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Driving and Operating 277
Warning (Continued)
.Do not move the vehicle if someone is
in the path of the trailer. Some parts
of the trailer might be underwater and
not visible to people who are assisting
in launching the boat.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before
backing the trailer into the water to prevent
damage to the electrical circuits on the
trailer. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the water.
If the trailer has electric brakes that can
function when the trailer is submerged, it
might help to leave the electrical trailer
connector attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water: 1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating, but no further than
necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the vehicle. 5. Gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer out of the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.
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. See Maintenance
Schedule 0392. It is especially important to
check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically to see 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 0318.
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306 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 307
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 308
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 310
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326 Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . 328
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 331
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 336
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . 339
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . 341
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 347
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 351
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 358
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 360
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 360
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 361
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 374
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Vehicle Care 311
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0374.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0374.
3. Battery - North America 0324.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0315.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0311.
6. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0316.
7. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0320.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0311.
9. Auxiliary Battery. Battery - North
America 0324.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 323.
11. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0336.
12. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System 0316.
13. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0321.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.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 0313.
.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 0310 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 0406.
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 0310 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 0401.
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 5W-30 viscosity grade engine oil.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of
extreme cold, where the temperature falls
below −29 °C (−20 °F), use SAE 0W-30 oil. 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.
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Vehicle Care 313
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.
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 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 whowill 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)
(Base Level) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0125.
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%.
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314 Vehicle Care
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows:1. Display the oil life percentage on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0125.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within five seconds.
3. If the display changes to 100%, the system 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
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level. The only reason for
fluid loss is a transmission leak or
overheated transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid level
dipstick. There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the transmission fluid in these vehicles. Because this procedure is
difficult, this should be done at the dealer.
Contact the dealer for additional information
or the procedure can be found in the service
manual. See
Publication Ordering
Information 0416.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct automatic transmission
fluid. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0401.
Change the fluid and filter at the scheduled
maintenance intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule 0392. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0401.
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) (Base
Level) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel
and Uplevel) 0125.
3. Press
Ton the steering wheel, or press
the trip odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC controls, to
move to the Reset/Disable display area.
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316 Vehicle Care
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt can
easily get into the engine, which could
damage it. Always have the air cleaner/
filter in place when driving.
Cooling System
If the vehicle has the Duramax diesel
engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement.
The cooling system allows the engine to
maintain the correct working temperature.
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
Do not touch heater, radiator, a/c pipes
or 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 cooling system in the vehicle is filled
with DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in the vehicle for
5 years or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
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, seeEngine Overheating 0318.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.
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.
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Vehicle Care 317
.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 coolant surge tank is in the engine
compartment on the driver side of the
vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview
0 310. 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, wait until it
cools down. The coolant level should be at
or above the indicated mark. If it is not,
there may be a leak in the cooling system.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is
not at or above the indicated mark, see the
following sections on how to add coolant to
the coolant surge tank following.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see
“Cooling System”
in the Duramax diesel
supplement for the proper coolant fill
procedure.
{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
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.