
Windshield  Wipers 
To  operate the windshield  wipers,  turn the  band marked 
WIPER  located on  the multifunction lever, upward  or 
downward. 
MIST: Turn the band  to MIST  for  a single wiping cycle. 
Hold  it there until the  windshield  wipers  start, then  let 
it  go.  The  windshield  wipers  will  stop  after one cycle. 
For  more  cycles,  hold the band on  MIST longer. 
OFF: Turn  the band  to OFF  to turn the windshield 
wipers 
off. 
DELAY (Delayed  Wiping): Turn the  band upward  to 
choose  one  of the  five  delay  settings.  For longer periods 
of  time  between  wiper  blade  cycles, select a low 
setting.  For  shorter  periods  of time between  wiper blade 
cycles,  select  a  higher  setting.  The further the band 
is  turned  upward,  the longer  the delay  between 
wiper  cycles. 
LOW: Turn the band  to LOW for  steady wiping at a 
low  speed. 
HIGH: Turn  the band  to HIGH for steady  wiping at a 
high speed.  Be sure to  clear ice and snow 
from the wiper  blades 
before using  them. 
If they’re frozen to the windshield, 
carefully loosen or thaw them. 
If the  blades do  become 
damaged,  get new blades  or blade inserts. 
Heavy  snow  or  ice can overioad  the  wipers. 
A circuit 
breaker will  stop them  until the  motor cools. Clear away 
snow  or  ice to  prevent an  overload. 
Windshield Washer 
0 PUSH: Press the  paddle  with  the word  PUSH and 
the  washer  symbol on 
it, located on top of the 
multifunction lever, to  spray  washer fluid on the 
windshield.  The wipers will clear  the windshield ana 
then  either  stop  or  return to the  se’ -peed. 
In freezing  weather, don’t use  your washer 
until  the windshield  is warmed.  Otherwise  the 
washer  fluid can form  ice  on the  windshield, 
blocking  your  vision. 
3-7  

The  Driver  Information  Center  (DIC)  gives you important 
safety  and maintenance  facts. When  you turn the 
ignition  on, all of the  DIC  lights illuminate for  a  few 
seconds.  After  this,  the  DIC will begin working. 
Functions 
__ (Door  Ajar): If  one  of the doors is ajar, this  light 
will  appear  next  to  that  door  on  the vehicle  outline. 
CHANGE OIL SOON: This light  will appear when the 
system  indicates  that  it’s  time for  an  oil change. The 
system  predicts  remaining  oil  life using data from  length 
of  drives,  coolant  temperature,  engine  rpm  and 
vehicle  speed.  It alerts  you  to change the  oil  on a 
schedule  consistent  with  the vehicle’s driving conditions. 
After  changing  the oil,  the  system  must be reset.  See 
How  to  Reset  the  GM 
Oil Life  SystemTM  under 
Engine 
Oil on  page 5- 18. 
e LOW: This  light  will  come on when the  ignition is 
on  and  the  fluid in  the  washer  fluid container is low. 
AJAR: This  light alerts you that the trunk  is not 
fully  closed. 
LOW TRAC  (Low  Traction): If your vehicle  is equipped 
with  anti-lock brakes, this  light  will come on when  the 
enhanced traction system is limiting wheel spin.  See  Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on  page 4- 
I I or 
Low Traction Light on page 3-30. 
TRAC OFF (Traction  Off): If your vehicle  is equipped 
with  anti-lock brakes, this  light lets you know that 
the enhanced traction  system has been disabled  and 
will  not limit wheel  spin.  See  Enhanced  Traction System 
Warning Light 
on page 3-30  or Low  Traction Light on 
page 3-30. 
TRAC (Traction): If the vehicle has anti-lock brakes 
and the  enhanced traction  system, you will  have  a 
disable button  on the  far  right  side  of the  DIC. 
The enhanced traction  system is automatically activated 
when  you turn the  ignition  on. This button will 
activate/deactivate the  system. If you  need to  disable 
the system, such 
as when  you  are stuck  and are  rocking 
the vehicle back and  forth,  push this button.  See  If 
You Are  Stuck: in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow  on 
page 4-32. 
3-39  

Control Buttons 
The trip computer  has three  buttons that control  its 
functions. 
ENG/MET  (English/Metric): Press this  button  to 
change  the display from  English 
to metric units or  metric 
to English. 
RESET: Press this  button  for  two  seconds to reset the 
mode displayed. 
MODE: Press this  button  to change  the function  mode, 
(Fuel  Used,  AVG  ECON,  OIL LIFE,  RANGE)  being 
displayed. 
OIL LIFE: This  shows  a  percentage of the  engine’s  oil 
remaining useful life.  The  system  predicts  remaining 
oil  life using data from length  of drives,  coolant 
temperature, engine  rpm  and vehicle speed.  Each  time 
you get  an oil change,  be sure to reset  this  function 
so that  it will give  you  an accurate  percentage.  See 
“How to Reset  the GM Oil Life  System”  under  Engine 
Oil  on page 
5-18. 
RANGE: This  mode  shows  how  much  farther  you  can 
travel with the fuel  you  have remaining in  the  gas 
tank  before refueling.  When  the range displays 
L, for 
40  to 
50 miles  (64.36 to 80.45 km), the  display will flash 
LOW continuously.  The range  is calculated  from  the 
AVG  ECON  value multiplied by the fuel  remaining in 
the tank. 
Functions 
LOW: This  light will  come  on  the  vehicle  outline  when 
FUEL USED: This mode  shows  the total amount of fuel the  ignition  is on  and  the  fluid  in the  washer  fluid 
used  since  you last reset  it.  The  amount  can be  container is low. 
displayed  in gallons  or liters. 
AVG  ECON  (Average  Economy): This mode  shows 
the  average  fuel economy  since you last reset 
it. 
3-42  

The  heavier the rain,  the  harder it  is  to see.  Even if your 
windshield  wiper blades  are  in good  shape,  a  heavy 
rain  can  make  it harder  to see  road signs  and 
traffic signals,  pavement markings, the edge  of the  road 
and  even  people walking. 
It’s  wise  to keep  your  windshield wiping  equipment in 
good  shape  and  keep  your windshield washer  tank filled 
with  washer  fluid. Replace  your windshield wiper 
inserts  when they show  signs 
of streaking  or missing 
areas  on the  windshield,  or  when strips of rubber start to 
separate from the inserts.  Driving too fast through large 
water  puddles  or  even 
going through  some  car  washes  can  cause  problems, 
too.  The  water  may  affect  your  brakes. Try to avoid 
puddles. But 
if you  can’t,  try to slow  down  before you 
hit them. 
Wet  brakes  can  cause  accidents.  They  won’t 
work  as well  in a  quick  stop  and  may  cause 
pulling to  one  side.  You  could  lose control 
of 
the vehicle. 
After  driving  through  a  large  puddle  of water 
or  a  car  wash,  apply  your  brake pedal  lightly 
until  your  brakes  work  normally. 
Hydroplaning 
Hydroplaning is  dangerous. So much  water  can  build up 
under  your  tires that they  can actually ride  on  the 
water. This  can  happen 
if the road is wet  enough  and 
you’re  going fast  enough.  When  your  vehicle  is 
hydroplaning,  it  has little or  no  contact  with  the  road. 
4-20  

Once  you are moving  on the freeway,  make certain  you 
allow  a reasonable following distance. 
Expect  to move  slightly slower  at night. 
When  you want  to leave the freeway,  move to  the 
proper lane well  in advance. 
If you  miss  your exit, do 
not,  under  any  circumstances,  stop  and  back  up.  Drive 
on  to  the  next exit. 
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 
- such as after  a day’s 
work 
- don’t  plan to  make too many  miles that first 
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 find experienced  and  able  service 
experts  in 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  reservior  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  inflated 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? 
4-24  

Winter  Driving 
Here  are  some tips for  winter  driving: 
Have  your  vehicle  in good shape for  winter. 
You  may  want  to  put  winter emergency  supplies in 
your  trunk.  Include 
an ice  scraper,  a  small  brush or  broom,  a 
supply  of windshield  washer  fluid,  a  rag,  some winter 
outer clothing,  a small  shovel,  a  flashlight, 
a red 
cloth and  a couple  of reflective warning triangles.  And, 
if you will be driving under  severe conditions, include 
a  small  bag 
of sand,  a  piece of old carpet  or  a couple  of 
burlap bags to  help provide  traction. Be sure you 
properly secure  these items in  your vehicle. 
4-27  

Section 5 Service  and  Appearance  Care 
Service ............................................................ 5.3 
Doing  Your 
Owr? Service  Work ......................... 5-4 
Adding  Equipment  to  the  Outside of 
Your  Vehicle 
.............................................. 5-4 
Fuel ................................................................ 5-5 
Gasoline  Octane 
............................................ 5-5 
Gasoline  Specifications 
.................................... 5-5 
California  Fuel 
............................................... 5-6 
Additives 
....................................................... 5-6 
Fuels  in Foreign  Countries 
............................... 5-7 
Filling  Your  Tank 
............................................ 5-7 
Filling  a Portable  Fuel  Container 
....................... 5-9 
Checking  Things  Under  the  Hood .................... 5-10 
Hood  Release 
.............................................. 5-10 
Engine  Compartment  Overview 
....................... 5-12 
Engine  Oil 
................................................... 5-18 
Supercharger  Oil 
.......................................... 5-24 
Engine  Air  CleanedFilter 
................................ 5-25 
Automatic  Transaxle  Fluid 
.............................. 5-27 
Engine  Coolant 
............................................. 5-30 
Radiator  Pressure  Cap 
.................................. 5-33 
Cooling  System 
........................................... -5-36 
Power  Steering  Fluid 
..................................... 5-46 
Windshield  Washer  Fluid 
................................ 5-48 
Engine  Overheating 
....................................... 5-33  Brakes 
........................................................ 5.49 
Battery 
........................................................ 5.52 
Jump  Starting 
............................................... 5-53 
Bulb  Replacement .......................................... 5-60 
Halogen  Bulbs 
.............................................. 5-60 
Headlamps 
.................................................. 5-60 
Front Turn  Signal and Sidemarker  Lamps 
........ 5-62 
Center  High-Mounted  Stoplamp (CHMSL) 
......... 5-63 
Taillamps,  Sidemarker  and  Back-up Lamps 
...... 5-64 
Replacement Bulbs 
....................................... 5-66 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade  Replacement .............. 5-67 
Tires ............................................................. -5-68 
Inflation 
-- Tire  Pressure ................................ 5-68 
Tire  Inspection and  Rotation 
........................... 5-69 
When  It 
Is Time for  New  Tires ....................... 5-70 
Buying  New Tires 
......................................... 5-71 
Uniform Tire  Quality  Grading 
.......................... 5-72 
Wheel  Replacement 
...................................... 5-73 
Headlamp Aiming ........................................... 5-59 
Wheel  Alignment  and  Tire  Balance 
.................. 5-73 
Tire  Chains 
.................................................. 5-75 
If a  Tire  Goes  Flat ........................................ 5-76 
Changing a  Flat Tire 
..................................... 5-76 
Compact Spare Tire 
...................................... 5-87 
5-  1  

Checking Things Under 
the 
Hood 
Ar. Jectric  fan unl,.'  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. 
Hood Release 
To open the  hood do the  following: 
Things that burn  can  get  on ..__ -.. 3"'- parts 
and  start 
a fire.  These  include  liquids  like  fuel, 
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. 
1. Pull the  handle  located 
inside  the  vehicle  near 
the  parking  brake. 
5-1 0