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DRIVING AND OPERATING 283
Warning (Continued)
.Avoid using electronic devices
while pumping fuel.
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle. Contact
your dealer or trailering dealer for
assistance with preparing the vehicle
to tow a trailer. Read the entire
section before towing a trailer.
To tow a disabled vehicle, seeTowing
the Vehicle 0366. To tow the vehicle
behind another vehicle such as a
motor home, see Recreational Vehicle
Towing 0368.
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips
{Warning
You can lose control when towing a
trailer if the correct equipment is
not used or the vehicle is not driven
properly. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the vehicle
may not stop as expected. You and
others could be seriously injured.
The vehicle may also be damaged,
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask
your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer
with the vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
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.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and follow all
state and local laws that apply to
trailer towing. These requirements
vary from state to state.
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. Even if
not required, you should install
extended side view mirrors if your
visibility is limited or restricted
while towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first
800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to
prevent damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
.It is recommended to perform the
first oil change before heavy towing.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 285
trailer brake controller to check the
trailer brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo and
trailer are secure and that the lamps
and any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused by
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination will
not accelerate as quickly and is much
longer so it is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehiclebefore 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 Turns
Caution
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 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 0312.

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286 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
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.
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 0380. 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
0 312.
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.

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296 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 306
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 307
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 316
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 317
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 318
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 319
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 319
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 321
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 325
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338 Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 339
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 347
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 368

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1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0307.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 303.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 303.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0308.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0315.
6. Battery - North America 0316.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 308.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0364.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0313.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0322.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0364.

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302 VEHICLE CARE
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0307.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 303.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 303. 4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View).
See Cooling System 0308.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0315.
6. Battery - North America 0316. 7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 308.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting -
North America 0364.

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9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.See Washer Fluid 0313.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0322.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0364.
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 0305.
.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 0300 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.
.If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is warm,
or at least 30 minutes if the engine
is not warm. Pull out the dipstick,
wipe it with a clean paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L L4 Engine
3.6L V6 Engine

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If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and the
engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then 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 0394.
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
0 300 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 finished.
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 0389.
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
For the 2.0L L4 engine, use
SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade engine oil.
For the 3.6L V6 engine, 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.