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274 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Use of aftermarket electronic trailer
sway control devices could result in
reduced trailer brake performance,
loss of trailer brakes, or other
malfunctions, and result in a crash.
You or others could be seriously
injured or killed. Before using one
of these devices:. Ask the device or trailer
manufacturer if the device
has been thoroughly tested
for compatibility with the
make, model, and year of
your vehicle and any optional
equipment installed on your
vehicle.
. Before driving, check the
trailer brakes are working
properly, if equipped. Drive
the vehicle with the trailer
attached on a level road
surface that is free of traffic
at about 32-40 km/h
(20-25 mph) and fully apply
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the manual trailer brake apply
lever. Also, check the trailer
brake lamps and other lamps
are functioning correctly.
. If the trailer brakes are not
operating properly at any
time, or if a DIC message
indicates problems with the
trailer connections or trailer
brakes, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of the
road when traffic conditions
allow.
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 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).
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276 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 285
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 293 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 297
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 298
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 300
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 301
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 319
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 328
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
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VEHICLE CARE 291
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0280 for reservoir location.
Caution
.
Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can be
heard all the time when the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will not
work well. That could lead to a
crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
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RelaysUsage
1 Rear window defogger
16 Liftgate
17 Liftglass
18 Rear fog lamp
20 Heated mirrorWheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See the
warranty manual for information
regarding the tire warranty and
where to get service. For
additional information refer to the
tire manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much flexing.
There could be a blowout
and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Underinflated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could cause
serious injury. Check all
tires frequently to
maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires
are cold.
.Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact —such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
.Worn or old tires can
cause a crash. If the tread
is badly worn,
replace them.
(Continued)
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312 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
.Replace any tires that have
been damaged by impacts
with potholes, curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires
can cause a crash. Only
the dealer or an authorized
tire service center should
repair, replace, dismount,
and mount the tires.
.Do not spin the tires in
excess of 56 km/h
(35 mph) on slippery
surfaces such as snow,
mud, ice, etc. Excessive
spinning may cause the
tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation 0319 for inflation
pressure adjustment for
high-speed driving.
All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with all-season
tires. These tires are designed to
provide good overall performance on
most road surfaces and weather
conditions. Original equipment tires
designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the
sidewall. Original equipment
all-season tires can be identified by
the last two characters of this TPC
code, which will be “MS.”
Consider installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving on snow or
ice-covered roads is expected.
All-season tires provide adequate
performance for most winter driving
conditions, but they may not offer the
same level of traction or performance
as winter tires on snow or ice-covered
roads. See Winter Tires 0312.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally
equipped with winter tires. Winter
tires are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice-covered roads. Consider installing winter tires
on the vehicle if frequent driving on
ice or snow covered roads is expected.
See your dealer for details regarding
winter tire availability and proper tire
selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires
0 326.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction, increased
road noise, and shorter tread life.
After changing to winter tires, be alert
for changes in vehicle handling and
braking.
If using winter tires:
. Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
. Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and speed
rating as the original equipment
tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If winter
tires with a lower speed rating are
chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.
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Low-Profile Tires
The vehicle has low profile tires
that are classified as touring tires
and are designed for on road use.
The low-profile, wide tread design
is not recommended for off-road
driving. SeeOff-Road Driving 0189,
for additional information.
Caution
Low-profile tires are more
susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than
standard profile tires. Tire and/or
wheel assembly damage can occur
when coming into contact with
road hazards like potholes, or sharp
edged objects, or when sliding into
a curb. The warranty does not cover
this type of damage. Keep tires set
to the correct inflation pressure and
when possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other road
hazards.
All-Terrain Tires
This vehicle may have all-terrain tires.
These tires provide good performance
on most road surfaces, weather
conditions, and for off-road driving.
See Off-Road Driving 0189.
The tread pattern on these tires may
wear more quickly than other tires.
Consider rotating the tires more
frequently than at 12 000 km
(7,500 mi) intervals if irregular wear is
noted when the tires are inspected.
See Tire Inspection 0324.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into the sidewall. The
example shows a typical passenger
vehicle tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric)/Spare Tire
(1) Tire Size:The tire size code is
a combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size ”illustration later in this
section for more detail.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire Performance
Criteria Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
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314 VEHICLE CARE
molded onto the sidewall. GM's
TPC specifications meet or exceed
all federal safety guidelines.
(3) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
DOT Tire Date of Manufacture
:
The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured
date. The first two digits represent
the week (01-52) and the last two
digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310.
(4) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are the
Tire Identification Number (TIN).
The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date
the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides of
the tire, although only one side
may have the date of
manufacture.
(5) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies in the
sidewall and under the tread.
(6) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
:Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more information,
see Uniform Tire Quality Grading
0 328.
(7) Maximum Cold Inf lation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support that
load. For information on
recommended tire pressure see
Tire Pressure 0317 and Vehicle
Load Limits 0196. (8) Temporary Use Only
:Only
use a temporary spare tire until
the road tire is repaired and
replaced. This spare tire should
not be driven on over 112 km/h
(70 mph), or 88 km/h (55 mph)
when pulling a trailer, with the
proper inflation pressure. See
Full-Size Spare Tire 0341.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
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VEHICLE CARE 317
placard.
SeeTire Pressure 0317 and Vehicle
Load Limits 0196.
Radial Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the ply cords that extend
to the beads are laid at 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating
the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface. The
amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread of a tire when only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
of tread remains. See
When It Is
Time for New Tires 0325.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire's
traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are determined
by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading 0328.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lb) plus the rated cargo
load. See Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire
:Load on an individual tire
due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and
cargo weight. Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a vehicle
showing the vehicle capacity
weight and the original equipment
tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” under
Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires that
do not have enough air, can
result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.Premature or
irregular wear.
(Continued)