2007 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER engine

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer
won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will
ash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs
on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD (3) or a lower gear,
under heavy loads or hilly conditions.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, consider the following: Engine coolant will
boil at a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If you turn your engine off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
your vehicle may show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked (preferably on level ground) with the
automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off. If you do get
the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating
on page 418.
378

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet. When parking uphill, turn your
wheels away from the curb. When parking
downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the
trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the chocks
absorb the load.4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, use the steps that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set.
If the transfer case on four-wheel drive
vehicles is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will
be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL.
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 121.
379

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the
pedal down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transmission uid (don’t overll), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belt(s), cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you nd them
quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts
and bolts are tight.
380

Service........................................................ 386
Accessories and Modications................... 386
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 386
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 387
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 387
Fuel............................................................. 388
Gasoline Octane........................................ 388
Gasoline Specications.............................. 389
California Fuel........................................... 389
Additives................................................... 389
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 390
Filling the Tank......................................... 391
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 393
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 394
Hood Release........................................... 394
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 396
Engine Oil................................................. 402
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 408
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 410Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 411
Engine Coolant.......................................... 414
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 418
Engine Overheating................................... 418
Cooling System......................................... 420
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 425
Power Steering Fluid................................. 426
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 427
Brakes...................................................... 428
Battery...................................................... 431
Jump Starting............................................ 432
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 438
Rear Axle.................................................... 438
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 440
Front Axle................................................... 440
Bulb Replacement....................................... 442
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 442
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps............. 442
License Plate Lamp................................... 444
Replacement Bulbs................................... 444
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
383

Vehicle Identication.................................. 501
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 501
Service Parts Identication Label............... 501
Electrical System........................................ 502
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 502
Headlamps................................................ 502
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 502Power Windows and Other
Power Options....................................... 502
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 503
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 503
Rear Underseat Fuse Block....................... 509
Capacities and Specications.................... 513
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
385

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle
all GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability
control. Some of these accessories may even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you
go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
386

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 501.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 4.2L L6 engine (VIN Code S)
or the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code M), use regular
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking noise when
you drive, commonly referred to as spark knock.If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. If you are using
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear
heavy knocking, the engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine
(VIN Code H), use premium unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher.
You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you
might notice a slight audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock. If the
octane is less than 87, you might notice 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 could damage
the engine. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking,
the engine needs service.
388

Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 389for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See
the underhood emission control label. If this fuel
is not available in states adopting California
emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction IndicatorLamp on page 212. 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.
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. In most cases,
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.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves
clean, or if your vehicle experiences problems due
to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that
is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
389