warning CHEVROLET CAMARO 2002 4.G User Guide

2-97
Service Vehicle Light
This warning light should
come on in your instrument
panel cluster for a
three
-second bulb check
when you first start your
vehicle. If the light doesn't
come on, have it serviced.
This light will stay on steady if you have certain
non
-emission related vehicle problems. These problems
may not be obvious and may affect vehicle performance
or durability. Consult a qualified dealer for necessary
repairs to maintain top vehicle performance.
Check Gages Light
This warning light will
come on briefly when
you start the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your gages to see if they are in the warning areas.
Hatch Ajar Light
This warning light should
come on in your instrument
panel cluster for a
three
-second bulb check
when you first start your
vehicle. If the light doesn't
come on, have it serviced.
This light will stay on steady if your hatch is open or
ajar and the ignition key is in RUN.

2-99
Low Fuel Light
If your fuel is low, your vehicle's CHECK GAGES light
on your instrument panel cluster will come on. See
ªCheck Gages Lightº in the Index.
Reduced Engine Power Light
(V6 Engine Only)
The REDUCED ENG PWR
warning light should come
on in your instrument panel
cluster for a three
-second
bulb check when you first
start your vehicle.If the light doesn't come on, have it serviced.
If the REDUCED ENG PWR warning light comes on,
a noticeable reduction in the vehicle's performance may
occur. The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed
while the REDUCED ENG PWR light is on, but
acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
warning light stays on, the vehicle should be taken to
an authorized Chevrolet dealer as soon as possible for
diagnosis and repair.

4-7
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. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your 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 engine ever stops while you're driving,
brake normally but don't pump your brakes.
If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down.
If your 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.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to
drive away, your anti
-lock brake system will check
itself. You may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise while this test is going on, and you may even
notice that your brake pedal moves or pulses a little.
This is normal.
United States Canada
If there's a problem with the anti
-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.

4-10
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the ASR system
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may re
-engage the cruise
control. See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on to let you know if
there's a problem with your
ASR system. See ªASR
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.
When this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The ASR system automatically comes on whenever
you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially
in slippery road conditions, you should always leave
the system on. But you can turn the ASR system off
if you ever need to. You should turn the system off if
your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or snow and
rocking the vehicle is required. See ªRocking Your
Vehicleº in the Index.
To turn the system off, press
the ASR button located on
the instrument panel.
The ASR system warning light will come on and stay
on. If the ASR system is limiting wheel spin when you
press the button, the warning light will come on
-- but
the system won't turn off right away. It will wait until
there's no longer a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by
pressing the button again. The ASR system warning
light should go off.

4-15
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don't have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't 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 ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't 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.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If you have the ASR system, remember: It helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.If you do not have ASR, 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'll 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 engine braking 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 ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.

4-20 Driving Through Flowing Water
CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through flowing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of flowing
water can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants could
drown. Don't ignore police warning signs, and
otherwise be very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.

Have good tires with proper tread depth.
See ªTiresº in the Index.
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You'll want to watch out
for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.

4-21
Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:

Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross
-country trip.

Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You'll save time and energy.
See the next part, ªFreeway Driving.º

Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start
to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
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.

4-26
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the
road, you can have a very slippery situation. You'll have a
lot less traction or ªgripº and will need to be very careful.

5-
5-1
Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5
-2 Hazard Warning Flashers
5
-3 Other Warning Devices
5
-3 Jump Starting
5
-8 Towing Your Vehicle
5
-9 Engine Overheating5
-12 Cooling System
5
-22 If a Tire Goes Flat
5
-23 Changing a Flat Tire
5
-35 Compact Spare Tire
5
-36 If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow

5-2
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
The hazard warning flasher button is located on the
steering column.
Press the button in to make
the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off.
Pull out on the collar to turn
the flashers off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.