2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER brake

2-36
Running Your Engine While You're
Parked (Automatic Transaxle)
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See ªBlizzardº in the Index.
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the center of your
steering wheel near the horn symbols.

2-40 Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk with the wiper
symbol on it toward you one time. When you release the
stalk, the washers will stop. The wipers continue wiping
for approximately three cycles and will either stop or
will resume the speed you were using before.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or the clutch pedal if you
have a manual transaxle, the cruise control shuts off.

2-42
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake or clutch pedal. This, of
course, shuts off the cruise control. But you don't need
to reset it. Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, you can briefly move the cruise control switch
from ON to R/A.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at R/A longer, the vehicle will
keep going faster until you release the switch or apply
the brake or clutch pedal. So unless you want to go
faster, don't hold the switch at R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to a higher speed.
Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll
now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise control switch from ON to R/A.
Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want,
and then release the switch. To increase your speed
in very small amounts, briefly move the switch to
R/A then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, briefly press
the button. Each time you do this, you'll go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.

2-43
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up a steep hill, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
or clutch pedal takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and don't use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transaxle, or

move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
The band on the turn signal/multifunction lever controls
your vehicle's lamps.

2-44 Parking Lamps
This position will turn on the following:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps
This position will turn on the following:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turn the band rearward to turn the lamps off.
During periods of high humidity it may be normal for
slight condensation to build up in the lens housing. Any
condensation should dissipate after operating the lamp
for several hours.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver's door with the ignition off and
the lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.
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. Fully
functional daytime running lights are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your high and low
-beam
headlamps come on at a reduced brightness in daylight
when the following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is in OFF or parking
lamp position,

the parking brake is released, and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P) on models with an
automatic transaxle only.

2-45
This indicator light on your
instrument panel cluster
will come on when the DRL
are on.
A flashing DRL telltale indicates a possible burned out
headlamp, or that the vehicle may need service to repair
a stuck DRL relay.
When the DRL are on, your high and low
-beam
headlamps will be on at a reduced 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 high and
low
-beam headlamps will go out, and your low-beam
headlamps will come on. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go off, and your high and low
-beam
headlamps will come on to the reduced brightness.
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.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
Use your fog lamps for
better vision in foggy or
misty conditions. The
switch for your fog lamps is
next to the instrument panel
intensity control.
Push the top of the switch to turn the fog lamps on. Push
the top of the switch again to turn the fog lamps off.
When using fog lamps, the parking lamps or low
-beam
headlamps must be on.
A light on the switch will come on when the fog lamps
are actually on. Fog lamps will go off whenever the
high
-beam headlamps come on. When the high-beam
headlamps go off, the fog lamps will come on again.

2-53
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Fog Lamp Switch (If Equipped)
B. Instrument Panel Intensity Control
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
F. Ignition Switch
G. Windshield Wiper/Washer Controls
H. Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped)I. Audio System
J. Climate Controls and Rear Window Defogger
K. Fuse Panel
L. Hood Release Lever
M. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (If Equipped)
N. Parking Brake Lever
O. Shift Lever

2-59 Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.