
Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
When road and weather conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control, if equipped.
Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
Keep vehicle tires properly in ated.
Combine several trips into a single trip.
Replace the vehicle’s tires with the same TPC Spec
number molded into the tire’s sidewall near the size.
Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The rst step in driving defensively is to
wear your safety belt — SeeSafety Belts: They Are
for Everyone on page 1-16.
{CAUTION:
Assume that other road users (pedestrians,
bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. In addition:
Allow enough following distance between you
and the driver in front of you.
Focus on the task of driving.
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in
injury or possible death. These simple defensive
driving techniques could save your life.
4-2

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under
your vehicle’s tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips
include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
Keep the windshield washer uid reservoir lled.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-51.
Turn off cruise control.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having
it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own include:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Reservoir full?
Windows clean — inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:In good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:All levels checked?
Lamps:Do they all work and are lenses clean?
Tires:Are treads good? Are tires in ated to
recommended pressure?
Weather and Maps:Safe to travel?
Have up-to-date maps?
4-11

Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks
area, winding roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.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.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but whether the vehicle has ABS or not, apply the
brakes sooner than when on dry pavement. Without
ABS, if the vehicle begins to slide, let up on the brake
pedal a little and apply steady pedal pressure to get the
most traction. On vehicles without ABS, braking so
hard that the wheels stop rolling can cause the vehicle
to slide — brake so the wheels always keep rolling
so you can still steer.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
4-13

Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-85
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-41
Infants and Young Children...........................1-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-46
Older Children.............................................1-34
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-53
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-56
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-44
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-84
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-83
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-80
Finish Care.................................................5-83
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-81
Interior.......................................................5-79
Leather......................................................5-81
Tires..........................................................5-85
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-85
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-82
Weatherstrips..............................................5-82
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-84
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21Clock............................................................3-17
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-23
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-13
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-78
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-16
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-25
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-31
Cooling System..............................................5-24
Courtesy Transporation....................................7-11
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-36
Cupholders....................................................2-39
Customer Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-11
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone
(TTY) Users.............................................. 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Online Owner Center..................................... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-17
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-17
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-16
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-17
3

Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide........................................2-10
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-26
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-30
Brake System Warning.................................3-28
Change Engine Oil......................................3-35
Charging System.........................................3-28
Cruise Control.............................................3-36
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator..................3-36
Door Ajar...................................................3-36
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-35
Highbeam On.............................................3-36
Hold Mode .................................................3-30
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-38
Oil Pressure...............................................3-34
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-27
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-26
Tire Pressure..............................................3-31
Up-Shift.....................................................3-28
Lights
Exterior Lamps............................................3-13
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-16
Locks
Central Door Unlocking System....................... 2-7
Door ........................................................... 2-6
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-7
Loss of Control................................................ 4-8Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.............1-46
Lumbar
Manual Controls............................................ 1-5
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-10
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-17
Maintenance Replacement Parts....................6-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp...............................3-32
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-5
Manual Seats................................................... 1-4
Manual Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-26
Manual Windows............................................2-12
7