
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you'll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
While towing a trailer or when exposed to long periods
of sunshine, the ¯oor of the truck bed may become
very warm. Avoid putting items in the truck bed
that might be affected by high ambient temperatures.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This can
help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
You'll need more passing distance up ahead when you're
towing a trailer. And, because you're a good deal longer,
you'll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle
before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your hand
to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
4-86

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.......................................................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood......................................................5-8
Hood Release................................................5-9
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-10
Engine Oil...................................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-23Automatic Transmission Fluid (Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-26
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-28
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-29
Engine Coolant.............................................5-30
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-33
Cooling System............................................5-36
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-41
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-42
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-43
Brakes........................................................5-44
Battery........................................................5-47
Jump Starting...............................................5-48
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-54
Rear Axle.......................................................5-55
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-56
Noise Control System.....................................5-58
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-58
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
1. Pull the handle inside
the vehicle located
under and to the left of
the steering wheel.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on
the secondary hood release located near the
center of the grill.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all ®ller caps are
on properly. Pull down the hood and close it ®rmly.
5-9

If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblowoutº 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 ¯at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel ®rmly.
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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a ¯at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a ¯at tire.
If a tire goes ¯at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a ¯at tire safely.
5-79

Maintenance Schedule......................................6-2
Introduction...................................................6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................6-2
Maintenance Requirements..............................6-2
How This Section is Organized.........................6-3
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services...........6-4
Using Your Maintenance Schedule....................6-4
Scheduled Maintenance...................................6-5
Part B: Owner Checks and Services................6-12
At the First 100, 1,000 and 6,000 Miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000km)........................6-12
At Each Fuel Fill..........................................6-12
At Least Once a Month.................................6-12
At Least Twice a Year...................................6-13
At Least Once a Year...................................6-14Part C: Periodic MaintenanceInspections.........6-17
Steering and Suspension Inspection................6-17
Exhaust System Inspection............................6-17
Fuel System Inspection..................................6-17
Engine Cooling System Inspection...................6-17
Throttle System Inspection
(V6 Only).................................................6-18
Transfer Case and Front Axle (All-Wheel
Drive) Inspection.......................................6-18
Transfer Case and Front Axle (Four-Wheel
Drive) Inspection.......................................6-18
Brake System Inspection................................6-18
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants. . . .6-19
Part E: Maintenance Record...........................6-22
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
6-1

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-61
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-43
Additional Program Information........................... 7-8
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-5
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-109
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-60
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)..................3-74, 3-78, 3-88, 3-101
After Off-Road Driving.....................................4-37
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-64
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-80
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-71
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-69
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-76
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-80
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-69
What Will You See After an Air Bag In¯ates?......1-70
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-68
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-66
Air Bag .........................................................3-37
Off Light.....................................................3-37
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-40
Readiness Light..........................................3-36
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-21
Air Conditioning..............................................3-30
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-44All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-54
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-72
AM .............................................................3-123
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-125
Antenna, XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-125
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-45
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-6
Appearance Care..........................................5-100
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-103
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-106
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle..............5-100
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle............5-103
Finish Damage..........................................5-106
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-107
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Approaching a Hill..........................................4-28
Ashtrays........................................................3-20
Audio Output................................................3-117
Audio System(s).............................................3-71
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-72
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-122
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-123
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-124
Care of Your CDs and DVDs.......................3-124
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-125
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-125
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-85
1

Flash-To-Pass Feature....................................... 3-9
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-80
Flat Tire........................................................5-79
Fluid.............................................................5-23
Automatic Transmission........................5-23, 5-26
Manual Transmission....................................5-28
Power Steering...........................................5-42
Windshield Washer......................................5-43
FM Stereo....................................................3-123
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Folding the Rear Seat....................................... 1-8
Following Distance..........................................4-86
Footnotes........................................................ 6-5
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-33, 5-56
Four-Wheel-Drive Light....................................3-52
Front Axle Locking Feature...............................2-33
Front Axle......................................................5-57
Front Reading Lamps (If Equipped)...................3-18
Front Storage Area.........................................2-65
Fuel Information Button....................................3-57
FUEL LEVEL LOW.........................................3-66
Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-5
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-8
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6Fuel (cont.)
Gage.........................................................3-53
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-54
System Inspection.......................................6-17
Fuses..........................................................5-110
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-110
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-109
G
Gage............................................................3-47
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-47
Fuel..........................................................3-53
Oil Pressure...............................................3-51
Speedometer..............................................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Transmission Temperature.............................3-47
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-42
Gasoline......................................................... 5-4
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-26
Glove Box.....................................................2-64
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
7

Inspection (cont.)
Steering and Suspension..............................6-17
Throttle System...........................................6-18
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(All-Wheel Drive)......................................6-18
Transfer Case and Front Axle (Four-Wheel
Drive).....................................................6-18
Instrument Panel Brightness Control..................3-18
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-110
Instrument Panel.............................................3-34
Cluster.......................................................3-34
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps................................................3-18
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-48
K
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-14
Key Release Button (Manual Transmission)........2-21
KEYFOB X BATTERY LOW.............................3-67
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Lamps On Reminder.......................................3-15
Lamps...........................................................3-14
Exterior......................................................3-14
Interior.......................................................3-18
Lap Belt........................................................1-25
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-16
LATCH System...............................................1-47
Child Restraints...........................................1-47
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-49
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-7
Leaving Your Vehicle With
the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Only).......................2-48
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR (Crew Cab)...............3-67
Light.............................................................3-37
Air Bag Off .................................................3-37
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-36
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-45
Battery Warning..........................................3-42
Brake System Warning.................................3-44
Cruise Control.............................................3-52
Four-Wheel-Drive.........................................3-52
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-54
9