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For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
SPEAKER
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

2-
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2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-7 Hatchback/Trunk Lid
2
-8 Theft
2
-9 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-10 Ignition Positions
2
-11 Starting Your Engine
2
-13 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-16 Manual Transaxle Operation
2
-18 Parking Brake
2
-19 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
-21 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
2
-21 Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle
Models Only)
2
-22 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-22 Engine Exhaust
2
-23 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transaxle)
2
-23 Windows
2
-24 Horn
2
-24 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-27 Exterior Lamps
2
-28 Interior Lamps
2
-28 Mirrors
2
-29 Storage Compartments
2
-31 Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
2
-31 Sun Visors
2
-32 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-34 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-37 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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2-10
Ignition Positions
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate controls or even make the
vehicle move. Don't leave the keys in the vehicle
with children.
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn the
switch to four positions.
LOCK (A): This is the only position in which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and automatic transaxle. Press in on the key as you turn
it toward you to LOCK.If you have an automatic transaxle, the ignition switch
can't be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is in the
PARK (P) position.
ACC (ACCESSORY) (B): In this position, you can
operate some of your electrical power accessories. It
unlocks the steering wheel and ignition. Use this
position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed.
ON (C): This is the position to which the switch returns
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the ON position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you
can use ON to operate your electrical power accessories
(including the heater) and to display some instrument
panel warning lights.
START (D): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to ON for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, ACC and
ON are on positions that allow you to operate your
electrical accessories, such as the radio.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver's door
when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the key is in
the ignition.

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2-28
When you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go off and your low
-beam headlamps will
come on at the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This knob controls the
brightness of your
instrument panel lights.
Turn the knob clockwise to
brighten the lights or
counterclockwise to
dim them.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp is located between the sun visors on
the two
-door model, and in the center of the roof on
the four
-door model. The dome lamp has a
three
-position switch.
OFF: The lamp stays off even when the driver's door
is open.
CENTER: The lamp comes on when the driver's door
is opened.
ON: The lamp comes on and stays on whether or not a
door is open.
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
An inside rearview mirror is attached above your
windshield. The mirror has a pivot so that you can adjust
it up and down or side to side.
You can adjust the mirror for day or night driving. Pull
the tab toward you for night driving to reduce glare.
Push the tab away from you for daytime driving.

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2-37
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that may
be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let
you know they're working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a tone will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
until the driver's belt
is buckled.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag's electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see ªAir
Bagº in the Index.

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4-16 Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50
-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20
-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you're
driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn't lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren't
even aware of it.

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6-25
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an ACDelco
thermostat is recommended.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and the
proper coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
-33F (-36C).
Give boiling protection up to 258F (125C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one
-half coolant that meets GM Specification 1825-M,
which won't damage aluminum parts. You can also use a
recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification
1825
-M with a complete coolant flush and refill. If
you use this coolant mixture, you don't need to add
anything else.
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use
a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and the
proper coolant.

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6-58
Fuse Useage
1 Left Headlamp,
High
-Beam Indicator
2 Right Headlamp
3 Parking Lamps, Sidemarker
Lamps, License Plate Lamps,
Instrument Cluster LightsFuse Useage
4 Door Lock System (If Equipped)
5 Hazard Lamps, Horn
6 Ignition System, Gages, Warning
and Indicator Lights, Automatic
Transaxle Speed Sensor
7 Heater, Air Conditioning
(If Equipped)
8 Stoplamps
9 Lighter, Radio
10 Back
-Up Lamps,
Turn Signal Lamps
11 Rear Defogger (If Equipped)
12 Front and Rear Wiper/Washer