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:

Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate effectively. Caution Neither tire underinflation nor overinflation is good. Underinflated tires, or tires that do not have enough air, can result in: Tire overloading and overheating which could lead to a blowout. Premature or irregul ...

Dinghy Towing (with Automatic Transmission)
Caution If the vehicle is towed with all four wheels on the ground, the drivetrain components could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not tow the vehicle with all four wheels on the ground. Vehicles with an automatic transmission should not be towed w ...

Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn of the engine overheating. See Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 5-18. If the decision is made not to lift the hood when this warning appears, get service help right away. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 13-5. If the decision is made ...