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DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination of
the vehicle and trailer will not
accelerate as quickly and is much
longer than the vehicle alone. 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 TurnsCaution
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.
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 Overheating
0279.
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.
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252 DRIVING AND OPERATING
3. When the wheel chocks are inplace, 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 0345. 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
0 279.
Trailer Towing (V6 Engine,
Non Twin Turbo)
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle. Trailering is different than just driving
the vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, acceleration,
braking, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used
properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.
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VEHICLE CARE 257
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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276 VEHICLE CARE
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.
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{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but there
would not be an overheat warning.
The engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant is
not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
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 bottom of
the fill neck, 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.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap from the top
chamber when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise. If you hear a
hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any pressure still left
to be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it. Open the
surge tank service port cap to
the lower chamber. The service
port is behind the top chamber.
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VEHICLE CARE 279
3. Fill the surge tank top chamberwith the proper mixture to the
bottom of the fill neck. The top
chamber needs to be completely
full. Fill the surge tank bottom
chamber through the service port
to approximately half.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off and the surge
tank service port cap open, start
the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan(s).
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank top
chamber may be lower. If the level is lower, add more of the
proper mixture to the surge tank
top chamber until the level
reaches the bottom of the
fill neck.
5. Replace the surge tank pressure cap tightly and close the surge
tank service port cap.
6. Check the level in the surge tank top and bottom chambers when
the cooling system has cooled
down. If the coolant is not at the
proper levels, repeat Steps 1–
6 and reinstall the pressure cap
and close the service port. If the
coolant still is not at the proper
levels when the system cools
down again, see your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap
is properly and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of the engine overheating.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears, get
service help right away. See Roadside
Service 0367.
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. Have the vehicle
serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system and
vehicle. Have any leaks fixed
right away.
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280 VEHICLE CARE
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment with No
Overheat Warning
(V-Series Only)
The V-Series hood vent is functional,
and will allow water from rain and car
washes to enter the engine
compartment and contact hot
surfaces. If steam is seen coming from
the hood vent with no accompanying
overheat warning, no action is
required.
If No Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen or
heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system checked
for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
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392 INDEX
Driving (cont'd)Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 186
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Track Events and Competitive . . . 181
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 131
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . 255
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . 291
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 295
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Engine (cont'd)
Check Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . 261
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . 125
Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Engine Oil
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . .254, 255
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . 156
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . 161
F
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . 158
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 272
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . . . . 237
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Front Seats Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246