Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight
if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of
fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that first. If you don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or
on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
A CAUTION:
-
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
5-5
I
ProCarManuals.com
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on.
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. Then let the hood down
and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the engine oil pressure
light
on the instrument
panel comes on, it means
you need to check your
engine oil
level right away.
For more information, see “Engine Oil Pressure Light”
in the Index. You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder. 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.
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.
6-10
ProCarManuals.com
Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the differential is at operating temperature (warm),
add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of
the filler plug
hole.
If the differential is cold, add enough lubricant to raise
the level to 1/2 inch
(I 2 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -33°F (-36°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 258°F (125°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
6-23
I
ProCarManuals.com
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by fuses, circuit breakers and thermal links
in the wiring itself.
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 correct size.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t
have a spare fuse, you can “borrow” one. 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 size you need. Replace it as
soon as you can.
Before replacing
a fuse, turn every vehicle electrical
switch
off.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
This fuse box is under the left side of the instrument
panel. The fuses here protect each separate circuit
There are two fuse blocks
in your vehicle: the instrument
including headlamps. If you have failure,
panel fuse block and the engine compartment fuse block.
check here
6-59
ProCarManuals.com
Gem Section 9 Index
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
AirBag
....................................... 1-25
Adding Equipment
............................ 1-3 1
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-29
How it Works
................................ 1-27
Location
.................................... 1-27
Readiness Light
......................... 1-26. 2-63
Servicing ................................... 1-30
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-28
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-29
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-28
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-14
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-64
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-46
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-55
Antenna
...................................... 3-19
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-23
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
................. 2-66. 4-9
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-65. 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Appearance Care
............................... 6-48
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-57 Arbitration
Program
.............................. 8-9
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-43
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Automatic
Overdrive
................................... 2-14
Overdrive Off Switch
.......................... 2-14
Automatic Transmission
.......................... 2-9
Check
...................................... 7-50
Fluid
....................................... 6-16
Operation
................................... 2-10
Park Mechanism Check ........................ 7-52
Shifting
..................................... 2-10
Starting Your Engine
........................... 2-9
Axle. Front .................................... 6-23
Axle. Rear
.................................... 6-21
Battery
...................................... 6-33
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Warnings
................................ 5-3, 5-5
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-9
Better Business Bureau Mediation ................... 8-9
Blizzard ...................................... 4-42
9-1
ProCarManuals.com
Methanol ...................................... 6-4
Mirrors
....................................... 2-39
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-41
ManualAdjust
............................... 2-40
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-40
MMT
......................................... 6-4
ModelReference
................................. 111
Mountain Roads ................................ 4-38
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-29
...
Neutral. Automatic Transmission ................. 2- 12
Neutral. Manual Transmission
..................... 2- 15
New Vehicle Break-In
............................ 2-7
Nightvision
................................... 4-31
Odometer
.................................... 2-61
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-61
Off-Road Driving
.............................. 4- 15
Off-RoadRecovery
............................. 4-12
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-10
Oil Pressure Light
......................... 2.69. 6. IO
Overdrive. Automatic Transmission ................ 2- 14
Overdrive Off Light ............................. 2-71
Overheating Engine
............................. 5 . 13
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-49
Owner Publications. Ordering
..................... 8- 11
Paint Spotting. Chemical
........................ 6-56
Park
Automatic Transmission
....................... 2- 10 Shifting Into
................................. 2-23
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-25
AtNight
..................................... 2-6
Brake
...................................... 2-21
Brake Mechanism Check
....................... 7-52
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-26
With a Trailer
................................ 4-55
Your Vehicle. Manual Transmission
.............. 2-26
Parking Lamp Bulb Replacement
.................. 6-35
Passenger Position
......................... 1.25. 1-31
Parking
Passing
....................................... 4-12
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
.................. 7-53
DoorLocks
................................... 2-4
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-40
Steering
.................................... 4-10
Steering Fluid
................................ 6-26
Windows
................................... 2-28
Power Indicator Light
........................... 2-70
Power Mode Selector Switch
...................... 2-14
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
.................... 1-24
Problems on the Road
............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner ................... 8-11
Radiator. Coolant .............................. 5-20
Radiator Pressure Cap
........................... 6-26
Radio Reception
................................ 3-17
Radios ............................... 3-7.3-8. 3-11
Rain. Driving In
................................ 4-32
Preparing
Your Canvas Top for Storage ............. 2-56
9-7
ProCarManuals.com
Reminder Light ......................... 1 . 13. 2.62
Replacing After a Crash
........................ 1-46
Right Front Passenger Position
.................. 1-25
Smaller Children and Babies
.................... 1-34
Use During Pregnancy
......................... 1-24
WhyTheyWork
.............................. 1-14
Safety Chains
.................................. 4-53
Safety Defects. Reporting
........................ 8-10
Safety Warnings and Symbols
....................... iv
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................... 7-4
Seatback
Folding Rear
.............................. 1-6. 1-9
Reclining Front
............................... 1-3
EasyEntry
................................... 1-4
ManualFront ................................. 1-2
Rear
.................................... 1-6. 1.9
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 . 1
Seat Controls ................................. 1-2
Securing a Child Restraint
...................... 1-36
Second Gear. Automatic Transmission
.............. 2- 12
Second Gear. Manual Transmission
................. 2- 15
Service ........................................ 6-2
Bulletins. Ordering ............................ 8- 11
Engine Soon Light
............................ 2-67
Manuals. Ordering ............................ 8- 1 1
Parts Identification Label ....................... 6-58
Publications. Ordering
......................... 8- 11
Work. Doing Your
Own ......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care ...................... 6-1
Service and Owner Publications ................... 8- 1 1
Seats Service Publications
.............................. 8-1
1
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-55
Shift Lever
............................... 2- 10. 2- 14
Shiftspeeds ................................... 2-16
Shifting Automatic Transmission
....................... 2-10
IntoPARK(P)
............................... 2-23
Manual Transmission
.......................... 2-14
Out of PARK (P)
............................. 2-25
Signaling Turns
................................ 2-30
Skidding
...................................... 4-14
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-18
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-62
Specifications. Engine
........................... 6-62
Speedometer
................................... 2-61
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-50
Starter Switch Check
............................ 7-51
Steam ........................................ 5-13
Steering
...................................... 4-10
In Emergencies
............................... 4-11
Power
...................................... 4-10
Tips
........................................ 4-10
StorageAreas
.................................. 2-41
Storage. Vehicle ................................ 6-33
Stuck: In Sand. Mud.
Ice or Snow .................. 5-34
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-44
Sunroof ....................................... 2-45
Symbols. Vehicle
................................. vi
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Geo
.............. 1-30
Side Window. Removing and Installing the
........... 2-48
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-4
9-9
ProCarManuals.com