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 Oil ...........................
.9-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid ...............................
.9-12
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . .9-14
Hydraulic Clutch .................
.9-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter .......9-16
Cooling System ..................
.9-19
Engine Coolant ..................
.9-19Engine Overheating
.............9-23
Power Steering Fluid ............9-24
Washer Fluid .....................
.9-24
Brakes ..............................
.9-26
Brake Fluid ........................
.9-27
Battery ..............................
.9-28
All-Wheel Drive ..................
.9-29
Starter Switch Check ............9-30
Wiper Blade Replacement .....9-30
Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming...............
.9-32
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement ..............
.9-33
Halogen Bulbs ...................
.9-33
Headlamps and Parking Lamps .............................
.9-33
Taillamps ...........................
.9-35
License Plate Lamp .............9-36
Replacement Bulbs .............
.9-37
Electrical SystemElectrical System Overload . . . .9-37
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . .9-38
Engine Compartment Fuse Block ..............................
.9-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ..............................
.9-41
Wheels and TiresTires.................................
.9-43
Tire Sidewall Labeling ..........9-44
Tire Designations ................
.9-46
Tire Terminology and Definitions ........................
.9-46
Tire Pressure .....................
.9-49
Tire Pressure Monitor System ............................
.9-50
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation .........................
.9-52
Tire Inspection ...................
.9-54
Tire Rotation ......................
.9-55
When It Is Time for New Tires ...............................
.9-56
Buying New Tires ...............
.9-56
Different Size Tires and Wheels ............................
.9-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ...........................
.9-58
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ...........................
.9-60
Wheel Replacement .............9-60
Tire Chains ........................
.9-61
If a Tire Goes Flat ..............
.9-62
Tire Changing ....................
.9-63
Compact Spare Tire .............9-68
Vehicle Care 9-1
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The following illustration
shows an example of a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S.
Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall. (C) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the tire.
The load index represents the
load carry capacity a tire is
certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
De nitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward
on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in
pounds per square inch (psi)
or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight
:This means
the combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are,
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire’s height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between the
plies and the tread. Cords may
be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.
9-46 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warns the driver when a
low tire pressure condition exists.
TPMS sensors are mounted onto
each tire and wheel assembly,
excluding the spare tire and
wheel assembly.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the low tire pressure
warning light, located on the
instrument panel cluster, comes on.This light also comes on for a
few seconds and then goes off when
you turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
This indicates the TPMS is
functioning properly. If the low-tire
pressure warning light comes on
while driving the vehicle, the system
may have detected a low-tire
condition. You need to stop as soon
as possible and check the tires.
The low 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 air pressure in the tire(s) are
getting low and need to be inflated
to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label, attached to the vehicle, shows
the size of the vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 8-12, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location on your vehicle.
Also see Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
The vehicle’s TPMS can warn you
about a low tire pressure condition
but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 9-54, Tire Rotation on
page 9-55 andTires on page 9-43.
9-52 Vehicle Care
GM recommends replacing tires in
sets of four. This is because uniform
tread depth on all tires will help keep
the vehicle performing most like it did
when the tires were new. Replacing
less than a full set of tires can
affect the braking and handling
performance of the vehicle. SeeTire
Inspection on page 9-54 andTire
Rotation on page 9-55 .
{CAUTION
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you mix tires of different
sizes, brands, or types (radial
and bias-belted tires), the
vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have
a crash. Using tires of different
sizes, brands, or types may
also cause damage to your
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
vehicle. Be sure to use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels. It is
all right to drive with your
compact spare temporarily,
as it was developed for use
on your vehicle. See Compact
Spare Tire on page 9-68.
{CAUTION
If you use bias-ply tires on the
vehicle, the wheel rim flanges
could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail
suddenly, causing a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low-pressure warning
if tires not recommended for the
vehicle are installed. Tires that do
not match the original equipment
tires could give a low-pressure
warning that is higher or lower than
the proper warning level you would
get with original equipment tires.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 9-50.
The vehicle’s original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information Label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 8-12 ,
for more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label and
its location on the vehicle.
Vehicle Care 9-57
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are
a different size than your original
equipment wheels and tires, this
could affect the way your vehicle
performs, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has
electronic systems such as anti-lock
brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems
can be affected.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 9-56
and Accessories and Modi cations
on page 9-3 for additional
information.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United 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
and additional General Motors
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
9-58 Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used or how
far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you
have to replace a wheel, use a
new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION
If the vehicle has P215/45R18
size tires, do not use tire chains.
There is not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
the brakes, suspension or other
vehicle parts. The area damaged
by the tire chains could cause you
to lose control of the vehicle and
you or others may be injured in a
crash.
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to the
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust
or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and
do not spin the wheels.
If you do find traction devices that
will fit, install them on the front
tires. Notice:
If the vehicle has a tire
size other than P215/45R18 size
tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when you must.
Use only SAE Class “S” type
chains that are the proper size
for the tires. Install them on the
front tires and tighten them as
tightly as possible with the
ends securely fastened. Drive
slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting the
vehicle, stop and retighten them.
If the contact continues, slow
down until it stops. Driving too
fast or spinning the wheels with
chains on will damage the vehicle.
Vehicle Care 9-61
T
Tachometer......................... 4-10
Taillamp Indicator Light .........4-21
Taillamps ............................ 9-35
Text Telephone (TTY) Users ....12-4
Theft-Deterrent Systems ......... 1-9
Immobilizer ........................ 1-9
Tire Pressure ......................... 9-49
Tires Buying New Tires .............9-56
Chains ............................ 9-61
Changing ......................... 9-63
Compact Spare ................9-68
Designations .................... 9-46
Different Size ................... 9-58
If a Tire Goes Flat ............9-62
Inflation Monitor System ....9-52
Inspection ........................ 9-54
Pressure Light ..................4-19
Pressure Monitor System . . . 9-50
Rotation .......................... 9-55
Sidewall Labeling ..............9-44
Terminology and Definitions .................... 9-46
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ....................... 9-58Tires (cont.)
Wheel Alignment andTire Balance .................9-60
Wheel Replacement ..........9-60
When It Is Time for New Tires ............................ 9-56
Towing Driving Characteristics .......8-44
Equipment ....................... 8-49
General Information ...........8-43
Recreational Vehicle ..........9-73
Trailer ............................. 8-48
Vehicle ............................ 9-73
Traction Control System (TCS) .......8-33
Control System Warning Light ............................ 4-19
T
railer Towing ...................... 8-48
Transmission Automatic ................ 8-24, 8-27
Fluid, Automatic ................9-12
Fluid, Manual ................... 9-14
Transportation Program, Courtesy ......................... 12-8
Trip Odometer ..................... 4-10
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ............................. 5-3
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading ........................... 9-58
Using this Manual .................... iii
V
Vehicle
Canadian Owners .................. ii
Control ............................. 8-3
Load Limits ...................... 8-12
Personalization .................4-21
Security ............................ 1-7
Towing ............................ 9-73
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure ................... 9-49
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ................... 11-1
Service Parts Identification Label ........................... 11-1
Ventilation, Air ....................... 7-4
Visors ................................. 1-12
INDEX i-9
W
Warning Lights, Gages, andIndicators .......................... 4-8
Warnings ................................ iii
Cautions and Danger ............ iii
Hazard Flashers ................. 5-3
Washer Fluid ....................... 9-24
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light ............................... 4-21
Wheels Alignment and TireBalance ....................... 9-60
Different Size ................... 9-58
Replacement .................... 9-60
When It Is Time for New Tires ............................... 9-56
Where to Put the Child Restraint ......................... 2-43
Windows ............................. 1-11
Power ............................. 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer .................... 4-5
Winter Driving ....................... 8-9
Wiper Blade Replacement .....9-30
Wipers Rear Washer ..................... 4-6
i-10 INDEX