Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your trunk. 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.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant .Temperature Warning Light” in the Index.
You
also have a low coolant light on your instrument panel.
See “Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
A CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay
away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away
from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if
it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
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How to Reset the CHANGE OIL Light
After changing the engine oil, the system must be reset
1.
2.
3.
With the ignition key in ON but the engine off, fully
push and release the accelerator pedal slowly three
times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE OIL light flashes, the system
is resetting.
Turn the key to OFF, then start the vehicle. If the
CHANGE OIL light comes back on, the engine oil
life monitor has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment.
If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil
by putting
it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil.
If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your retailer,
a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
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Engine Coolant
The cooling s stem in your vehcle is filled with
DEX-COOL
J engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for
5 years or 150,000 miles
(240
000 km) whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL’ extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating
or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A 50150 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only
DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core
or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX-COOL@ is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank is located in the engine
compartment behind the headlamp on
the driver’s side.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the COLD mark or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level should be up to
HOT mark. To check
the coolant level, remove the cap on the coolant
recovery tank and verify that the coolant level is up to
the COLD fill level on the hose attached to
the cap, or a
little higher.
&I If this low coolant
warning light comes on,
it means you’re low on
engine coolant.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
at the coolant recovery tank, but be
careful not to spill it.
If the coolant recovery tank is completely empty, add
coolant to
the radiator. (See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.)
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work
well, or won’t work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
Your brake master cylinder reservoir
is here. It is filled
with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to
an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear.
When new linings are put in, the fluid level
If’ you have too much brake fluid, it can spa on the
engine. The fluid
will burn if‘ the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and
your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See “Brake System Warning
Light”
in the Index.
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Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and
go or
be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except when
you are pushing on the brake
pedal firmly).
- m--
A CAUTION:
I
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly torque wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to
GM specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of this manual
under Part
C “Periodic Maintenance Inspections.”
Brake Pedal Travel
See your retailer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is
a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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Section 9 Index
Accessory Power Outlets ........................ 2-48
AirBag
....................................... 1-19
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-24
How it Works
................................ 1-22
Location
.................................... 1-22
Readiness Light
......................... 1.21. 2.56
Servicing
................................... 1-26
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-23
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-24
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-23
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-16
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-64
AirFilter
...................................... 6-16
Air Filter Passenger Compartment
.................. 6-17
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-45
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-52
Antenna. Backglass
............................. 3-28
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.57. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Anti.Theft. Radio
.............................. 3-23
Appearancecare
............................... 6-47
Appearance Care Materials Chart
.................. 6-54
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Ashtray and Lighter
............................. 2-48
Adding
Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle ...... 6-3
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3 Audio Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-26
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
.................... 3-25
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-9
Auto-Down Window
............................ 2-29
Automatic Headlamp Control
..................... 2-39
Automatic Transaxle
............................ 2-20
Fluid
....................................... 6-18
Operation
................................... 2-20
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-16
Shifting
..................................... 2-20
Backing Up with a Trailer
....................... 4-35
Battery
....................................... 6-30
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Replacement, Keyless Entry System
.............. 2-11
Saver
...................................... 2-42
Warnings
.................................... 5-3
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-7
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
.................... 4-22
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
Blizzard
...................................... 4-27
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-29
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-27
Parking
..................................... 2-24
PedalTravel
................................. 6-29
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