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246 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To reinstall the hitch cover:1. Hold the cover at a 45 degree angle to the vehicle and push the
upper tabs in the hitch cover
into the slots in the fascia.
2. Move the bottom of the cover forward until the lower tabs line
up with the lower fascia slots.
3. Snap the hitch cover into place by pushing the upper corners
forward.
4. Reinstall the two bolts on the lower tabs by turning clockwise.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer
to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomes
separated from the hitch. Always leave
just enough slack so the rig can turn.
Never allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more than
454 kg (1,000 lb) needs to have its own
brake system that is adequate for the
weight of the trailer. Be sure to read
and follow the instructions for the
trailer brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained properly.
Because the vehicle has antilock
brakes, do not tap into the vehicle's
brake system. If you do, both brake
systems will not work well, or at all.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Basic Trailer Wiring
The trailer wiring harness, with a
seven-pin connector, is located at the
rear of the vehicle and is tied to the
vehicle's frame. The harness connector
can be plugged into a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer connector
available through your dealer.
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications for
proper electrical connectivity. The seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow/Gray: Stop/Turn Signal Left
. Green/Violet: Stop/Turn Signal
Right
. Gray/Brown: Parking Lamps
. White/Green: Back-up Lamps
. Red/Green: Battery Feed
. Black: Ground
. Blue: Electric Brakes*
*The fuse for this circuit is installed in
the engine compartment fuse block,
but the wires are not connected. They
should be connected by your dealer or
a qualified service center.
If the back-up lamp circuit is not
functional, contact your dealer.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 247
Electric Trailer Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions for an electric
trailer brake controller are included
with the vehicle as part of the trailer
wiring package. The instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires above the
parking brake assembly for the electric
trailer brake controller. The harness
contains the following wires:
.Blue: To Trailer
. Red/Black or Red/Blue:
Battery Feed
. White/Blue: Brake Apply Signal
. Black: Ground
The electric trailer brake controller
should be installed by your dealer or a
qualified service center.Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended side-to-side
motion of a trailer while being towed.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and
the TSC detects that sway is
increasing, the vehicle brakes are
selectively applied at each wheel, to
help reduce excessive trailer sway.
If the vehicle is equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, and the trailer has the
electric actuated brake system,
StabiliTrak may also apply the trailer
brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Vehicle speed must be
reduced. If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak can reduce engine torque
to help slow the vehicle. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 205.{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped with
TSC, trailer sway could result in
loss of control and the vehicle could
crash. If excessive trailer sway is
detected, slow down to a safe speed.
Check the trailer and vehicle to help
correct possible causes. These could
include an improperly or overloaded
trailer, unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration, excessive
vehicle-trailer speed, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. See Towing Equipment
0 245 for trailer ratings and hitch
setup recommendations.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications 0251.
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248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0133.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see Servicing
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 087 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 088.
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Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 257
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 265
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 267
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 268
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 271
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 272
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 275
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281 Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 288
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 297
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
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250 VEHICLE CARE
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 317
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
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. For more information go
to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0265 and
Jump Starting - North America 0314
and the back cover.
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254 VEHICLE CARE
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0257.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 254.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0254.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0258.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0264.
6. Battery - North America 0265.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 258.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting
- North America 0314.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 263.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0272.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0314.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 0256.
. 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 0253 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 265
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and the
vehicle could be damaged. Add
brake fluid only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning Light
0 135.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid at
the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0330.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid from a clean, sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0337.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the paint
finish can be damaged. Immediately
wash off any painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the
cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. For replacement of
the battery, see your dealer. It has an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
12-volt battery. Installation of a
standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger
on the 12-volt AGM battery, some
chargers have an AGM battery setting
on the charger. If available, use the
AGM setting on the charger, to limit
charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
Stop/Start System
This vehicle has a Stop/Start system
to shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. See
Starting the Engine
0 190.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other
chemicals known to the State of
(Continued)
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266 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
California to cause cancer.WASH
HANDS AFTER HANDLING. For
more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning
0 250 and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode. You
can be badly hurt if you are not
careful. See Jump Starting - North
America 0314 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to
keep the battery from running down. Extended Storage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery or
use a battery trickle charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving conditions,
transfer case fluid does not require
maintenance unless there is a fluid
leak or unusual noise. If required,
have the transfer case serviced by
your dealer.
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. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake. Do not use the accelerator pedal,
and be ready to turn off the
engine immediately if it starts.
3. 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 for
service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and
property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of the
vehicle in case it begins to roll. Be
ready to apply the regular brake at
once should the vehicle begin
to move.