2005 CHEVROLET SSR Owners Manual

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up. If the ignition is on, the
brake system warning light will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-30for more
information.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Then push the release button in as you move
the parking brake lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
2-23

Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle will not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-23for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the
button on the lever while pushing the lever all the
way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
remove the key from the ignition, the vehicle is in
PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold down
the regular brake pedal. See if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
2-24

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull
the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque
lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To nd out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” listed previously in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in RUN. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-19.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the
shift lever, push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P),
and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift lever button and move
the shift lever into the gear you wish.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift
lever into REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the parking
brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into
REVERSE (R), with the clutch pedal pressed in, you
can turn the ignition key to OFF, press the key release
button to remove the key and release the clutch.
See Key Release Button (Manual Transmission) under
Ignition Positions on page 2-16.
If you are parking on a hill, see “Parking on Hills” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-35.
If your vehicle is pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 4-35.
2-25

Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your
vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
2-26

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-26.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 4-24.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever to
PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-24.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-35.
2-27

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have a manual rearview mirror. While
sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust the mirror
so you can see clearly behind your vehicle. Grip the
mirror in the center to move it up or down and side to
side. The control at the bottom of the mirror is the
day/night feature that allows adjustment to the mirror so
that the glare of headlamps from behind is reduced.
Push the control for daytime use; pull it for night use.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with HomeLink
®
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming rearview
mirror with map lamps and HomeLink®Transmitter
buttons. For more information about this feature, see
HomeLink
®on page 2-30.
While sitting in a comfortable driving position, adjust
the mirror so you can see clearly behind your vehicle.
Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or down
and side to side.
Mirror Operation
The mirror automatically changes to reduce glare from
headlamps behind you. A time delay feature prevents
rapid changing from the day to night positions while
driving under lights and through traffic.
[(On/Off):The automatic dimming feature is
automatically activated when the vehicle is started.
The automatic dimming feature is turned on or off
by pressing this button located on the lower part
of the mirror. Press and hold the button for up to
three seconds to turn this feature on or off.
T(Indicator Light):This light will turn on when the
automatic dimming feature is on.
+(Map Lamps):Press this button to turn the map
lamps on and off.
Press the two outside mirror buttons to light the
transmission positions on the console.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as this could damage
the mirror housing.
2-28

Outside Power Heated Mirrors
The vehicle has outside heated power mirrors.
The power mirror
control is located
on the driver’s door.
To adjust the power mirrors, do the following:
1. Turn the knob toward the mirror to be adjusted.
2. Move the knob in the desired direction.
3. Return the knob to the center position once the
mirrors are adjusted.
When the furthest position is reached in any direction,
the mirror will enter a ratcheting mode and a clicking
sound will be heard. To stop this, move the control
knob in the opposite direction.Both mirrors heat to clear them of ice, snow and
condensation when the rear window defogger is turned
on. See “Rear Window Defogger” underClimate
Control System on page 3-20for more information.
The mirrors can be manually folded inward to prevent
damage when going through an automatic car wash
or conned space. Push each mirror toward the vehicle.
To return the mirror to its original position, push
outward. Be sure to return the mirrors to their original
unfolded position before driving.
Outside Convex Mirror
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so more can be
seen from the driver’s seat.
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
2-29

Outside Automatic Dimming
Heated Mirror
If the vehicle has this feature, the driver’s side outside
rearview mirror will adjust for the glare of headlamps
from behind by pushing the on and off settings on the
mirror. SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with HomeLink
®on page 2-28for more information.
Both outside mirrors are also heated when the
rear window defogger is turned on. See “Rear Window
Defogger” underClimate Control System on page 3-20.
The mirrors can be manually folded inward to prevent
damage when going through an automatic car wash.
To fold, push the mirror toward the vehicle. To return
the mirror to its original position, push outward. Be sure
to return the mirrors to their original unfolded position
before driving.
HomeLink®Transmitter
HomeLink®
If your vehicle has this feature, the HomeLink®
transmitter buttons are located on the automatic
dimming rearview mirror. The three buttons on the left
side of the mirror are the HomeLink
®transmitter buttons.
HomeLink
®, a combined universal transmitter and
receiver, provides a way to replace up to three
hand-held transmitters used to activate devices such
as gate operators, garage door openers, entry door
locks, security systems and home lighting. Additional
HomeLink
®information can be found on the Internet at
www.homelink.com or by calling 1-800-355-3515.
2-30