  anti-lock  brake  system  will  check itself. 
You may 
hear  a momentary  motor  or clicking noise  while  this  test 
is  going  on. This  is  normal. 
If  there’s a problem  with  the 
anti-lock  brake  system,  this 
warning light  will  stay 
on. 
See “Anti-Lock  Brake 
System  Warning  Light”  in 
the Index. 
4-6   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The driver  of a vehicle about to pass another on a 
two-lane highway waits  for  just the right moment, 
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes 
back into the right lane again.  A simple maneuver? 
Not  necessarily! Passing 
another vehicle on a two-lane 
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since 
the 
passing vehicle occupies the same lane  as oncoming 
traffic  for several seconds.  A miscalculation,  an error  in 
judgment,  or a brief  surrender  to frustration or anger can 
suddenly  put the passing  driver  face to face  with  the 
worst  of all traffic accidents 
-- the head-on collision. 
So here  are some  tips for passing: 
0 “Drive  ahead.” Look down  the  road,  to the  sides  and 
to  crossroads  for situations  that  might  affect  your 
passing  patterns.  If 
you have  any doubt whatsoever 
about  making  a successful  pass, 
wait for a  better  time. 
Watch  for  traffic  signs,  pavement  markings  and  lines. 
If  you 
can see  a sign  up  ahead  that  might  indicate  a 
turn or an intersection,  delay  your  pass. A broken 
center  line  usually  indicates  it’s  all  right to pass 
(providing  the  road  ahead  is  clear).  Never  cross  a solid 
line on your  side  of  the  lane  or a double  solid  line, 
even 
if the  road  seems  empty  of  approaching  traffic. 
0 
0 
0 
Do not  get too close  to  the  vehicle  you  want  to  pass 
while  you’re  awaiting 
an opportunity. For one  thing, 
following  too  closely  reduces  your  area  of  vision, 
especially 
if you’re  following  a larger  vehicle. Also, you 
won’t  have  adequate  space 
if the  vehicle  ahead  suddenly 
slows  or  stops.  Keep  back  a reasonable  distance. 
When  it  looks like a chance to  pass 
is coming up, 
start  to accelerate  but stay  in  the  right lane and don’t 
get too close. Time  your move 
so you  will  be 
increasing speed  as the time comes  to move into the 
other lane. 
If the  way  is  clear  to pass,  you  will  have  a 
“running start”  that  more  than  makes  up  for the 
distance  you  would  lose by dropping  back.  And  if 
something happens to cause 
you to  cancel  your pass, 
you  need  only slow down and drop  back again and 
wait  for another opportunity. 
If other  cars  are  lined up to pass a slow vehicle,  wait 
your turn.  But take care  that someone isn’t trying to 
pass  you as you  pull  out  to  pass the slow vehicle. 
Remember to glance over  your shoulder and check 
the blind spot. 
4-11   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Check  your  mirrors, glance over your shoulder  and 
start  your  left  lane  change signal  before  moving  out 
of the right  lane  to  pass.  When  you  are far enough 
ahead  of the  passed  vehicle  to  see its front. in  your 
inside  mirror,  activate your  right  lane  change  signal 
and  move  back  into the  right  lane.  (Remember that 
your  right  outside mirror  is  convex.  The vehicle  you 
just  passed  may seem  to  be farther  away  from  you 
than  it really  is.) 
0 Try  not  to  pass  more  than  one vehicle  at  a time 
on  two-lane  roads.  Reconsider  before  passing  the 
next vehicle. 
0 Don’t  overtake  a slowly  moving  vehicle  too rapidly. 
Even  though  the  brake  lamps  are not  flashing, 
it may 
be  slowing  down  or starting to 
turn. 
0 If you’re  being  passed, make it easy  for  the 
following  driver  to get ahead  of you.  Perhaps  you 
can  ease  a little to the  right. 
Loss of Control 
Let’s  review  what  driving experts say about what . 
happens  when  the  three  control  systems  (brakes,  steering 
and  acceleration)  don’t  have enough friction  where  the 
tires  meet  the  road 
to do what the  driver  has  asked. 
In  any  emergency,  don’t  give  up.  Keep  trying  to steer 
and  constantly  seek  an escape  route or area 
of less 
danger. 
Skidding 
In a  skid,  a driver  can lose  control of the  vehicle. 
Defensive  drivers avoid  most  skids by taking  reasonable 
care  suited  to  existing conditions,  and 
by not 
“overdriving”  those conditions.  But  skids  are  always 
possible. 
The  three  types 
of skids  correspond  to  your  vehicle’s 
three  control  systems.  In  the  braking  skid, your  wheels 
aren’t  rolling.  In  the  steering  or cornering  skid, too 
much  speed  or steering  in  a curve  causes  tires  to slip  and 
lose  cornering  force.  And  in  the  acceleration  skid,  too 
much  throttle  causes  the  driving wheels 
to spin. 
A cornering  skid  and  an  acceleration  skid  are  best 
handled  by easing  your  foot off  the  accelerator  pedal. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~  ~~ . ~  ~~ 
Before You GO Off-Roading 
There  are  some  things  to  do  before 
you go out.  For 
. example,  be  sure  to have all necessary  maintenance  and 
service  work  done.  Check  to make  sure  all  underbody 
shields  (if 
so equipped)  are  properly  attached.  Be  sure 
you  read  all  the  information  about  your  four-wheel-drive 
, ‘ vehicle in this manual. Is there  enough  fuel? Is the  spare 
tire  fully  inflated?  Are  the  fluid  levels  up  where  they  should  be?  What  are  the  local  laws  that  apply  to 
off-roading  where  you’ll  be driving? 
If you  don’t  know, 
- you  should  check  with  law  enforcement  people  in  the 
area.  Will  you  be 
on someone’s  private  land?  If so, be 
sure  to  get  the  necessary  permission. 
Loading Your Vehicle  for  Off-Road  Driving 
There  are  some important  things  to remember about 
how  to load  your  vehicle. 
The  heaviest  things  should  be  on the  load  floor and 
, forward  of  your rear axle.  Put  heavier  items  as  far 
forward as  you can.’ 
Be’ sure  the  load is  secured  properly, so driving on 
’ the  off-road  ten@ doesn’t  toss  things  around.  Cargo  on  the  load  floor 
piled higher  than 
the  seatbacks  can  be thrown  forward 
during 
a sudden  stop.  You or your 
passengers  could  be  injured.  Keep  cargo 
below  the  top  of the  seatbacks. 
Unsecured  cargo  on  the  load  floor  can  be 
tossed  about when driving  over  rough 
terrain.  You or your  passengers  can  be 
struck  by flying  objects.  Secure  the 
cargo  properly. 
Heavy  loads  on  the roof  raise  the  vehicle’s 
center  of gravity,  making  it  more  likely to 
roll  over. 
You can  be  seriously  or fatally 
injured  if the  vehicle  rolls over.  Put heavy 
loads  inside  the  cargo  area,  not  on  the  roof.  Keep  cargo  in  the  cargo  area 
as far  forward 
and  low 
as possible. 
You’ll  find  other  important  information 
in this manual. 
See  “Vehicle  Loading,”  “Luggage Carrier”  and  “Tires” 
in the  Index. 
4-14