Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-6
Child Restraints
.......................................1-21
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-42
Restraint System Check
............................1-55
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-6
Windows
.................................................. 2-9
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-11
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-13
Mirrors
....................................................2-23
HomeLink
®Transmitter
.............................2-26
Storage Areas
.........................................2-30
Convertible Top
.......................................2-45
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-52
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-19
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-44
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-61Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-32
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-43
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-43
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-49
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-74
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-82
Electrical System
......................................5-83
Capacities and Speci cations
.....................5-92
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-12
Index.................................................................1
2004 Chevrolet SSR Owner ManualM
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer is near 260 °F (125 °C), the engine is
too hot.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-26for more
information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The check engine light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction. United States
Canada
3-32
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
87 or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
A little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill is
considered normal. This does not indicate a problem
exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you are
using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline Speci cations
It is recommended that gasoline meet speci cations
which were developed by automobile manufacturers
around the world and contained in the World-Wide Fuel
Charter which is available from the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers at www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm.
Gasoline meeting these speci cations could provide
improved driveability and emission control system
performance compared to other gasoline.In Canada, look for the
“Auto Makers’ Choice”
label on the pump.California Fuel
If your vehicle is certi ed to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control label),
it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
speci cations. If this fuel is not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
speci cations, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on (seeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-32) and
your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs,
return to your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the type of fuel
used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.Canada Only
5-5
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations. General
Motors recommends that you buy gasolines that
are advertised to help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean. If your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, try a different brand of
gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the speci cations described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
5-6
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes will not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci cations.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
5-35
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may
not have treadwear
indicators.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires your vehicle
needs, look at the Certi cation/Tire label or the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-32, for examples of these labels and
where they are located on your vehicle.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Speci cation (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires with that same TPC
Spec number. That way your vehicle will continue to have
tires that are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, load range, speed rating, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance and other
things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires
have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by an “MS” (for mud and snow).
5-60
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-17
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-15
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-51
Making Turns.................................................4-49
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-32
Manually Open Tonneau..................................3-51
Map Pocket...................................................2-30
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-5
Memory Seat.................................................2-52
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-48Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance....... 7-5
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with HomeLink
®. . . 2-23
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-23
Outside Automatic Dimming Heated Mirror......2-25
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-25
Outside Power Heated Mirrors.......................2-24
Mode Knob....................................................3-20
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-13
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-15
O
Odometer......................................................3-25
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-25
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-13
9
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-32
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders..................................................7-10
Vehicle Identi cation
Number (VIN).............................................5-82
Service Parts Identi cation Label...................5-82
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-55
Memory Seat..............................................2-52
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-37
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-22
Visors...........................................................2-11
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-23
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-48
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-3
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-4
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Washing Your Vehicle......................................5-77
Weight of the Trailer........................................4-41
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................4-42
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................5-14
What to Add..................................................5-34
What to Do with Used Oil................................5-17
What to Use..................................5-24, 5-31, 5-43
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-63
Replacement...............................................5-63
15