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5-36
Spare Tire
Your vehicle, when new, had a fully inflated spare tire.
A spare tire may lose air over time, so check its inflation
pressure regularly. See ªInflation
-Tire Pressureº and
ªLoading Your Vehicleº in the Index for information
regarding proper tire inflation and loading your vehicle.
For instruction on how to remove, install or store a spare
tire, see ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare
is correctly inflated. Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you can and installed
back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
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.
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5-37
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 you have a
four
-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into 4HI or 4LO. If your
vehicle has the Traction Assist System, you should turn it
off by pressing the TAS on/off button. Then shift back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, 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. Or, you can use your recovery hooks if your
vehicle has them. If you do need to be towed out, see
ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle may be equipped with recovery hooks. The
hooks are provided at the front of your vehicle. You may
need to use them if you're stuck off
-road and need to be
pulled to some place where you can continue driving.
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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 (Gasoline)
6
-5 Fuel E-85 (85% Ethanol)
6
-7 Fuels in Foreign Countries
6
-7 Filling Your Tank
6
-9 Filling a Portable Fuel Container
6
-10 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-15 Engine Oil
6
-21 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-23 Passenger Compartment Air Filter
(If Equipped)
6
-24 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-27 Rear Axle
6
-28 Four-Wheel Drive
6
-31 Engine Coolant
6
-34 Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap6
-35 Power Steering Fluid
6
-36 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-37 Brakes
6
-41 Battery
6
-42 Bulb Replacement
6
-48 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-49 Tires
6
-59 Appearance Care
6
-60 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-63 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-67 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-68 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-69 Electrical System
6
-77 Replacement Bulbs
6
-78 Capacities and Specifications
6
-81 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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6-13
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped)
F. Engine Oil Fill
G. FanH. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND)
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir
L. Underhood Fuse Block
M. Battery
N. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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6-14
When you open the hood on the VORTEC 8100 V8 engine you'll see the following:
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
B. Coolant Surge Tank
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator
D. Engine Oil Dipstick
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
F. Engine Oil FillG. Fan
H. Remote Negative (
-)
Terminal (GND)
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
J. Power Steering Fluid ReservoirK. Brake Master Fluid Reservoir
L. Underhood Fuse Block
M. Battery
N. Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
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6-24
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle's GVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90F (32C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle's GVWR is not over 8,600 and you
do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the fluid and filter
every 100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See ªScheduled Maintenance Servicesº in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading
on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
Too little fluid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.
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6-25
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90F (32C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic
-- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 180F
to 200F (82C to 93C).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50F
(10C). If it's colder than 50F (10C), drive the
vehicle in THIRD (3) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes.
A cold fluid check can be made after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine off,
but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine run at
idle for five minutes if outside temperatures are 50F
(10C) or more. If it's colder than 50F (10C), you
may have to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid
level be low during this cold check, you must check the
fluid hot before adding fluid. Checking the fluid hot will
give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
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6-26
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
The red transmission
dipstick handle with the
TRANS/LOCK text or
graphic is located at the rear
of the engine compartment,
on the passenger's side.
See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index for
more information on location.1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and
wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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.