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DRIVING AND OPERATING 255
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer, and attach the
chains to the holes on the trailer hitch
platform. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer.
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
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking
system if the loaded weight of the
trailer exceeds certain minimums that
can vary from state to state. Read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed, adjusted,
and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic brake system. If you do,both the vehicle anti-lock brakes and
the trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
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.
Towing Equipment
(V6 Twin Turbo)
{Warning
Never tow a trailer with your
vehicle. It was not designed or
intended to tow a trailer.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0129.
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.
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Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 272
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 283
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 286
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 287
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 291
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 291
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 295
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 317
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
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Tire Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 332
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
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 0283 and
Jump Starting - North America 0329
and the back cover.
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California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag initiators,
seat 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.
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 087.
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’s 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 Publication Ordering
Information 0372.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 086.
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1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 280.
2. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0329.
3. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0292.
4. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 274.
5. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0329.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0268.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0274.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Oil 0268.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0272.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0282.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 0271.
. 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 0261 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 271
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. 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 servicepeople 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:
1. Using the DIC buttons, display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the
DIC. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0138.
2. Press and hold SEL 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
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3. Remove the screws (5) on top ofthe air cleaner/filter cover.
4. Lift the air cleaner/filter cover away from the air cleaner/filter
housing.
5. Pull out the air cleaner/filter.
6. Inspect or replace the air cleaner/filter.
7. Reverse Steps 1–5 to reinstall the air cleaner/filter cover.
6.2L V8 Engine (LT4)
1. Remove the screws on top of the air cleaner/filter cover. 2. Lift the air cleaner/filter cover
away from the air cleaner/filter
housing.
3. Pull out the air cleaner/filter.
4. Inspect or replace the air cleaner/filter.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 to reinstall the air cleaner/filter cover.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. Use caution
when working on the engine. Do
not start the engine or drive the
vehicle with the air cleaner/filter
off, as flames may be present if the
engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/filter in place when
driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine
to maintain the correct working
temperature.
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6.2L V8 Engine (LT4)
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{Warning
An underhood electric fan 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
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant.
See Maintenance Schedule 0345 and
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0 354.
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 0279.
What to Use
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down to
−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.