Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-30
Tilt Wheel
JE±12±0019±X
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when you exit
and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and move the
lever down. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable
level, then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
JE±12±0031±X
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
Flash
-to-Pass
Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-31 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
X±02±1321±T
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don't
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
First, you must have the headlamps on. For high beams,
push the turn signal lever toward the instrument panel.
X±02±3323±T
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel also will be on. It will
go off when you switch to
low beam.
To switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
With the lever in the low-beam position, pull the lever
toward you to momentarily switch to high beam (to
signal that you are going to pass). When you release the
lever, the headlamps will return to low
-beam operation.
Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-37 Parking Lamps
: This position will turn on the following:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
Instrument Panel Lights
License Plate Lamp
Headlamps
: This position will turn on the following:
Headlamps
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
Instrument Panel Lights
License Plate Lamp
Turn the switch to OFF to turn off the lamps.
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 headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on with the engine running,
the headlamp switch is off or the parking lights are
on and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on
at a reduce brightness. The taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.
When you turn on the headlamp switch, your DRL will
go off and your headlamps will come on. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will also
come on.
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When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps. See ªAutomatic Light Controlº earlier in
this section.
When you turn the headlamp switch to off, the regular
lamps will go off and your headlamps will change to the
reduced brightness of DRL provided it is not dark
outside. DRL also comes on if only the parking lamps
are being used.
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.
Automatic Light Control (ALC)
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 short delay in the transition between daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps
(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 or a
tunnel, 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.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the
door and leave the lamps on, a tone will remind you to
turn off your lamps.
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2-39
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
JE±12±0015±X
The thumbwheel controls
the brightness of your
instrument panel lights.
Rotate the wheel upward to
brighten the lights or
downward to dim them.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp has a three-position switch.
OFF: This position is to the left when you are sitting in
the driver's seat. The lamp stays off even when a door
is open.
Center: This is the center position. The lamp comes on
when a door is opened.
ON: This position is to the right when you are sitting in
the driver's seat. The dome lamp turns on and stays on
whether or not a door is open.
Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature
designed to protect your vehicle's battery.
When the dome lamp is left on and the ignition is turned
off and the key is removed, the battery saver system will
automatically turn the lamp off after about 15 minutes.
This will avoid draining the battery. This system does
not protect against leaving on the headlamps or
parking lamps.
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4-21
CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try to go straight up.
Ease up on your speed as you approach the top
of the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible
to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to
let opposing traffic know you're there.
Use your headlamps even during the day. They make
you more visible to oncoming traffic.
CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. There could be a drop
-off,
embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed. As you near
the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.
Q:What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or is about
to stall, and I can't make it up the hill?
A:If this happens, there are some things you should
do, and there are some things you must not do.
First, here's what you should do:
Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and
keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the
parking brake.
If your engine is still running, shift the transmission
to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R).
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Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don't drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
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'redriving, 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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4-41
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.