Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual: Braking

Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual / Driving and Operating / Driving Information / Braking

Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time.

Average driver reaction time is about three-quarters of a second. In that time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20m (66 ft), which could be a lot of distance in an emergency.

Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:

Keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Keep pace with traffic.

If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. Doing so could make the pedal harder to push down. If the engine stops, there will be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is applied.

Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

Drunk Driving

Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a global tragedy. Warning Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment can be affec ...

Steering

Electric Power Steering The vehicle has electric power steering. It does not have power steering fluid. Regular maintenance is not required. If power steering assist is lost due to a system malfun ...

Other materials:

Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge indicates about how much fuel is left when the ignition is turned to ON/RUN. When the tank nears empty, the low fuel warning light will come on. There is still a little fuel left, but the vehicle's fuel tank should be filled soon. See Low Fuel Warning Light on page 5-20 ...

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be used for up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off: Audio System Power Windows The power windows will continue to work for up to 10 minutes or until any door is opened. The radio will work when the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key ...

New Vehicle Break-In
Caution The vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or slow, for the first 805 km (500 mi). Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to brake or slow t ...