2005 CHEVROLET EPICA mirror

•Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.
•Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
•Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
•If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can
ease a little to the right.
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.
4-13

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 pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If 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.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-14

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 cannot 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.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
4-15

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways,
parkways, expressways, turnpikes, or
superhighways — are the safest of all roads. But they
have their own special rules.
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.
4-20

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do
not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can
leave the road in less than a second, and you could
crash and be injured.
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.
4-22

Fuses Usage
CLSTR
AUTO A/CInstrument Panel Cluster, Automatic
Temperature Control, Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL)
LTR Cigarette Lighter, Glove Box Lamp
RADIO Radio
CLKClock, Dome Lamp, Key
Interlock Unit
WSWA Windshield Washer
WPR Windshield Wiper
HTD/MIROutside Rearview Mirror (OSRVM),
Rear Glass Defogger Switch
RADIO
CRUISERadio Battery Positive Voltage,
Cruise
HTD/SEATHeating Mat, Accessory Power
Outlet
AUTO A/C
CLSTRAutomatic Temperature Control,
Cluster
DLC Data Link Connector (DLC)Engine Compartment Fuse Block
The engine compartment fuse block is located on the
driver’s side of the vehicle, near the battery. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location. To access the fuses, press the
top and bottom flaps to release the cover.
To reinstall the cover, push until it is secure.
5-79

Fuses Usage
BLANK Not Used
LOW BEAM RT Right Side Headlamp Low Beam
LOW BEAM LT Left Side Headlamp Low Beam
INT LTS Interior Lamp
A/C Air Conditioning
HI BEAM
PASSINGHeadlamp Passing Light
HI BEAM Headlamp High Beam
FUELFuel Pump, Data Link
Connector (DLC)
ECM Ignition Coil
COOL FAN HI Electric Cooling Fan High Speed
BCM BATT Body Control Module (BCM)
IGN 1 Ignition Key (ACC, ON, START)
FOG LAMPS Fog Lamp Relay
STOP LAMPS Brake Switch
I/P FUSE BATT Instrument Panel Fuse Box
ILLUM RT Illumination, Right Parking Lamp
FRT DEFOG Front Defogger
ILLUM LT Left Parking Lamp
HVAC BLWR Blower Motor
IGN 2 Ignition Key (ON, START)
FOG DIODE Fog Lamp Relay
HORN HornFuses Usage
PWR/MIR Power Mirror
DRL Daytime Running Lamps
ENG 2Injector, Variable Induction
System (VIS), Electronic Exhaust
Gas Recirculation (EEGR), Canister
Purge Solenoid
ENG 1Oxygen Sensor, Generator, Engine
Control Module (ECM)
COOL
FAN LOWElectric Cooling Fan Low Speed
ABSElectronic Brake Control
Module (EBCM)
PWR/SEAT Front Power Seat
S/ROOF Sunroof
ECM 1Engine Control Module (ECM),
Transmission Control Module (TCM),
Engine Main Relay
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
PWR WNDW Power Window
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
5-81

Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Part D - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants...............................................6-25
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-27
Selecting the Right Schedule.......................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance............. 6-7
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..........................6-23
Throttle System Inspection............................6-24
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-41
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-4
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Map Lamps....................................................3-16
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-29
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-29
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-30
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-30
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-17
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............5-84
OOdometer......................................................3-32
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-32
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-11
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-13
Pressure Light.............................................3-44
Older Children, Restraints................................1-28
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-5
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-28
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-30
Heated Mirrors............................................2-31
Power Mirrors.............................................2-30
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-25
Shifting Out of............................................2-26
Parking
Brake........................................................2-24
Over Things That Burn.................................2-27
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services............ 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services................6-19
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections..........6-23
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-25
8