2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC wheel alignment

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 Specifications....................................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..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-17
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-19
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-22
Engine Overheating.......................................5-22
Cooling System............................................5-25
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-31
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-32Brakes........................................................5-34
Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-39
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-45
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-45
Headlamps..................................................5-45
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-47
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-47
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-48
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-51
Tires..............................................................5-52
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-59
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-60
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-62
Buying New Tires.........................................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-65
Wheel Replacement......................................5-65
Tire Chains..................................................5-66
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-67
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-68
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-79
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated. Check
the tire’s inflation pressure when the tires are cold.
Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If
the inflation pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-62andWheel Replacement
on page 5-65for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation
is the most important. SeePart A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services on page 6-4, for scheduled
rotation intervals.
5-60

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-68for more
information.
5-65

Tire Inflation Check.........................................6-16
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-52
Tire Size.......................................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Definitions........................5-57
Tires.............................................................5-52
Buying New Tires........................................5-62
Chains.......................................................5-66
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-68
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-79
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-67
Inflation - Tire Pressure................................5-59
Inspection and Rotation................................5-60
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-65
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-62
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-19
Top Strap......................................................1-43
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-45
Torque Lock...................................................2-25
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-41
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-30
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-38
Your Vehicle...............................................4-29
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-41
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-19
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-20Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-12
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit...................................2-13
Trip Odometer................................................3-24
Trunk............................................................2-11
Trunk Lamp...................................................3-15
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-43
U
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-19
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-54
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-63
United States – Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Used Replacement Wheels..............................5-66
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-81
Using RDS....................................................3-46
VVehicle
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-32
Service Soon Light......................................3-35
Symbols......................................................... iv
13

Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Records.....................................................7-10
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).............................................5-88
Service Parts Identification Label...................5-88
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-38
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-21
Visors...........................................................2-15
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-22
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-4
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-5
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light......................3-34
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-83
Weatherstrip Lubrication...................................6-17
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-39
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-40
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-14
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-16
What to Use..........................................5-20, 5-32
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-65
Replacement...............................................5-65When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-14
When to Change Engine Oil.............................5-16
When to Check..............................................5-60
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-32
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-17
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-44
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-42
Why Safety Belts Work..................................... 1-9
Window Lockout.............................................2-15
Windows.......................................................2-14
Power........................................................2-15
Windshield Washer........................................... 3-9
Fluid..........................................................5-32
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check................6-16
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-51
Fuses........................................................5-89
Windshield Wiper Lever..................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................4-23
Wiper Blade Check.........................................6-17
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14