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2-85 Tow/Haul Mode Light (If Equipped)
This light should come on
when the tow/haul mode has
been selected.
For more information, see ªTow/Haul Modeº in
the Index.
Check Gages Light
The CHECK GAGES light
will come on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil pressure
gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
Gate Ajar Light
If this light comes on, your
liftgate is ajar. Try closing
the liftgate again. Never
drive with the liftgate even
partially open.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
the fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have remaining.
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4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on. This is normal.
If there's a problem with the
anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.
Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet.
You're driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
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4-32
Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown
part of the city just as you would for a
cross
-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You'll save time and energy. (See the
next part, ªFreeway Driving.º)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
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4-37
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 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
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.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You'll
have a lot less traction or ªgripº and will need to be
very careful.
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6-24
Radiator Pressure Cap
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure
-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
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.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL 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, see ªEngine Overheatingº in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).
Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
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6-32 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).
CAUTION:
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 ªBrake System Inspectionº in Section 7 of this
manual under Part C ªPeriodic Maintenance
Inspections.º
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer 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 make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
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6-46 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow tires,
space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
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9-1
Section 9 Index
A
ccessory Power Outlets 2-67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle 6-3 . . . . . .
Adding Sound Equipment 3-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Add-On Equipment 4-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Bag
Adding Equipment 1
-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Does it Restrain 1-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How it Works 1-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Location 1-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Readiness Light 1-25, 2-77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Servicing 1-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
System 1-24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What Makes it Inflate 1-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What You See After it Inflates 1-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When Should it Inflate 1-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Cleaner Filter 6-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Conditioning 3-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air Conditioning Refrigerants 6-66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alignment and Balance, Tire 6-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning 6-55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Antenna, Fixed 3-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light 2-80, 4-7 . . . . . . . . .
Anti-Lock Brakes 4-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appearance Care 6-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appearance Care and Materials 6-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arbitration Program 8
-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest, Storage 2-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ashtrays 2-65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio Steering Wheel Controls 3-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audio Systems 3-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Headlamp System 2-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Transmission
Check 7
-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fluid 6-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation 2-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Park Mechanism Check 7-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shifting 2-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Starting Your Engine 2-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Axle
Front 6
-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear 6-21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Backglass Wiper, Blade Replacement 6-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery 6-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charge Light 2-77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump Starting 5-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement, Keyless Entry 2-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Run-Down Protection 2-52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warnings 5-3, 5-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .