
Outside Power Mirrors
The controls for the
outside power mirrors
are located on the
driver’s door armrest.
Use the selector switch located below the four-way
control panel to choose either the left or right
outside mirror. Then press any of the four arrows
located on the control pad to move each mirror
in the desired direction.
Adjust each mirror so you can see the side of your
vehicle and the area beside and behind your
vehicle.
Outside Power Heated Mirrors
If the vehicle has this feature, when the rear
window defogger is turned on, the heated driver’s
and passenger’s outside power mirrors are
warmed to help clear them of ice, snow and
condensation. See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Climate Control System on page 188for more
information. Also seeOutside Power Mirrors
on page 143for mirror operation.
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Outside Convex Mirror
{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.
The passenger side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so more can be
seen from the driver’s seat. It also makes things,
like other vehicles, look farther away than they
really are.
OnStar®System
OnStar®uses several innovative technologies and
live advisors to provide you with a wide range
of safety, security, information, and convenience
services. If your airbags deploy, the system is
designed to make an automatic call to OnStar
®
Emergency advisors who can request emergency
services be sent to your location. If you lock
your keys in the vehicle, call OnStar
®at
1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send a signal
to unlock your doors. If you need roadside
assistance, press the OnStar
®button and they
can contact Roadside Service for you.
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Defogging and Defrosting
You can use either defog or front defrost to clear
fog or frost from your windshield. Use the defog
mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture.
Use the front defrost button to defrost the front
windshield.
-(Defog):Use this setting to clear the windows
of fog or moisture. Turn the mode knob to this
position to select this setting. This setting
will deliver air to the oor and windshield outlets.
0(Defrost):Turn the mode knob to this
position to defrost the windshield. The system
will automatically control the fan speed if you
select defrost from AUTO mode. If the outside
temperature is 40°F (4°C) or warmer, your
air conditioning compressor will automatically run
to help dehumidify the air and dry the windshield.
The air conditioning indicator light will blink
three times if you try to turn off the compressor
while in this mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear):Press this button to turn the rear
window defogger on or off. An indicator light above
the button will come on to let you know that the
rear window defogger is activated.
If driving below 50 mph (80 km/h), the rear window
defogger will turn off about 15 minutes after the
button is pressed. If you need additional warming
time, press the button again.
If your vehicle’s speed is maintained above
50 mph (80 km/h), the rear window defogger will
remain on once the button is pressed.
If your vehicle has heated mirrors this button will
also activate that feature.
If your vehicle has the remote start feature, the
rear defogger and heated mirrors will automatically
be turned on if it is cold outside. The indicator
light will not be on. When the vehicle transitions
out of remote start mode the rear defogger
and heated mirrors will turn off.
196

Check your vehicle’s 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 vehicle’s inside
mirror, activate the right lane change signal and
move back into the right lane. Remember that
your vehicle’s passenger side 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 ashing, 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.
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,
the 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.
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A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are 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.
Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle
for competitive driving. After reviewing your
warranty book, please see the GM Performance
Parts website or catalog for parts and equipment
required for competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle for competitive
driving, the engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil levels can
damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil
level often during competitive driving and
keep the level at or near the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range on the
engine oil dipstick. For information on how
to add oil, seeEngine Oil on page 359.
305

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, you may need
to 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 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.
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.
306

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.
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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.Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested.
If you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make
too many miles that rst part of the journey.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep
it serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If
it needs service, have it done before starting out.
Of course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across
North America. They will be ready and willing to
help if you need it.
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