1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER check transmission fluid

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hill and Mountain Roads 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. (See “Off-Road
Driving”
in the Index for information about driving
off-road.)
0
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving
in flat or rolling terrain.
0
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.
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.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
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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 Wiring Harness
The light duty trailer wiring is a six-wire harness
assembly. The heavy duty trailer wiring is an eight-wire
harness assembly. The harnesses are stored under
the
vehicle, along the passenger-side frame crossmember on
two-door vehicles or on the driver’s side corner frame
crossmember
on four-door vehicles. The heavy duty
trailer wiring has a 30-amp feed wire with an inline fuse
located by the junction block. See “Fuses and Circuit
Breakers” in
the Index. Both harnesses have no
connector and should be wired
by a qualified electrical technician. The technician can
use the following color code chart when connecting the
wiring harness
to your trailer.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
DARK BLUE: Use for electric trailer brakes or
auxiliary wiring.
RED: Use for battery charging; it connects to the
starter solenoid (eight-wire harness
only).
LIGHT GREEN: Back-up lamps (eight-wire
harness only).
BROWN: Taillamps and parking lamps.
YELLOW Left stoplamp and turn signal.
DARK GREEN: Right stoplamp and turn signal.
WHITE (Heavy Gage): Ground wire.
WHITE (Light Gage): Auxiliary stoplamp.
Securely attach the harness
to the trailer, then tape or
strap it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you leave
it loose enough
so the wiring doesn’t bend or break,
but
not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness in its original place. Wrap the harness together
and
tie it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .. 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.
Change both
the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) 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.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
. 6-14

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Transmission Fluid T'3t
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 ( 10°C), drive the
vehicle in
DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature gage
moves and
then remains steady for 10 minutes. Then
follow the
hot check procedures.
Checking 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.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
in
PARK (P).
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
0 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:
. 3
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and
wipe
it with a clean rag or paper towel.
., . - .. , , . . 6-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
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
pint. Don ’t overfill. We recommend you use only fluid
labeled DEXR0N’-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.”
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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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's
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or
you could get a false reading.
I NOTICE: I
I
, Too much or too little fluid can dafnage your
l 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.
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.
6-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Capacities (Approximate)
Cooling System"
Auto. Trans.
................ 11.7 quarts (1 1.1 L)
Manual Trans. .............. 11.9 quarts (1 1.3 L)
Crankcase*
................... 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)
Automatic Transmission
(Drain and Refill)*
........... 5.0 quarts (4.7 L)
Differential Fluid
Rear
...........
Front ............ ....... 2.6 pints (1.2 L)
2-Door.. .................... 19 gallons (72 L)
4-Door.. .................... 18 gallons (68 L)
A/C Refrigerant. .. 30 oz. or 2 Ibs. (0.9 kg) of R- 134a
Fuel Tank
*After refill, the level
must be checked.
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs
refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used.
Jf you're not sure, ask your GM dealer.
Vehicle Dimensions*
Wheelbase
Sl"10516
.............. 100.5 inches (255.3 cm)
Sl"10506
............ 107.0 inches (271.8 cm)
S10516
............. 175.0 inches (444.5 cm)
TI0516
............... 175.4 inches (445.5 cm)
S/T10506
.............. ,181.5 inches (461.0 cm)
Length
Height S10516
....... ..... 66.0 inches (167.6 cm)
T10516
..... ... 66.9 inches (170.0 cm)
S 10506 ............ 65.9 inches (167.4 cm)
T10506
................ 67.0 inches (170.2 cm)
Width
................... 67.8 inches (172.2 cm)
Front Tread
S Series ................ 55.0 inches (139.6 cm)
T Series
................ 57.3 inches (145.4 cm)
Rear Tread
S Series ................ 54.7 inches (138.8 cm)
T Series
................ 55.1 inches (139.9 cm)
*Figures reflect base equipment only.
6-64

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If
you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have
it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Manual Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed.
See “Manual Transmission” in the Index.
A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
Hydraulic Clutch System Check
Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir. See
“Hydraulic Clutch Fluid” in the Index.
A fluid loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired at once.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door and fuel door hinges, rear
compartment hinges, latches and locks including the
glove box, console doors and
the body hood and any
moving seat hardware. Lubricate the hood safety lever
pivot and prop rod pivot. Part
D tells you what to use.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
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