Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation) System
Warning Light (Option)
ASR
OFF
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 ASR 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 ASR system warning light will come on if you turn
the system off by pressing the ASR switch located on
the instrument panel and the warning light will come on
and stay on. To turn the system back on, press the switch
again. The warning light should
go off. (See “ASR
System” in the Index for more information.)
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
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come on.
If you have the
ASR system, this light will also come on
when the system is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but this is normal. 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 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.
2-79
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into
the red area, your engine
is approaching an
overheating condition.
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 section shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating,’’
in the Index.
Low Coolant Light ( 5.7L V8 Engine)
This warning light should
come on briefly while you
are starting your engine. If
the light doesn’t come on,
have it remired. Your
vehicle is equipped with
a low coolant indicator
that
is designed to detect when the coolant level drops
below the set limit.
If the low coolant level sensor (on
the radiator) detects that the level drops while the engine
is running, the low coolant indicator will light and
remain lit for five minutes or until the ignition switch
is turned to
OFF. Check the coolant level and add
coolant as needed.
The low coolant light might stay on after filling the
radiator. Turn the ignition switch to the
OW position,
then restart the engine to verify that the low coolant
light goes out. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index.
NOTICE:
Driving with the low coolant light on could
cause your vehicle to overheat. See “Engine Overheating’’ in the Index. Your vehicle could
be damaged, and it wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
I . 2-80
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and
oil viscosity, but readings above the red area show the
normal operating range. Readings in the red area tell
you that the engine is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and
is not covered by
your warranty.
Low Oil Light
This warning light should
come on while you are
starting your engine.
If
the light doesn’t come on,
have
it repaired.
LOW OIL
I
If the light stays on after starting your engine, your
engine oil level may be too low. You may need to add
oil. See “Engine Oil’’ in the Index.
NOTICE:
The oil level monitoring system only checks the
oil level when you are starting your engine. It
does not keep monitoring the level once the
engine is running. Also, the oil level check only
works when the engine has been turned
off long
enough for the
oil to drain back into the oil pan.
2-84
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Check Gages Light
CHECK
GAGES
This warning light will
come on briefly when you
are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your gages to see if they are in the warning areas.
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage shows about
how much fuel is in your
tank. The fuel gage works
only when the ignition is
in the
RUN.
When the gage pointer first indicates empty (E) you still
have a little fuel left (about one to two gallons)
(3.8 to
7.6 litres), but you need to get more fuel right away.
Here are four concerns some owners have had about the
fuel gage. All these situations are normal and do not
indicate that anything
is wrong with the fuel gage.
0 At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads full
(F).
0 It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it
took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to
fill it.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn, stop or
speed up.
0 When you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go
back to empty (E).
2-85
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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, or when
you 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 or pulses
a little. This is normal.
ABS
INOP
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.
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
both rear wheels.
4-7
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ASR (Acceleration Slip Regulation) System
(Option:
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.
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.
Examples
of these conditions include a hard acceleration
in a turn, or an abrupt upshift or downshift.
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.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The ASR system automatically comes on whenever you
start your vehicle. To
limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, you should always leave the
system on. But you can turn the ASR system off
if you
ever need to.
(You should turn the system off if your
vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See
“Rocking Your Vehicle’’ in the Index.)
4-9
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1
To turn the system off,
press the ASR switch
The
ASR system warning light in the cluster will come
on and stay
on. The light on the switch will go out. If the
ASR system is limiting wheel spin when you press the
switch, the warning light will come on
-- but 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 pressing
the switch again. The
ASR 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.
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.
4-10
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
0
0
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.
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.