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4-8 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. 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.
Let's say the road is wet and you're driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here's what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each wheel.
Page 213 of 386

4-20 Driving Through Deep Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine's air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If you
can't avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through flowing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can be
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
carried away. As little as six inches of flowing
water can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and the other vehicle occupants
could drown. Don't ignore police warning signs,
and otherwise be very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlamps and your marker
and clearance lamps, if your vehicle has them
-- not
just your parking lamps
-- to help make you more
visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. See ªTiresº
in the Index.
Page 214 of 386

4-21
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You'll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.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.
Larger vehicles can't be driven everywhere smaller
ones can. There are low underpasses, truck routes
and other special situations. Usually these are well
marked, so be sure to watch for the signs.
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.
Page 219 of 386
4-26
Winter DrivingHere are some tips for winter driving:
Be sure the vehicle is 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.
Page 228 of 386

5-3
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road behind your vehicle in the
recommended manner per Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulation (FMCSR) Section 392.22, to warn others.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to
do it safely.
CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn't be covered by your
warranty.
The ACDelco battery in your vehicle has a
built
-in hydrometer. Do not charge, test or jump
start the battery if the hydrometer looks clear or
light yellow. Replace the battery when there is a
clear or light yellow hydrometer and a cranking
complaint.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling
it won't work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery (or batteries) with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn't a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
Page 242 of 386
5-17
6. Turn the stud nut
clockwise several turns
to release the brakes.
Follow the same
procedure to release the
other brake.
7. At the repair facility, apply air pressure of at least
70 psi (480 kPa) to the brake chambers, either from
an external air supply or the vehicle's air system.
8. Turn the stud nut counterclockwise several turns.
Remove the stud from the chamber.
9. Replace the stud and washer and tighten the nut
into the side of the chamber.
10. Replace the rubber cap.Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature warning gage on
your vehicle's instrument panel, as well as a low coolant
warning light. Your vehicle also has a check gages
warning light on the instrument panel.
Page 244 of 386

5-19 If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light,
can indicate a serious problem. See ªLow Coolant
Lightº in the Index.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high
-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in neutral while
stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift
to park or neutral and let the engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If climbing a hill, downshift to raise engine and
fan speeds.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, you can push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you're parked. If you still have the warning, turn off
the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
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6-9
If it comes on, use this chart.
NOTICE:
If you drive when this warning indicator is on,
you can damage your fuel injection system and
your engine. If the indicator comes on right after
you refuel, it means water was pumped into your
fuel tank. Turn off your engine immediately.
Then, have the water drained at once.
Water In Fuel Indicator Chart
Problem
Recommended Action
Indicator comes
on intermittently.Drain water from fuel filter.
Indicator
stays on:
At
temperatures
above freezing.Drain fuel filter immediately.
If no water can be drained and
light stays on, see your dealer
for assistance.
At
temperatures
below freezing.Drain fuel filter immediately. If no
water can be drained
-- water may
be frozen in water drain system.
Water may be frozen in the fuel
lines. Move the vehicle to a warm
location to thaw out, and then
drain filter system.
Immediately
after refueling,
large amount of
water possibly
pumped into
fuel tank.Fuel tank purging required. See
your dealer for assistance.