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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
interior.
your mirrors
and your instruments frequently.
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work
hard on mountain roads.
0 Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
let your engine
do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear
when you go down
a steep or long hill.
4- 18
Page 171 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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, belt, 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.
Trailer Lighting Systems Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
4-33
Page 226 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
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
it. Always have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
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 your
GM dealer 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.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too
much can mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting
a fire. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your transmission fluid.
Wait at least
30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32” C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic - especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
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).
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Page 227 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To check transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (10°C).
If it's colder than
50°F (lO°C), drive the vehicle in DRIVE (D) 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 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. Should the fluid level be low during a
cold check, you
must perform a hot check before adding fluid. This will
give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then,
position the shift lever in
PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out
clean rag or
paper towel.
again.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 in the acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all
the way; then flip the handle down to lock the dipstick in place.
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.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check
is used only’ as a reference.) If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the
proper fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for a hot check. It doesn’t
take much fluid, generally less than a int.
Don ’t overjill. We recommend
you use only fluid labeled DEXRON
8 -111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission. Damage caused by fluid
other than DEXRON@-I11 is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to
Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way; then flip the handle down to lock the dipstick in place.
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Page 291 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Maintenance Schedule I I
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly
driven under one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid
and filter do not require changing.
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
0
0
0
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints and king pin bushings,
steering linkage and transfer case shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides, and brake pedal springs at every oil change (or every
6 months,
whichever occurs first).
Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.**
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
7- 15
Page 301 of 342
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I Maintenance Schedule I 1
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly
driven under one or more
of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid
and filter do not require changing.
DATE
SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-25
Page 306 of 342

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Maintenance Schedule II I
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly
driven under one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the fluid
and
filter do not require changing.
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
52,500 Miles (87 500 km)
0
0
0
Change
engine oil and filter (or every 12 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints and king pin bushings,
steering linkage and transfer case shift linkage, parking brake cable
guides, and brake pedal springs at every oil change (or every
12
months, whichever occurs first).
Check readfront axle fluid level and add
fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.**
Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information.
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
7-30