brakes CHEVROLET HHR 2009 1.G Owners Manual

Automatic Transmission Operation
If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift
lever is located on the console between the seats.
There are several different
positions for the automatic
transmission.
P (Park):This position locks the front wheels. It is the
best position to use when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting
Into Park (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-34.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
(Automatic Transmission) on page 4-34orTowing
a Trailer (Manual Transmission) on page 4-41.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before
starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have
to fully apply the regular brakes rst and then press
the shift lever button before the vehicle can shift
from P (Park) when the ignition key is in ON/RUN.
2-28

Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see “Skidding” underLoss of
Control on page 4-16.
I (Intermediate):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed without
using the brakes for slight downgrades where the vehicle
would otherwise accelerate due to steepness of grade.
If constant upshifting or downshifting occurs while
driving up steep hills, this position can be used to
prevent repetitive types of shifts. You might choose
I (Intermediate) instead of D (Drive) when driving on hilly,
winding roads and when towing a trailer, so that there is
less shifting between gears.
PERFORMANCE SHIFTING:If the vehicle has this
feature, it can detect a change in driving patterns
while in the Intermediate position. If you make an
aggressive driving maneuver, the vehicle’s transmission
automatically shifts to the lowest possible gear to
maximize vehicle performance. The vehicle will
automatically return to normal operation when you
return to normal driving patterns.
L (Low):This position reduces vehicle speed more than
I (Intermediate) without actually using the brakes. You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If
the shift lever is put in L (Low), the transmission will not
shift into L (Low) until the vehicle is going slowly enough.Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Manual Transmission Operation
This is the shift pattern for standard models.
2-30

SET−(Set):Press to set a speed and to decrease the
speed.
To set a speed do the following:
1. Press
Ito turn cruise control on. The indicator
light on the button will come on.
2. Get to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−control button and release it.
The CRUISE ENGAGED message will appear
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) to show
the system is engaged.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When you apply the brakes or operate the clutch pedal,
the cruise control will shut off.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and the Traction
Control System (TCS) begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-10andEnhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page 4-12. When road
conditions allow, the cruise control can be used again.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose the cruise control is set at a desired speed and
then the brake is applied. This disengages the cruise
control. To return to the previously set speed, you do
not need to go through the set process again. Once the
vehicle is going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, press
the RES+ part of the button briey.
The vehicle goes back to the previously set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
1. Disengage the cruise control by applying the brake
pedal, but do not turn it off. Accelerate to a higher
speed and reset the cruise control.
2. If the cruise control system is already engaged,
press the RES+ button. Hold it there until the
desired speed is reached, and then release the
button. To increase the vehicle speed in small
amounts, press the RES+ button briey and then
release it. Each time this is done, the vehicle goes
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-12

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
If the cruise control system is already engaged,
Push and hold the SET−button until the lower
speed desired is reached, then release it.
To slow down in small amounts, push the SET−
button briey. Each time this is done, the vehicle
goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle slows
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle speed.When going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep the vehicle speed down. When the
brakes are applied the cruise control turns off.
Ending Cruise Control
To end cruise control, step lightly on the brake
pedal or the clutch pedal if the vehicle has a manual
transmission.
Stepping on the brake pedal or clutch pedal will only
end the current cruise control session.
Press
Ito turn the system completely off.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
3-13

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briey when the engine is
started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on, or
comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system warning light is not on, the
vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, the vehicle
does not have antilock brakes and there is a problem with
the regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-33.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50for all
brake related DIC messages.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Indicator/Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Enhanced Traction System
(ETS), this light serves
as an indicator and
warning light.
This light comes on briey while the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer/
retailer. If the system is working normally the indicator
light then goes off.
If the indicator/warning light is on and not ashing, the
ETS system could have been disabled. Check all related
Driver Information Center (DIC) messages to determine
whether the system has been turned off or if the system
is not working properly and the vehicle requires service.
If the ETS has been disabled, wheel spin is not limited.
If the indicator/warning light is on and ashing, the ETS
is actively working. The LOW TRACTION DIC message
also appears when the system is actively limiting
wheel spin.
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-12
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50for more
information.
3-34

Drunk Driving
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your
reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol.
You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision
if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home
in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a global tragedy.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and
attentiveness.
Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured.For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road can
provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10,
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-12, and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 4-7.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
4-3

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-33.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second.
But that is only an average. It might be less with one
driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination,
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second, a
vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet
(20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so keeping enough space between the vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
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 might not have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot
of heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and
allowing realistic following distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If the brakes
are pumped, the pedal could get harder to push down.
If the engine stops, there will still be some power brake
assist but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once
the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
If the vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and
the 2.0L turbocharged engine, it also has a hydraulic
brake boost feature which supplements the power brake
system to maintain consistent brake performance under
conditions of low brake booster vacuum. Low brake
booster vacuum conditions can include initial start up
after the vehicle has been parked for several hours, very
frequent brake stops, or high altitude driving. When
hydraulic brake boost is active, minor brake pulsation or
movement might be felt but this is normal. If brake pedal
feel changes or the brake pedal feels hard to push, the
system might not be receiving the intended brake boost
and the SVC BRAKE SYSTEM DIC message may be
displayed.
4-4

Under certain weather or operating conditions, occasional
brake squeak, squeal, or other noise might be heard with
the vehicle’s performance braking system. The brake
system on SS models is designed for superior fade
resistance and consistent operation using high
performance brake pads. Brake noise and brake dust
are normal and do not affect system performance.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The vehicle might have the Antilock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
If the vehicle has ABS,
this warning light on the
instrument panel comes on
briey when the vehicle is
started.When the engine is started, or when the vehicle begins
to drive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor
or clicking noise might be heard while this test is going
on, and it might even be noticed that the brake pedal
moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
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 the 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 to each wheel, as
required, faster than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to get
a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to apply the brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
4-5

Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let antilock work. A slight brake pedal
pulsation might be felt or some noise noticed, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If the vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with
Antilock Brake System (ABS), it allows the driver to steer
and brake at the same time. However, if the vehicle does
not have ESC with ABS, the rst reaction — to hit the
brake pedal hard and hold it down — might be the wrong
thing to do. The wheels can stop rolling. Once they do,
the vehicle cannot respond to the driver’s 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 the driver was trying to
avoid, or into traffic.
If the vehicle does not have ABS, use a “squeeze”
braking technique. This gives maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. 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 helps
retain steering control. Without ABS, it is different.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5.
In many emergencies, steering can help more than
even the very best braking.Brake Assist
If this vehicle has ESC with ABS, it also has a Brake
Assist feature designed to assist the driver in stopping
or decreasing vehicle speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the stability system
hydraulic brake control module to supplement the
power brake system under conditions where the driver
has quickly and forcefully applied the brake pedal in
an attempt to quickly stop or slow down the vehicle.
The stability system hydraulic brake control module
increases brake pressure at each corner of the vehicle
until the ABS activates. Minor brake pedal pulsations
or pedal movement during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to apply the brake pedal as the
driving situation dictates The Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the brake pedal is
released or brake pedal pressure is quickly decreased.
4-6

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The vehicle has an Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system which combines antilock brake, and traction and
stability control systems that help the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When the vehicle is started and begins to move, the
system performs several diagnostic checks to ensure
there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with the vehicle. The system should
initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS
light comes on, and the ESC OFF and/or SERVICE ESC
message displays.
For more information, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-48andElectronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light on page 3-35.This light ashes on the
instrument panel cluster
when the ESC system is
on and activated.
ESC activates when the computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the direction the
vehicle is actually traveling. ESC selectively applies
braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to
help steer the vehicle in the intended direction.
When the system activates, an ESC ACTIVE message
displays on the Driver Information Center. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-50. This light also
ashes on the instrument panel cluster when the
ESC system is on and activated. Noise or vibration may
be felt in the brake pedal. This is normal. Continue to
steer the vehicle in the desired direction.
4-7