
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 
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  norlnal, 
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 emission control 
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’ fdilure. 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. 
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. 
6-4 
ProCarManuals.com 

Checking  Things  Under  the Hood 
I I A CAUTION: 
If your vehicle  has  air  conditioning,  the  auxiliary 
engine  fan  under  the  hood  can  start  up  and 
injure  you even  when  the  engine  is  not  running. 
Keep  hands,  clothing  and  tools away  from  any 
underhood  electric  fan. 
I 
A CAUTION: 
I 
I 
Things  that  burn  can  get  on  hot  engine  parts  and 
start  a  fire.  These  include  liquids  like  gasoline  or 
diesel  fuel,  oil, coolant,  brake fluid,  windshield 
washer  and  other  fluids,  and  plastic  or rubber. 
You  or  others  could  be burned.  Be careful  not 
to  drop  or  spill things  that 
will burn  onto  a 
hot  engine. 
6-9 
ProCarManuals.com 

You need a new  tire if any of the  following  statements 
are  true: 
0 You  can see the indicators at three  or more places 
around the tire. 
You  can see  cord  or  fabric  showing through the 
tire’s  rubber. 
The  tread  or sidewall is cracked,  cut or snagged deep 
enough  to show  cord  or  fabric. 
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. 
Dual  Tire  Operation 
When the vehicle is new, or whenever  a  wheel, wheel 
bolt  or wheel 
nut is replaced, check the wheel nut 
torque  after 100, 1,000 and 6’000 miles (160, 1 600 and 
10 000 km) of driving.  For proper torque, see “Wheel 
Nut Torque” 
in the  Index.  The  outer 
tire 
on a dual  wheel  setup generally wears 
Faster  than the inner  tire. Your  tires will wear more 
evenly and last  longer if 
you rotate the tires periodically. 
If  you’re going  to be doing  a lot 
of driving  on 
high-crown  roads, 
you can  reduce tire wear by adding 
5 psi (35 kPa)  to the tire  pressure in the outer tires.  Be 
sure  to  return to  the recommended pressures when 
no 
longer  driving  under those conditions.  See  “Changing a 
Flat Tire’’  in  the Index  for more information. 
If you  operate  your  vehicle  with  a  tire  that is badly 
underinflated,  the  tire  can  overheat.  An  overheated 
tire  can  lose  air  suddenly  or  catch  fire. 
You or 
others  could  be  injured.  Be  sure  all  tires  (including 
the  spare, 
if any)  are  properly  inflated. 
Buying  New  Tires 
To find out  what  kind  and size of tires  you need, look at 
the  CertificatiodTire  label. 
6-56 
ProCarManuals.com 

Wheel Alignment  and Tire  Balance 
The wheels on your vehicle were  aligned and balanced 
carefully  at  the  factory  to  give  you the  longest  tire  life 
and  best  overall  performance. 
Scheduled  wheel alignment  and  wheel balancing  are  not 
needed. However, 
if you notice  unusual  tire  wear or 
your vehicle  pulling  one way or the other,  the alignment 
may  need  to be  reset. 
If you  notice  your vehicle 
vibrating when  driving on a  smooth  road,  your wheels 
may need  to be  rebalanced. 
Wheel  Replacement 
Replace  any wheel  that is bent,  cracked,  or  badly rusted 
or  corroded.  If wheel  nuts  keep  corning loose,  the  wheel, 
wheel  bolts and wheel nuts  should  be replaced. If the 
wheel  leaks 
air, replace  it (except  some aluminum 
wheels, which  can  sometimes  be  repaired).  See  your 
dealer  if  any 
of these conditions  exist. 
Your  dealer  will know  the kind  of wheel  you  need. 
Each new wheel  should  have the same load-carrying 
capacity, diameter, width,  offset and be mounted the 
same  way  as  the  one  it  replaces. 
If  you  need  to  replace any of your  wheels,  wheel bolts 
or  wheel  nuts,  replace  them only with  new 
GM original equipment 
parts.  This  way,  you will be  sure  to  have the 
right wheel,  wheel bolts and wheel nuts  for your  vehicle. 
~ Using  the wrong  replacement  wheels,  wheel  bolts 
or  wheel  nuts on your  vehicle can be  dangerous. 
It could  affect  the braking  and  handling of your 
vehicle,  make your tires  lose air and  make  you 
lose  control.  You could  have  a  collision  in  which 
you  or others  could  be  injured. Always  use 
the  correct  wheel,  wheel  bolts  and wheel  nuts 
for  replacement. 
~ 
NOTICE: 
The  wrong  wheel  can also cause  problems  with 
bearing  life, brake  cooling,  speedometer  or 
odometer calibration, headlamp  aim, 'bumper 
height,  vehicle  ground clearance  and  tire or tire 
chain clearance to the  body and chassis. 
6-59 
ProCarManuals.com 

Finish  Damage Chemical  Paint  Spotting 
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,  ft-ame, floor pan  and  exhaust 
system  even  though  they  have  colrosion  protection. 
At least every spring, flush  these materials from  the 
underbody with plain  wate.r. 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. 
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. 
This  applies only  to materials manufactured and sold  by 
General Motors. Bodies, body  conversions  or equipment 
not  made  or sold  by General Motors  are not  covered. 
6-68 
ProCarManuals.com 

STARTER RELAY 
[-I 
[-I 
[T) 
I BLOWER 
n STOPiHAZ 
Name 
ECM-B RR  DEFOG 
IGN-E 
FUEL 
SOL 
GLOW  PLUG 
Usage 
Horn, Underhood Lamps 
Auxiliary Fan 
Injectors, PCM/VCM 
Not  Used 
Air  Conditioning 
Not Used 
Ignition  Switch, EGR, Canister 
Purge,  EVRV  Idle Coast  Solenoid, 
Heated 
02, Fuel Heater 
(Diesel  Engine),  Water Sensor 
(Diesel Engine) 
HTD  ST-RR  Not Used 
LIGHTING  Headlamp and Panel Dimmer 
BATT  Battery, Fuse Block Busbar 
IGN-A  Ignition Switch 
IGN-B  Ignition Switch  Switch, 
Fog and Courtesy Fuses 
ABS  Anti-Lock  Brake Module 
BLOWER  High Blower Relay 
STOP/HAZ Stoplamps 
HEATED  SEATS  Not Used 
6-75 
Usage 
Fuel Pump, PCM/VCM 
Rear  Window  Defogger 
Auxiliary  Fan Relay  Coi 
il, AIC 
Compressor Relay,  Hot Fuel 
Module, Dual Tanks 
Fuel Solenoid  (Diesel  Engine) 
Glow Plugs (Diesel Engine) 
Name 
HORN 
AUX  FAN 
ECM- 1 
HTD ST-FR 
AIC  HTD  MIR 
ENG- 
1 
ProCarManuals.com 

Cooling  System  Capacity  (Approximate) 
After refill,  the level  must be rechecked.  See  “Cooling 
System”  in the Index. 
Engine 
“VORTEC”  4300 
“VORTEC”  5000 
“VORTEC”  5700 
“VORTEC”  7400 
“VORTEC” 
7400  w/3500  HD 
VLN 
w 
M 
R 
J 
J 
Quantity 
13 quarts (12.3  L) 
17.5  quarts  (16.6 L) 
17.5  quarts  (16.6 
L) 
25 quarts (23.5  L) 
28.5  quarts  (27 
L) 
Crankcase  Capacity  (Approximate) 
After refill,  the  level  must be rechecked. Add  enough 
engine  oil 
so that the fluid  is within  the proper operating 
range.  See  “Engine  Oil” in  the  Index. 
Engine 
“VORTEC”  4300 
“VORTEC”  5000 
“VORTEC”  5700 
“VORTEC”  7400 
VIN Quantity  with  Filter? 
w 4.5 quarts (4.3 L) 
M 5 quarts  (4.8 L) 
R 5 quarts (4.8 L) 
J 6.6  quarts  (6.3 L) 
foil filter  should  be  changed  at every  oil change. 
Fuel  Tank  Capacity  (Approximate) 
PPe  Quantity 
Short Bed 
26 gallons (98 L) 
Long  Bed 
34 gallons (128 
L) 
Standard  Crew  Cab  34 gallons (128 L) 
Chassis-Cab  Front  Tank 2 1 gallons (79 L) 
Chassis-Cab  Rear Tank 
18 gallons (68 
L) 
3500  HD Models  Front  Tank 
21 gallons (79 L) 
3500  HD Models  Rear Tank 
18 gallons (68 
L) 
Air  Conditioning  Refrigerants 
Not  all  air conditioning refrigerants  are the  same. 
If the air conditioning  system  in your vehicle  needs 
refrigerant,  be sure  the proper  refrigerant  is used.  If 
you’re  not sure, ask  your  dealer. 
See  the refrigerant  charge  label under the 
hood for 
information regarding refrigerant  capacity. 
6-79 
ProCarManuals.com 

LE 
IMPORTANT- 
KEEP ENGINE OIL 
AT THE PROPER 
,VEL AND CHANGE 
RECOMMENDED 
AS 
Have you purchased  the GM Protection Pl~rn? The Plan 
supplements your new  vehicle M:u-ranties. See  your 
Warranty and  Owner  Assistance  booklet, 
or your GM 
dealer-for details. 
Introduction 
Your  Vehicle and the  Environment 
Proper vehicle maintenance  not only helps to keep  your 
vehicle  in good working  condition, but also helps  the 
environment. 
All recommended maintenance procedures 
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even  affect  the quality 
of the  air we  breathe. Improper fluid 
levels  or the  wrong tire inflation can increase  the  level 
of  emissions  from your vehicle. 
To help protect  our 
environment,  and to keep your vehicle 
in good 
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly. 
How This  Section  is  Organized 
The  remainder  of this section  is divided into five parts: 
“Part A: Scheduled  Maintenance  Services” shows 
what  to have done and  how often.  Some 
of these 
services  can be complex, 
so unless YOLI are technically 
qualified  and have the necessary  equipment, you should 
let 
your dealer‘s  service department or another qualified 
service center  do these 
jobs. 
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