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tires, and mirrors. SeeTowing
Equipment 0261. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer brake
controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally
check that the cargo and trailer are
secure and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused
by the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal
when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can
help to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is much longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane. Pass on level
roadways. Avoid passing on hills if
possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle. (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
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If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating0280.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill. 2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0346. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 280.
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Electric Trailer Brake Control
Wiring Provisions
Wiring provisions for an aftermarket
electric trailer brake controller are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. The
harness contains the following
circuits:Electric Trailer
Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Green or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black
Refer to the aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller owner's
manual to determine wire color
coding of the electric trailer brake
controller. The wire colors on the
brake controller may be different
from the vehicle. The electric trailer
brake controller should be installed
by your dealer or a qualified service
center. If equipped, there are four blunt cut
wires inside the front driver side
instrument panel. It will be
necessary to have a technician
connect the 12-volt power to the
engine compartment fuse block.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When towing a
trailer, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or
the bulbs are burned out.
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter
Tow/Haul mode, see
Driver Mode
Control 0223.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load. See Tow/Haul Mode 0217.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0258.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load:
. through rolling terrain
. in stop-and-go traffic
. in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage. It is
not recommended and may result in
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Driving and Operating 265
unpleasant engine and transmission
driving characteristics and reduced
fuel economy.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while
towing. 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 equipped
with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake system,
StabiliTrak/ESC may also apply the
trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/
ESC warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Reduce vehicle
speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer
sway continues, StabiliTrak/ESC
can reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned
off. SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0222.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death,
even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from
the accelerator. Then pull over to
check the trailer and vehicle to
help correct possible causes,
including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. SeeTowing
Equipment 0261 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are
designed with stiff sidewalls to help
prevent sway and to support heavy
loads. These features can make it
difficult to determine if the trailer tire
pressures are low only based on a
visual inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip when the
tires are cool. Low trailer tire
pressure is a leading cause of trailer
tire blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time.
The trailer tire sidewall will show the
week and year the tire was
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266 Driving and Operating
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default
trailer tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).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) 0141. 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 094 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 94.
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Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 268
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 269
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 274
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 276
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 280
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Battery - North America . . . . . . 284
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 285
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 285
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 286
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 287
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 289
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 290
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 291
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 327Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
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272 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0276.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0272.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0272.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 277.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0283.
6. Battery - North America 0284.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0277.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0328.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 281.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0291.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0328.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 0274.
. 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
0271 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
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checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. 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 0358.
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 the oil level is
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. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 271 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 0354.
Specification
Ask for and use full synthetic 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.