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318 VEHICLE CARE
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences
in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's
ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance. Warning: The
traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does notinclude acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade
for this tire is established for a tirethat is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned and
balanced at the factory to provide the
longest tire life and best overall
performance. Adjustments to wheel
alignment and tire balancing are not
necessary on a regular basis. Consider
an alignment check if there is unusual
tire wear or the vehicle is significantly
pulling to one side or the other. Some
slight pull to the left or right,
depending on the crown of the road
and/or other road surface variations
such as troughs or ruts, is normal.
If the vehicle is vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, the tires and
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
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320 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slow
and readjust or remove the traction
device if it contacts the vehicle. Do
not spin the wheels. If traction
devices are used, install them on
the rear tires.
Caution
If the vehicle is equipped with a tire
size other than P245/40R18, 245/
40R18, 275/35R18, 255/35R19, 265/
35ZR19, or 295/30ZR19 use tire
chains only where legal and only
when necessary. Use low profile
chains that add no more than
12 mm thickness to the tire tread
and inner sidewall. Use chains that
are the proper size for the tires.
Install them on the tires of the rear
axle. Don't use chains on the tires(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
of the front axle. Tighten them as
tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and
follow the chain manufacturer's
instructions. If the chains contact
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.
If a Tire Goes Flat
If the vehicle has run-flat tires, there
is no need to stop on the side of the
road to change a flat tire. See Run-Flat
Tires 0301.
{Warning
Special tools and procedures are
required to service a run-flat tire.
If these special tools and
procedures are not used, injury or
vehicle damage may occur. Always
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
be sure the proper tools and
procedures, as described in the
service manual, are used.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires are
maintained properly. See Tires0300.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if
there is ever a blowout, here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a
stop, well off the road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction as used in
a skid. Stop pressing the accelerator
pedal and steer to straighten the
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vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off
the road, if possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, it
is designed only for changing a flat
tire. If it is used for anything else,
you or others could be badly injured
or killed if the vehicle slips off the
jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
If this vehicle does not have run-flat
tires and a tire goes flat, avoid further
tire and wheel damage by driving
slowly to a level place, well off the
road, if possible. 1. Turn on the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard Warning
Flashers 0158.
2. Set the parking brake firmly. 3. Put an automatic transmission in
P (Park) or a manual
transmission in 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
4. Turn off the ignition.
5. Inspect the flat tire.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash. Never
attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat. Have your
dealer or an authorized tire service
center repair or replace the flat tire
as soon as possible.
If this vehicle has a tire sealant kit
and the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a puncture larger than
6 mm (0.25 in), the tire is too severely
damaged for the tire sealant and compressor kit to be effective. If the
tire has a puncture less than
6 mm (0.25 in) in the tread area of the
tire, see
Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit 0321.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{Warning
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area
with poor ventilation is dangerous.
Engine exhaust may enter the
vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death. Never run the engine in an
enclosed area that has no fresh air
ventilation. For more information,
see Engine Exhaust 0200.
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{Warning
Overinflating a tire could cause the
tire to rupture and you or others
could be injured. Be sure to read
and follow the tire sealant and
compressor kit instructions and
inflate the tire to its recommended
pressure. Do not exceed the
recommended pressure.
{Warning
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of
the vehicle could cause injury. In a
sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store the tire sealant and
compressor kit in its original
location.If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire or tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire.
The tire sealant and compressor can
be used to temporarily seal punctures
up to 6 mm (0.25 in) in the tread area
of the tire. It can also be used to
inflate an underinflated tire.
If the tire has been separated from the
wheel, has damaged sidewalls, or has
a large puncture, the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire sealant
and compressor kit to be effective. See
Roadside Service
0367.
Read and follow all of the tire sealant
and compressor kit instructions. The kit includes:
1. Selector Switch (Sealant/Air
or Air Only)
2. On/Off Button
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get an accurate pressure reading.
The compressor may be turned
on/off until the correct pressure
is reached.
Caution
If the recommended pressure
cannot be reached after
approximately 25 minutes, the
vehicle should not be driven farther.
The tire is too severely damaged
and the tire sealant and compressor
kit cannot inflate the tire. Remove
the power plug from the accessory
power outlet and unscrew the
inflating hose from the tire valve.
SeeRoadside Service 0367.
11. Press the on/off button (2) to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit off.
The tire is not sealed and will
continue to leak air until the
vehicle is driven and the sealant
is distributed in the tire,
therefore, Steps 12–18 must be
done immediately after Step 11. Be careful while handling the tire
sealant and compressor kit as it
could be warm after usage.
12. Unplug the power plug (8) from the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle.
13. Turn the sealant/air hose (6) counterclockwise to remove it
from the tire valve stem.
14. Replace the tire valve stem cap.
15. Replace the sealant/air hose (6), and the power plug (8) back in
their original location.
16. If the flat tire was able to inflateto the recommended inflation
pressure, remove the maximum
speed label from the sealant
canister (5) and place it in a
highly visible location. Do not exceed the speed on this label
until the damaged tire is repaired
or replaced.
17. Return the equipment to its original storage location in the
vehicle.
18. Immediately drive the vehicle 8 km (5 mi) to distribute the
sealant in the tire.
19. Stop at a safe location and check the tire pressure. Refer to
Steps 1–11 under “Using the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit
without Sealant to Inflate a Tire
(Not Punctured).”
If the tire pressure has fallen
more than 68 kPa (10 psi) below
the recommended inflation
pressure, stop driving the vehicle.
The tire is too severely damaged
and the tire sealant cannot seal
the tire. See Roadside Service
0 367.
If the tire pressure has not
dropped more than 68 kPa
(10 psi) from the recommended
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{Warning
Fans or other moving engine parts
can injure you badly. Keep your
hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
5. Connect one end of the red positive (+) cable to the remote
positive (+) terminal on the
discharged battery.
6. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the good
battery.
7. Connect one end of the black negative (–) cable to the
negative (–) terminal of the good
battery.
8. Connect the other end of the black negative (–) cable to the
remote negative (–) grounding
terminal for the discharged
battery. 9. Start the engine in the vehicle
with the good battery and run
the engine at idle speed for at
least four minutes.
10. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
Caution
If the jumper cables are connected
or removed in the wrong order,
electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always connect and
remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or
other metal.
Jumper Cable Removal
Reverse the sequence exactly when
removing the jumper cables.
After starting the disabled vehicle and
removing the jumper cables, allow it
to idle for several minutes.
Towing the Vehicle
Caution
Incorrectly towing a disabled
vehicle may cause damage. The
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not lash or
hook to suspension components.
Use the proper straps around the
tires to secure the vehicle. Do not
drag a locked wheel/tire while
loading the vehicle. Do not use a
sling type lift to tow the vehicle.
This could damage the vehicle.
GM recommends a flatbed tow truck
to transport a disabled vehicle. Use
ramps to help reduce approach angles,
if necessary. A towed vehicle should
have its drive wheels off the ground.
Contact Roadside Service or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
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SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 343
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Special Application Services
Special Application Services . . . . . 351
Additional Maintenance
and Care
Additional Maintenanceand Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
General Information
Your vehicle is an important
investment. This section describes the
required maintenance for the vehicle.
Follow this schedule to help protect
against major repair expenses
resulting from neglect or inadequate
maintenance. It may also help to
maintain the value of the vehicle if it
is sold. It is the responsibility of the
owner to have all required
maintenance performed.
Your dealer has trained technicians
who can perform required
maintenance using genuine
replacement parts. They have
up-to-date tools and equipment for
fast and accurate diagnostics. Many
dealers have extended evening and
Saturday hours, courtesy
transportation, and online scheduling
to assist with service needs.
Your dealer recognizes the importance
of providing competitively priced
maintenance and repair services. With
trained technicians, the dealer is the place for routine maintenance such as
oil changes and tire rotations and
additional maintenance items like
tires, brakes, batteries, and wiper
blades.
Caution
Damage caused by improper
maintenance can lead to costly
repairs and may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Maintenance
intervals, checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and lubricants
are important to keep the vehicle in
good working condition.
Do not have chemical flushes that
are not approved by GM performed
on the vehicle. The use of flushes,
solvents, cleaners, or lubricants that
are not approved by GM could
damage the vehicle, requiring
expensive repairs that are not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
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344 SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
The Tire Rotation and Required
Services are the responsibility of the
vehicle owner. It is recommended to
have your dealer perform these
services every 12 000 km/7,500 mi.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy, and
reduces vehicle emissions.
Because of the way people use
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
There may need to be more frequent
checks and services. The Additional
Required Services - Normal are for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits on the Tire
and Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0189.
. Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving limits. .
Use the recommended fuel.
See Recommended Fuel (LGX 3.6L
V6 Engine) 0245 orRecommended
Fuel (LTG 2.0L L4 Engine) 0245 or
Recommended Fuel (LF3 3.6L V6
Twin Turbo and LT4 6.2L
V8 Engines) 0245.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services -
Severe are for vehicles that are:
. Mainly driven in heavy city traffic
in hot weather.
. Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain.
. Frequently towing a trailer.
. Used for high speed or competitive
driving. .
Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Severe chart.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous and can cause serious
injury. Perform maintenance work
only if the required information,
proper tools, and equipment are
available. If they are not, see your
dealer to have a trained technician
do the work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work 0259.