Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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244 Driving and Operating
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. Making very sharp turns
could cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when towing,
so the 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 0271.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.
When parking the vehicle and 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.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, 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.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 245
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 the Maintenance
Schedule 0332. It is especially important to
check the 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 0271.
Trailer Towing
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.
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.
Trailer Weight Ratings
When towing a trailer, the combined weight
of the vehicle, vehicle contents, trailer, and
trailer contents must be below all of the
maximum weight ratings for the vehicle,
including:
.GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating
.GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
.Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
.Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating
See “Weight-Distributing Hitch Adjustment”
under Towing Equipment 0248 to
determine if equalizer bars are required to
obtain the maximum trailer weight rating.
Chevrolet Blazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 263
recheck the level. See“Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications 0345.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above
or below the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful to the
engine. If the oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the engine has so
much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper
operating range), the engine could be
damaged. Drain the excess oil or limit
driving of the vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0257 for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere
in the proper operating range. Push the
dipstick all the way back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil depends on
both the proper oil specification and
viscosity grade. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0340.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that meet the
dexos1 specification. Engine oils that have
been approved by GM as meeting the
dexos1 specification are marked with the
dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
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 0W-20 viscosity grade engine oil for
the 2.0L L4 and 2.5L L4 engines.
Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade engine oil for
the 3.6L V6 engine. 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.
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264 Vehicle Care
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 varyconsiderably. 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 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 next engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Display the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base and Midlevel) 0107 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 110.
2. Press and hold the thumbwheel on the DIC while the Oil Life display is active.
3. Confirm yes, and the oil life will change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows: 1. Place the ignition in Service Mode. See Ignition Positions 0200.
2. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC menu. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base and Midlevel) 0107 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 110.
3. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times within five seconds.
4. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
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Vehicle Care 269
Warning (Continued)
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.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a mix of
DEX-COOL coolant that meets GM
Standard GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause damage
to the engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Never dispose of engine coolant by putting
it in the trash, or by pouring it on the
ground or into sewers, streams, or bodies of
water. Have the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used coolant
disposal. This will help protect the
environment and your health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when
checking the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant inside the
coolant surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down. See
Engine
Overheating 0271. The coolant surge tank is in the engine
compartment on the driver side of the
vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 257.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts can
burn you. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough.
{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.
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324 Vehicle Care
Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or
an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
Cleaning Underhood Components
Caution
Do not power wash any component
under the hood that has this
e
symbol.
This could cause damage that would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Solvents or aggressive cleaners may harm
underhood components. The usages of these
chemicals should be avoided.
Recommend water only.
A pressure washer may be used, but care
must be utilized. The following criteria must
be followed:
.Water pressure must be kept below
14 000 KPa (2,000 PSI).
.Water temperature must be below 80 °C
(180 °F).
.Spray nozzle with a 40 degree wide angle
spray pattern or wider must be used.
.Nozzle must be kept at least 30 cm (1 ft)
away from all surfaces.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat sealant/
wax materials is not recommended.
If painted surfaces are damaged, see your
dealer to have the damage assessed and
repaired. Foreign materials such as calcium
chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage the vehicle's finish if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as
soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are marked safe
for painted surfaces to remove foreign
matter.
Occasional hand waxing or mild polishing
should be done to remove residue from the
paint finish. See your dealer for approved
cleaning products.
Do not apply waxes or polishes to uncoated
plastic, vinyl, rubber, decals, simulated
wood, or flat paint as damage can occur.
Caution
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish may damage it. Use only
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
non-abrasive waxes and polishes that are
made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish
on the vehicle.
To keep the paint finish looking new, keep
the vehicle garaged or covered whenever
possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Moldings
Caution
Failure to clean and protect the bright
metal moldings can result in a hazy
white finish or pitting. This damage
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
The bright metal moldings on the vehicle
are aluminum, chrome, or stainless steel. To
prevent damage always follow these
cleaning instructions:
.Be sure the molding is cool to the touch
before applying any cleaning solution.
.Use only approved cleaning solutions for
aluminum, chrome, or stainless steel.
Some cleaners are highly acidic or contain
alkaline substances and can damage the
moldings.
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Index 371
Dual Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
E
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Electrical System
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 280
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 285
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . 100
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Coolant Temperature WarningLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . 127
F
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . 230
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Economy, Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 241
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 280
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
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372 Index
Fuses (cont'd)Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 285
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Engine Oil Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 89
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . 152
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Guidance Problems with the Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . 123
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
High Intensity Discharge (HID)Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . 40
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Heater
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . 279
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Hooks
Shopping Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . 45
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
I
If the System Needs Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . .61
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90, 93
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 128
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . .318
K
Keyless Entry Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7