If you have the Enhanced Traction System (ETS),
remember: It helps to avoid only the acceleration
skid. SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 234. If you do not have the Enhanced
Traction System, or if the 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 reducing
vehicle speed 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 Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid.
If you do not have ABS, 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.
Racing or Other Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle
for racing or other competitive driving. After
reviewing your warranty book, please see the
GM Performance Parts website or catalog
and contact the race sanctioning bodies, for
example Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) or
Grand American, for parts and equipment required
for racing or other competitive driving.
242
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 the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, slow down and
keep more space between you and other
vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s 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 might 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 might cut down on
glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust
to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare,
as from a driver who does not lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching headlamps.
243
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 ow. 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 ow. 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 ow.
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.
249
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all in ated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
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.
251
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your
vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes
separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching
safety chains and do not attach them to the
bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you
can turn with your rig. And, never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes? Be sure to
read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you will be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Do not try to tap into your
vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake
systems will not work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of
experience. Before setting out for the open road,
you will want to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and braking with
the added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical connection at
the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
272
Fuses Usage
LTR Cigarette Lighter
MIR Mirrors
HTD SEATS Heated Seats
CNSTR VENT Canister Vent
Relays Usage
REAR DEFOG Rear Defogger
COOL FAN2 Engine Cooling Fan 2
WPR HI/LO Windshield Wiper High/Low Speed
CRNK Starter
COOL FAN1 Engine Cooling Fan 1
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
Relays Usage
WPR ON/OFF Windshield Wiper On/Off
COOL FANS Engine Cooling Fans
PWR/TRN Powertrain
AIR PUMP AIR Pump
A/C CLTCH Air Conditioning Clutch
AIR SOL/
AFTERCOOLAIR Solenoid (L61, LE5),
Aftercooler (L4)
RUN/CRNK Run, Crank
Misc. Usage
PLR Fuse Puller
389
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall................................. 340
Lamps
Dome....................................................... 155
Mirror Reading......................................... 155
LATCH System
Child Restraints......................................... 53
License Plate Lamps................................... 336
Light
Airbag Readiness..................................... 167
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning............. 172
Brake System Warning............................. 171
Charging System..................................... 170
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning....... 174
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Warning Light....................................... 173
Fog Lamp................................................ 179
Highbeam On.......................................... 179
Malfunction Indicator................................ 174
Oil Pressure............................................. 178
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............ 168
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder.............. 167
Safety Belt Reminder............................... 166Light (cont.)
Security................................................... 179
Up-Shift................................................... 171
Lighting
Entry/Exit................................................. 155
Lights.......................................................... 152
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 146
High/Low Beam Changer ......................... 146
On Reminder........................................... 153
Limited-Slip Differential................................ 235
Loading Your Vehicle................................... 259
Lockout Protection....................................... 101
Locks
Automatic Door Lock................................ 100
Delayed Locking........................................ 99
Door.......................................................... 98
Lockout Protection................................... 101
Power Door............................................... 99
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock..... 100
Rear Door Security Locks........................ 100
Loss of Control........................................... 241
Lumbar
Manual Controls......................................... 10
442
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services.................... 398
At Each Fuel Fill...................................... 402
At Least Once a Month............................ 403
At Least Once a Year.............................. 403
Introduction.............................................. 394
Maintenance Footnotes............................ 400
Maintenance Record................................ 410
Maintenance Requirements...................... 394
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ... 408
Owner Checks and Services.................... 402
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....... 406
Scheduled Maintenance........................... 396
Using....................................................... 395
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 394
Malfunction Indicator Light........................... 174
Manual Lumbar Controls............................... 10
Manual Seats.................................................. 9Manual Transaxle
Fluid........................................................ 301
Operation................................................. 121
Manual Windows......................................... 104
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages................... 184
Mirror Reading Lamps................................. 155
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror........................... 130
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®...... 130
Outside Convex Mirror............................. 131
Outside Manual Mirror.............................. 130
Outside Power Mirrors............................. 131
Outside Remote Control Mirror................. 130
MP3 ............................................................ 212
MyGMLink.com............................................ 417
N
Navigation System, Privacy......................... 434
New Vehicle Break-In.................................. 111
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 408
443