1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER wheel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much fuel is left
in the tank, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
The main components
of your instrument panel are:
1. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
2. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
3. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
4. Ignition Switch
5. Windshield Wipermasher Controls
6. Audio System
7. Climate Controls and Rear Window Defogger
8. Ashtray
9. Parking Brake Lever
10. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (If Equipped)
1 1. Hood Release Lever
12. Fuse Panel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
ETS
OFF
With the Enhanced Traction System (ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly
as you start the engine. If
the warning light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you
if there’s a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with your Enhanced Traction System
and your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly. The
Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
a
0
0
If you turn the ‘system off by moving the shift lever
to FIRST (1) or SECOND (2), the warning light will
come on and stay on.
To turn the system back on,
move the shift lever back to a position other than
FIRST
(1) or SECOND (2). The warning light
should go off. (See “Enhanced Traction System” in
the Index for more information.)
The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If
the transaxle shift lever is in any position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND
(2) and the warning light
stays on after your parking brake is fully released,
it
means there’s a problem with the system.
If the traction control system is affected by an engine-related problem,
the system will turn off
and the warning light will come on.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays
on for an extended period of time when
the transaxle shift lever is in any position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and the parking brake is
fully released, your vehicle needs service.
2-71

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Enhanced Traction System Active Light
LOW
TRAC
When your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin, this light will
come on. Slippery road
conditions may exist if the
Enhanced Traction System active light comes on,
so
adjust your driving
accordingly.
The light will stay
on for a few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active 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 system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
9
H
TEMP
Your vehicle is equipped with one of these gages. With
the ignition in the
RUN position, this gage shows the
engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the red
area, your engine
is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has
overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions,
you should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon
as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
I faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed
to make the most of available tire and
road conditions.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately
work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels. You
can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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.
Enhanced Traction System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has the optional four-speed automatic
transaxle, it also has an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful
in slippery road conditions. The system operates only
when the transaxle shift lever is in
the REVERSE (R),
THIRD (3) or OVERDRIVE (a) position and the
system senses that one
or both of the front wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system reduces engine power and may also
upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.
LOW
TRAC
This light will come on
when your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin. See “Enhanced
Traction System Active Light” in the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
ETS
OFF
When the transaxle shift
lever is in any position
other than
FIRST (1) or
SECOND (2) and the
parking brake is fully
released, this warning light will come on to let you
know if there’s a problem
with the system.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine See “Enhanced Traction System Warning Light” in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The Enhanced Traction System can operate when
the transaxle shift lever is in any position other than
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2). To limit wheel spin,
especially
in slippery road conditions, you should use
the other shift lever positions only when necessary. See
“Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
(If your vehicle
ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow, see “Rocking
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
When you move the shift lever to FIRST
(1) or
SECOND (2), the system will turn off. The Enhanced
Traction System warning light will come on and stay on.
If the Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin
when you move the shift lever to another position, the
system won’t turn off right away.
It will wait until
there’s no longer
a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by moving
the shift lever to any position other than FIRST
(1) or
SECOND (2). The Enhanced Traction System warning
light should
go off.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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. Adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
Refer to “Enhanced Traction System” in the Index.
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.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over
a hill and
find a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your Chevrolet can perform very well
in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier
in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending
on the space available.
4-11
~. ~

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you're driving.
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
steering wheel
to go straight down the roadway.
4-12