2004 CHEVROLET AVEO wheel

Ensure that the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system. You have to apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the key is in ON. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P) while holding the brake pedal down, see
Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle) on
page 2-30.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
When shifting from NEUTRAL (N) to REVERSE (R),
you need to apply the regular brake and push the shift
lever toward the passenger side of the vehicle and
then forward.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice or sand without damaging your transaxle,
seeIf You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page 4-28.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart while you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not racing when shifting
your vehicle.
2-23

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-3
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-4
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Windshield Wiper Lever...................................3-6
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-8
Interior Lamps..............................................3-10
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-11
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-12
Climate Controls............................................3-12
Climate Control System.................................3-12
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-15
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-16
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-17
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-18
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-19
Tachometer.................................................3-19
Safety Belt Reminder Tone............................3-20
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-20
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-21Highbeam On Light.......................................3-22
Fuel Gage...................................................3-22
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-23
Secondary Information Center (SIC).................3-24
Clock..........................................................3-25
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-25
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-26
Charging System Light..................................3-27
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-27
Hold Mode Light...........................................3-28
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-28
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-32
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-32
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light...........3-33
Door Ajar Light.............................................3-33
Audio System(s).............................................3-34
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-34
Radio with CD..............................................3-36
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-43
Radio Reception...........................................3-43
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-44
Care of Your CD Player................................3-44
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-44
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The hazard warning
flasher button is located
on the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Horn
Press the horn symbols on your steering wheel pad to
sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
Your vehicle has a tilt wheel which allows you to adjust
the steering wheel before you drive. You can raise it
to the highest level to give your legs more room when
you exit and enter the vehicle.
The tilt wheel lever is
located underneath the
steering column slightly to
the left.
To tilt the steering wheel, hold the wheel and push the
lever down. Then, move the wheel to a comfortable
position and pull the lever up to lock the wheel in place.
3-4

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,
push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is turned to ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, use your fog lamps
for better visibility in foggy or misty conditions.
See “Fog Lamps” underExterior Lamps on page 3-8for
further information.
Windshield Wiper Lever
Windshield Wipers
Use this lever located on the right side of the steering
wheel to operate the windshield wipers. The ignition
must be turned to ON to operate the windshield wipers.
HI (High Speed):Move the lever to this position for
wiping at high speed.
LO (Low Speed):Move the lever to this position for
steady wiping at low speed.
Sedan shown, Hatchback similar
3-6

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering column.
Turn the thumbwheel to the right to brighten the lights
or to the left to dim them.
Dome Lamp
Your vehicle will have one of the following dome lamp
switches.
You will have this version
if your vehicle does not
have a sunroof.
You will have this version
if your vehicle has a
sunroof.
Without Sunroof
With Sunroof
3-10

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 wheel.The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
4-8

Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, your
first reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold
it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheelscan stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can not
respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it
in whatever direction it was headed when the wheels
stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very
thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You can do this by
pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing
pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.
This will help you retain steering control. If youdohave
anti-lock, it is different. See “Anti-Lock Brake System”
in this section.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
4-9

Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer
but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia will
keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you
are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control
systems — steering and braking — have to do their
work where the tires meet the road. Unless you
have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard
braking can demand too much of those places.
You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you are steering through
a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two
control systems — steering and acceleration — can
overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road
and make you lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust
your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on
good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable
conditions you will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
4-10