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LA u I IUIV.’ I
Operating the engine with the
L , air cleaner off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t
there, and the engine backfires,
you
could be burned. Don’t drive with it
off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner
off.
m
mII
.
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause
a damaging engine fire.
And,
dirt can easily get into your
engine, which
will damage i+
Always have the air c1-n-r
when
you’re driving.
Air Filter Replacement
To
remove the air filter:
1. Remove the two plastic pins by
pulling them straight
up.
231 -
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer
to the
Maintenance Schedule
to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Chevrolet dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here,
or you could get a
false reading
on the dipstick. damage
your transmission.
Too
much can mean that some of thr
fluid could come
out and fall on hc
~.: engine parts, starting a fire. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you ~“* check your transmission fluid. ~, \- ~
%it at least 30 minutes before checking
he transmission fluid level
if you have
>een driving:
D When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic - especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
90°F (32°C).
weather. To
get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10OC). If
it’s colder than
50°F (lO”C), drive the
vehicle in
D (Third Gear) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then remains
steady for ten minutes. Then follow the
hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been
sitting for eight hours
or more with the
engine off and
is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
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Service & Appearance Care
if outside temperatures are 50°F (10°C)
or more. If it's colder than 50°F (lO°C),
you may have to idle the engine longer.
A hot check must follow when fluid is
added during a cold check.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
0 Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
0 With your foot on the brake pedal,
the parking brake
applied.
move
the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about
three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
P (Park).
minutes or more.
0 Let the engine run at idle for three
234
A
3.4L L32 (Code S)
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean rag or paper towel.
3
2
5.7L LTl (Code P)
!. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back
out
again.
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Page 239 of 358

3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be
in the COLD area for a cold
check or in the
HOT area or
cross-hatched area for a
hot check.
4. If the fluid level is where it should be,
push the dipstick back
in all the way.
How to Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transmission fluid
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index. If the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level up to
the COLD area for
a cold check or the
HOT area for a hot check. It doesn’t take
much fluid, generally less than a pint.
Don’t overfill. We recommend you use
only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-IIE,
because fluids with that label are made
especially for your automatic
transmission. Damage caused by
fluid
other than DEXRON@-IIE is not covered
by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under “How to
Check.”
obtained, push the dipstick back
in all
the way.
When the correct fluid level is
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. However, the
fluid in your manual transmission doesn’t
require changing.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Chevrolet dealership Service
Department.
If
you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or you could get a
false reading.
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Service & Appearance Care
~1 NOTICE: Ill Then, follow these steps:
100 mucn or too mtIe nula can
damage your transmission.
Too
much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hn
engine parts, starting a fire. Be s
to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission
fluid
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
11 3. If the fluid level is good, install the
plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If
the fluid level is low, add more fluid
as described in the next steps.
II
Check the fluid level only when your
engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transmission is cool
enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
How to Add Fluid:
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add
only enough fluid to bring the fluid
level
up to the bottom of the filler
plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug
is fully seated.
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Service & Appearance Care
What to Use:
Standard and Limited-Slip Differential
Use Axle Lubricant (GM Part No.
1052271) or SAE 8OW-90 GL-5 gear
lubricant.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how
to add coolant when it
is low. If
you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add
coolant to your radiator, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
I
The proper coolant for your Chevrolet
will:
0
0
0
0
0
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
(128°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let
the warning lights work as they
should.
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What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification 1825M
with a complete coolant flush and refill.
If you use this mixture, you don’t need to
add anything else.
Adding only plain water to
- b your coding system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant I
mix. With plain water or the wrong
mix, your engine could get too hot
but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your
engine could catch
fire and YOU or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and a proper antifreeze.
--
I If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost
wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in 1-
mix can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other parts.
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Service & Appearance Care
1
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant: When your engine is
cold, check the dipstick on the cap of the
coolant recovery tank. The coolant level
should be at
FULL COLD, or a little
higher. When your engine is warm, the
level on the dipstick should be up to
FULL HOT, or a little higher.
If you have the 5.7L LTl (Code P) engine
and this light comes on,
it means you’re
low on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant to the Recovery Tank:
If you need more coolant, add the proper
mix
at the coolant recovery tank, but
only when your engine
is cool. If the tank
is very low or empty, also add coolant to
the radiator. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
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