
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If you have the Enhanced Traction System (ETS),
remember: It helps to avoid only the acceleration
skid. SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 226. 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.
233

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.
234

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.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly
over your shoulder to make sure there is not
another vehicle in your blind spot.
239

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 at or rolling terrain.
241

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.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up ahead
when you are towing a trailer. And, because the
vehicle is a good deal longer, you will need to go
much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you
can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just
move that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have someone guide you.
261

Fuses Usage
S BAND/
ONSTARAudio, OnStar
®
ABS3 Anti-lock Brake System 3
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
Relays Usage
COOL FAN1 Engine Cooling Fan 1
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
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
368

L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall................................. 321
Lamps
Battery Run-Down Protection................... 150
Dome....................................................... 149
Electric Power Management..................... 149
Fog .......................................................... 148
Mirror Reading......................................... 149
LATCH System
Child Restraints......................................... 51
License Plate Lamps................................... 318
Light
Airbag Readiness..................................... 161
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning............. 166
Brake System Warning............................. 165
Charging System..................................... 164
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning....... 167
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Warning Light....................................... 166
Fog Lamp................................................ 172
Highbeam On.......................................... 173Light (cont.)
Malfunction Indicator................................ 168
Oil Pressure............................................. 171
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............ 162
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder.............. 160
Safety Belt Reminder............................... 160
Security................................................... 172
Up-Shift................................................... 164
Lighting
Entry/Exit................................................. 149
Loading Your Vehicle................................... 249
Locks
Automatic Door Lock................................. 96
Delayed Locking........................................ 95
Door.......................................................... 94
Lockout Protection..................................... 97
Power Door............................................... 95
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock....... 96
Rear Door Security Locks.......................... 96
Loss of Control........................................... 232
Lumbar
Manual Controls.......................................... 9
420

M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services.................... 378
At Each Fuel Fill...................................... 381
At Least Once a Month............................ 381
At Least Once a Year.............................. 382
Introduction.............................................. 372
Maintenance Footnotes............................ 379
Maintenance Record................................ 389
Maintenance Requirements...................... 372
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.... 387
Owner Checks and Services.................... 380
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....... 385
Scheduled Maintenance........................... 375
Using....................................................... 373
Your Vehicle and the Environment............ 373
Malfunction Indicator Light........................... 168
Manual Lumbar Controls................................. 9
Manual Seats.................................................. 8Manual Transaxle
Fluid........................................................ 286
Operation................................................. 116
Manual Windows......................................... 100
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages................... 177
Mirror Reading Lamps................................. 149
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror........................... 125
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®...... 125
Outside Convex Mirror............................. 126
Outside Power Mirrors............................. 126
Outside Remote Control Mirror................. 125
MP3 ............................................................ 205
MyGMLink.com............................................ 396
N
New Vehicle Break-In.................................. 106
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..... 387
421