1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM parking brake

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Power Windows (Option)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and
if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and close each window. With power
windows, switches on the driver’s door
control each window when the ignition is on.
Push down
the front of the switch to lower a window and lift the
front of the switch to raise
a window.
The AUTO switch for the driver’s window has an
express-down feature. To use express-down, push the
switch down all the way. Release the switch and the
window will lower completely. Pull
up on the switch
lightly and release it to stop
the window partway.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon
your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have
to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake
or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
or downshifting to SECOND
(2) or LOW (L) takes you
out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to be too
much trouble and don’t use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Out of Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transaxle.
lever toward you to cancel.
Press the CRUISE ON-OFF button again or pull the
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Turn the outside part of the
lever to control the lamps.
There are three positions for
the lamp switch.
OFF: All lamps, except your Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL), are
off.
CENTER: At the middle position, the parking lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamp and the instrument panel
lights come
on. The headlamps are off and DRL is on.
- Eo - : The headlamps and all other operating lamps
come
on. DRL is off.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition to LOCK or ACC and leave the lamps
on, you’ll hear a tone when you open the driver’s door.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to
see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in
the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the parking brake
is released with the engine started, even with the lamp
switch in the
OFF position. They will not go off until
the engine is turned off.
When you
turn on the headlamp switch, your DRL will go
out and your headlamps will come on. The other lamps
that come on with your headlamps will also come on.
When you turn
off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go off and your low-beam headlamps come
on at the reduced brightness of DRL. DRL also comes
on if you are only using the parking lamps.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
Automatic Light Control
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top of the instrument panel, so be sure it is not
covered which will cause the nighttime lights to be
on continuously.
When
it is dark enough outside, your ALC will turn
on your low-beam headlamps at the normal brightness
along with other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, park lamps and instrument panel lights.
There is
a 20-second delay in the transition between
daytime and nighttime operation of the DRL and the
ALC systems. If the light sensor senses a reduction
in lighting that lasts longer than
20 seconds, it will
activate the nighttime lamps. If you are driving through
a parking garage, heavy overcast weather, a tunnel or
fueling your vehicle in a low light area, the ALC will
turn on your low-beam headlamps at a normal
brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, park
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will be dimmer.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine BRAKE
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come
on
when you turn the key to
START.
If it doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed
so it
will be ready to warn you
if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service, (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing
after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake
is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check with your Chevrolet dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a
turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns
even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not.
It’s important to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs. (450 kg), and you have an automatic transaxle
with overdrive, you may prefer to drive in DRIVE
(D)
rather than OVERDRIVE 0 (or, as you need to, a
lower gear). Or, if you have a manual transaxle with
FIFTH (3, it’s better not to use FIFTH (5). Just drive
in
FOURTH (4) (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your
rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transaxle.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb thc lad.
4. Reapply your regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK
(P), or
REVERSE
(R) for a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake
adjustment. Each of
these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to
see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured, This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains
or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
T-hooks inserted in the T-hook slots, Never use
J-hooks. They
will damage drivetrain and
suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition
key turned to
OFF. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a
clamping device designed for towing service. Do not
use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The
transaxle should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the
parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed with the front wheels in
contact with the ground if it has
an automatic transaxle.
If
a vehicle with an automatic transaxle must be towed
from the rear with wheel-lift equipment, the front
wheels must be supported on a dolly.
If your vehicle has a manual transaxle, don’t have it
towed on the front wheels unless you must. If a vehicle
with a manual transaxle must be towed on the front
wheels, it is recommended that the front wheels be
supported on a dolly. If you have a manual transaxle
and dollies won’t be used, turn the ignition key to
ACC
and put the transaxle in NEUTRAL (N).
5-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever in
PARK
(P), or shift a manual transaxle to
FIRST
(1) or REVERSE (R).
3. lbrn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
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