warning light CHEVROLET HHR 2007 1.G User Guide

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will also come on when you set your parking
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brakedoes not release fully. If it stays on after your
parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. Make sure the
parking brake is fully released. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or, the pedal may
go closer to the oor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 274.
{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.United StatesCanada
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
Your vehicle may have
the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS).
This light will come on when your engine is started
and may stay on for several seconds. That is
normal.If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on when you are driving, 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 after driving at a speed of at least
13 mph (20 km/h), or comes on again while you are
driving, your vehicle needs service. 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 185.
The ABS warning light will come on briey when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. This is normal.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light
If your vehicle is
equipped with the
Enhanced Traction
System (ETS),
this warning light should
come on briey as
you start the engine.
If the warning light does not come on, then have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
If the warning light stays on, or comes on when
you are driving, there may be a problem with your
Enhanced Traction System and your vehicle
may need service. When this warning light is on,
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 246for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning
light will come on when
the engine has
overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 309for more information.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on could cause your
vehicle to overheat. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 309. Your vehicle could be damaged,
and it might not be covered by your warranty.
Never drive with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on.
This light will also come on briey when starting
your vehicle. If it does not, have your vehicle
serviced.
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OIL LIFE
Press the information button until OIL LIFE is
displayed. The engine oil life system shows
an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. It will
show 100% when the system is reset after an
oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring
the oil life, additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance Schedule in this
manual. SeeEngine Oil on page 299and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 393.
Always reset the engine oil life system after an oil
change. See “How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System” underEngine Oil Life System on
page 302.
COOLANT
Press the information button until COOLANT is
displayed. This mode shows the temperature of the
engine coolant in either degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or
degrees Celsius (°C).
DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages appear if there is a problem
detected in one of your vehicle’s systems.
A message will clear when the vehicle’s condition
is no longer present. To acknowledge a message
and clear it from the display, press and hold
any of the DIC buttons. If the condition is still
present, the warning message will come back on
the next time the vehicle is turned off and back
on. With most messages, a warning chime sounds
when the message displays. Your vehicle may
have other warning messages.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS OFF
This message displays if the automatic headlamp
system is disabled with the headlamp switch.
SeeAutomatic Headlamp System on page 165for
more information.
AUTO (Automatic) LIGHTS ON
This message displays if the automatic headlamp
system is enabled with the headlamp switch.
SeeAutomatic Headlamp System on page 165for
more information.
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BRAKE FLUID
This message displays to inform the driver that the
brake uid level is low while the ignition is on.
The brake system warning light on the instrument
panel cluster also comes on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 185for more information.
Have the brake system serviced by your dealer
as soon as possible.
CHANGE OIL SOON
This message displays when the life of the engine
oil has expired and it should be changed.
When you acknowledge the CHANGE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, you
still must reset the engine oil life system
separately. SeeEngine Oil Life System on
page 302andScheduled Maintenance on
page 393for more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel cap has not
been fully tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to make
sure that it is on properly. A few driving trips
with the cap properly installed should turn
the message off.
COOLING MODE ON
This message may display on some vehicles.
Under severe conditions, hot ambient
temperatures, steep grades, and towing, your
vehicle may experience more transaxle shifting.
This is temporary and normal under these
conditions. This does not require engine or
transaxle service.
CRUISE ENGAGED
This message displays when the cruise control
system is active. SeeCruise Control on page 160
for more information.
DOOR AJAR
This message displays if one or more of the
vehicle’s doors are not closed properly. When this
message displays, make sure that the door(s)
are closed completely.
ENGINE DISABLED
This message displays if the starting of the engine
is disabled. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately.
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Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems
have to do their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle. See
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 246.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 289.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 185.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That 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
your 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.
242

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 289.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may 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 on the
instrument panel will
come on briey
when you start your
vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to
drive away, your ABS 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.
243

Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction
System (ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is
especially useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens, the system
reduces engine power and may also upshift
the transaxle to limit wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but this is normal.
A LOW TRACTION message will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) when the traction
control system is actively limiting wheel spin.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this message
is displayed, so adjust your driving accordingly.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
Enhanced Traction 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. SeeCruise Control on page 160.When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on to let you know
there’s a problem.
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may
come on for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by moving the shift
lever to LOW (L), the warning light will come on
and stay on. To turn the system back on, move
the shift lever back to a position other than
LOW (L). The warning light should go off.
The warning light will come on when you set
your parking brake with the engine running, and
it will stay on if your parking brake does not
release fully. If the transaxle shift lever is in any
position other than LOW (L)and the warning
light stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means there is a problem with the
system.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine related problem, the system will turn off
and the warning light will come on.
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If the warning light stays on, or comes on when
you’re driving, there may be a problem with
your Enhanced Traction System and your vehicle
may need service. When this warning light is
on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light
comes on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the transaxle shift lever is in any
position other than LOW (L), your vehicle needs
service.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the Enhanced
Traction System on. But you can turn the system
off if you prefer.
To turn the system off, shift to LOW (L) or
REVERSE (R).When you turn the system off, the Enhanced
Traction System warning light will come on and stay
on when the gear shift is in LOW (L). The warning
light will not come on when the gear shift is in
REVERSE (R). If the Enhanced Traction System is
limiting wheel spin when you shift to LOW (L) or
REVERSE (R) to turn the system off, the warning
light will come on in LOW (L). 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
shifting to AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
INTERMEDIATE (I). The Enhanced Traction
System warning light should go off.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 289for more information.
247

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.Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need
to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
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