Plymouth Gran Fury 1980 Operating Instructions And Product Information page 44

An Important Message Regarding Your New Vehicle
Every effort has been made to assure overall reliability of this vehicle, with particular emphasis on the systems having to do with vehicle
control. In addition, certain characteristics have been designed into this vehicle which provide you with an "extra margin" of safety in
operation in the rare event of malfunction. They do not afford you the same driving conditions however, and for this reason you should
be aware of what to expect to avoid alarm or confusion should an abnormal condition arise. Specifically, you should be familiar with the
following safety characteristics of the braking system and the power steering system.
POWER BRAKES
If either the front or rear hydraulic systems lose normal capabil-
In the event power assist is lost for any reason, (for example, ity, the remaining system will still function with some loss of
repeated brake applications with the engine off), the brakes will overall braking effectiveness. This will be evident by increased
still function. The effort required to brake the vehicle will be pedal travel during application, greater pedal force required to
substantially increased over that required with the power system slow or stop, and activation of the Brake Warning Lamp during
operating. brake use.
In either situation cited above, braking effectiveness will be substantially reduced even though you exert much greater pedal effort than is
customarily required. This, of course, means that even though such a malfunction has occurred, you will still be able to bring your car to a stop,
but not within the usual stopping distance.
POWER STEERING
The power steering system of your car provides mechanical steering capability in the event power assist is lost.
If for any reason, the hydraulic pressure is interrupted, it will still be possible to steer your car. Under these conditions you will observe
a substantial increase in steering effort and noticeable amount of "free play" in the steering wheel.
Keeping the above information in mind will prepare you in the rare event you encounter the described conditions. You may wish to
acquaint yourself with the "feel" of the steering and braking systems without power assist. To do this, select a straight road free of
traffic, and while driving at a moderate speed put the transmission in neutral and tum the ignition switch to the OFF position, not to the
LOCK position. Make steering motions, and after tapping the brake several times to deplete the power steering reserve, make a stop.
42 (Power assist of both systems may be restored during these maneuvers simply by restarting the engine).