1997 CHEVROLET CAMARO traction control

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cruise Control
a[ With cruise control,
Ti
you can maintain a
speed
of about 25 mph
(40 kmh) or more
without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. ., ,‘
This can really help on long trips. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
25 mph
(40 kmh).
When
you apply your brakes, or push the clutch pedal,
if you have a manual transmission, the cruise control
shuts
off.
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at
a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
I I
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
ASR system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See
“ASR
System” in the Index.) When road conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise control
back
on.
2-48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The ASR system warning light may come on for the
following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the switch
located on the instrument panel, the warning light
will come on and stay on and the light
on the switch
will go
out. To turn the system back on, press the
button again. The warning light should go off. (See
“ASR System” in the Index for more information.)
If the temperature of the throttle control begins to rise,
the system will turn off and the warning light will
come
on until the system cools down. The system
does this to prevent damage from overheating.
If the
ASR system warning light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time when the system is
turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Light
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come on.
LOW
TRAC
If you have the ASR system, this light will also come on
when the system is limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if the low traction light comes on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on
for a few seconds after the anti-lock system stops
adjusting brake pressure or the
ASR system stops
limiting wheel spin.
The low traction light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be there to tell you when
the anti-lock brake system or
ASR system is active.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
than any driver could. The computer is programmed to wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
make the most
of available tire and road conditions.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in
front
of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though
you have
anti-lock brakes.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down and
let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the system working, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid, this light will come on.
See “Low Traction Light” in the Index.
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation) System
(Option:
LTl V8 Engine)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system called
ASR that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power
(by closing the throttle and managing engine spark)
to
limit wheel spin.
This light will come on
when your ASR system is
limiting wheel spin. See
“Low Traction Light” in
the Index. You may feel or
hear the system working,
but this is normal.
LOW TRAC
Examples of these conditions include a hard acceleration
in a turn, or an abrupt upshift or downshift. Also, when
the compact spare tire is on the rear axle, the ASR
system will cycle and limit acceleration for about the
first
15 seconds of driving after each engine start.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the ASR
system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control
will automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you
to safely use it again, you may re-engage
the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
ASR
OFF
When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on
to let you know
if there’s a problem with
your ASR system. See
“ASR System Warning
Light” in the Index.
The
ASR system may operate on dry roads under some
conditions, and you may notice a reduction in
acceleration when this happens. This is normal and
doesn’t mean there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
4-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control’’ accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving
on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels.
If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction
you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the
angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed.
While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control. Suppose
you’re steering through a sharp curve.
Then
you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Unless you
have
ASR and the system is on, adding the sudden
acceleration can demand too much
of those places.
You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need
to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before
you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try
to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
4-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 Chevrolet’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
is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the ASR system, remember: It helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If
you do not have
ASR, or if the system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down
when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid
only the braking skid.
4-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 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, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls
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.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform
to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
'( 1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
6-55

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temper ’ ----, -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation,
or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way
or the other, the alipnment
may need
to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your
Chevrolet dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
6-56