1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Owners Manual

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain
on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon
as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked
safe for painted surfaces
to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep
their luster. Washing with water
is all that is usually
needed. However, you may
use chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid
damaging protective trim, never use auto or chrome
polish, steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum.
A
coating of wax, rubbed to high polish, is recommended
for all bright metal parts.
Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with
mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel.
A wax
may then be applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface
of your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because
you could
damage the surface.
Don’t take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicon carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface
of these wheels.
6-58
ProCarManuals.com

Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
L
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces on the body or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the paint fidish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer
or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control
can collect
on the underbody. If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody
parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust
system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle.
This damage can
take two
forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations, and
small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although
no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of new
vehicles damaged
by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
6-59
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care Materials Chart
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
II I
1
- I1 11111111 1111 111 111111 111 111111 I1 111111111111 111111111 IIrn 0
@ SAMPLE4UXVM072675
CODE- MOD
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.
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:
0 your VIN,
0 the model designation,
0 paint information and
0 a list of all production options and
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
special equipment.
6-61
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
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.
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.
Headlamps
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
the lamp switch. An electrical overload will cause the
lamps to flicker 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.
Although the circuit is protected from electrical
overload, overload due to heavy snow, etc., may cause
wiper linkage damage. Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the the windshield before using the windshield
wipers. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
6-62
ProCarManuals.com

Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and closes.
This protects the circuit until the current load returns
to
normal or the problem is fixed.
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 in the wiring itself. This
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The fuse block access door
is on the driver’s side edge
of the instrument panel. Pull
off the cover to access the
fuse block.
You can remove fuses with
a fuse extractor. The fuse
extractor is mounted to the
fuse block access door.
greatly reduces the chance of fires caused by electrical
problems. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index
for more information.
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.
To remove fuses if you don’t have a fuse extractor, hold
the end of the fuse between your thumb and index finger
and pull straight out.
You may have spare fuses attached to the inside of
the fuse block access door. These can be used to
replace a bad fuse. However, make sure that it is the
correct amperage.
6-63
ProCarManuals.com

Fuse/Circuit Breaker Usage
4
Fuse/Circuit Breaker Usage
1 Stop/TCC Switch, Buzzer, CHMSL,
2 Transfer Case
Hazard Lamps, Stoplamps
3 Courtesy Lamps, Cargo Lamp, Glove
Box Lamp, DomeReading Lamps,
Vanity Mirrors, Power Mirrors 10
11
12
13 Instrument Cluster, DRL
Relay, Lamp
Switch, Keyless Entry, Low Coolant
Module, Illuminated Entry Module,
DRAC (Diesel Engine)
Rear Comfort Controls
Cruise Control
Auxiliary Power Outlet
Air Bag System
License Lamp, Parking Lamps,
Taillamps, Roof Marker Lamps,
Tailgate Lamps, Front Sidemarkers,
Fog Lamp Relay, Door Switch
Illumination, Fender Lamps,
Headlamp Switch Illumination
Air Bag System
Wiper Motor, Washer Pump
NC, A/C Blower, High Blower Relay
Power Amp, Rear Liftglass, Cigarette
Lighter, Door Lock Relay, Power
Lumbar Seat
,
ProCarManuals.com

15
16
Fuse/Circuit Breaker Usage
14 4WD Indicator, Cluster, Front and
Rear Comfort Controls, Instrument
Switches, Radio Illumination,
Chime Module
DRL Relay, Fog Lamp Relay
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
A
B Front and Rear Turn Signals,
Back-up
Lamps, BTSI Solenoid
Radio (Ignition)
4WALNCM, ABS, Cruise Control
Radio (Battery)
PRNDL, Automatic Transmission, Speedometer, Check Gages,
Warning Lights
Variable Effort Steering
Not Used
Rear Wiper, Rear Washer Pump
Front Axle, 4WD Indicator Lamp,
TP2 Relay (Gasoline Engine)
Power Door Lock, Six-Way Power
Seat, Keyless Entry Module
Power Windows
Underhood Fuse/Relay Center
The underhood fusehelay center is located in the rear of
the engine compartment near the brake fluid reservoir.
Move the retainer clips for the cover to access the
fuse block.
You can remove fuses with a fuse extractor. The fuse
extractor is mounted to the interior fuse block. To
remove fuses if you don't have a fuse extractor, hold the
end of the fuse between your thumb and index finger
and pull straight out.
6-65
ProCarManuals.com