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Driving and Operating 269
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 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 0309.
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.
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Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0374. 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 0309.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
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.
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.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity for
your vehicle. Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, 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
.GAWR-RR: Gross Axle Weight Rating-Rear
.Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating
See “Weight-Distributing Hitch and
Adjustment” underTowing Equipment 0274
to determine if equalizer bars are required
to obtain the maximum trailer weight
rating.
See “Trailer Brakes” underTowing
Equipment 0274 to determine if brakes are
required based on your trailer's weight.
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Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 296
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 297
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 299
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 305
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 305
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 320
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 326
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 331
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 336
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 337 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 340
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 342
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 343
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 344
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 357
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
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1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0357.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0357.
3. Battery - North America 0314.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0320.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0302.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0306.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0302.
8. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0306.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0305.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 313.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0311.
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1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0357.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0357.
3. Battery - North America 0314.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0320.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0302.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0306.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0302.
8. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0306.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0305.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 313.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0311.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine Oil”
in the Duramax diesel supplement. 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. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0304.
.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 0299 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.
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When to Add Engine Oil
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 0387.
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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 0299 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 0383.
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.
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.
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.
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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 offactors 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 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
REMAINING OIL LIFE 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 next engine 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 percentage on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 123.
2. Press the thumbwheel on the steering wheel, or the trip odometer reset stem if
the vehicle does not have DIC controls,
for several seconds. When the
confirmation message displays, select
YES. The oil life will change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows: 1. Display the oil life percentage on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 123.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within five seconds.
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3. If the display changes to 100%, thesystem 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 percentage is near 0%, the engine oil
life system has not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
How to Check 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 your dealer and have it
repaired as soon as possible.
There is a special procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be done at
your dealer. Contact your dealer for
additional information.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct automatic transmission
fluid. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0383.
Change the fluid and filter at the intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule 0374, and
be sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0383.
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 the Engine Air Filter
When the Driver Information Center (DIC)
displays a message to replace the engine air
filter at the next oil change, follow this
timing.
When the DIC displays a message to replace
the engine air filter soon, replace the engine
air filter at the earliest convenience.
The system must be reset after the engine
air filter is changed. If the DIC displays a message to check the
engine air filter system, see your dealer.
How to Reset the Engine Air Filter Life
System
To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) 0123.
3. Press the thumbwheel on the steering wheel to move to the Reset/Disable
display area. Select Reset then press the
thumbwheel for several seconds.
4. Press the thumbwheel to confirm the reset.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is on the driver
side of the engine compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0299.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
If the vehicle is not equipped with the
engine air filter life system see Maintenance
Schedule 0374 for intervals on inspecting
and replacing the engine air cleaner filter.