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5-17
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches at or above the fill mark at the
forward edge of the surge tank.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand
-tight.Start the engine and allow it to warm up. If the CHECK
COOLANT LEVEL message does not appear on the
Driver Information Center, coolant is at the proper fill
level. If a CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message does
appear, repeat Steps 1 to 3 and reinstall the pressure cap
or see your dealer.
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.
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6-
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 Filling Your Tank
6
- 8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
- 8 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
- 11 Engine Oil
6
- 16 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
- 19 Automatic Transaxle Fluid
6
- 22 Engine Coolant
6
- 25 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
- 26 Power Steering Fluid
6
- 27 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
- 28 Brakes
6
- 32 Battery
6
- 34 Bulb Replacement6
- 43 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
- 44 Tires
6
- 52 Appearance Care
6
- 53 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
- 54 Care of Safety Belts
6
- 55 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
- 57 Cleaning Tires
6
- 59 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
- 60 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
- 60 Service Parts Identification Label
6
- 61 Electrical System
6
- 68 Removing the Rear Seat Cushion
6
- 69 Replacement Bulbs
6
- 69 Capacities and Specifications
6
- 70 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into
approved containers.
Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, pickup bed
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
Don't smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under the Hood
CAUTION:
An electric 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.
CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
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.
Page 286 of 359
6-10
When you open the hood, you'll see:
A. Windshield Washer Fluid
B. Power Steering Fluid
C. Engine Oil Fill Location
D. Engine Oil Dipstick LocationE. Brake Master Cylinder
F. Transaxle Dipstick/Fill Location
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
H. Surge Tank/Coolant Fill Location
Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
Page 292 of 359
6-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The air cleaner is located next to the coolant surge tank
on the driver's side of the engine. Be sure the engine has
cooled before following these steps to replace the air
cleaner filter:
1. With a screwdriver,
loosen the air duct
clamp, which is
located at the mass
airflow sensor end of
the air duct.
2. Disconnect the air duct from the mass airflow sensor.
Page 298 of 359

6-22 How to Reset the Transaxle Fluid
Change Indicator
After the transaxle fluid has been changed, display the
TRANS FLUID LIFE message by pressing the INFO
button. Then press and hold the INFO RESET button
until the display shows ª100.º This resets the transaxle
fluid life index. The percentage of transaxle fluid life
remaining may be checked at any time by pressing the
INFO button several times until the TRANS FLUID
LIFE message appears.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL extended life 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 ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).
Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only DEX
-COOL (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX
-COOL is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
Page 299 of 359

6-23 What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one
-half DEX-COOL coolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you
don't need to add anything else.
CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle's coolant
warning system is set for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and DEX
-COOL coolant.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core
and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don't have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
Page 300 of 359
6-24 Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located on the driver's
side of the engine.
The cooling system is under a lot of pressure when it
is hot. If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message
appears on the Driver Information Center, you will need
to add coolant.
CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure cap
-- even a
little
-- when the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULL
COLD mark, which is at or above the fill mark at the
edge of the surge tank.
If the CHECK COOLANT LEVEL message comes on
and stays on, it means you're low on engine coolant.