Driving in Water
Heavy rain can mean ¯ash ¯ooding, and ¯ood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive through
it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel hubs,
axles or exhaust pipe, do not try it Ð you probably will
not get through. Also, water that deep can damage
your axle and other vehicle parts.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.
At faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if
you get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your
tailpipe is under water, you will never be able to
start your engine. When you go through water,
remember that when your brakes get wet, it may take
you longer to stop.{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle
downstream and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can
still wash away the ground from under your
tires, and you could lose traction and roll the
vehicle over. Do not drive through rushing
water.
See
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 4-29for
more information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a ®re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust
system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
4-27
·Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all ¯uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transmission. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
·Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down
to let your engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down. They could
get so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Always
have your engine running and your vehicle in
gear when you go downhill.
·Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your
engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill
better.
·Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
·As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or
an accident.
4-36
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear suspension comes as a
part of the AutorideŸ suspension. SeeAutorideŸ on
page 4-50.
This type of level control is fully automatic and will
provide a better leveled riding position as well as better
handling under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions. An air compressor connected to the rear
shocks will raise or lower the rear of the vehicle
to maintain proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key is turned to RUN and
will automatically adjust vehicle height thereafter.
The system may exhaust (lower vehicle height) for up to
10 minutes after the ignition key has been turned to
OFF. You may hear the air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, it is
recommended to allow the shocks to in¯ate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the height.
AutorideŸ
The AutorideŸ feature provides superior vehicle ride
and handling under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
AutorideŸ also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide additional control of
the shock absorbers. This additional control results in
better ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle
is loaded or towing a trailer. See ªTow/Haul Modeº
under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-51for more
information.
4-50
How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Message
The GM Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and ®lter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
CHANGE ENGINE OIL message being turned on, reset
the system.
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message, see ªGM
Oil Life Systemº under
DIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-46for vehicles equipped with the DIC, or do
the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly
three times within ®ve seconds.
If the OIL LIFE RESET message ¯ashes for 10
seconds, the system is resetting.
3. Turn the key to LOCK.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes back on
when you start your vehicle, the engine oil life system
has not reset. Repeat the procedure. If it still does
not reset, see your dealer for service.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
®lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
5-17
What to Use
To determine what kind of ¯uid to use, seeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-13.
Always use the proper ¯uid. Failure to use the proper
¯uid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer ¯uid, be sure to read
the manufacturer's instructions before use. If you will
be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a ¯uid that has
sufficient protection against freezing. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for reservoir
location.
Adding Washer Fluid
Your vehicle has a low washer ¯uid message that
comes on when the washer ¯uid is low. The message is
displayed for 15 seconds at the start of each ignition
cycle. When the CHECK WASHER FLUID message is
displayed, you will need to add washer ¯uid to the
windshield washer ¯uid reservoir.The windshield washer
¯uid reservoir is located in
the engine compartment
toward the front of the
vehicle on the driver's side.
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washer
¯uid until the tank is full.
Notice:
·When using concentrated washer ¯uid, follow
the manufacturer's instructions for adding
water.
·Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer ¯uid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer ¯uid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water does not
clean as well as washer ¯uid.
·Fill your washer ¯uid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
·Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your washer
system and paint.
5-35
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that aren't needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save your radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (-) terminal locations of the other vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump
starting terminal and a remote negative (-) jump
starting terminal. You should always use these
remote terminals instead of the terminals on the
battery.
The remote positive (+) terminal is located under a
red plastic cover, if equipped, near the engine
accessory drive bracket. To access the remote
positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover, if
equipped.
The remote negative (-) terminal is located on the
engine accessory drive bracket and is marked GND.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
¯ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the ACDelco
žbattery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ®ller caps, be sure the right amount of
¯uid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that ®rst. If you do not, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery ¯uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ¯ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
5-41
TPM Sensor Identi®cation Codes
Each TPM sensor has a unique identi®cation code.
Any time you rotate your vehicle's tires or replace one
or more of the TPM sensors, the identi®cation codes will
need to be matched to the new tire/wheel position.
Each tire/wheel position is matched to a sensor,
by increasing or decreasing the tire's air pressure.
The sensors are matched to the tire/wheel positions in
the following order: left front (LF); right front (RF);
right rear (RR) and left rear (LR).
You will have one minute to match the ®rst tire/wheel
position, and ®ve minutes overall to match all four
tire/wheel positions. If it takes longer than one minute,
to match the ®rst tire and wheel, or more than ®ve
minutes to match all four tire and wheel positions the
matching process stops and you will need to start over.
The TPM sensor matching process is outlined below:
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to RUN with the engine off.
3. Turn the exterior lamp switch from ªOffº to ªOnº
four times within 3 seconds. A double horn chirp
will sound and the TPM low tire warning light
will begin to ¯ash. The double horn chirp and¯ashing TPM warning light indicate that the TPM
matching process has started. The TPM warning
light should continue ¯ashing throughout the
matching procedure. The SERVICE TIRE
MONITOR message will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
4. Start with the left (driver's side) front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the valve cap stem.
Activate the TPM sensor by increasing or
decreasing the tire's air pressure for 10 seconds,
then stop and listen for a single horn chirp.
The single horn chirp should sound within 15
seconds, con®rming that the sensor identi®cation
code has been matched to this tire and wheel
position. If you do not hear the con®rming single
horn chirp, you will need to start over with step
number one. To let air-pressure out of a tire you can
use the pointy end of the valve cap, a pencil-style
air pressure gage or a key.
6. Proceed to the right (passenger's side) front tire,
and repeat the procedure in step 5.
7. Proceed to the right (passenger's side) rear tire,
and repeat the procedure in step 5.
8. Proceed to the left (driver's side) rear tire, and
repeat the procedure in step 5.
5-65
9. After hearing the con®rming horn chirp for the left
rear tire, check to see if the TPM warning light is
still ¯ashing. If yes, turn the ignition switch to OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Certi®cation/Tire label or
the Tire and Loading Information label.
11. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems
The spare tire does not have a TPM sensor. If you
replace one of the road tires with the spare, the CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE message will be displayed on the DIC
screen. This message should go off once you re-install
the road tire containing the TPM sensor. The SERVICE
TIRE MONITOR message is displayed when the TPM
system is malfunctioning. One or more missing or
inoperable TPM sensors will cause the service tire
monitor message to be displayed. See your dealer for
service.
Federal Communications Commission and
Industry and Science Canada
The TPM system operates on a radio frequency subject
to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules and
with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and(2) this device must accept any interference received
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modi®cations to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
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. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-68andWheel Replacement
on page 5-71for more information.
Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull,
and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If it moves,
use the ratchet/wheel wrench to tighten the cable.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-74.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
5-66