2008 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER engine

Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-69
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-74
Buying New Tires.........................................5-75
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-77
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-78
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-80
Wheel Replacement......................................5-80
Tire Chains..................................................5-82
Accessory Inator.........................................5-82
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-84
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-85
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-86
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-89
Secondary Latch System...............................5-94
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-97
Spare Tire.................................................5-100
Appearance Care..........................................5-100
Interior Cleaning.........................................5-100
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-101
Leather......................................................5-102
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-103
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-103Weatherstrips.............................................5-103
Washing Your Vehicle..................................5-104
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-104
Finish Care................................................5-104
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-105
Aluminum Wheels.......................................5-106
Tires.........................................................5-106
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-106
Finish Damage...........................................5-107
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-107
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-107
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-108
Vehicle Identication.....................................5-109
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)................5-109
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-109
Electrical System..........................................5-109
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-109
Headlamps.................................................5-110
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-110
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-110
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-110
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-111
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-118
Capacities and Specications........................5-121
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

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.
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners, and lithium batteries
contained in remote keyless entry transmitters, may
contain perchlorate materials. Special handling may be
necessary. For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts,
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work, you
should use the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service your vehicle than this
manual can. To order the proper service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-15.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-64.
5-4

You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 6-17.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This can cause wind noise
and can affect fuel economy and windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer/retailer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
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,
we recommend 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 Identification Number
(VIN) on page 5-109.
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.
5-5

Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in
Canada. Some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend against the use of
gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives on page 5-6for
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 might be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp could turn on and your
vehicle might fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-41. If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, you should not have to add anything to the 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/retailer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
5-6

Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow all the instructions
on the pump island. Turn off your engine when
you are refueling. Do not smoke if you are near
fuel or refueling your vehicle. Do not use
cellular phones. Keep sparks, ames, and
smoking materials away from fuel. Do not leave
the fuel pump unattended when refueling your
vehicle. This is against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while pumping fuel.
Keep children away from the fuel pump; never
let children pump fuel.The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel
door on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise.
While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from the
hook on the fuel door.
5-8

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can
be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if
this occurs. To help avoid injury to you and
others:
Dispense fuel only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

Engine Compartment Overview
When you open the hood on the 4.2L L6 engine, here is what you will see:
5-12

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-24.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-32.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-39.
D. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-38.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 5-25.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.G. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-30.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-17.
I. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Marked GND).
SeeJump Starting on page 5-44.
J. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-40.
K. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-43.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-111.
5-13