2009 CHEVROLET UPLANDER brake light

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.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is
off, then an acceleration skid is 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.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving
because some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
Slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles because headlamps can only light up
so much road ahead.
4-12

Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out.
Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or
curves.
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 need at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction
and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always
drive slower in these types of driving conditions
and avoid driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or owing water.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause pulling
to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through owing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and
other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore
police warnings and be very cautious about trying to
drive through owing water.
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.
4-13

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does not
correct a leak. If uid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much uid when new brake
linings are installed. Add or remove brake uid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-35.
5-33

Brake Wear
This vehicle has 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 the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
the brakes will not work well. That could lead to an
accident. When the brake wear warning sound is
heard, have the 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 rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts
in the proper sequence to torque specications
inCapacities and Specifications on page 5-104.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied, with or without the
vehicle moving, the brakes adjust for wear.
5-35

Maintenance Footnotes
#Lubricate the suspension, steering linkage, and the
underbody contact points and linkage.
(a)Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect
disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface
condition. Inspect other brake parts, including calipers,
parking brake, etc. Check parking brake adjustment.
(b)Visually inspect front and rear suspension and
steering system for damaged, loose, or missing parts,
signs of wear, or lack of lubrication. Inspect power
steering lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
(c)Visually inspect hoses and have them replaced if
they are cracked, swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect all
pipes, fittings and clamps; replace with genuine parts as
needed. To help ensure proper operation, a pressure test
of the cooling system and pressure cap and cleaning the
outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser is
recommended at least once a year.
(d)Inspect wiper blades for wear, cracking, or
contamination. Clean the windshield and wiper blades,
if contaminated. Replace wiper blades that are worn
or damaged. See Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 5-46 and Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper
Blades on page 5-94 for more information.(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and safety
belt assemblies are working properly. If your vehicle has
a built-in child restraint, make sure the harness straps,
latch plates, buckle, clip, child head restraint, and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety
belts replaced. Also see Checking the Restraint Systems
on page 1-92.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood latch
assemblies, secondary latches, pivots, spring anchor
and release pawl, hood and door hinges, rear folding
seats, liftgate hinges, fuel door hinge, power sliding
door cable, and sliding door track(s). More frequent
lubrication may be required when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them last longer, seal
better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the filter at each engine oil change.
6-7

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-91
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-97
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning......................................3-22, 3-25
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-34
Readiness Light..........................................3-33
Airbag System................................................1-77
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-91
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-83
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-85
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-90
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-83
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-84
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-82
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-80
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-113
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-113
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Anti-lock Brake, System Warning Light...............3-36Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-95
Care of Safety Belts and Built-in Child
Restraint Harness.....................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-96
Child Restraint Pad......................................5-92
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-91
Finish Care.................................................5-94
Finish Damage............................................5-96
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-92
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-89
Leather
......................................................5-91
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-96
Tires..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-94
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Audio System.................................................3-76
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-111
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-113
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-113
Radio Reception........................................3-112
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-108
Setting the Clock.........................................3-77
1

Audio System (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-110
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-113
Audio System(s).............................................3-77
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-12
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-35
B
Battery..........................................................5-36
Electric Power Management..........................3-18
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brakes..........................................................5-33
System Warning Light..................................3-35
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-31
Bucket Seats, Rear........................................... 1-7
Built-in Child Restraint.....................................1-67
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-41
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-43
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-41
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-41Bulb Replacement (cont.)
License Plate Lamps....................................5-45
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-44
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
Calibration.....................................................3-49
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-104
Captain Chairs, Rear.......................................1-14
Carbon Monoxide...................................2-41, 4-16
Care of
Safety Belts and Built-in Child Restraint
Harness..................................................5-92
Cargo Lamp...................................................3-17
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-89
Chains, Tire...................................................5-70
Charging System Light....................................3-35
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-38
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-96
2

I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-31
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-46
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-54
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-15
Cluster.......................................................3-31
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps
Control.......................................................3-15
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-37
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-48
Lamps
Cargo........................................................3-17
Dome ........................................................3-16
Front Reading.............................................3-17
Rear Reading.............................................3-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-37
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-53
Level Control..................................................4-25
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-45
Liftgate
Carbon Monoxide........................................2-22
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-33
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning...........3-36
Brake System Warning.................................3-35
Charging System.........................................3-35
Cruise Control.............................................3-42
Highbeam On.............................................3-42
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-43
7