Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 247
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 249
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 255
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 257
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 262
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Battery - North America . . . . . . 266
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 267
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 268
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 269
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . 271
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Sidemarker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 272
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Electrical System Overload . . . 273
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 274
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
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Vehicle Care 253
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0257.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0253.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0253.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 258.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0265.
6. Battery - North America 0266.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0258.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0312.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 263.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0274.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0312.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 0255.
. 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
0252 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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Vehicle Care 255
Caution
Failure to use the recommended
engine oil or equivalent can result
in engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade
engine oil. Cold Temperature
Operation: In an area of extreme
cold, where the temperature falls
below −29 °C (−20 °F), an SAE
0W-30 oil may be used. An oil of
this viscosity grade will provide
easier cold starting for the engine at
extremely low temperatures.
When selecting an oil of the
appropriate viscosity grade, it is
recommended to select an oil of the
correct specification. See
“Specification” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the
dexos1 specification are all that is
needed for good performance and
engine protection.
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.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on to
indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). It is possible that, if driving
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256 Vehicle Care
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. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the OIL LIFE REMAINING
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people 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 nextengine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0134.
2. Press and hold
Vfor several
seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0134.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
3. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the
display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in
Maintenance Schedule
0 329, and be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0338.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
(Continued)
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Vehicle Care 257
Caution (Continued)
warranty. Always use the correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0338.
If you need to check the
transmission fluid level, take the
vehicle to your dealer.
Engine Air Filter Life
System
If equipped, this feature provides
the engine air filter ’s remaining life
and best timing for a change. The
timing to change an engine air filter
depends on driving and
environmental conditions.
When to Change Engine Air
Filter
When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL
CHANGE message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the next engine oil change. When the REPLACE ENGINE AIR
FILTER SOON message displays,
the engine air filter should be
replaced at the earliest
convenience. The system must be
reset after the engine air filter is
changed.
If the CHECK AIR FILTER SYSTEM
message displays, see your dealer.
How to Reset Engine Air Filter
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine air filter is replaced so that
the system can calculate the next
engine air filter change.
To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the DIC. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0134.
3. Press
pto move to the Reset/
Disable display area. Select
Reset then press
Vfor several
seconds.
4. Press
Vto confirm the reset.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 252.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
.
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air filter,
see Maintenance Schedule
0 329.
. If equipped with Engine Air Filter
Life System, see Engine Air
Filter Life System 0257.
. If driving in very dusty areas,
follow the engine air filter
inspecting and changing
intervals, see Maintenance
Schedule 0329.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
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Service and Maintenance 329
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil 0253.
Once a Month
. Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure
0 290.
. Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection 0296.
. Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid
0 263.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system may not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for up to a year. The engine oil and filter must be changed at least once
a year and the oil life system must
be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See
Engine Oil Life System 0255.
Engine Air Filter Change
When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL
CHANGE message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the next engine oil change. When
the REPLACE ENGINE AIR FILTER
SOON message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the earliest convenience. Reset
the engine air filter life system after
the engine air filter is replaced. See
Engine Air Filter Life System 0257.
Air Conditioning Desiccant
(Replace Every Seven Years)
The air conditioning system requires
maintenance every seven years.
This service requires replacement of
the desiccant to help the longevity and efficient operation of the air
conditioning system. This service
can be complex. See your dealer.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every 12 000 km/
7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended for
the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See
Tire
Rotation 0297.
. Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil 0253 and
Engine Oil Life System 0255.
. If equipped with the engine air
filter life system, check the air
filter life percentage.
If necessary, replace the engine
air filter and reset the engine air
filter life system. See Engine Air
Filter Life System 0257. If the
vehicle is not equipped with the
engine air filter life system,
inspect the engine air cleaner
filter. See Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter 0257.
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Service and Maintenance 331
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required
Services - Normal12 000 km/7,500 mi
24 000 km/15,000 mi
36 000 km/22,500 mi
48 000 km/30,000 mi
60 000 km/37,500 mi
72 000 km/45,000 mi
84 000 km/52,500 mi
96 000 km/60,000 mi
108 000 km/67,500 mi
120 000 km/75,000 mi
132 000 km/82,500 mi
144 000 km/90,000 mi
156 000 km/97,500 mi
168 000 km/105,000 mi 180 000 km/112,500 mi
192 000 km/120,000 mi
204 000 km/127,500 mi
216 000 km/135,000 mi
228 000 km/142,500 mi
240 000 km/150,000 mi
Rotate tires and perform Required Services.
Check engine oil level and oil life percentage.
Change engine oil and filter, if needed. Check
engine air filter life percentage and status.
Change engine air filter, if needed.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace passenger compartment air filter. (1)@ @@@@@
Inspect evaporative control system. (2)@ @@
If the vehicle is not equipped with the engine air
filter life system, replace engine air cleaner
filter. (3)@@@
Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug wires
and/or boots.@
Change rear axle fluid, if equipped with AWD. (4)@
Drain and fill engine cooling system. (5)@
Visually inspect accessory drive belts. (6)@
Replace brake fluid. (7)
Replace windshield wiper blades. (8)
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
Replace hood and/or body lift support gas
struts. (9)@ @
Replace air conditioning desiccant. (10)
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332 Service and Maintenance
Footnotes—Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services - Normal
(1) Or every two years, whichever
comes first. More frequent
passenger compartment air filter
replacement may be needed if
driving in areas with heavy traffic,
poor air quality, high dust levels,
or environmental allergens.
Passenger compartment air filter
replacement may also be needed if
there is reduced airflow, window
fogging, or odors. Your GM dealer
can help determine when to replace
the filter.
(2) Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook-up,
routing, and condition.
(3) Or every four years, whichever
comes first. If driving in dusty
conditions, inspect the filter at each
oil change or more often as needed.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0257.
(4) Do not directly power wash the
transfer case and/or front/rear axle
output seals. High pressure water
can overcome the seals and contaminate the transfer case fluid.
Contaminated fluid will decrease the
life of the transfer case and/or axles
and should be replaced.
(5)
Or every five years, whichever
comes first. See Cooling System
0 258.
(6) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. Inspect for fraying,
excessive cracking, or damage;
replace, if needed.
(7) Replace brake fluid every five
years. See Brake Fluid 0265.
(8) Or every 12 months, whichever
comes first. See Wiper Blade
Replacement 0268.
(9) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. See Gas Strut(s)0269.
(10) Replace air conditioning
desiccant every seven years.