Page 181 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you
turn your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK
(P) (or the manual transmission
out of gear and the parking brake applied) for
a few minutes before turning
the engine
off. If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
Parking on Hi//s
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 PARK (P) yet, or into
gear for a manual transmission. When parking uphill,
turn your wheels
away from the curb. When parking downhill,
turn your wheels into the
curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and then
shift into PARK
(P), or REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission.
5. If you have a four-wheeldrive vehicle with a manual transfer case
shift lever, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear - not in
NEUTRAL (N).
6. Release the parking brake.
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Page 182 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and 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, 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.
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Page 195 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When you decide it's
safe to lift the hood,
here's what you'll see:
A. Coolant recovery
tank
B. Radiator pressure
cap
C. Engine fan
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don't do anything
else until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at the
ADD mark. 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.
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Page 212 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Take off the flat tire.
Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare
wheel. Place the spare
on the wheel mounting surface.
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you do, the nuts
might
come loose. Your wheel could fall off, causing a serious
accident.
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Page 221 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the U.S. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find. Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tankful, your emission controls won’t work well or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust system can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate quickly. Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor
will be damaged. All of that means costly repairs that wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Filling Your Tank
/”
.
The fuel cap is behind
a hinged door on the
left side
of your
vehicle.
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Page 225 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you get fuel. In order to
get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on
level ground.
Turn off the engine
and give the
oil a few
minutes to drain back
into the oil pan.
If you
don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the
actual level.
To Check Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down.
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Page 226 of 354

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to add some oil. But
you must
use the right kind. This part explains what kind of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications” in the Index.
I NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so much oil that the
oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the pro\
per
operating range, your engine could be damaged.
The engine oil filler cap is located on the driver’s side engine valve cover.
Just fill
it enough to put the level somewhere in the proper operating range.
Push the dipstick all the way back in when you’re through.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Oils of the proper quality for your vehicle can be identified by looking for
the “Starburst” symbol. The “Starburst” symbol indicates that the oil has
been certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), and is preferred
for use in your gasoline engine.
If you change your own oil, be sure you use oil that has the “Starburst”
symbol on the front
of the oil container. If you have your oil changed for
you, be sure the oil put into your engine is American Petroleum Institute
certified for gasoline engines.
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Page 227 of 354
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your vehicle, as shown in
the following chart:
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE
OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
+20 -
0.
/F
+ 100 .
+80 -
+60 -
+40 -
COLD
WEATHER
- +3a
- +27
- +16
-+4
- -7
- - 18
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
.
I SAE IOW-30
IF NEITHER SAE 5W-30 NOR SAE 1OW-30
GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES
ABOVE
40 DEGREES F (4 DEGREES C).
SAE 5w-30 GRADE OILS ARE AVAILABLE, SAE 30
DO NOT USE SAE 1OW-40, SAE 2OW-50 OR
ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you
can use
SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or above. These
numbers
on an oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity
oils, such as SAE 20W-50.
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