Page 210 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering
wheel should be clamped in a straight-ahead position with a clamping
device designed for towing service. Do not use the vehicle’s steering
column lock
for this. The transmission (either automatic or manual) should
be
in NEUTRAL (N) and the transfer case (either manual shift or electronic
shift), if you have one, should be in
2HI. The parking brake should be
released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the rear wheels, unless you have to. If the
velucle must be towed
on the rear wheels, don’t go more than 35 mph (56
Mh) or farther than 50 miles (80 km) or your transmission will be
damaged. If these limits must be exceeded, then the rear drive wheels have
to be supported on a dolly.
Don’t have your vehicle towed with the wheels in contact with the ground if
it has all-wheel drive. If your vehicle has the all-wheel-drive option,
it can
only be towed with all four wheels off the ground. If the vehicle must be
towed with wheel lift equipment, then either the front or rear wheels must
be supported
on a dolly or the vehicle must be transported on a flatbed
carrier.
5-8
Page 223 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then ge\
ntly brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and
noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if
possible.
If a tire goes flat,
the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment to
change
a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a
level place.
Turn on your hazard warning flashers.
5-21
Page 255 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 flui\
d.
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).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot weather.
0 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).
To check transmissionfluid 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 THIRD GEAR (D) until
the engine temperature gage moves and then remains steady for ten minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmissionfluid cold: A cold check is rnaae 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.
0 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.
6- 15
Page 267 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in your master\
cylinder
might
go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the
fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the
brake system.
If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well,
or won’t work at
all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid
won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake linings.
You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to check your brake
fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
in the Index.
6-27
Page 268 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To Check Brake Fluid
.. .
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid levels should be above
MIN.
If they aren’t, have your brake system checked to see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system, make sure the 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, and always clean the brake fluid reservo\
ir cap before
removing it.
NOTICE:
0 Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid. For
example, just
a few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake system parts
so
badly that they’ll have to be replaced.
0 Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful not to spill brake
fluid on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care”
in the Index.
6-28
Page 269 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The
sound may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in
costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the
brakes
are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but if you
i?v& hear a
rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings 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 Adjustment
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 brakes
may need adjustment. Adjust them by backing up and firmly applying the
brakes a few times.
6-29
Page 270 of 380

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Battery
Every new vehicle has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You never have to add
water to one of these. When it’s time for a new battery, we recommend a
Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that has the replacement number shown
on
the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, take off the
black, negative
(-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery
from running down.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
6-30
Page 287 of 380
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
6-47