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Driving and Operating 237
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear ofthe 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 0316. 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 0258.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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 weight of the
loaded vehicle and trailer must be within
the weight ratings for the vehicle.
.GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating
.GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
.Maximum Trailer Weight Rating
.Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight See
“Weight-Distributing Hitch Adjustment”
under Towing Equipment 0240 to
determine if equalizer bars are required to
obtain the maximum trailer weight rating.
See “Trailer Brakes” underTowing
Equipment 0240 to determine if brakes are
required based on your trailer's weight.
The only way to be sure the weight is not
exceeding any of these ratings is to weigh
the tow vehicle and trailer combination,
fully loaded for the trip, getting individual
weights for each of these items.
{Warning
You and others could be seriously injured
or killed if the trailer is too heavy or the
trailer brakes are inadequate for the load.
The vehicle may be damaged, and the
repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Only tow a trailer if all the steps in this
section have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about
towing a trailer.
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Driving and Operating 241
Cross the safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomes separated
from the hitch. Always leave just enough
slack so the combination can turn. Never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg (1,000 lb) must
be equipped with brake systems and with
brakes for each axle. Trailer braking
equipment conforming to Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking system if
the loaded weight of the trailer exceeds
certain minimums that can vary from state
to state. Read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both the vehicle
anti-lock brakes and the trailer brakes may
not function, which could result in a crash.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are working at
the beginning of each trip, and periodically
on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer turn
signals should will illuminate to indicate the
vehicle is turning, changing lanes,
or stopping. When towing a trailer, the
arrows on the instrument cluster will
illuminate even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are burned out.
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).
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is used for
vehicle service and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 096.
(Continued)
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Vehicle Care 243
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 244
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 245
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 245
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 247
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps (Base
Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps
(Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps (Base
Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps
(Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 274
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 278
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 283
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 287
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 291
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 293
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 293
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 295
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 302
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 305
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Vehicle Care 245
Accessories and Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or making
modifications to the vehicle can affect
vehicle performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic
systems like antilock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause malfunction
or damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Damage to suspension components caused
by modifying vehicle height outside of
factory settings will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting
from modifications or the installation or use
of non-GM certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is not
covered under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on the
vehicle. See your dealer to accessorize the
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 060.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on your
vehicle if you do not have the proper
knowledge, service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow owner’s manual
procedures and consult the service
manual for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0339.
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
see Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 59. If equipped with remote vehicle start, open
the hood before performing any service
work to prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See
Remote Vehicle Start 017.
Keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service
work performed. See Maintenance Records
0 327.Caution
Even small amounts of contamination can
cause damage to vehicle systems. Do not
allow contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine stop/start,
turn the vehicle off before opening the
hood. If the vehicle is on, the engine will
start when the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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248 Vehicle Care
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWasher Fluid 0259.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0255.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0250.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0255.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0250.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0253.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0260.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0302.
9. Battery - North America 0261.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0274.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0302
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Vehicle Care 249
1.3L L3 Engine (L3T)
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0259.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0255. 3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
Engine Oil0250.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0250.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0255. 6.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0253.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0260.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0302.
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260 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
.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 proper
sequence to torque specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications 0329.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance expected can change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are installed
or if parts are improperly installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0247 for the
location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
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Vehicle Care 261
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it can
spill on the engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could
be burned, and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See Brake
System Warning Light 098. Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule
0316.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0325.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number shown on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. For replacement of the
battery, see your dealer.
Stop/Start System
The vehicle has a Stop/Start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. See
Stop/Start System 0195. It has an Absorbed
Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt battery. Installation
of a standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger on the
12-volt AGM battery, some chargers have an
AGM battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on the
charger to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
(Continued)