1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER fuel

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing a Trailer
I A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you pull
a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
Ask your GM dealer for
advice and information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
I NOTICE:
I
~ Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
i vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your
GM dealer
for important information about towing
a trailer
I
~ with your vehicle.
Every vehicle is ready for $time trailer towing. If yours
was built with trailering options, as many are, it’s ready
for heavier trailers. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes
in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful.
safe trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be
used properly.
That’s
the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that
of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before
you pull a trailer.
4-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch
is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air
to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch
is not engaged. This improves
fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside
temperatures. the fan speed increases when the clutch
engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan noise. This
is normal and should
not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts.
It is merely
the cooling system functioning properly. The
fa11 will
slow down when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine.
It will go away as the fan clutch disengages.
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 Inore likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have ;I "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. and then gently 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
xcelerator pedal. Get the \,chicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
\.cry bunlpy and noisy. but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop -- well off the road if possible.
5-22

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section 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.
6-3
6-4
6-5
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Fuel
Fuels in Foreign Countries
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Rear Axle
Four-wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive
Engine Coolant Radiator Pressure Cap
Thermostat Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid 6-28
6-32
6-3 3 6-3 8
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6-54
6-5
7
6-5 8
6-58
6-58
6-62
6-63
6-64
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Vehicle
Care
of Safety Belts
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Refrigerants

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around
it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your
GM dealer before adding equipment to the outside
of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher.
At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM
D48 14 in the United States and CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
developed by the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association
( AAMA) for better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA
specification
could provide improved driveability and
emission
control system protection compared to
other ga~)l i nes.
Be SCII-~ the pos~cl octane is at least 87. If the octane is
less than 87. you ma, gct a heavy knocking noise when
YOLI driirc. If’ it‘ hac1 crlough. it can damage your engine. If
you’re using fuel rated at
87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a hill. That’s normal,
and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle
is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are
not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily
on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure.
In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may
not be covered by your warranty.
6-3

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains MMT. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may be reduced and your emission
control system performance may be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp
on your instrument panel
may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized
GM dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to
the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol. and
reformulated gasolines may be available
in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
I NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t
use it. It can corrode
metal parts
in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the United
States or Canada. the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never
use leaded gasoline or any other fuei
not recommended in the
previous text on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of
improper fuel 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 (VTN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa. Ontario
L 1 H 8P7
6-4

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Filling Your Tank
The fuel cap is behind
a hinged door
on the
driver’s side of
your vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline
or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames
and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
To take off the cap, turn
it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The
cap has a spring
in it; if
you let go of the cap
too soon, it will spring
back to the right.
A CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray
out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if
your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any
“hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
6-5

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See "Cleaning the
Outside
of Your Vehicle" in the Index.
When you
put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise)
until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel
to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See "Malfunction Indicator Lamp"
in
the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer
can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not
fit properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See "Malfunction Indicator Lamp"
in
the Index.
Checking Things Under the Hood
1
To open the hood, first pull
the handle inside the vehicle
on the lower driver's side of
the instrument panel.
Then
go to the front of the vehicle and release the
secondary hood release.
6-6

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are on
properly. Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on the
hood prop.
Remove
the hood prop from the slot in the hood and
return the prop
to its retainer.
Checking 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, and check the level.
Then just pull the hood down firmly
to close. It will
latch when dropped from
10 to12 inches (25 to 30 cm)
without pressing on the hood.
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.
The oil dipstick
is a
yellow ring.
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.
6-9