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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Malfunction lndicator Lamp
(SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT)
This light on your instrument panel lets you know when your emission
system needs service. The light will come on briefly when
you start your
engine to let you know that the system is working. If it does not come on
when you start your engine, or if it comes on and stays on while you’re
driving, your system may need service. Your vehicle should still
be
driveable, but you should have your system serviced right away.
Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high quality tires made
by
a leading tire manufacturer. These tires are warranted by the tire
manufacturers and their warranties
are delivered with every new vehicle. If
your spare tire is a different brand than your road tires, you will have a tire
warranty folder from each of these manufacturers.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine lnflation - Tire Pressure
The CertificatiodTire label which is on the rear edge of the driver’s door,
shows the correct inflation pressures for your tires, when they’re cold.
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than a mile.
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or overinflation is
all right. It’s not. If your tires don’t have enough air
(underinflation) you can get:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure. Simply looking
at the tires will not tell you the pressure, especially if you have radial tires
- which may look properly inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires
have valve caps, be sure to put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping
out dirt and moisture.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire lnspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles ( 10 000 to 13 000 km)
for any signs of unusual wear. If unusual wear
is present, rotate your tires as
soon
as possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires
or wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires” and “Wheel Replacement”
later
in this section for more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires
on the vehicle. The first rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index for scheduled rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use
the
correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear inflation pressures
as shown on
the Certification/Tire label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When It’s Time for New Tires
Tread Wear
Indicators
One way to tell when
it’s time for new tires
is
to check the
treadwear indicators,
which will appear
when your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6
mm) or less of tread
remaining.
You need a new tire if:
You can see the indicators at three or more places around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show
cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of
the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at the
CertificatiodTire label.
The tires installed on
your vehicle when it was new had a Tire Performance
Criteria Specification (TPC Spec) number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you
get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way, your
vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed to give proper
endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other things during
normal service
on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number,
make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and construction
type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system developed by the United
States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires
by treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test
course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half (1 112)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions
of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A
tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning)
traction.
Temperature - A, 9, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Warning:
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional equipment
on General
Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires meet
General Motors performance standards and have been approved for use on
General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform
to Federal safety requirements in addition
to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory
to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will
not need to have your wheels aligned again.
However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or
the other, the alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need
to be
rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted or corroded. If
wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts
should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your GM dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying capacity, diameter,
width, offset, and
be mounted the same way as the one it replaces.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them
only with new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will
be sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
GM model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the braking
and handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose air and make
you lose control. You could have a collision in which you or
others could be injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
I NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with bearing life,
brake cooling, speedometer/odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous. You can’t
know how
it’s been used or how many miles it’s been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to replace
a wheel use a new GM original equipment wheel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Chains
NOTICE:
If your vehicle has P235/65R15 size tires, don’t use tire chains;
they can damage your vehicle.
If you have other size tires, use tire chains only where legal and
only when you must. Use only
SAE Class “S” type chains that
are the proper size for your tires. Install them on the rear axle
tires and tighten them
as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the chains
contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or spinning
the wheels with chains on will damage your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if
you strike a match or get them on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if
you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When
you use anything from a container to clean your vehicle, be sure to
follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
- some more than others - and they can all
damage your vehicle, too.
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