Vehicle Care
General InformationGeneral Information...............9-2
California Proposition 65
Warning.............................9-2
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements........9-3
Accessories and
Modifications.......................9-3
Vehicle ChecksDoing Your Own
Service Work......................9-4
Hood...................................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview............................9-6
Engine Cover.......................9-9
Engine Oil..........................9-10
Engine Oil Life System.........9-13
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................9-14
Manual Transmission Fluid. . . .9-15
Hydraulic Clutch..................9-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......9-16
Cooling System...................9-17
Engine Coolant...................9-19
Engine Overheating.............9-24
Power Steering Fluid............9-25Washer Fluid......................9-26
Brakes...............................9-27
Brake Fluid.........................9-28
Battery...............................9-29
Rear Axle...........................9-30
Starter Switch Check............9-31
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
System Check...................9-32
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check.......................9-32
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check..............9-32
Wiper Blade Replacement......9-33Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming................9-34
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement...............9-37
Halogen Bulbs....................9-37
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting....................9-37
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking Lamps
(Base Vehicle)...................9-37
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking Lamps
(Up-Level Vehicle)..............9-38
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)....................9-39
Fog Lamps.........................9-40Taillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps.........................9-40
License Plate Lamp.............9-40
Replacement Bulbs..............9-41
Electrical SystemElectrical System
Overload...........................9-41
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers...........................9-42
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block.......................9-42
Instrument Panel
Fuse Block.......................9-45
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block.......................9-46
Wheels and TiresTires..................................9-48
Winter Tires........................9-48
Tire Sidewall Labeling..........9-49
Tire Designations.................9-51
Tire Terminology and
Definitions.........................9-52
Tire Pressure......................9-54
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation........9-56
Tire Pressure Monitor
System.............................9-56
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation..........................9-57
Tire Inspection....................9-61
Vehicle Care 9-1
A. Underhood Electrical Center.
SeeEngine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 9-42.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Bottle
and Cap. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 9-19.
C.Engine Cover on page 9-9.
D. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). SeeCooling System
on page 9-17.
E. Radiator Fill Cap (Out of View).
SeeEngine Coolant on
page 9-19.
F. Power Steering Reservoir and
Cap (Out of View). SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 9-25.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine
Oil on page 9-10.H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). SeeEngine Oil on
page 9-10.
I. Brake Master Cylinder and
Hydraulic Clutch (if equipped with
manual transmission) Reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 9-27or
Hydraulic Clutch on page 9-15.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeBattery on page 9-29.
K.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-16.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. SeeWasher
Fluid on page 9-26.
Vehicle Care 9-7
A. Underhood Electrical Center.
SeeEngine Compartment
Fuse Block on page 9-42.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Bottle
and Cap. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 9-19.
C. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine
Oil on page 9-10.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of
View). SeeEngine Oil on
page 9-10.
E.Engine Cover on page 9-9.
F. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). SeeCooling System
on page 9-17.
G. Power Steering Reservoir and
Cap (Under Engine Cover).
SeePower Steering Fluid
on page 9-25.H. Brake Master Cylinder and
Hydraulic Clutch (if equipped
with manual transmission)
Reservoir. SeeBrakes on
page 9-27orHydraulic Clutch
on page 9-15.
I. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
SeeBattery on page 9-29.
J.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 9-16.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. SeeWasher Fluid
on page 9-26.
L. Radiator Fill Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 9-19.Engine Cover
3.6 L V6 Engine Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the engine oil fill
cap (B).
2. Lift the engine cover (A) to
disengage one front attachment
point.
3. Pull engine cover forward to
disengage from two rear tabs.
4. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to
reinstall engine cover.
Vehicle Care 9-9
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can 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
filter 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. Recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects
used oil.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer service department
and have it repaired as soon as
possible.
There is a special procedure
for checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should
have this done at your dealer/
retailer service department.Contact your dealer/retailer for
additional information or the
procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information
on page 12-12.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed inScheduled
Maintenance on page 10-2, and
be sure to use the fluid listed
inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-7.
9-14 Vehicle Care
What to Use
For 218 mm rear drive module
(RDM) V6 manual, V8 automatic
and V8 manual:
To add lubricant when the level
is low, use 75W-90 LS gear oil
(GM Part No. US 89021677
and 1052358, in Canada
Part No. 89021678 and 992694)
meeting GM Specification 9986226.
To completely refill after draining,
seeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-7. Then fill
to the bottom of the filler plug hole
with the Synthetic Gear Lubricant.
For 195 mm RDM V6 automatic:
To add lubricant when the level
is low, use 75W-90 gear Oil
(GM Part No. US 89021677,
in Canada Part No. 89021678)
meeting GM Specification 9986115.
To completely refill after draining,
seeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10-7. Then fill
to the bottom of the filler plug hole
with the Synthetic Gear Lubricant.
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could move
suddenly. If the vehicle moves,
you or others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check,
be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 8-32.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it starts.3. For automatic transmission
vehicles, try to start the engine
in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in P (Park) or
N (Neutral). If the vehicle starts
in any other position, contact your
dealer/retailer for service.
For manual transmission
vehicles, put the shift lever in
Neutral, push the clutch pedal
down halfway, and try to start the
engine. The vehicle should start
only when the clutch pedal is
pushed down all the way to the
floor. If the vehicle starts when
the clutch pedal is not pushed
all the way down, contact your
dealer/retailer for service.
Vehicle Care 9-31