Page 159 of 378
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Other Messages 
Here are more  messages  that  you  can  receive  on your 
Driver  Information  Center.  To acknowledge  a  message 
and  read  another  message  that  may  have  come  on  at  the 
same  time,  press  the  RESET  button. 
0 
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BRAKE  BEFORE  SHIFT 
(Automatic  Transmissions  Only) 
CHANGE 
OIL NOW 
CHANGE  OIL  SOON 
CRUISE  DISENGAGED 
CRUISE  SET 
- MPH (- ktn/h) 
DOOR  AJAR 
ENGINE  PROTECTION  REDUCE  ENGINE 
RPM 
HATCH  AJAR  (Coupe) 
TRUNK  AJAR  (Convertible) 
HIGH  VOLTAGE 
0 LOW  BRAKE F‘LUID (See  “Brake  Fluid”  in 
the  Index) 
0 LOW  COOLANT  (See  “Engine  Overheating”  in 
0 LOW FUEL (fuel  range  is  less than 50 miles (80 km)) 
the  Index) 
0 LOW  VOLTAGE 
LOW  WASHER FLUID 
0 PULL KEY - WAIT 10 SEC 
RESERVE  FUEL 
UPSHIFTNOW 
2-106 
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        Page 208 of 378

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rain  and  wet roads can mean driving trouble.  On a wet 
road,  you  can’t stop, accelerate 
or turn as well  because 
your  tire-to-road  traction  isn’t as good  as on 
dry roads. 
And, 
if your  tires don’t  have much tread left, you’ll  get 
even less traction.  It’s always wise  to  go slower and  be 
cautious 
if rain starts to  fall while you  are  driving.  The 
surface  may get wet  suddenly  when your reflexes 
are 
tuned  for driving  on dry  pavement. 
The heavier the rain, the harder  it  is  to see. Even if your 
windshield  wiper  blades are in good shape, a  heavy rain 
can  make  it harder to  see road  signs and traffic  signals, 
pavement markings, the  edge of the road and even 
people walking. 
It’s wise to  keep your windshield wiping  equipment in 
good  shape and keep your windshield washer  tank  filled 
with  washer fluid. Replace  your windshield wiper 
inserts  when they show  signs of streaking  or missing 
areas  on the windshield,  or when  strips  of rubber  start  to 
separate from the inserts.  Driving  too  fast 
through large  water  puddles  or  even 
going through  some  car washes can  cause  problems,  too. 
The  water may affect  your brakes. Try  to  avoid  puddles. 
But  if you can’t, try 
to slow down  before  you  hit  them. 
4-17   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 212 of 378

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 
to go.  If  it needs 
service,  have  it done  before  starting  out.  Of course, 
you’ll  find  experienced  and  able  service  experts  in 
GM 
dealerships  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: 
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Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the  reservoir full? Are 
all  windows  clean  inside  and  outside? 
Wiper  Blades: Are  they  in  good  shape? 
Fuel,  Engine  Oil,  Other Fluids: Have  you  checked 
all  levels? 
Lamps: Are  they  all  working?  Are  the lenses  clean? 
Tires: They  are  vitally  important  to a safe, 
trouble-free  trip. 
Is the  tread  good  enough for 
long-distance  driving? Are  the  tires  all inflated  to the 
recommended  pressure? 
Weather  Forecasts: What’s  the  weather  outlook 
along  your  route?  Should  you  delay  your  trip a short’ 
time  to  avoid  a  major  storm  system? 
Maps: Do you  have  up-to-date  maps? 
4-21   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 214 of 378

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you drive  regularly in steep  country,  or if you’re 
planning  to  visit  there,  here 
are some tips that can make 
your  trips  safer  and  more  enjoyable. 
0 
0 
Keep  your  vehicle  in good shape. Check all fluid 
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and 
transmission.  These 
parts can  work hard on 
mountain  roads. 
Know  how  to 
go down hills. The most important 
thing  to know  is this:  let your  engine  do  some  of the 
slowing  down. Shft to a lower gear when you 
go 
down  a  steep or  long hill. 
If you  don’t  shift  down,  your  brakes could  get so 
hot that  they  wouldn’t  work  well.  You  would  then 
have  poor  braking 
or even  none  going  down  a hill. 
You could  crash.  Shift  down  to  let  your  engine 
assist  your  brakes  on 
a steep  downhill  slope. 
I li 
’ A CAUTION: 
II 
r 
Coasting  downhill  in NEUTRAL (N) or with  the 
ignition 
off is dangerous.  Your brakes  will have 
to do all  the work 
of slowing  down.  They  could 
get 
so hot  that  they  wouldn’t  work  well.  You 
would  then have  poor braking  or even  none  going 
down  a  hill.  You could  crash.  Always  have your 
engine  running  and  your vehicle  in  gear when 
you  go  downhill. 
e 
e 
e 
Know  how  to  go uphill. You  may  want  to shift down 
to  a  lower  gear.  The lower  gears  help  cool  your  engine 
and  transmission,  and  you  can  climb  the  hill  better. 
Stay  in your own  lane when  driving  on two-lane 
roads in hills  or mountains. Don’t  swing wide or  cut 
across the center  of the  road.  Drive  at  speeds  that  let 
you  stay in your own lane. 
As you  go over the top  of a hill, be alert.  There 
could  be something in your lane,  like a stalled 
car 
or  an  accident. 
4-23   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 215 of 378
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You  may  see  highway  signs on mountains  that  warn  of 
special  problems.  Examples 
are long  grades,  passing  or 
no-passing  zones,  a  falling  rocks  area  or winding 
roads.  Be  alert  to these  and  take  appropriate  action. 
Winter Driving 
Here  are  some tips  for  winter driving: 
0 Have your vehicle  in  good  shape  for  winter. 
You may want  to  put  winter  emergency  supplies  in 
your  vehicle.  Include  an 
ice scraper, a small brush 
or broom,  a  supply 
of  windshield washer fluid,  a rag, some  winter outer 
clothing,  a small  shovel, 
a flashlight,  a red cloth  and  a 
couple  of reflective warning triangles. And,  if  you  will 
be  driving  under severe  conditions, include  a small  bag 
of sand,  a piece  of old  carpet or a couple of burlap  bags 
to  help  provide  traction. Be sure  you  properly  secure 
these  items  in  your  vehicle.   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 226 of 378

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I 
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. 
5. Check  that  the  jumper cables  don’t  have  loose or 
missing  insulation.  If  they do, you  could  get  a  shock. 
The  vehicles  could  be  damaged, 
too. 
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.  And  don’t  connect  negative 
(-) to 
negative 
(-) on  the  dead  battery,  as  this  can  cause 
sparks.  Follow  Step 
9 carefully. 
r 
I a CAUTION: 
I 
Fans or other  moving  engine  parts  can  injure  you 
badly.  Keep  your hands away from moving  parts 
once  the engine 
is running. 
5-5   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 246 of 378

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 6 Service  and  Appearance  Care 
Here  you  will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and  fuel information, 
and  then  it shows  how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There  is also technical information about your 
vehicle,  and  a  part  devoted to its appearance care. 
6-2 
6-3 
6-8 
6-  12 
6-  16 
6-18 
6-  19 
6-20 
6-2 
1 
6-22 
6-26 
6-26 
6-27 
6-29 
6-32 
6-33 
6-37 
6-40 
Service 
Fuel 
Filling  a  Portable Fuel Container 
Engine  Oil 
Air  Cleaner 
Automatic  Transmission Fluid 
Manual  Transmission Fluid 
Hydraulic  Clutch 
Rear  Axle 
Engine Coolant  Surge  Tank  Pressure Cap 
Power  Steering Fluid 
Windshield  Washer  Fluid 
Brakes 
Battery 
Bulb  Replacement 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade Replacement 
Tires 6-52 
6-52 
6-54 
6-54 
6-55 
6-55 
6-56 
6-57 
6-58 
6-58 
6-59 
6-59 
6-61 
6-62 
6-62 
6-62 
6-69 
6-70 Appearance Care  Cleaning the Inside  of  Your Vehicle 
Care  of Safety Belts 
Cleaning Glass Surfaces 
Weatherstrips  Cleaning  a Removable Roof  Panel 
Cleaning the Outside  of  Your  Vehicle 
Cleaning  Your Convertible Top 
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels 
Cleaning Tires 
Finish Damage 
Underbody Maintenance 
Appearance Care Materials Chart 
Vehicle  Identification Number (VIN) 
Service Parts Identification  Label 
Electrical  System 
Replacement Bulbs 
Capacities and Specifications 
6-1   
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 253 of 378

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Filling a Portable Fuel Container 
‘ A Cr N: 
Never  fill a portable  fuel container  while it is in 
your  vehicle.  Static electricity  discharge from the 
container  can  ignite the gasoline  vapor.  You can 
be badly burned  and your  vehicle  damaged 
if this 
occurs.  To help  avoid  injury to you  and  others: 
0 Dispense  gasoline  only  into approved 
containers. 
Do not  fill  a  container  while it is inside  a 
vehicle,  in a vehicle’s  trunk, pickup  bed or 
on any surface  other  than the ground. 
inside  of the  fill  opening  before  operating 
the  nozzle.  Contact  should  be  maintained 
until  the filling  is  complete. 
Bring the  fill  nozzle  in contact  with the 
Don’t  smoke  while  pumping gasoline. 
Checking  Things  Under  the Hood 
An electric  fan  under  the hood  can start  up  and 
injure  you  even  when  the engine 
is not  running. 
Keep  hands,  clothing  and tools  away  from  any 
underhood electric  fan. 
start  a  fire.  These  include  liquids  like  gasoline, 
oil,  coolant,  brake fluid,  windshield  washer  and 
other  fluids,  and plastic  or rubber.  You or others 
could  be burned.  Be careful  not  to  drop or spill 
things  that will burn  onto  a  hot  engine.