
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really
good braking. Your vehicle was designed and
tested with top-quality GM brake parts. When you
replace parts of the braking system — for
example, when the brake linings wear down and
you need new ones put in — be sure you get new
approved GM replacement parts. If you do not,
the brakes might not work properly. For example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
for your vehicle, the balance between the front
and rear brakes can change — for the worse.
The braking performance you have come to expect
can change in many other ways if someone
puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 258for battery location.Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep
your battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 285for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
284

When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure warning
symbol on the instrument panel cluster.
The low tire pressure warning symbol comes on at
each ignition cycle until the tires are inflated to
the correct inflation pressure.
The tire pressure warning light may come on in
cool weather when the vehicle is first started, and
then turn off as you start to drive. This could
be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the correct inflation
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they
are cold. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 236,
for an example of the tire information label and
its location on your vehicle. Also seeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 311.Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you about
a low tire pressure condition but it does not
replace normal tire maintenance. SeeTire
Inspection and Rotation on page 316andTires
on page 303.
Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your
vehicle has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid
sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor
sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more
of the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable.
See your dealer for service if all TPMS sensors are
installed and the low tire pressure warning light
comes on and stays on.
314

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum selection width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the Unites States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1
1⁄2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction — AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
320

Temperature — A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning:The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you
the longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire
balancing will not be necessary on a regular basis.
However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling to one side or the other, the
alignment may need to be checked. If you notice
your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, your tires and wheels may need to be
rebalanced. See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
321

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard warning flashers.
324

A
Accessories and Modifications..................... 249
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 152
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................ 83
Additives, Fuel............................................ 252
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 345
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 264
Air Conditioning........................................... 155
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 165
Readiness Light....................................... 164
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 400
Airbag System............................................... 66
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 83
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 73
Passenger Sensing System....................... 76
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....... 82
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?.................. 73
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inflates?...................................... 74
When Should an Airbag Inflate?................. 71
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 69
Antenna, Integrated Windshield................... 204Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 211
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 169
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels.................................... 341
Care of Safety Belts................................ 339
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 343
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 340
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 335
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 337
Finish Care.............................................. 340
Finish Damage......................................... 342
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.................................... 338
Leather.................................................... 338
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 342
Tires........................................................ 342
Underbody Maintenance........................... 342
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 343
Washing Your Vehicle .............................. 339
Weatherstrips........................................... 339
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 340
Ashtray(s).................................................... 153
Audio System(s).......................................... 178
Audio Steering Wheel Controls................. 202
Care of Your CD Player........................... 204
Care of Your CDs.................................... 203
Integrated Windshield Antenna................. 204
409

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Radio with CD......................................... 180
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................ 186
Understanding Radio Reception............... 203
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid........................................................ 266
Operation................................................. 110
B
Battery........................................................ 284
Inadvertent Power Saver.......................... 152
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 227
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)................. 211
Emergencies............................................ 213
Parking.................................................... 116
System Inspection.................................... 381
System Warning Light.............................. 168
Brakes........................................................ 281
Braking....................................................... 210
Braking in Emergencies............................... 213
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 105
Bulb Replacement....................................... 290
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)......................296, 297
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps......... 292Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 290
Headlamp Aiming..................................... 290
Headlamps............................................... 290
License Plate Lamps................................ 301
Replacement Bulbs.................................. 301
Sidemarker Lamps..........................294, 295
Taillamps, Stoplamps and
Back-Up Lamps..................................... 300
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps....... 298
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps..................................... 299
Turn Signal Lamps................................... 293
Buying New Tires........................................ 318
C
California Fuel............................................. 252
California Proposition 65 Warning................ 249
Canadian Owners........................................... 3
Capacities and Specifications...................... 352
Carbon Monoxide............... 99,121, 231, 243
Care of
Safety Belts............................................. 339
Your CD Player........................................ 204
Your CDs ................................................. 203
Cargo Shade............................................... 130
410

Electrical System (cont.)
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 346
Headlamp Wiring..................................... 346
Instrument Panel Fuse Block................... 347
Power Windows and Other Power
Options................................................. 346
Windshield Wiper Fuses........................... 346
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 264
Battery..................................................... 284
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 172
Coolant.................................................... 268
Coolant Heater......................................... 109
Coolant Temperature Gage...................... 171
Cooling System Inspection....................... 381
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 354
Engine Compartment Overview................ 258
Exhaust................................................... 121
Oil ........................................................... 260
Overheating............................................. 271
Starting.................................................... 107
Event Data Recorders (EDR)...................... 400
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 37
Exterior Lamps............................................ 148F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 264
Finish Damage............................................ 342
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 140
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 143
Flat Tire...................................................... 324
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 324
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 333
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle................................. 266
Manual Transaxle..................................... 266
Power Steering........................................ 279
Windshield Washer.................................. 280
Fog Lamp Light........................................... 176
Fog Lamps.................................................. 150
Front Armrest Storage Area......................... 128
Front Storage Area...................................... 127
Fuel............................................................ 251
Additives.................................................. 252
California Fuel.......................................... 252
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 256
Filling Your Tank...................................... 254
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 253
413