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?
4-39
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can't see it or
smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base
of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around again
from time to time to be sure snow doesn't
collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get
and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all
the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from
the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
4-45
Tires..............................................................5-66
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure...............................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-69
Buying New Tires.........................................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-73
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-76
Spare Tire...................................................5-92
Appearance Care............................................5-93
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-93
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-95
Weatherstrips...............................................5-95
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-96Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-98
Finish Damage.............................................5-98
Underbody Maintenance................................5-98
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-99
Vehicle Identi®cation.....................................5-100
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)................5-100
Service Parts Identi®cation Label...................5-100
Electrical System..........................................5-101
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-101
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-101
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-101
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-101
Capacities and Speci®cations........................5-110
Capacities and Speci®cations........................5-110
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........5-111
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant message,
can indicate a serious problem. SeeLow CoolantunderDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-58.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant message, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
·Climb a long hill on a hot day.
·Stop after high-speed driving.
·Idle for long periods in traffic.
·Tow a trailer. See ªDriving on Gradesº under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
2. If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving ± DRIVE (D).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn't come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you're parked. If you still have the warning,
turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down. Also, see ªOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Modeº listed previously in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-29
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into ¯ames if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed
space. When you use anything from a container to clean
your vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer's
warnings and instructions. And always open your doors
or windows when you're cleaning the inside.
Neveruse these to clean your vehicle:
·Gasoline
·Benzene
·Naphtha
·Carbon Tetrachloride
·Acetone
·Paint Thinner
·Turpentine
·Lacquer Thinner
·Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous ± some more than
others ± and they can all damage your vehicle, too.Don't use any of these unless this manual says you
can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
·Alcohol
·Laundry Soap
·Bleach
·Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and
loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted
surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Your dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric
and carpet. They will clean normal spots and stains
very well.
You and get GM-approved cleaning products from your
dealer. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on
page 5-99.
5-93
Cleaning Wood Panels
Use a clean cloth moistened in warm, soapy water
(use mild dish washing soap). Dry the wood immediately
with a clean cloth.
Cleaning the Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently, so that the
speaker won't be damaged. Clean spots with just water
and mild soap.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner
or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove
normal tobacco smoke and dust ®lms on interior glass.
See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-99.
Notice:Don't use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches. Avoid placing
decals on the inside rear window, since they
may have to be scraped off later. If abrasive
cleaners are used on the inside of the rear window,
an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached
across the defogger grid.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do,
it may severely weaken them. In a crash,
they might not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. See
Part D: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-17.
5-95
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don't add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer ®rst. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
the damage wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working as they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-64.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it ®xed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is ®xed or goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of ®res caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don't have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without ± like the radio or
cigarette lighter ± and use its fuse, if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
5-101
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The fuse block access
door is on the driver's side
edge of the instrument
panel. Pull off the cover to
access the fuse block.
To remove fuses if you don't have a fuse extractor,
hold the end of the fuse between your thumb and
index ®nger and pull straight out.
You may have spare fuses located behind the fuse
block access door. These can be used to replace a bad
fuse. However, make sure it is of the correct amperage.
Fuses Usage
RR Wiper Rear Window Wiper Switch
SEO ACCYSpecial Equipment Option
Accessory
WS WPR Windshield Wipers
TBC ACCYTruck Body Controller
Accessory
5-102