Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE
ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light is on or not
working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches ®re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by your
warranty.
This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
3-53
The light goes on when you turn your key to ON or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That's a
check to be sure the light works. If it doesn't come
on, be sure to have it ®xed so it will be there to warn
you if something goes wrong.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn't ¯owing through your engine properly. You could
be low on oil and you might have some other system
problem.
Security Light
For information regarding
this light, see
Theft-Deterrent Systems
on page 2-19.
Fog Lamp Light
This light will come on
when the fog lamps are in
use. It will go out when the
fog lamps are turned off.
For more information about the fog lamps, see ªFog
Lampsº under
Exterior Lamps on page 3-15.
Lights On Reminder
This light comes on whenever the parking lamps are on
so that you know that your exterior lamps are on.
United StatesCanada (Analog Only)
3-54
CHANGE ENGINE OIL ± 82:This means that the life
of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed
within 200 miles. After an oil change, the Oil Life
Indicator must be reset. See
Oil Life Indicator on
page 3-79. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13.
CHANGE TRANS FLUID ± 47:This message will
appear when it is time to change the transaxle ¯uid. See
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on page 6-4for the proper ¯uid and change intervals.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID ± 37:This message will
display if the ignition is in ON to inform the driver that
the brake ¯uid level is low. Have the brake system
serviced by a technician as soon as possible. See
Brake
System Warning and Parking Brake Indicator Light on
page 3-47
.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL ± 2:This message will
appear when there is a low level of engine coolant. Have
the cooling system serviced by a technician as soon
as possible. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-24.
CHECK FUEL GAGE ± 50:(Analog Cluster) This
message will appear when the fuel supply is less than
5 gallons (18.9 L) and the display is turned off. A
single chime will also sound when this message is
displayed.
CHECK GAS CAP ± 61:This message will appear if
the gas cap has not been fully tightened. You should
recheck your gas cap to ensure that it's on properly.CHECK OIL LEVEL ± 36:For correct operation of the
low oil sensing system, your vehicle should be on a
level surface. A false CHECK OIL LEVEL message may
appear if the vehicle is parked on a grade. The oil
level sensing system does not check for actual oil level
if the engine has been off for a short period of time,
and the oil level is never checked while the engine is
running. If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message appears,
and your vehicle has been parked on level ground
with the engine off for at least 30 minutes, the oil level
should be checked by observing the oil dipstick. Prior to
checking the oil level, be sure the engine has been
off for a few minutes and your vehicle is on a level
surface. Then check the dipstick and add oil if
necessary. See
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE ± 144:This message is
displayed when the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system
detects a low or high tire pressure condition in one or
more of the road tires. By pressing the INFO button up or
down, the DIC display will show which tire or tires do not
have the correct in¯ation pressure. A ªLOW TIREº
condition exists when the tire's air pressure is under
25 psi (172 kPa) and a ªHIGH TIREº condition exists
when the tire's air pressure is above 38 psi (262 kPa).
The system will display the air pressure, the tire location
(LF, RF, RR or LR) and if the air pressure is low or high.
The tire pressure information is available in English or
metric measurements. For example, a driver's side front
tire that is low may be shown as: 22 PSI LF TIRE LOW.
3-61
Trip Computer
Oil Life Indicator
This feature lets you know when to change the engine
oil. It's based on the engine oil temperatures and
your driving patterns.To see the display, press the INFO button several times
until ENGINE OIL LIFE appears. If you see 99%
ENGINE OIL LIFE, 99 percent of your current oil life
remains.
The DIC may display a CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message. For more information, see
Scheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4. If you see CHANGE ENGINE
OIL, it means the oil life is gone and you should
change the oil right away. The system doesn't check
how much oil you have, so you'll still have to check for
that. To see how, see
Engine Oil on page 5-13.
When the oil is changed, you'll need to reset the system.
See
Engine Oil on page 5-13. Always keep a written
record of the mileage and date when you changed
your oil.
3-79
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22
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
·make sure the parking brake has released.
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 transaxle ¯uid (don't over®ll),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you ®nd 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. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-27.
4-40
Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-19
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-27
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Cooling System............................................5-30Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-37
Brakes........................................................5-38
Battery........................................................5-41
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-49
Headlamp Horizontal Aiming...........................5-50
Headlamp Vertical Aiming..............................5-50
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-53
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-53
Headlamps..................................................5-53
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Parking and
Cornering Lamps.......................................5-57
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-58
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-58
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-59
Tires..............................................................5-60
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure...............................5-61
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-62
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-64
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-65
Buying New Tires.........................................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to contribute to clean air.
General Motors recommends that you use these
gasolines, particularly if they comply with the
speci®cations described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don't use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage wouldn't be covered under your
warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does not
recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing
MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control system may be
affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to ®nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn't be
covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you'll be driving.
5-6