2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 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 Specications....................................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...................................................5-18
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-26
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-28
Engine Coolant.............................................5-31
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34
Cooling System............................................5-37Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-47
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-48
Brakes........................................................5-50
Battery........................................................5-53
Jump Starting...............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-60
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-60
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-60
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-60
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps.....................................5-62
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-63
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-64
Tires..............................................................5-65
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-72
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-73
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-75
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-76
Buying New Tires.........................................5-76
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-77
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-79
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

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 5-76andWheel Replacement
on page 5-79for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4for scheduled rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Reset the Tire Ination Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System on page 5-73.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specications on page 5-110.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become
loose after a time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.
5-75

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 5-82for more
information.
5-79

T
Tachometer....................................................3-33
Taillamps
Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker
Lamps....................................................5-62
TCS Warning Light..........................................3-37
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-91
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-15
Passlock
®...................................................2-16
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-7
Tire
Low Message.............................................3-47
Tire Ination Check........................................... 6-9
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-66
Tire Size.......................................................5-69
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-70
Tires.............................................................5-65
Buying New Tires........................................5-76
Chains.......................................................5-80
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-82
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-93
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-81
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-72
Inspection and Rotation................................5-75
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-73
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-77Tires (cont.)
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-79
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-79
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-76
TIRE MON (Tire Ination Monitor Reset)...............2-43
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-20
Top Strap......................................................1-38
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-40
Torque Lock...................................................2-27
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-41
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-38
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Active Message...........................................3-44
Control System (TCS)..................................4-10
Control System Warning Light.......................3-37
Service Traction System Warning Message.....3-44
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-41
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-28
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-21
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-13
Transmitter Verication...................................... 2-5
Transportation Options...................................... 7-9
14

W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-28
Warnings
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washer Fluid Low Warning Message.................3-49
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-97
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-40
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-40
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-20
What Kind of Oil to Use..................................5-25
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-24
What to Use..........................................5-32, 5-48
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-79
Replacement...............................................5-79
When to Add Engine Oil..................................5-19
When to Change Engine Oil
(GM Oil Life System)...................................5-22
When to Check......................................5-24, 5-72
When to Check and Change............................5-28
When to Check Power Steering Fluid................5-47
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.....5-26When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking
on a Hill.....................................................4-44
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-38
Why Safety Belts Work....................................1-12
Windows.......................................................2-13
Power........................................................2-14
Windshield Washer.........................................3-10
Fluid..........................................................5-48
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement......................................5-64
Fuses......................................................5-103
Windshield Wipers............................................ 3-9
Winter Driving................................................4-26
X
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-96
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
(48 Contiguous US States) . . . 3-56, 3-67, 3-78, 3-93
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
16