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4-39
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here's
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don't shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes. Then apply your parking brakes until
the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake and then shift to PARK(P) or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive belts, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you find them
quickly. If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review
this information before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
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5-22
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it's much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a ªblowout,º here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift
lever in PARK (P), or shift a manual
transmission to FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (R).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
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5-35
If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don't want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as ªrockingº can
help you get out when you're stuck, but you must
use caution.
CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transmission or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you're
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don't
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see ªTire Chainsº in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear
the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle has ASR,
you should turn the system off. (See ªASR Systemº in the
Index.) Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R)
and a forward gear (or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning
the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning your
wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a
rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that doesn't get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you
do need to be towed out, see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
6-
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6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-12 Engine Oil
6
-18 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-20 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-24 Manual Transmission Fluid
6
-26 Hydraulic Clutch
6
-27 Rear Axle
6
-28 Thermostat
6
-28 Engine Coolant
6
-31 Power Steering Fluid
6
-33 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-34 Brakes
6
-38 Battery6
-38 Bulb Replacement
6
-44 Tires
6
-53 Appearance Care
6
-53 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-56 Care of Safety Belts
6
-57 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels (If Equipped)
6
-60 Underbody Maintenance
6
-61 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-62 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-62 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-63 Electrical System
6
-69 Replacement Bulbs
6
-70 Capacities and Specifications
6
-71 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6
-71 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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6-24
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the COLD area,
below the cross-hatched area, for a cold check or in
the HOT area or cross
-hatched area for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
while it is hot. (A cold check is used only as a
reference.) If the fluid level is low, add only enough of
the proper fluid to bring the level up to the HOT area for
a hot check. It doesn't take much fluid, generally less
than one pint (0.5 L). Don't overfill.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON-III, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than
DEXRON
-III is not covered by your new
vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under ªHow to Check.º
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual
transmission doesn't require changing.
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6-70
Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in English
and metric conversions. Please refer to ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index for more information.
Air ConditioningSee the refrigerant information . . .
label under the hood.
Automatic Transmission
Drain and Refill 5 quarts (4.7 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overhaul
3800 V6 8.8 quarts (8.3 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 10.8 quarts (10.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling System
3800 V6
With Manual Transmission 11.6 quarts (11.0 L). . . . .
With Automatic Transmission 11.4 quarts (10.8 L). .
5.7L V8
With Manual Transmission 11.9 quarts (11.3 L). . . . .
With Automatic Transmission 11.8 quarts (11.2 L). .
Crankcase
With Oil and Filter Change
3800 V6 4.5 quarts (4.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 5.5 quarts (5.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Tank 16.8 gallons (63.6 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manual Transmission
Five-Speed 3.4 quarts (3.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Six
-Speed 4.0 quarts (3.8 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear Axle Lubricant 1.75 quarts (1.7 L). . . . . . . . .
NOTE: All capacities are approximate. When adding, be
sure to fill to the approximate level, as recommended in
this manual. Recheck fluid level after filling.
Engine Specifications
Type
VIN Engine Code K V6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VIN Engine Code G V8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Delivery Fuel Injection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Valve Arrangement In
-Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displacement
3800 V6 231 cubic inches (3791 cc). . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 350 cubic inches (5662 cc). . . . . . . . . . . . .
Firing Order
3800 V6 1
-6-5-4-3-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 1
-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb
-ft (140 N´m) . . . . . . . . . . .
Thermostat Starts
to Open 177
-184F (81-85C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scheduled Maintenance
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7-10
45,000 Miles (75 000 km) (Continued)
± When doing frequent trailer towing.
± Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, change the fluid
and filter every 50,000 miles (83 000 km).
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
If you haven't used your vehicle under severe conditions listed previously and,
therefore, haven't changed your automatic transmission fluid, change both the
fluid and filter. Manual transmission fluid doesn't require change.
52,500 Miles (87 500 km)
Check Oil Life Monitor. If engine oil and filter are changed, reset monitor.
See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote *.)
Rotate tires. See ªTire Inspection and Rotationº in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information. (See footnote +.)
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
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Scheduled Maintenance
7-15
100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
Inspect spark plug wires.
An Emission Control Service.
Replace spark plugs.
An Emission Control Service.
If you haven't used your vehicle under severe service conditions listed
previously and, therefore, haven't changed your automatic transmission fluid,
change both the fluid and filter. Manual transmission fluid doesn't
require change.
150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service,
whichever occurs first). See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index for what to use.
Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure test
the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service.
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE
ACTUAL
SERVICED BY:MILEAGE
DATE