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Driving and Operating 207
occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see“Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel 0205.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER®detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0205.
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death. . To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
. Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Do not use a cell phone
while refueling.
. Do not re-enter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from
the fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Fuel can spray out if the fuel
cap is opened too quickly.
This spray can happen if the
tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly
and wait for any hiss noise
to stop, then unscrew the
cap all the way.
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Vehicle Care 211
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 212
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 212
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 220
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 222
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 227
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Battery - North America . . . . . . 231
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 233
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 233
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 235
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 236
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Electrical System Overload . . . 238
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 238 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 245
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
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216 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0222.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0218.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0218.
4. Transmission Fluid Cap. See Automatic Transmission Fluid
0221.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0230.
6. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0224.
7. Battery (Under Cover). See Battery - North America 0231.
8. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0239.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 228.
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218 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0222.
2. Engine Cover.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0218.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0218.
5. Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid 0221.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0230.
7. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0224.
8. Battery (Under Cover). See Battery - North America 0231.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0239.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 228.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0220.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0
215 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
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Vehicle Care 219
.If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0307.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 215 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0303.
Specification
Ask for and use engine oils that
meet the dexos1™ specification.
Engine oils that have been
approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked
with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
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220 Vehicle Care
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−29 °C
(−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade
will provide easier cold starting for
the engine at extremely low
temperatures. When selecting an oil
of the appropriate viscosity grade, it
is recommended to select an oil of
the correct specification. See
“Specification” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1 specification are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
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 or 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.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on. See
Engine Oil Messages
0128.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system may indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
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Vehicle Care 221
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:1. Using the DIC controls on the right side of the steering wheel,
display REMAINING OIL LIFE
on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0119 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0122. When
remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the
display. See Engine Oil
Messages 0128. 2. Press
Von the DIC controls
and hold down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
and reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil
life display accidentally at any
time other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.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 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.
Contact your dealer for additional
information. The procedure can be
found in the service manual. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information 0318.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 294, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0303.
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224 Vehicle Care
2.4L L4 Engine
1. Engine Cooling Fans (Outof View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Caution
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner. Any repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for five years
or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0227.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
(Continued)