ABS CHEVROLET AVEO 2007 1.G Owners Manual

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the
pedal is harder to push or the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 258.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have
the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on when the ignition is turned
to ON and may stay on for several seconds.
That is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to LOCK. If
the light comes on, stop as soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. See your dealer/retailer.
164

If the regular brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have anti-lock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 163.
The ABS warning light will come on briefly when
you turn the ignition to ON. This is normal. If
the light does not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Hold Mode Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, this light will
come on when the hold
mode is active.
If the HOLD mode light flashes, have your vehicle
checked. See “Hold Mode” underAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 112for additional
information on this feature.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States HatchbackCanada Hatchback
United States SedanCanada Sedan
165

Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briefly
when you turn on the
ignition, and the engine
is not running, as a
check to show you it is
working.
Then it should go out when the engine is started.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. Have it checked by your dealer.
Driving while this light is on could drain your
battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
Your vehicle may have
the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on when the ignition is turned
to ON and may stay on for several seconds.
That is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to LOCK. If the
light comes on, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you are driving, your vehicle needs
service. See your dealer/retailer. If the regular
brake system warning light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you do not have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, you
do not have anti-lock brakes and there is a problem
with your regular brakes. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 163.
179

The ABS warning light will come on briefly when
you turn the ignition to ON. This is normal. If
the light does not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Hold Mode Light
If your vehicle has this
feature, this light will
come on when the hold
mode is active.
If the HOLD mode light flashes, have your vehicle
checked. See “Hold Mode” underAutomatic
Transaxle Operation on page 112for additional
information on this feature.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The Check Engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, the emission controls
might not work as well, your vehicle’s fuel
180

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 220
Defensive Driving...................................... 220
Drunken Driving........................................ 221
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 224
Braking...................................................... 224
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 225
Braking in Emergencies............................. 227
Steering.................................................... 228
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 230
Passing..................................................... 230
Loss of Control.......................................... 232
Driving at Night......................................... 234
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 235
City Driving............................................... 238Freeway Driving........................................ 239
Before Leaving on a
Long Trip............................................... 240
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 241
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 241
Winter Driving........................................... 243
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 248
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 249
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 249
Towing........................................................ 258
Towing Your Vehicle................................. 258
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 258
Towing a Trailer........................................ 260
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
219

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 264.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle might have the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS,
this warning light will
come on briefly
when you start your
vehicle.
The warning light is on the instrument panel
cluster for a sedan. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 179. For hatchback
models, the warning light is on the Secondary
Information Center (SIC). SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on page 179.
225

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each
wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
226

Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or
always decrease stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have
time to apply the brakes if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You might feel a slight brake pedal pulsation
or notice some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a
situation that requires hard braking.
If you have ABS, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have ABS, your
first reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and
hold it down — might be the wrong thing to
do. Your wheels can stop rolling. Once they do,
the vehicle cannot respond to your steering.Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That
could be off the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have ABS, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You can do this
by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily
increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze
the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you
hear or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake
pedal. This will help you retain steering control. If
you do have ABS, it is different. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) on page 225.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
227

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.
233

But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
Accelerate gently. 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.
Unless you have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), you will want to brake very gently, too. If
you do have ABS, seeAnti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) on page 225. This system improves
your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Whether you have ABS or
not, you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. Without ABS, if
you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the
brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down
steadily to get the most traction you can.Remember, unless you have ABS, if you brake so
hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just
slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling
and you can still steer.
•Whatever your braking system, allow greater
following distance on any slippery road.
•Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
fine until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you are
actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
245