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Vehicle Care 263
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 264
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 273
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 275
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 276
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 281
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Battery - North America . . . . . . 285
Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 287
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 288
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 293
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 294
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 319

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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264 Vehicle Care
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Tire Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 335
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
WARNING: Most motor vehicles,
including this one, as well as many
of its service parts and fluids, 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,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
See
Battery - North America 0285
and Jump Starting - North
America 0336.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety 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.

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Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 084.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering
Information 0378.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 084.

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266 Vehicle Care
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records0364.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Open the driver side door and
pull the hood release handle.
It is on the lower left side of the
instrument panel between the
door and the steering wheel.
2. Release the handle, then pull the handle again to fully open
the hood.
3. Go to the front of the vehicleand lift the hood and release
the hood prop from its retainer,
located above the radiator.
Securely place the hood prop
into the slot on the underside of
the hood. To close the hood:
1. Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
properly installed.
2. Lift the hood to relieve pressure on the hood prop.
Remove the hood prop from
the slot on the underside of the
hood and return the prop to its
retainer. The prop rod must
click into place when returning
it to the retainer to prevent
hood damage.
3. Lower the hood 30 cm (12 in) above the vehicle and release
it so it fully latches.
4. Check to make sure the hood is closed. If not, release the
hood from inside and repeat
Steps 1–3.

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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
Gasoline
Diesel
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 0366.
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
0 267 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
(Gasoline Engines)
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0361.
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.

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274 Vehicle Care
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 Messages0142.
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 might 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.
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:
Resetting the Oil Life System
(Base Level Cluster)
1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0137 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0134.
2. Press and hold SET/CLR on the turn signal lever while the
Oil Life display is active. The
oil life will change to 100%.
Resetting the Oil Life System
(Uplevel Cluster) 1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0137 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0134. 2. Press and hold
Von the DIC
while the Oil Life display is
active. The oil life will change
to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off. See Ignition
Positions (Keyless Access)
0 212 orIgnition Positions (Key
Access) 0210.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message goes 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.

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Vehicle Care 279
Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much water in the
mixture can freeze and crack
engine cooling parts. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0361.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at the
indicated mark, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling
system is cool before this is done.
See Engine Overheating 0281.
The coolant surge tank is located in
the engine compartment on the
driver side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0267.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
If no problem is found, check to see
if coolant is visible in the coolant
surge tank. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is not at the
indicated level mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is
cool before you do it.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are (Continued)

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1.4L L4 Engine (LE2) Shown, 1.6LL4 Diesel Engine (LH7) Similar
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper DEX-COOL coolant
mixture to the indicated
level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine, switch off the A/C and
let the engine run until the
upper radiator hose can be felt
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL coolant mixture to
the coolant surge tank until the
level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight.
Check the level in the coolant surge
tank when the cooling system has
cooled down. If the coolant is not at
the proper level, repeat Steps 1–
3 and reinstall the pressure cap.
If the coolant still is not at the proper
level when the system cools down
again, see your dealer.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster to warn of engine
overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0123.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. Contact
your dealer for additional
information. If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine, and have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
(Continued)