2007 CHEVROLET AVEO brakes

But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile
traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels
will spin and polish the surface under the tires
even more.
Unless you have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), you will want to brake very gently, too. If
you do have ABS, seeAnti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) on page 225. This system improves
your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Whether you have ABS or
not, you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. Without ABS, if
you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the
brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down
steadily to get the most traction you can.Remember, unless you have ABS, if you brake so
hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just
slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling
and you can still steer.
•Whatever your braking system, allow greater
following distance on any slippery road.
•Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
fine until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you are
actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
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Service........................................................ 264
Accessories and Modifications................... 264
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 265
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 265
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 266
Fuel............................................................. 266
Gasoline Octane........................................ 266
Gasoline Specifications.............................. 266
California Fuel........................................... 267
Additives................................................... 267
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 268
Filling the Tank......................................... 269
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 272
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 273
Hood Release........................................... 274
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 276
Engine Oil................................................. 277
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 281
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 283Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 285
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 286
Engine Coolant.......................................... 287
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 290
Engine Overheating................................... 290
Cooling System......................................... 292
Power Steering Fluid................................. 297
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 298
Brakes...................................................... 299
Battery...................................................... 303
Jump Starting............................................ 304
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 309
Bulb Replacement....................................... 309
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 309
Headlamps (Hatchback)............................. 310
Headlamps (Sedan)................................... 311
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
(Hatchback)............................................ 312
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps
(Sedan).................................................. 313
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
261

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your
GM vehicle all GM. Genuine GM parts
have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability
control. Some of these accessories may even
cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When
you go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for
GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM Accessories.
264

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 281.
B. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 277.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 277.
D. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 299andHydraulic
Clutch on page 286.
E. Automatic Transaxle Dipstick. SeeAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 283.
F. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling
System on page 292.
G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 361.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 297.
I. Battery. SeeBattery on page 303.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 298.Engine Oil
If the engine oil
pressure light comes
on, check the engine oil
level right away.
The oil pressure light is on the instrument panel
cluster for sedans. SeeOil Pressure Light on
page 169. For hatchbacks, the oil pressure light is
on the Secondary Information Center (SIC).
SeeOil Pressure Light on page 184. You should
check the engine oil level regularly; this is an
added reminder.
277

Hydraulic Clutch
There is one reservoir for both the brake and the
hydraulic clutch fluid. SeeBrakes on page 299
for more information.
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The master cylinder reservoir
is filled with hydraulic fluid.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
how often you should check the fluid level in
your master cylinder reservoir and for the proper
fluid. SeePart B: Owner Checks and Services
on page 389andPart D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 396.
How to Check and Add Fluid
To check the fluid level, look on the side of the
reservoir. If the fluid reaches the MAX (A) mark on
the reservoir, the fluid level is correct. If the fluid
does not reach the MIN (B) mark on the reservoir,
then fluid needs to be added. The reservoir is
located near the back of the engine compartment
on the driver’s side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 276for
more information on location.
286

Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
uid. Water can cause the solution to
freeze and damage your washer uid tank
and other parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as well
as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for uid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
your windshield washer. It can damage
the vehicle’s windshield washer system
and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your vehicle has
one reservoir for both
the brake and clutch
hydraulic systems. It is
filled with DOT-3
brake fluid. SeeEngine
Compartment
Overview on page 276
for the location of
the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid
level in the reservoir might go down. The first is that
the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level
during normal brake lining wear. When new linings
are put in, the fluid level goes back up. The other
reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake or
clutch system. If it is, you should have the brake/
clutch system fixed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.
299

So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If
you add fluid when the linings are worn, then you
will have too much fluid when you get new
brake linings. You should add or remove brake
fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake and/or clutch
hydraulic system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 163.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3
brake fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only. SeePart D: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 396.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well.
This could cause a crash. Always use the
proper brake uid.
300

Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 349.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and could have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal firmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.
301