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Vehicle Care 335
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.
When the system has
calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it indicates that an
oil change is necessary.
A CHANGE ENGINE OILSOON 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 may 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. Using the DIC controls on the right side of the
steering wheel, display
REMAINING OIL LIFE on
the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
0136. When remaining oil
life is low, the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the
display.
2. Press
Von the DIC
controls and hold down for
a few seconds to clear the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message and reset
the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the
oil life display accidentally
at any time other than
after the oil is changed.
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336 Vehicle Care
It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes back
on when the vehicle is started,
the engine oil life system has
not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
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.
Caution
Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and
the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
warranty. Always use the
correct automatic
transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0429.
See your dealer to have the
fluid and filter changed at the
intervals listed in the
Maintenance Schedule 0425.
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 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 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)
0136.
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Vehicle Care 339
{Warning
Do not touch heater or
radiator hoses, or other
engine parts. They can be
very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the 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.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in
the vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL engine coolant
mixture. This coolant needs to
be checked and changed at
appropriate levels. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0429 and
Maintenance Schedule 0425.
The following explains the
cooling system and how to
check and add coolant when it
is low. If there is a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0342.
What to Use
{Warning
Do not touch heater or
radiator hoses, or other
engine parts. They can be
very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the 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, pouring it on the
ground, or pouring 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.
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340 Vehicle Care
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. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level mark is
not at or above the indicated
mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant. Be surethe cooling system is cool
before this is done. See
Engine Overheating
0342.
The coolant surge tank is in
the engine compartment on
the driver side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0331.
How to Add Coolant to the
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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could
cause the engine to
overheat and could cause
system damage. If coolant is
not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
The coolant surge tank
pressure cap can be removed
when the cooling system,
including the surge tank
pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
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Vehicle Care 341
1. Turn the pressure capslowly counterclockwise.
If a hiss is heard, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some
pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. If topping off the level inthe coolant surge tank, add
the proper mixture until
the level reaches the mark
on the front of the tank
and replace the cap.
Operate the vehicle.
Repeat steps 1–3, as
necessary.
If filling the system (such
as after servicing), follow
the Automatic Coolant
Service Fill Instructions.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss
and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is
properly and tightly secured.
Automatic Coolant
Service Fill Instructions
This feature assists in filling
and removing air from the
cooling system after service of
components or when coolant
is added after being too low. To activate the fill and air
removal process:
1. With a cold system, add coolant to the indicated
mark on the surge tank.
2. Replace the cap on the surge tank.
3. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
4. Turn the ignition to Service Mode. See Ignition
Positions 0247.
5. Turn off the air conditioning.
6. Set the parking brake.
7. At the same time, press the accelerator and the
brake for automatic
transmission vehicles for
two seconds, then release.
At the end of the cycle, check
the coolant level in the surge
tank and add coolant if it is
low. Turn off the vehicle, allow
the Electronic Control Module
(ECM) to go to sleep, about
2 minutes, and repeat
Steps 3-7.
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342 Vehicle Care
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control
valves while watching the level
of the coolant in the surge
tank. If the tank empties, turn
the ignition off, carefully
remove the surge tank cap,
refill to the indicated mark, and
repeat Steps 3-6. The fill and
air removal process will run for
approximately 10 minutes.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several
indicators to warn of the
engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge
0123. The vehicle may also
display a message on the
Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to
lift the hood when this
warning appears, get service
help right away. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0439. If the decision is made to lift
the hood, make sure the
vehicle is parked on a level
surface. Then check to see if
the engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not
continue to run the engine.
Have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if
there is a leak in the engine
cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system
and vehicle. Have any leaks
fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids
from a hot cooling system
are under pressure. Turning
the pressure cap, even a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
If No Steam Is Coming
from the Engine
Compartment
If an engine overheat warning
is displayed but no steam can
be seen or heard, the problem
may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a
hot day.
.Stops after high-speed
driving.
.Idles for long periods in
traffic.
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Vehicle Care 343
If the overheat warning is
displayed with no sign of
steam:1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and
to the highest fan speed.
Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to
P (Park) or N (Neutral), and
let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant
temperature gauge is no
longer in the overheated area
or the engine coolant
temperature warning light no
longer displays, the vehicle
can be driven. Continue to
drive the vehicle slowly for
about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not
come back on, continue to
drive normally and have the
cooling system checked for
proper fill and function. If the warning continues, pull
over, stop, and park the
vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam,
idle the engine for
three minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed,
turn off the engine until it
cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid
is needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the
vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The appropriate message will
appear in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) when
the fluid level is low.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview
0331 for reservoir
location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid
that contains any type of
water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper
blades to chatter or skip.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
(Continued)
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Vehicle Care 345
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
Overview0331 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.
.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 (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 0128.
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
0 425.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0429.