Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 togo. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out.
Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
GM
dealers 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:
0 Windshield Washer
Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
0 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
0 Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
all levels?
trouble-free trip.
Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the
recommended .pressure?
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook .
4-34
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow.
a Put on extra.clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
Pf you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or
tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
r
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can’t see it or smell it,
so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s
away from the wind. This will help
keep
CO out.
4-40
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When
you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery (or batteries) charged.
You will need a
well-charged battery (or batteries) to restart the vehicle,
and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps.
Let the heater run for awhile.
If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a
higher speed to get enough heat. Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only
when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But
do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you
can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle
and
do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or
so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
nun-
a-n SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Certification/Tire label.is found on the rear edge of
the driver's door.
The label shows the size of your original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight
capacity
of your vehicle. This is called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes
the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
4-41
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine nailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes
-- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap into the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system only
if,
0 The trailer parts can withstand 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
0 The trailer’s brake system will use less than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won’t work well. You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at
the port on the master cylinder that sends the fluid to
the rear brakes. But don’t use copper tubing for this.
If you
do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel
brake tubing.
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon monoxide
(CO) could come into your vehicle. You can’t see
or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. (See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.) To
maximize your safety when towing a trailer:
0
0
0
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle.
Do not use
MAX because it only recirculates the air
inside your vehicle. (See “Comfort
Controls’’ in the Index.)
4-49
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a €ittle too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-’speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” in the Index.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (a) or
DRIVE
(3) for automatic transmissions. If
you no
longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn’t come back on,
you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still
no sign of steam, push the accelerator until
the engine speed is about twice as fast as normal idle
speed. Bring the engine speed back to normal idle speed
after two or three minutes. Now
see if the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning,
turn offthe
engine
and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-10
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Brake Flu: What
to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing
it.
A CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the window
on the brake fluid reservoir. The
fluid level should be above MIN. If it isn’t, have your
brake system checked to see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure
the level is above MIN and below the top
of the window.
6-32
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Chains
NOTICE:
If your vehicle has P265/75R16 size tires, don’t
use tire chains. They can damage your vehicle. If
you have a tire size other than
P265/75R16, use
tire chains
only where legal and only when you
must. Use chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the tires of the rear axle.
Don’t use chains
on the tires of the front axle.
Tighten them as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive
slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop
and retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will damage
your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike
a
match or get them dn a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When
you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
6-51
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
A CAUTIOl.,
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.
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.
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield,
Batklass and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside
of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@’ (GM Part
No. 105001 1). The windshield is-clean if beads do not
form when
you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked in full-strength windshield washer solvent.
Then rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades .should be checked
on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may
be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index,)
6-55