Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the ¯uid and ®lter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle's GVWR is over 8,600 or if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher.
·In hilly or mountainous terrain.
·When doing frequent trailer towing.
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If your vehicle's GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any of these conditions,
change the ¯uid and ®lter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the ¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a ®re.
Too little ¯uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission ¯uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission ¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are above 90ÉF (32ÉC).
·At high speed for quite a while.
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather.
·While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be at
normal operating temperature, which is 180ÉF to 200ÉF
(82ÉC to 93ÉC).
5-20
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
žextended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOLžmay
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs ®rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
ž(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-halfclean, drinkable waterand
one-half DEX-COOLžcoolant which won't damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you don't need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch ®re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
žcoolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
5-23
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixtureat the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
You will ®nd a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle's instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-38. In addition, you will
®nd an ENGINE COOLANT HOT, ENGINE
OVERHEATED and a REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message in the DIC on the instrument panel. See
DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-57.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is displayed, an
overheat protection mode which alternates ®ring
groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In
this mode, you will notice a loss in power and engine
performance. This operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil on
page 5-13.
5-25
(g)Inspect system. Check all fuel and vapor lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, routing and condition.
Check that the purge valve works properly (if equipped).
Replace as needed.
(h)Change automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þIn heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher.
þIn hilly or mountainous terrain.
þWhen doing frequent trailer towing.
þUses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system. See Engine
Coolant on page 5-23for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and ®ller neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)
A ¯uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the ¯uid level checked. Add ¯uid if needed.
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals speci®ed to help ensure the safety,
dependability and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench dealer can assist you
with these checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any ¯uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel ®ll.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13for further
details.
Notice:It is important to check your oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your
engine oil at the proper level can cause damage
to your engine not covered by your warranty.
6-9
Door (cont.)
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-30
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.....................................3-58
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-46
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-46
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-57
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-28
City...........................................................4-32
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-33
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-35
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-29
Winter........................................................4-37
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-24
Driving Downhill..............................................4-23
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-26
Driving in Water..............................................4-27
Driving On Grades..........................................4-60
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-20
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-38
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-31
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-31
Driving Uphill..................................................4-21
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-58
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-20DVD
Cleaning the Video Screen...........................3-99
Distortion....................................................3-97
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-80
DVD Player....................................................3-80
E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-50
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-103
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-103
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-103
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-103
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-42
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-40
Coolant......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater............................................2-21
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-38
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Fan Noise..................................................5-33
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-25
Starting......................................................2-19
5
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-38
Fuel..........................................................3-45
Oil Pressure...............................................3-43
Speedometer..............................................3-32
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Transmission Temperature.............................3-39
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-36
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-39
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-42
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-18
Glove Box.....................................................2-43
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-8
Headlamps....................................................5-48
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-48
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48Headphones...................................................3-87
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heating.........................................................3-24
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-35
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-35
Hitches..........................................................4-56
HomeLink
žTransmitter....................................2-39
HomeLinkžTransmitter, Programming................2-40
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-7
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank......5-30
How to Add Fluid............................................5-22
How to Check........................................5-20, 5-63
How to Check Lubricant...................................5-46
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-34
How to Inspect...............................................5-18
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-30
Hydroplaning..................................................4-31
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-27
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-26
If the Light is Flashing.....................................3-41
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-42
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-39
7