User manual CHEVROLET MALIBU 1998

[. . . ] I GENUINE CHEVROLET m m Limited Warranty -4 Courtesy ransportation 1 Wearing a si !ry uelt c and your passengerscan 110. Thls I information about safety belt usage, alr I. _I One of the first things you II pro1 vehicle is adjust the seats. Depl able to do this manually or with pa zr ( . . I Read through these pages learn m*r* to cooling, defogging and defrosting e 2. 0 1998 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual The 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. [. . . ] If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended9 and 3 o'clock positions, youcan turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you haveto act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten wheel once you have the avoided the object. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease the off accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so The fact that such emergency situations always are that your vehicle straddles the edgeof the pavement. You possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarterturn until the all times and wear safety belts properly. Then turn you steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. 4-11 Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits just the right moment, for accelerates, movesaround the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A Not necessarily!Passing another vehicle on two-lane a 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. -- Do not get too close tothe vehicle you want to pass while you're awaiting an opportunity. one For thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especiallyif you're following a larger vehicle. Also, you won't have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance. So here aresome tips for passing: "Drive ahead. " Lmk down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might afTect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a bettere . If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. broken A center line usually indicates it's all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane a double solid line, or even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate stay in the right lane and don but get too close. Time your move you will be so increasing speed as the comes to move into the time other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a "running start" that more than makes for the up 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 cars are lined to pass a slow vehicle, wai up your turn. But takecare that someoneisn't trying to pass you as you pull out to pass slow vehicle. the Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot. 0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start yourleft lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you far enough are ahead of the passed vehicle to its front in your see inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is. ) In any emergency, don't 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 taking reasonable by care suited to existing conditions, and by not "overdriving" those conditions. But skids are always possible. 0 T y not to pass more than vehicle at a time on r one two-lane roads. [. . . ] 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safetyfrom the Hotline. 8-10 REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVEFWAI-~IT If you live in Canada, andyou believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to: Transport Canada Box 8880 Ottawa, Ontario K1G352 In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: General Motorsof Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H8P7 Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada Service manuals, owner's manuals and other service literature are available purchase for all current and for past model General Motors vehicles. The toll-free telephone number ordering information for in Canada is 1-800-668-5539. REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS In addition to notifying NHTSA Transport Canada) (or in a situation likethis, we certainly hope you'll notify us. [. . . ]