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2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 222

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Manual

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What's the worst time for this? "Wet ice." Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it's about freezing (32°F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition - smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow - drive with caution. Keep your traction control system on. It improves your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction control system, you'll want to slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8. Unless you have the anti-lock braking system, you'll want to brake very gently, too. (If you do have anti-lock, see Braking on page 4-6. This system improves your vehicle's stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road.) Whether you have the anti-lock braking system or not, you'll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. Without anti-lock brakes, if you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down steadily to get the most traction you can. Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake so hard that your wheels stop rolling, you'll just slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling and you can still steer. Whatever your braking system, allow greater following distance on any slippery road. @ Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that's covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can't reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you're actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. 4-27

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Front Seats	9
Manual Seats	9
Six-Way Power Seats	10
Manual Lumbar	10
Heated Seats	11
Reclining Seatbacks	11
Head Restraints	13
Seatback Latches	13
Easy Entry Seat	14
Rear Seats	15
Split Folding Rear Seat	15
Safety Belts	17
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	17
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	21
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	22
Driver Position	23
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	29
Right Front Passenger Position	30
Rear Seat Passengers	30
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	33
Safety Belt Extender	35
Child Restraints	36
Older Children	36
Infants and Young Children	38
Child Restraint Systems	42
Where to Put the Restraint	45
Top Strap	46
Top Strap Anchor Location	47
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	47
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	49
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	52
Air Bag Systems	55
Where Are the Air Bags?	57
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	59
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	60
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	60
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	61
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	63
Restraint System Check	64
Checking Your Restraint Systems	64
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	65
Features and Controls	66
Keys	67
Remote Keyless Entry System	69
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	70
Doors and Locks	73
Door Locks	73
Power Door Locks	74
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	74
Lockout Protection	75
Leaving Your Vehicle	75
Trunk	76
Windows	78
Power Windows	79
Sun Visors	79
Theft-Deterrent Systems	80
Content Theft-Deterrent	80
Passlock	81
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	82
New Vehicle Break-In	82
Ignition Positions	82
Starting Your Engine	83
Engine Coolant Heater	85
Automatic Transaxle Operation	86
Parking Brake	89
Shifting Into Park (P)	90
Shifting Out of Park (P)	92
Parking Over Things That Burn	92
Engine Exhaust	93
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	94
Mirrors	95
Manual Rearview Mirror	95
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar	95
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror	96
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar	96
Outside Power Mirrors	97
Outside Convex Mirror	98
Outside Heated Mirrors	98
OnStar	99
OnStar System	99
HomeLink Transmitter	102
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter	102
Storage Areas	106
Glove Box	106
Center Console Storage Area	106
Rear Storage Area	106
Convenience Net	106
Sunroof	107
Vehicle Personalization	108
Instrument Panel	116
Instrument Panel Overview	119
Hazard Warning Flashers	121
Other Warning Devices	121
Horn	122
Tilt Wheel	122
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	122
Exterior Lamps	129
Interior Lamps	131
Accessory Power Outlets	133
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)	134
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	135
Climate Controls	136
Dual Climate Control System	136
Outlet Adjustment	139
Passenger Compartment Air Filter	140
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	141
Instrument Panel Cluster	142
Speedometer and Odometer	144
Tachometer	144
Safety Belt Reminder Light	144
Air Bag Readiness Light	145
Voltmeter Gage	146
Brake System Warning Light	146
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	147
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	148
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	148
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	149
Oil Pressure Indicator Light	152
Cruise Control Light	153
Fuel Gage	154
Message Center	155
Service Traction System Warning Message	155
Traction Active Message	155
Battery Warning Message	156
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message	156
Low Oil Pressure Message	157
Low Engine Oil Level Message	157
Change Engine Oil Message	158
Low Tire Message	158
Door Ajar Warning Message	159
Trunk Ajar Warning Message	159
Security Message	160
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message	160
Low Fuel Warning Message	161
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message	161
Service Vehicle Soon Message	162
Highbeam Out Warning Message	162
Driver Information Center (DIC)	163
Trip Computer	166
Audio System(s)	167
Setting the Time	167
Radio with CD	168
Radio with Cassette and CD	177
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios)	190
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	190
Understanding Radio Reception	191
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	192
Care of Your CDs	193
Care of Your CD Player	193
Backglass Antenna	193
XM Satellite Radio Antenna System	194
DAB Radio Antenna System	194
Vehicle Customization Settings	194
Chime Level Adjustment	194
Driving Your Vehicle	196
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	197
Defensive Driving	197
Drunken Driving	197
Control of a Vehicle	200
Braking	201
Traction Control System (TCS)	203
Steering	205
Off-Road Recovery	207
Passing	208
Loss of Control	209
Driving at Night	210
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	212
City Driving	215
Freeway Driving	216
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	217
Highway Hypnosis	218
Hill and Mountain Roads	219
Winter Driving	220
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	225
Towing	226
Towing Your Vehicle	226
Recreational Vehicle Towing	226
Loading Your Vehicle	227
Towing a Trailer	229
Service and Appearance Care	236
Service	238
Doing Your Own Service Work	239
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	239
Fuel	240
Gasoline Octane	240
Gasoline Specifications	240
California Fuel	241
Additives	241
Fuels in Foreign Countries	242
Filling Your Tank	242
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	244
Checking Things Under the Hood	245
Hood Release	246
Engine Compartment Overview	247
Engine Oil	250
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	257
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	258
Engine Coolant	260
Radiator Pressure Cap	263
Engine Overheating	263
Cooling System	266
Power Steering Fluid	276
Windshield Washer Fluid	277
Brakes	278
Battery	281
Jump Starting	282
Headlamp Aiming	288
Bulb Replacement	289
Halogen Bulbs	289
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps	289
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps	291
Back-up Lamps	292
Replacement Bulbs	292
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	293
Tires	294
Inflation -- Tire Pressure	295
Tire Pressure Monitor System	295
Tire Inspection and Rotation	297
When It Is Time for New Tires	298
Buying New Tires	299
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	300
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	301
Wheel Replacement	301
Tire Chains	302
If a Tire Goes Flat	303
Changing a Flat Tire	303
Compact Spare Tire	314
Appearance Care	316
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	316
Care of Safety Belts	319
Weatherstrips	319
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	319
Sheet Metal Damage	321
Finish Damage	321
Underbody Maintenance	322
Chemical Paint Spotting	322
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	322
Vehicle Identification	324
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	324
Service Parts Identification Label	324
Electrical System	325
Add-on Electrical Equipment	325
Headlamp Wiring	325
Windshield Wiper Fuses	325
Power Windows and Other Power Options	325
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	325
Capacities and Specifications	332
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	334
Maintenance Schedule	336
Maintenance Schedule	337
Introduction	337
Your Vehicle and the Environment	337
Maintenance Requirements	337
How This Section is Organized	338
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	339
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	339
Scheduled Maintenance	339
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	344
At Each Fuel Fill	344
At Least Once a Month	344
At Least Twice a Year	345
At Least Once a Year	345
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	348
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	348
Exhaust System Inspection	349
Fuel System Inspection	349
Engine Cooling System Inspection	349
Throttle System Inspection	349
Brake System Inspection	349
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	350
Part E: Maintenance Record	351
Customer Assistance Information	354
Customer Assistance Information	355
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	355
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	356
Customer Assistance Offices	357
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	358
Roadside Assistance Program	358
Courtesy Transportation	360
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	361
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	362
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	362
Service Publications Ordering Information	362

Match case Limit results 1 per page

What’s the

worst

time

for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold

snow

or ice can

slick

and hard to drive on. But wet

ice

can

even

more trouble because it may offer

the

least traction

all.

You can get

wet ice when

it’s

about

freezing

(32°F;

OOC)

and freezing rain begins

fall.

Try to avoid driving on

wet ice until salt and sand

crews

can

get

there.

Whatever

the condition

smooth ice, packed, blowing

or loose

snow

drive with caution.

Keep

your traction control system

on. It improves your

ability

to accelerate when driving on a slippery road.

Even

though

your

vehicle has a traction control system,

you’ll

want to slow

down and adjust your driving to

the

road conditions. See

Traction

Control

System

(TCS)

page

4-8.

Unless

you

have

the anti-lock braking system, you’ll

want to brake very

gently,

too.

(If

you

have anti-lock,

see

Braking

page

4-6.

This system improves your

vehicle’s stability when

you

make

a hard stop on

slippery

road.)

Whether

you

have

the anti-lock braking

system

not, you’ll want to begin stopping sooner than

you

would

dry

pavement. Without anti-lock brakes,

you

feel

your

vehicle begin to slide, let up

on the

brakes a little. Push

the brake pedal down steadily to

get

the

most

traction

you can.

Remember, unless you

have anti-lock,

you brake

hard that your

wheels stop rolling, you’ll just slide. Brake

your wheels

always

keep rolling and

you can still

steer.

Whatever your braking system, allow greater

following distance on

any slippery road.

Watch

for slippery spots. The road might be fine

until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On

an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in

shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around

clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.

Sometimes the surface of a curve or

overpass

may remain icy when the surrounding roads

are clear.

you

see

a patch of ice ahead of you,

brake before you are on

it. Try not to brake

while you’re actually on

the

ice, and avoid sudden

steering maneuvers.

4-27