Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
Press the knob located
next to the exterior lamps
knob to extend it.
Turn the knob to adjust the instrument panel lights. Turn
the knob all the way up to turn on the interior lamps.
Press the knob back into its stored position when you're
not using it.
Dome Lamp Override
The dome override button
is located below the
exterior lamps knob.
To turn the dome lamps off, press the button. The dome
lamps will remain off when a door is open. This will
override the illuminated entry feature unless you
use your keyless entry transmitter to unlock the vehicle.
To return the lamps to automatic operation, press the
button again. The dome lamps will come on when
you open a door.
3-18
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with entry lighting.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps will come on if
the dome override button is in the ªoutº position.
When all the doors are closed, the lamps will stay on for
a short period of time and will then turn off automatically.
If you use your keyless entry transmitter to unlock the
vehicle, the interior lights will come on for a short
time whether or not the dome override is on.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you
see while exiting the vehicle. With the dome override
button in the ªoutº position, these lights will stay on for a
short period of time and then will go out.
Reading Lamps
Press the lens on the lamp located above the doors to
turn the reading lamps on and off.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door
unless the dome lamp override is pressed in.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamps knob, all
the way up to the top detent position. In this position,
the dome lamps will remain on until they are turned off.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, vanity, and
reading lamps if they are left on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep your
battery from running down.
If the battery run-down protection shuts off the interior
lamps, it may be necessary to do one of the following to
return to normal operation:
·Shut off all lamps and close all doors, or
·turn the ignition key to RUN.
This feature will also turn off the parking lamps and
headlamps under most circumstances, if they are left on.
If you would like to turn them back on, turn the exterior
lamps knob.
3-19
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on brie¯y when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly±and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information Center
(DIC) that works along with the warning lights and
gages. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 3-51.
3-35
Anti-lock Brake System
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 is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. See
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-42
.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning lights will come on
accompanied by a 10-second chime. The lights
and chime will come on each time the ignition is turned
on until the problem is repaired. See your dealer for
service.Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is 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 front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
4-7
When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
®rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or
other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands if you are not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you can not control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what is not.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the
very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your re¯exes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You
could have a serious Ð or even fatal Ð accident if you
drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. See
Drunken Driving on page 4-2.
Driving on Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down or across a
hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment
and an understanding of what your vehicle can and can
not do. There are some hills that simply can not be
driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you can not control your speed. If
you drive across them, you will roll over. You
could be seriously injured or killed. If you have
any doubt about the steepness, do not drive
the hill.
4-19
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 Ð 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 ®lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ¯ash 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 Ð the inability to see in dim light Ð and
aren't even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can't stop, accelerate or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction isn't as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires don't have much tread left,
you'll get even less traction. It's always wise to go
slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are
driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your
re¯exes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
4-30
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transmission ¯uid to use. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-18.
Add ¯uid only after checking the transmission ¯uid while
it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a reference.) If
the ¯uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
¯uid to bring the level up to the HOT area for a
hot check. It doesn't take much ¯uid, generally less
than one pint (0.5 L).
Don't over®ll.
Notice:
We recommend you use only ¯uid labeled
DEXRONž-III, because ¯uid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by ¯uid other than DEXRON
ž-III is
not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
·After adding ¯uid, recheck the ¯uid level as
described under ªHow to Check².
·When the correct ¯uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ¯ip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
žextended 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
Engine Overheating on
page 5-27.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOLžmay
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-24
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-35
Warnings.......................................................3-61
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-61
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-82
Weatherstrip Lubrication...................................6-12
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-54
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-51
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-18
What to Add..................................................5-39
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-20
What to Use..........................5-25, 5-36, 5-37, 5-47
Wheels..........................................................5-60
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-60
Replacement...............................................5-61
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-17
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)...................................5-19
When to Check and Change............................5-22When to Check Lubricant.................................5-47
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-36
When to Check..............................................5-55
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-21
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-59
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-37
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-10
Window Lockout.............................................2-15
Windows.......................................................2-14
Power........................................................2-15
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check................6-11
Windshield Washer.........................................3-10
Fluid..........................................................5-37
Windshield Wiper............................................5-51
Blade Replacement......................................5-51
Fuses........................................................5-88
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-9
Winter Driving................................................4-38
Wiper Blade Check.........................................6-12
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
16