
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, wipe the cap and
the top of the reservoir clean, then unscrew the cap and
wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten
it. Then remove the cap again and
look at
the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be between the
ADD and FULL marks.
If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level up
to the proper range.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
tluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may
fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
1 i .
L
.. ‘r
Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID ONLY with the
washer symbol on
it. Add washer fluid until the tank is full.
7 6-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir 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.
I A CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid
will burn if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid 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.
Checking Brake Fluid
I
&-
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.
6-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~ ~~~ ~~~ Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
0
0
0
0
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating
as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and
a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle”
in
the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to
be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread
is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged. replace them.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The CertificationRire label, which is on the driver’s
door edge, above the door latch, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they’re cold.
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is
all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
6-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE: (Continued) I
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Also. check the
tire pressure
of the spare tire.
If you have a compact spare tire. it should be at 60 psi
(420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure.
You can't tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they're underinflated.
Be sure to
put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6.000 to 8.000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear. rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment.
Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See "When It's Time for New Tires" and
"Wheel Replacement'' later
in this section for
more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See "Scheduled
Maintenance Services"
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
6-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When It's Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it's
time
for new tires is to
check
the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only
1 /16 inch ( 1.6 mm) or
less
of tread remaining.
You need
a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around
the tire.
0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire's rubber.
0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to
show cord or fabric.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can't be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need. look at
the CertificatiodTire label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when
it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire's sidewall. When
you get new tires.
your vehicle
will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance. handling, speed rating,
traction. ride and other things during
normal service on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the
TPC number will be followed by an "MS"
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial)
as your original tires.
t oet ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
6-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will
remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films on
interior glass.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners
on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on
the inside rear
window, since they may have to be scraped off later.
If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across
the
defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield, Backglass
and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer.
or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax.
sap or other rnaterial may be on the blade
or windshicld. Clean
the outside of the windshield with
GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon Ami@ Powder (non-scratching
glass cleaning powder), GM Part
No. 10500 11. The
windshield is clean if beads do not form when
you rinse
it with water.
Grime from
the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by wiping
vigorously with
a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
Check
the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that
look worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with
a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
6-53

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
I GM I SAMPLE4UXVM072675 I E‘ I
I
ENGINE/1997 T ASSEMBLY
CODE MODEL YEAR PLANT I
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel. on the
driver’s side. You can see it
if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The
VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels
and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine. specifications
and replacement parts.
0 your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information and
a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that this label
is not removed from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first. Some electrical
equipment can damage your vehicle and the
damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working as they should.
Service Parts Identification Label
You‘ll find this label on the inside of the glove box. It’s
very helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this
label is: Your
vehicle
has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle. see ”Servicing
Your
Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle’’ in the Index.
6-58

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Headlamps
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps to go
on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens,
have your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit breaker
and a fuse.
If the motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc., the
wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If the overload is caused
by some electrical problem, be sure
to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When
the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance
of fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating. If you
ever have a problem on the road and don't have
a
spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that
you
can get along without -- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as
you can.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The fuse block is at the
driver's end
of the
instrument panel.
Remove the cover by turning the fastener
counterclockwise. Extra fuses and the fuse extractor
are
provided in the cover. To reinstall the fuse panel cover,
push
in and turn the fastener clockwise.