2004 CHEVROLET OPTRA mirror

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes,
steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedalIf your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will 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 “mirrored surface” — and slow
down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It
helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the
brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores
steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels
are rolling, you will have steering control.
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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.Here are some tips on night driving.
•Drive defensively.
•Do not drink and drive.
•Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
•Since you can not 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 are 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.
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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 is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your “blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
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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.
4-23

Fuses Usage
HEAD LAMPS Headlamps
ECM Engine Control Module
IGN COIL Ignition Coil
I/P FUSE Instrument Panel Fuse
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
A/C Air Conditioning
HORN Horn
HI BEAM Headlamp High-Beam
DRIVER’S
PWR WNDWDriver’s Power Window
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps
DR/LCK Door Lock
MIR HTD Heated Mirror
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM LTLicense Plate Lamp, Parking
Lamp Left
INJ Injector
ENG SNSREvaporative Emission (EVAP)
Canister Purge Solenoid, Heated
Oxygen Sensor (HO2S), Cooling Fan
Relay, CMP SensorFuses Usage
LOW BEAM LT Headlamp Low-Beam Left
ILLUM RTIllumination Circuit, Parking Lamp
Right
LOW BEAM RT Headlamp Low-Beam Right
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
BATT PWR Battery Power
ABS Anti-lock Brake System
HVAC BLWR HVAC Blower
IGN 2 Ignition 2
IGN 1 Ignition 1
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
COOL FAN
LOWCooling Fan Low
DEFOG Defog
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
5-88

Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-33
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-4
Manual Seats............................................1-2, 1-3
Manual Transaxle............................................2-19
Fluid..........................................................5-20
Operation...................................................2-27
Manual Transaxle Check..................................6-19
Manual Windows............................................2-15
Map Lamps....................................................3-15
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-5
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) – Customer Assistance....................... 7-5
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-35
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-36
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-37
Outside Manual Mirrors................................2-35
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-36
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-18
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............5-91
O
Odometer......................................................3-27
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-11
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-14
Pressure Light.............................................3-36
Older Children, Restraints................................1-29
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
Opening a Rear Door When the Security
Lock is On.................................................2-10
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-5
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-22
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-36
Heated Mirrors............................................2-37
Manual Mirrors............................................2-35
Power Mirrors.............................................2-36
Overseas – Customer Assistance........................ 7-5
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner’s Information........................................7-13
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-29
Shifting Out of............................................2-31
9

Parking
Brake........................................................2-28
Over Things That Burn.................................2-32
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle Park (P)
Mechanism Check.......................................6-22
Parking Your Vehicle.......................................2-32
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services............ 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services................6-18
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections..........6-23
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.......6-24
Part E - Maintenance Record...........................6-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-23
Passing.........................................................4-11
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-8
Playing a CD.........................................3-42, 3-46
Playing the Radio...................................3-40, 3-44
Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-16
Door Locks.................................................. 2-9
Electrical System.........................................5-82
Steering Fluid.............................................5-33
Windows....................................................2-15
Power Steering................................................ 4-9
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-28
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
R
Radios..........................................................3-40
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-52
Care of Your CDs........................................3-52
Radio with CD....................................3-40, 3-44
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-51
Understanding Reception..............................3-51
Rear Door Security Locks.................................. 2-9
Rear Seat Armrest..........................................2-39
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-8
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-24
Rear Window and Outside Mirror Defogger.........3-22
Rear Window Washer/Wiper............................... 3-9
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-35
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-5
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-31
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Remote Trunk Release....................................2-12
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-67
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-66
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-49
Replacing Brake System Parts..........................5-38
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-12
General Motors...........................................7-12
United States Government............................7-11
10

Tires (cont.)
Inflation - Tire Pressure................................5-57
Inspection and Rotation................................5-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-60
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-62
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-59
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-22
Top Strap......................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-41
Torque Lock...................................................2-30
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-37
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-20
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-20
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-23
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-27
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-12
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trip Odometer................................................3-27
Trunk............................................................2-11
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6U
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-22
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-51
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-60
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-63
Using an MP3 CD..........................................3-47
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-74
Using the Rear Door Security Lock...................2-10
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-33
Parking Your...............................................2-32
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders..................................................7-10
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).............................................5-81
Service Parts Identification Label...................5-81
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-38
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-22
Visor Vanity Mirror..........................................2-16
Visors...........................................................2-16
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