Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 kmh) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you
have an automatic transmission with
Overdrive, you may prefer to drive
in “D’
instead of Overdrive (or, as you need to,
a lower gear). Or,
if you have a manual
transmission with fifth (or sixth) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better
not to use fifth (or sixth) gear. Just drive
in fourth gear (fifth gear if you have a
six-speed manual transmission) (or, as you
need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a
hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you
ever have to park your
rig on a
hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
“P’ (Park) yet, or into gear
for a manual transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
trailer wheels.
4. Reapply the
regular brakes. Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
“P” (Park), or “R” (Reverse)
for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave after
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop ahd have someone pick up and
of the
chocks.
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you’re pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule for more on this.
Things that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid (don’t overfill), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system,
and brake adjustment. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and
the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your
trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
. . ,146
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I'
J
Here you'll find what to do
about some problems that can
occur
on the road .
Part 5
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers ........................................... 148
Jumpstarting .................................................... 149
TowingYourVehicle .............................................. 152
Engineoverheating
............................................... 157
IfaTireGoesFlat
................................................ 166
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ............................ 177
147 .
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Towing a vehicle over rough
surfaces could damage
a vehicle.
Damage can occur from
vehicle-
to-ground or vehicle-to-wheel-lift-
equipment contact.
To help avoid
damage, install a towing dolly
and raise vehicle
until adequate
clearance
is obtained between the
ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage
Dn your Chevrolet’s instrument panel.
You may also find a low coolant warning
light on your Chevrolet instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine:
157.. .
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine On the V8 engine you’ll see this:
1. Coolant recovery tank
2. Radiator pressure cap
3. Electric engine fans
A CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can
start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure
you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools
away from
any underhood electric fan.
II
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, don’t do anything else
until it cools down.
When
it is cool, remove the coolant
recovery tank cap and look at
the dipstick.
The coolant level should be at or above
“FULL COLD.” If it isn’t, you may have
a leak
in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator,
water pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
A CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t
touch them. If you do, you can be
burned.
Don’t
run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it could
lose all coolant. That could
cause an
engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive
the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty. I
If there seems to be no leak, check to see
if the electric engine fan is running. If the
engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs
service.
159. I
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
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.
The proper coolant for your Chevrolet
will:
0 Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
-34°F (-37°C).
(128°C).
temperature.
should.
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.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost
wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty.
Too much water in the mix can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts.
. . .I98
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
“COLD,” or a little higher.
When your engine
is warm, the level on
the dipstick should be up to
“HOT,” or a
little higher.
If you have the 5.7L LTI (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 for information.
199 ...
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
e CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator
are hot
can allow steam and scalding liquids
to
blow out and burn you badly.
Never
turn the pressure cap - even a
little
- when the engine and radiator
are hot.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, bul
be careful not to spill
it.
A CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol,
and it will
bum if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant
on a
hot engine.
Radiator Pressure Cap (All Engines)
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 18 psi
(1 24 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows
on the cap line up with
the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure
cap, an
AC@ cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
f
I I
3.4L L32 (Code S)
Power Steering Fluid
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.
. . .200
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
1 Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your Chevrolet may be necessary to
remove residue from the paint finish.
You
can get GM approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care
and Maintenance Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Chevrolet has a “basecoat/clearcoat”
paint finish. The clearcoat gives more
depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat.Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a
basecoatklearcoat paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoatklearcoat
paint finish may
dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
. . .224
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
When using an automatic car wash,
set your heating or cooling system to
“VENT”
with the fan speed set to
the second highest speed. This
will
prevent high pressure water from
entering around your top.
Your convertible top should be cleaned
often. Use
a mild soap, lukewarm water
and a soft brush. Don’t use any harsh
cleaners or bleaching agents on the top.
They can damage the material.
When the top is really dirty, use a
mild
foam-type cleaner. Use a cloth or sponge
to remove the dirt.
Thoroughly rinse the top and dry
it before
lowering
it. A damp top causes wrinkles.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective
coating similar to the painted surface
of
your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, chrome polish, or other abrasive cleaners
on them because
you
could damage this coating. After rinsing
thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t
use an automatic car wash that has
hard silicon carbide cleaning brushes.
These brushes can take off the
protective coating.
Tires
Your Chevrolet dealer has a GM White
Sidewall Tire Cleaner.
You can use a stiff
brush
with the cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always takt
care to wipe off any overspray or splash
from painted surfaces. Petroleum-based
products may damage the paint finish.