mirror CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2004 User Guide

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one
thing, following too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you are following a larger
vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and
do not get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into
the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you
will have a “running start” that more than makes up
for the distance you would lose by dropping
back. And if something happens to cause you to
cancel your pass, you need only slow down
and drop back again and wait for another
opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone is not
trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder
and check the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far
enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front
in your inside mirror, activate your right lane
change signal and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside mirror is convex.
The vehicle you just passed may seem to be
farther away from you than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not ashing, it
may be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
4-15

Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes,
steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not 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 “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, your 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.
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 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 “mirrored surface” — and slow
down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember:
It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti-lock, 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.
4-16

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 your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can not 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
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.
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 may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
4-17

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.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
the ow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your “blind” spot.
4-22

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do
not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can
leave the road inless than a second,and you could
crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in at or rolling terrain.
4-24

Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. Do not try to tap into
your vehicle’s brake system. If you do, both brake
systems won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
4-42

Fuses Usage
CIG/AUXAccommodated Device
(Accessory)
BCM Body Control Module (Accessory)
SRS Supplemental Restraint System
ABS/PCMAnti-Lock Brake System,
Powertrain Control Module,
Brake Switch, Crank Relay,
Canister Vent Solenoid
(Run, Crank)
STOPBrake Lamps, Body Control
Module (Run, Crank)
TURN SIGNAL Turn Signal Flashers
CRUISECruise Control Steering
Column Controls
AC/CRUISEHVAC Temp Door Motors &
Module, Cruise Control Module
A/C FAN HVAC Blower
STR COL Steering Wheel LightingFuses Usage
DR LKBody Control Module,
Door Lock Controls
PWR MIR Power Mirrors
CLSTR/BCMCluster, Body Control Module,
Data Link Connector (Battery)
LH HTD ST/BCMDriver’s Heated Seat, Body
Control Module, Battery
controlled Loads
Circuit Breakers Usage
RETAINED
ACCESSORY
PWR BRKRPower Windows,
Sunroof Breaker
Relays Usage
RETAINED
ACCESSORY
PWR RELAYRetained Accessory Power Relay
HEADLAMP
RELAYHeadlamp Relay
5-105

Fuses Usage
TRK/ROOF BRP Trunk Lamps, Headliner Lamps
HVAC BLO HVAC Blower Relay
I/P BRPInstrument Panel Footwell
Lamps, Glovebox Lamps
HTD MIR Heated Mirrors
BRK SW Brake Switch
HAZ SW Hazard Switch
REAR PRK LP Rear Parking Lamps
AUX PWR Accessory Power Outlet (Battery)
C/LTR Cigarette Lighter
RADIORadio, Radio Amplier,
Remote Digital Radio Receiver
FRT PARK LPFront Parking Lamps,
Instrumentation LightingRelays Usage
PARK LP RELAY Parking Lamp Relay
BACKUP LP
RELAYBack-up Lamps Relay
BATT RUN
DOWN
PROTECTION
RELAYBattery Run Down
Protection Relay
REAR DEFOG
RELAYRear Defogger Relay,
Heated Mirror Relay
Breakers Usage
PWR SEATS
BRKRPower Seat Circuit Breaker
REAR DEFOG
BRKRRear Defogger Breaker
5-107

H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-60
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-8
Headlamp Wiring...........................................5-103
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-60
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-60
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-60
Heated Outside Mirrors....................................2-33
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heating.........................................................3-23
Highbeam Out Warning Message......................3-51
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-24
Hitches..........................................................4-41
HomeLink
®Transmitter....................................2-36
HomeLink®Transmitter, Programming................2-36
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-7
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message........3-45
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-39How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-42
How to Add Fluid............................................5-30
How to Check........................................5-28, 5-73
How to Check and Add Oil...............................5-25
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-48
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-26
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
Hydroplaning..................................................4-20
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-36
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-35
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-40
If the Light Is on Steady..................................3-40
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-28
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-30
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-39
Ignition Positions.............................................2-17
Illumination on Remote Activation........................ 2-6
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-31
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-72
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-29
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-16
7

M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-45
Making Turns.................................................4-43
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-39
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Operation...........................................3-21
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Message
Battery Warning..........................................3-45
Center.......................................................3-44
Change Engine Oil......................................3-47Message (cont.)
Door Ajar Warning.......................................3-48
Highbeam Out Warning................................3-51
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning..................3-45
Low Brake Fluid Warning..............................3-50
Low Engine Oil Level...................................3-46
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-50
Low Oil Pressure.........................................3-46
Low Tire .....................................................3-47
Low Washer Fluid Warning...........................3-49
Security.....................................................3-49
Service Traction System Warning...................3-44
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-51
Traction Active............................................3-44
Trunk Ajar Warning......................................3-48
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) – Customer Assistance........................ 7-5
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-32
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®.....2-32
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-31
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar
®.............2-31
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-34
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-34
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-33
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
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