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Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs
its own brakes
- and they must be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system,
but consider the following:
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system if the trailer’s brake system
will use more than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3~~) of fluid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. If it
does, both braking systems won’t work well. You
could even lose your brakes.
0 Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If
not, the trailer brake system must not be used with your
vehicle.
If everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at the port on the
master cylinder that sends the fluid to the rear brakes. But don’t
use copper
tubing for this. If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel brake
tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
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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, an\
d 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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Service & Appearance Care
Section
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section 1
begins with service and fuel information, and then it shows how to check ,?
important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information
about your vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
f
Service
Your GM dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it.
We hope you’ll go to your dealer for all your service needs. You’ll get
genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM. Genuine
GM parts
have one
of these marks:
a-?:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you‘ll want to get the
proper
GM Service Manual. It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service Publications”
in the Index.
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Page 303 of 486

To remove the air cleaner filter on a gasoline engine or a 6.5 liter naturally
aspirated diesel engine, turn the wing nuts
to the left. Remove the cover and
change
the filter.
To remove the air cleaner filter on a 6.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine,
first remove the rubber elbow. Remember to observe the caution about
turbocharger blades
on the rubber elbow.
Then, unhook the cover retaining clips
and push the rear
of
the cover toward the
engine.
Automatic Transmission Nuid
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.
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C j,
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 transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (1 0°C).
If it's colder than 50°F (10"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 (IO'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.
lo check the fluid hot or cold
0 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.
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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
clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out
again.
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.
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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 7 overfill. We recommend
you
use only fluid labeled DEXRON -111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission. Damage caused by fluid
other than DEXRON@-111
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
8
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to
Check.”
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.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is changed. However,
the fluid
in your manual transmission doesn’t require changing.
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.
I 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.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission is cool enough for you to rest your fingers
on the transmission case.
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Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure it is fully seated. If
the fluid level is low, add more fluid as described
in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the
Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough fluid to bring the
fluid level up
to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is self-adjusting. A slight
amount of play
(1/4 inch to 1/2 inch) in the pedal is normal.
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