4-17
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
4-18
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.
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.
4-23
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.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too
-fast or
too
-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
4-25
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as ªhighway hypnosisº?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the
same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against
the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it happen
to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less
than a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service
or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels
and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle.
These parts can work hard on mountain roads.
4-37 Hitches
It's important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a
few reasons why you'll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper
-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to the bumper.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be
sure to seal the holes later when you remove the hitch. If
you don't seal them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from
your exhaust can get into your vehicle (see ªCarbon
Monoxideº in the Index). Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into
your vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won't work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer brakes
are still working.
6-60
Fuse Description
NOT USED Not Used
CRANK
SIGNAL BCM,
CLUSTERCRANK
-- Instrument Panel
Cluster, Body Control Module,
Powertrain Control Module
HEATED
MIRRORHeated Outside Rearview Mirrors
(If Equipped)Fuse Description
IGN 0:
CLUSTER
PCM, & BCMInstrument Panel Cluster, Powertrain
Control Module, Body Control
NOT USED Not Used
LOW
BLOWERHVAC Control Assembly,
Blower Motor
HVAC Air Temperature Valve Motor,
HVAC Control Assembly, Solenoid
Box, Compass Mirror
CRUISE Cruise Control Module
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
BTSI Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock
Control System
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
TURN
SIGNALS,
CORN LPSTurn Signals, Cornering Lamps
AIR BAG Air Bag System
CLUSTER Instrument Panel Cluster
6-61
Fuse Description
NOT USED Not Used
PCM, BCM,
U/H RELAYPowertrain Control Module, Body
Control Module, Underhood
Ignition/Relay
RADIO, HVAC,
RFA
CLUSTER,
DATA LINKRadio, HVAC Control Assembly,
Instrument Panel Cluster, Remote
Keyless Entry Module, Data Link
Connector, Bose Amplifier
BCM Body Control Module
CIGAR LTR,
AUX POWERAuxiliary Power, Cigarette Lighter,
Power Drop
INADV
POWER BUSVanity Mirrors, Instrument Panel
Courtesy Lamps, Instrument Panel
Compartment Lamps, Trunk
Courtesy Lamp, Header Courtesy
and Reading Lamps, I/S Lighted
Rearview Mirror
CD CHANGER Cartridge Disk Changer
HIGH
BLOWERHigh Blower Relay
HAZARD Hazard Switch
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps SwitchFuse Description
DOOR LOCKS Door Lock Relays (Internal to Body
Control Module) and External
Driver Door Lock Relay
POWER
MIRRORSLeft
-hand and Right-hand
Power Mirrors
RH HEATED
SEATPassenger's Side Heated Seat
LH HEATED
SEATDriver's Side Heated Seat
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
NOT USED Not Used
RED STRG
WHL ILLUMSteering Wheel Radio
Switch Illumination
FRT PARK LPS Front Parking Lamps,
Sidemarker Lamps
TAIL LAMPS,
LIC LAMPSTaillamps, License Lamps, Rear
Sidemarker Lamps, Rear
Sidemarker Lamps
PANEL
DIMMINGDimmable Instrument Panel Lamps
6-63
Maxi Fuses Description
1 Cooling Fans
2 Crank
3 Power Seats, Rear Defog,
Trunk Release
4 HVAC Controls, Hazard Flasher,
CHMSL, Body Control Module,
Stoplamp, Power Mirrors
5 HVAC Controls, Compass Mirror,
Cruise Control, PRNDL Lamp,
Powertrain Control Module (PCM)Maxi Fuses Description
6 Cooling Fans
7 Body Control Module, Cigar
Lighter, Accessory Power Outlet,
Trunk CD Changer, Audio
Systems, Keyless Entry System,
I/P Cluster, HVAC Controls
8 Turn Signals, Air Bag System,
I/P Cluster, Body Control Module,
Windshield Wipers
Mini Relays Description
9 Cooling Fans
10 Cooling Fans
11 Crank
12 Cooling Fans
13 Ignition Main
14 Blank
Micro Relays Description
15 Air Conditioning Compressor
16 Horn
17 Fog Lamps
18 Blank
19 Fuel Pump