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 (ABS)
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, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
ANTI -
LOCK
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.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you
do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take
a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down
a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less
of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren’t even aware
of it. .
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals. Here
are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
0 Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get
a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown
part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy.
(See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner
is busy enough to
need it. When a light turns green, and just before you
start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
4-21
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest of
all roads. But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat
the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance, there
is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway.
If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your
turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate
if it’s slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance.
If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
4-22
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
6. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could also be damaged.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic
things
you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to an unpainted
metal engine part
or a body metal surface. Don’t
connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you will get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other
parts, too.
Also, don’t connect negative (-) to
negative
(-).
I
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
5-6
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Coolant
The surge tank is located next to the engine block on the
passenger’s side of the engine.
The cooling system
is under a lot of pressure when it is
hot.
If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message
appears on the DIC, you will need to add coolant.
”urning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark, which is
2.5 inches (6.4 cm)
below the base
of the fill neck. Use a flashlight as
necessary to see into the tank.
..... ......................... ................. ................... . ... ............ ............. ..I.. ... .................. ..................................... *....I. ...... . .”... ... ”.. ...... ...... .......... ....... ..... ................... ”
If this message comes on, it means you’re low on
engine coolant.
6-23
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ORDER TOLL FREE (NOTE: For Credit Card Holders Only)
1-800-782-4356
(Monday-Friday 8:OO AM - 6:OO PM EST) FAX Orders Onlv 1-31 3-865-5927
Orders will be mailed within 10 days of receipt. Please allow ade uate time for postal
service. If further information is needed, write to the address s a own below or call
1-800-782-4356. Material cannot be returned for credit without p\
acking slip with return
information within 30 days of delivery. On returns, a re-stocking fee may be applied
against the original order.
- I
PUBLICATION FORM ITEM DESCRIPTION VEHlCtE
MODEL ' PRICE
EACH* TOTAL
NUMBER NAME YEAR
PRICE
Service Manual 1997 $90.00
Car
& Light Truck
Transmission Unit Repair 1997 $40.00
Owner's Manual In Portfolio
1997 $1 5.00
Owner's Manual Without Portfolio
1997 $1 0.00
QTY'
1-
9.
9
7
G
S
H
I
P
T
0
NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name, an\
d also the
name of the person to whose attention the shipment should be sent.
Mail completed order form to:
For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the above address for quotation. HELM, INCORPORATED P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207
(CUSTOMER'S NAME) (ATTENTION)
(STREET ADDRESS-NO
P.O. BOX NUMBERS)
(CITY) (STATE) (ZIP CODE)
DAYTIME TELEPHONE NO.
0
AREA CODE
OM-CAD-ORD97 '(Prices are subject to change without notice and without incu\
rring
obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.) ~~
-
P
A
Y
M
E
N
T
-
Check or Money
Order payable to Helm, tnc. (USA funds
only - do not send cash.)
0 Mastercard
0 VISA
n
TOTAL MATERIAL
Michigan Purchasers
add 6% sales tax
US. Order Processing $5.00
Canadian Postage (See Note Below)
I GRANDTOTAL I I
D' Iscover I
Number:
Expiration 111 ml Check here if your billing address
Date mo/yr: is different from your shipping
address shown.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE L
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents
are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. To cover Canadian postage, add $11.50 plus the US. order processing.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Battery ...................................... 6-30
Jump Starting
................................. 5-4
No Charge Message
........................... 2-89
Replacement. Remote Keyless Entry
.............. 2- 11
Volts High Message ........................... 2-89
Volts Low Message
........................... 2-89
Warnings
................................ 5.4. 5.6
Battery Guard Storage ........................... 2-52
Battery Saver
.................................. 2-50
Exterior Lighting
............................. 2-50
Inadvertent Power
............................ 2-52
BBB Auto Line ................................ 7-11
Better Business Bureau Mediation
.................. 7- 11
Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-28
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-30
System Warning Light
......................... 2-76
Trailer
...................................... 4-36
Transaxle Shift Interlock
....................... 2-33
Wear
....................................... 6-29
Brake Vacuum Problem Message
.................. 2-90
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking
in Emergencies .......................... 4- 10
Break-Iny New Vehicle
.......................... 2-20
Brightness Control .............................. 2-50
Bulb Replacement .............................. 6-3 1
BTSI ......................................... 2-33 Capacities
and Specifications
.................... 6-69
Carbon Monoxide
.................... 2.34.4.29. 4.36
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3.17.3.20. 3.24
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-31
CeUularTelephone
.............................. 2-63
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-60
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp. Bulb Replacement
... 6-37
Central Door Unlocking System
.................... 2-4
Certification Label
.............................. 4-31
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-48
Change Engine Oil Message
...................... 2-90
Change Trans Fluid Message
...................... 2-90
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-25
Charging System Indicator Light
................... 2-75
Check Brake Fluid
Level Message ................. 2-90
Check Coolant Level Message
..................... 2-90
Check Fuel Gage Message
........................ 2-90
Check Oil Level Message
........................ 2-90
Check Washer Fluid Message
..................... 2-91
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-48
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-56
Child Restraints
................................ 1-37
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-39
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-41
Securing in
the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-43
TopStrap
................................... 1-38
Where to Put
................................ 1-37
Chrome Wheels. Cleaning
........................ 6-54
Cassette Tape Player Errors
............. 3.17. 3.20.
3-24
Center Passenger Position
........................ 1-30
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-36
CHMSL
...................................... 6-37