Section 3 CHEVROLET OPTRA 2004 1.G User Guide

All of the CD functions work the same while playing an
MP3, except for those listed here. See “Playing a
CD” earlier for more information.
5 DN (Down):Press this pushbutton to go to the
previous directory.
6 UP:Press this pushbutton to go to the next directory.
TRACK (Previous/Next File):Turn this knob one
notch to go to the first track in the previous or to go to
the next folder. The player will continue moving
backward or forward through the CD with each turn of
the knob.
DIR (Directory):Press and release this button to
repeat the tracks in the current directory. DIR will appear
on the display.
Press and release this button twice to repeat the tracks
in all of the directories. ALL will appear on the display.
Press and release this button again to turn off
repeat play.CD Messages
CHECK CD:If this message appears on the display
and the CD comes out, it could be for one of the
following reasons:
•It is very hot. When the temperature returns to
normal, the CD should play.
•You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smooth, the CD should play.
•The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.
•The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and
try again.
•The format of the CD may not be compatible. See
“MP3 Format” earlier in this section.
•There may have been a problem while burning
the CD.
•The label may be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason,
try a known good CD.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your dealer. If the radio displays
an error message, write it down and provide it to your
dealer when reporting the problem.
3-50

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Steering........................................................4-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-11
Loss of Control.............................................4-13
Driving at Night............................................4-14
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16
City Driving..................................................4-19Freeway Driving...........................................4-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-23
Winter Driving..............................................4-25
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow........4-30
Towing..........................................................4-31
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-31
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-33
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-37
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Remember: Anti-lock 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
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may 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 anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, your
first reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and hold
it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels
can stop rolling.Once they do, the vehicle can not 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 anti-lock, 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 youdohave
anti-lock, it is different. See “Anti-Lock Brake System”
in this section.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
4-8

Off-Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to
one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts
the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger
can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
•“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides
and to crossroads for situations that might affect
your passing patterns. If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait
for a better time.
•Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken center line usually indicates it is all
right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear).
Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty
of approaching traffic.
4-11

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 will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-20.
•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.
4-20

There is also important loading information on the
Certification label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for the front and rear axle; see “Certification
Label” later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the “Maximum Load”amount printed on
the Tire and Loading Information label.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from the maximum load amount,
shown in pounds and kilograms.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if
the “maximum load” amount equals 1400 lbs.
and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400−750
(5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
Loading Your Vehicle
Item Description Total
AVehicle Maximum Load
for Example 1=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs
(68 kg)×2=300 lbs (136 kg)
CAvailable Occupant and
Cargo Weight=700 lbs (317 kg) Example 1
4-34

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-20
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-20
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-20
Engine Coolant.............................................5-21
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-24
Engine Overheating.......................................5-24
Cooling System............................................5-27
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-33Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35
Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-39
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-44
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-44
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-44
Headlamps..................................................5-44
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps..............5-45
Turn Signal Lamps (Side)..............................5-46
Fog Lamps..................................................5-46
Sidemarker Lamps (Front)..............................5-47
Sidemarker Lamps (Rear)..............................5-47
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-48
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-50
Tires..............................................................5-51
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-57
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-58
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-59
Buying New Tires.........................................5-60
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-60
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-62
Wheel Replacement......................................5-62
Tire Chains..................................................5-63
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-63
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-64
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-72
Appearance Care............................................5-73
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-73
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-76
Weatherstrips...............................................5-76
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle.................5-76
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-78
Finish Damage.............................................5-78
Underbody Maintenance................................5-79Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-79
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-79
Vehicle Identication......................................5-81
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).................5-81
Service Parts Identification Label.....................5-81
Electrical System............................................5-82
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-82
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-82
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-82
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-82
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-83
Capacities and Specications..........................5-90
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts..........5-91
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the lower hole at the tip of the
dipstick (B), then you will need to add at least one quart
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, seeCapacities and Specifications on
page 5-90.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
hole (A) that shows the proper operating range, your
engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for two things:
•GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
5-15

Headlamp Aiming
If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlamp
aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the low beam
may be necessary if it is difficult to see lane markers
(for horizontal aim), or if oncoming drivers flash
their high beams at you (for vertical aim). If you believe
your headlamps need to be re-aimed, we recommend
that you take your vehicle to the dealer for service.
However, it is possible for you to re-aim your headlamps
by following the procedure in the service manual for
your vehicle.
Notice:To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before beginning.
Failure to follow these instructions could cause
damage to headlamp parts.
Bulb Replacement
For bulb types, seeReplacement Bulbs on page 5-49.
For any bulb changing procedures not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the two bolts and the one nut that retain
the headlamp assembly.
3. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the
rear of the bulb.
5-44