KNOWLEDGE IS POWER A take-charge guide to your vehicle
TABLE OF CONTENTS Regular maintenance 1 Recognizing problems 3 Preparing for your appointment 6 Safety on the road 7 Travel tips 11 Emergency road kit 13 Avoiding collisions 14 Defensive driving tips 15 Caring for your vehicle 16
MAINTENANCE GOES A LONG WAY Staying on top of your vehicle’s care is one of the best ways to keep your vehicle running smoothly. From routine oil changes to replacing air filters and everything in between, adhering to a routine maintenance schedule goes a long way. Choosing a quality service provider to care for your vehicle is an important component to help keep you on track.
YOUR TRANSMISSION •D epending on driving conditions and your specific vehicle’s needs, your transmission fluid and filter could require a change anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. • T ransmission maintenance requirements vary, so check your Owner’s Manual to review your vehicle’s specifications. TIME FOR A CHANGE • F or most newer makes and models, oil changes are recommended approximately every 6,000 – 7,500 miles.
SENSING A PROBLEM IS SIMPLE YOUR NOSE ALWAYS KNOWS. POSSIBLE PROBLEM DESCRIPTION Antifreeze or coolant leak Burning oil Electrical short Emission failure Overheated brakes or clutch Overheating Sweet odor, usually accompanied by steam from under the hood. Thick, heavy odor, sometimes accompanied by smoke from under the hood or exhaust. Pungent odor, like burned toast. Continuous, heavy sulfur odor, like rotten eggs. Burning rubber odor.
I SPY A PROBLEM! POSSIBLE PROBLEM DESCRIPTION Axle leak Black stains with heavy, thick consistency. Coolant leak Yellow, green, pink or orange stains that are lighter and thinner than oil. Crankcase, oil, power steering fluid leak Brownish stains. Transmission oil leak Reddish stains. GET A HANDLE ON HANDLING ISSUES.
WARNING LIGHTS GUIDE THE WAY A little light can go a long way, especially when it’s telling you important information about your vehicle. If any light turns orange or red, it means you should have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible. Use the guide below for more tips. • Temperature Gauge/Light Indicates the temperature of your vehicle’s coolant. A reading in the “H” zone of any light means “HOT” and is an indication of trouble.
PUT THE BRAKES ON MYSTERY NOISES When it comes to your brakes, some noises are normal, while others indicate there could be a problem requiring service. Here are some common noises and possible solutions: • Grinding Grinding is caused by rust buildup on the rotors and is of little concern. The buildup can usually be removed, or sometimes it disappears after a few stops. However, if grinding persists, the problem could be more serious and should be brought to the attention of your service consultant.
SAFETY AROUND EVERY TURN Nothing is more important than your safety and security on the road. Vehicle safety and security features have been created to keep you and your family protected on the road. Be sure to read your Owner’s Manual to learn which features are included on your vehicle and how to properly operate them. SAFETY BELT TIPS • Lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. • Shoulder belt portion should be worn across the chest and over the shoulder.
ONSTAR* EMERGENCY SERVICES •A utomatic Crash Response In a crash, built-in sensors can automatically alert a specially trained OnStar Advisor and predict the severity of injuries. An Advisor is immediately connected into your vehicle to see if you need help, even if you can’t ask for it.
KEEPING LITTLE ONES SAFE AND SECURE You take great care to keep your children protected, and their safety on the road is a top priority. Here are a few important tips to help ensure a safer ride for your precious cargo: • Secure all children under the age of 13 in a rear seat. • Booster seats should be used if a child has outgrown his/her forward-facing child restraint, and until they are about 4'9" tall and weigh between 80 pounds and 100 pounds.
TEEN DRIVER SAFETY The teen years are a risky time for young drivers. In fact, these crucial years present the greatest risk to new drivers. While driver’s training classes teach the important fundamentals, there are further steps your teen can take to decrease his/her risk. The Graduated Driver License system,* for example, has many tips designed to keep teens safe.
TRAVEL TIPS THE WHOLE YEAR THROUGH • Always keep at least half a tank of gas in your vehicle. •C heck all fluids, including oil, antifreeze, transmission, brake and power-steering fluids and windshield solvent. • Make sure your wipers work and that the blades get replaced periodically. • F requently check tires for pressure and air. Not only are properly inflated tires safer, they give you better fuel mileage and longer tire life.
TIPS FOR WHEN THINGS HEAT UP ever leave children alone inside a vehicle. •N – On a typical sunny day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach potentially deadly levels within minutes—even with a window open. – Heat is much more dangerous to children. When left in a hot vehicle, children’s core body temperature can rise three to five times faster than that of an adult. This may cause permanent injury or even death.
EMERGENCY ROAD-KIT ESSENTIALS Consider carrying the following items in your vehicle at all times: • Jumper cables • Flares or reflective devices • First aid kit • Tire pressure gauge • Blanket • Bottled drinking water • Change of clothes • Automobile registration • Cell phone • Copy of your health insurance card • Marker and message pad • Emergency contacts • Flashlight with extra batteries • Copy of your motor-club membership card • Shovel • Window scraper/brush • Window washer fluid • Sand or rock salt •
VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES TO HELP YOU STAY IN CONTROL ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) • ESC helps maintain control of your vehicle while steering. •E SC systems use selective braking to help you control the vehicle’s direction and keep it on course. DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRLs) • L ocated on the front exterior of your vehicle, these lamps help increase vehicle visibility for other drivers and pedestrians during fog, rain, dusk and bright sunshine.
DEFENSIVE DRIVING FOR YOUR PROTECTION From the Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving: • Adjust your seat properly. Sitting upright enables your body to feel and sense what the vehicle is telling you. • Scan the entire environment during normal driving conditions. •B e smooth with your steering, acceleration and braking to keep the vehicle balanced. •W atch driving on curves. Drive at a reasonable speed, which may mean you need to drive slower than the posted speed limit.
SIMPLE WAYS TO CARE FOR YOUR VEHICLE • Eliminate roll shifting. Always come to a complete stop before shifting from Drive into Reverse or vice versa. •U se your parking brake on hills. When you set the parking brake and the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on. To prevent any damage to your brake system, make sure the parking brake is fully released and the warning light is off before driving. •D on’t ride the clutch.
