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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 (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
in the Diesel Engine
Supplement. For vehicles with gasoline engines, please
read this.
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM D4814 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 gasolines. Be sure
the posted octane is at least 87. If
the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, 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 andor 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.
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/1 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.
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.
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 or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
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.
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Page 308 of 436
Radiator Pressure Cap
(Gasoline Engine)
The radiator pressure cap must be tightly installed with
the arrows
on the cap lined up with the overflow tube on
the radiator filler neck.
NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 15 psi (105 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator
filler neck.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow
of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
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Battery
Every new vehicle has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one
of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that
has the replacement number shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more,
take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery.
This will help keep your battery from running down.
A CA“T1ON:
Bulb Replacement
Before you replace any bulbs, be sure that all the lamps
are off and the engine isn’t running. See “Replacement
Bulbs”
in the Index for the proper types of bulbs to use.
Halogen Bulbs
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
aren’t careful. See
“Jump Starting” in the Index
for tips on working around
a battery without
getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
-N:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
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NOTICE: (Continued)
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for
use on your
vehicle and
tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust or remove the device
if it’s
contacting
your vehicle, and don’t spin your wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit, install
them on the rear tires.
If you don’t have dual wheels or if you have a
tire size other than
P265175R16, use tire chains
only where legal and only when you must. Use
chains that are the proper size for your tires.
Install them on the tires of the rear axle.
Don’t use chains on the tires of the front axle.
Tighten them
as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten
them.
If the contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too
fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on
will damage your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you
use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure
to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
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