Rear Drum Brakes
If you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have the wear indicators, \
but if you
ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake lining inspected.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time\
the
tires are removed for rotation or changing. When you have the \
front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if
there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
Brake Adjusiment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes adjust for\
wear. If your
brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your rear drum brak\
es may need
adjustment. Adjust them by backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few
times.
Braking In Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard
braking. You have the rear wheel anti-lock braking system. Your front wheels
can stop rolling when you brake very hard. Once they
do, the vehicle can’t
respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the \
road, into the
very thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
So, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you max\
imum braking
while maintaining steering control. You
do this by pushing on the brake pedal
with steadily increasing pressure. When you
do, it will help maintain steering
control. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very
best braking.
Steering
Power Sieerhg
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or \
the system
fails to function, you can steer but it will take much more effort.
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Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it’s one of those hills that’s
just too steep to climb, descend,
or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge.
On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline
with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way
to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, \
but you may not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes,
grass,
or shrubs.
Here are some other things to consider as you approach a hill.
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in
Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire
Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you won’t have to make
0 Are there obstructions on the hill than can block your path (boulders,
What’s beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a
places?
slipping?
turning maneuvers?
trees, logs
or ruts)?
fence? Get out and walk the hill
if you don’t know. It’s the smart way to
find out.
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs
and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the eff\
ects
of
erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you need to take some
special steps.
Use a lower gear and get a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain your speed. Don’t use
more power than you need, because you don’t want your wheel\
s to start
spinning
or sliding.
turns, you might want
to find another route.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and
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Service & Appearance Care
Engine Coolant ........................................................................\
........................ 6-42
Power Steering Fluid
........................................................................\
............... 6-46
Windshield Washer Fluid
........................................................................\
......... 6-48
Brake Master Cylinder
........................................................................\
............. 6-49
Replacing Brake System Parts
........................................................................\
.. 6-50
Other Maintenance Items ........................................................................\
........... 6-51
Lubrication
........................................................................\
.................................... 6-52
Electrical System
........................................................................\
......................... 6-54
Battery
........................................................................\
...................................... 6-54
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
........................................................................\
.... 6-64
Bulb Replacement
........................................................................\
.................... 6-54
Exhaust System
........................................................................\
........................... 6-65
Loading Your Vehicle
........................................................................\
.................. 6-67
Tires
........................................................................\
.............................................. 6-72
Inflation-Tire Pressure
........................................................................\
........... 6-73
Tire Inspection and Rotation
........................................................................\
.. 6-78
When It's Time for New Tires
........................................................................\
6-80
Buying New Tires
........................................................................\
.................... 6-81
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
............................................................... 6-82
Wheel Replacement
........................................................................\
................. 6-83
Tire Chains
........................................................................\
............................... 6-84
Appearance Care
........................................................................\
........................ 6-84
Cleaning the Inside Of Your Vehicle
............................................................. 6-85
Cleaning the Outside Of Your Vehicle
.......................................................... 6-88
Appearance Care Materials
.r.ikl...rr.r.n.....lr. ........ ... .. 6-91
Vehicle Identification Number
........................................................................\
..... 6-92
Service Parts Identification Label
...................................................................... 6-94
Specification Charts
....++t....,.,.*,..-".,,. .............. , ........... .................... 6-95
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
........................................................................\
.. 6-81
..................................................
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Service & Appearance Cam
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow of coolant through the r\
adiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
K2630
How To Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and look at the fluid
level on the dipstick.
K2693
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When the engine compartment is hot, the level should be at the FULL
When the engine compartment is cool, the level should be at the FULL
mark.
COLD mark.
F
\’ ‘k
+- .”.’e--: E
K2694
What to Add:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index.
r
When adding power steering fluid or making a complete fluid change, I
always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause
leaks and damage hoses and seals.
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Service & Appearance Care
MIN mark. If they aren’t, have your brake system checked to see if there is a
leak.
t
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system, make sure t\
he levels are
above
MIN and below the top of each window.
What To Add:
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake fluid-such \
as Delco
Supreme
11 @ (GM Part No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only.
Hydro-Boost Brake System (Hydraulic Pump)
The power steering pump is also used as the Hydro-boost pump. Refer to
“Power Steering System” in this section when checking fluid level or adding
fluid.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on .a modern vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to
be of ‘top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake parts in
them, as your vehicle does when it is new. When you replace parts
of your
braking system-for example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have
to have new ones put in-be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between your front and rear brakes can change; for the\
worse. The
’ braking performance you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways
if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
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Scheduled Maintenance Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Listed below are inspections and services which should be perfo\
rmed at least
twice a year (for instance each spring or fall).
You should let your GM
dealer’s service department or other qualified service center \
do these jobs.
Make sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Steering and Suspension lnspectiont -Inspect front and rear suspension
and steering system for damaged, loose or missing parts, signs \
of wear or
lack of lubrication. Inspect power steering lines and hoses for proper \
hook-up,
binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. (On vehicles equipped wit\
h manual
steering gear, check for seal leakage.) Lubricate the steering linkage.
Accelerator Control System -Lubricate all pivot points with engine oil,
except the
TBI throttle shaft. Remove all external deposits from the injector
pump face cam on 6.2L and 6.5L engines.
Do this when the engine is cold
and not running.
Do not oil any accelerator or cruise control cables. Replace
any cables that have high effort or excessive wear.
Exhaust System Inspection -Inspect the complete system including the
three-way catalytic converter. Inspect the body near the exhaust\
system. Look
for broken, damaged, missing or out-of-position parts, as well \
as, open
seams, holes, loose connections or other conditions which could \
cause a heat buildup in the floor pan or could let exhaust fumes seep into the passenger
compartments.
Drive Axle Service -Check readfront axle fluid level and add as needed.
Check constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
Transfer Case (four-wheel drive) lnspectiont -Every 12 months or at oil
change intervals, check front axle and transfer case and add l\
ubricant when necessary. Oil the control lever pivot point and all exposed c\
ontrol linkage.
Check vent hose at transfer case for kinks and proper installa\
tion. More
frequent lubrication may be required on heavy-duty or off-road use.
tA fluid loss in these systems may indicate a problem. Have them inspected
and repaired at once.
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Recommended Fluids & Lubricants
NOTE: Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or
specification may be obtained from your
GM Dealer.
USAGE I FLUID/LUBRICANT
Engine Oil
I
GM Goodwrench Motor Oil or equivalent for API Service SG
or SGlCE of the recommended viscositv.
Engine Coolant Mixture
of water and a good quality ethylene glycol base
antifreeze conforming
to GM-6038-M (GM Part No. 1052103).
Hydraulic Clutch System Hydraulic Clutch Fluid (GM Part
No. 12345347 or equivalent).
Hydraulic Brake Systems Delco Supreme
11
@ brake fluid (GM Part No. 1052535 or
DOT-3).
Parking Brake Cables
GM Lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052182) or equivalent.
Manual Steering Gear GM Power Steering
Fluid (GM Part
No. 1050017) or
Power Steering System Chassis grease meeting requirements of
NLGl Grade 2,
Automatic Transmission DEXRONB
HE Automatic Transmission Fluid (GM Part
No.
Catagory LB or GC-LB (GM Part No. 1052497).
equivalent conforming
to GM spec 9985010.
1051
855l.
Manual Transmission:
a. 5-Speed with Low Gear
b. Standard Transmission Fluid (GM Part
No. 12345349).
b. 5-Speed without Low Gear a.
CastrolB Syntorq or equivalent (GM Part
No.
1 2346074).
Differential:
a. Standard (Saginaw) Front
b. SAE-80W-90 gear lubricant (GM Part No. 1052271). b. Locking a.
SAE-80W-90 gear lubricant (GM Part
No. 1052271).
and Rear Axle
Transfer Case Gas Line De-lcer (GM Part
No. 1051516).
Gas Line DexronB
IIE Automatic Transmission
Fluid (GM Part No.
12345881).
Weather Strips
Category LB or GC-LB (GM Part
No. 1052497).
Chassis grease meeting requirements
of NLGl
Grade 2,
Clutch Fork Ball Stud Category
LB or GC-LB (GM Part
No. 1052497).
Shift Lever, and Propeller Shaft. Chassis grease meeting requirements
of NLGl Grade 2,
Column Shift, Transfer Case Spray-A-Squeek
(GM Part
No. 1052277).
(Continued next
page^
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