2006 HUMMER H3 Owner Manual M
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You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce
the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not,
you or others could be hurt.
iii
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Vehicle Damage Warnings
Vehicle Symbols
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
• Features and Controls in Section 2
• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
• Climate Controls in Section 3
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
• Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
• Audio System(s) in Section 3
• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
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These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
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✍ NOTES
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Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat
is locked in place.
1-2
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Six-Way Power Seats
Power Lumbar
Your vehicle may have
this feature. If it does,
the six-way power
seat control is located
on the outboard side
of the driver’s seat. Your
vehicle may also have
a passenger’s six-way
power seat.
If your vehicle has this
feature, the control is
located on the outboard
side of the seat(s).
Press and hold the front of the control until you have
the desired lumbar support. To decrease lumbar
support, press and hold the rear of the control.
• Move the front of the control up or down to adjust
the front portion of the cushion up or down.
• Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust
the rear portion of the cushion up or down.
• To move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide
the control forward or rearward.
1-3
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Heated Seats
Reclining Seatbacks
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the outboard
side of the front seats.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
Your seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard
side of the seats.
This feature will heat the cushion and back of the seats.
Press the top of the switch to turn the heat to the
high setting. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the
heat to the low setting. Put the switch in the center
position to turn the heat off.
The ignition must be on for the heated seat feature to
work. The seat will heat to the last setting if the ignition
has been turned off and then turned back on.
The passenger’s safety belt must be engaged for the
heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.
1-4
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To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
1-5
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{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job because
it will not be against your body. Instead, it will
be in front of you. In a crash, you could go
into it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash,
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.
1-6
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Pull the head restraint up
to raise it. To lower the
head restraint, press
the button, located on
the top of the seatback,
and push the head
Head Restraints
restraint down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is at the same height as the occupant’s head. This
position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
1-7
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Rear Seats
60/40 Split Bench Seat
The 60/40 split bench seats can be folded to give you
more cargo space.
Folding the Seatbacks
To fold the rear seatback(s), do the following:
1. Make sure that nothing is on, under, or in front of
the seat.
2. Place your hand under
the front of the seat
cushion and lift
the cushion up while
moving it forward.
There is a label below
the seat cushion
with instructions to
aid in seat operation.
3. Pull the cushion forward until it rests in the footwell.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or
the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
1-8
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4. Lift the latch on top of the seatback and pull the
seatback forward. Fold the seatback down until it
is nearly flat.
5. If the seatback will not fold nearly flat, try moving
the front seat forward and/or moving the front
seatback more upright.
6. Repeat the steps for the other half of the 60/40 split
bench seat.
1-9
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Returning the Seatbacks to an
Upright Position
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To return the seatback(s) to the upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all the way.
2. Place your hand under the front of the seat cushion
and lift the cushion while moving it rearward until it
latches into position.
3. Pull forward on the seatback and push down on the
seat cushion to make sure the seat is securely in
place.
1-10
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Safety Belts
{CAUTION:
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in
a seat and using a safety belt properly.
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
Your vehicle has indicators to remind you and your
passengers to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt
1-11
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In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does matter...a lot!
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat
on wheels.
1-12
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Put someone on it.
Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.
1-13
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The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
or the instrument panel...
1-14
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Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident
if I am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you are upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident,
so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater
if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are in many vehicles today and will
be in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts — not instead of them. Every airbag
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you are in a vehicle that has
airbags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-15
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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an
accident — even one that is not your fault — you
and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver does not protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
those rules for everyone’s protection.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
First, you will want to know which restraint systems
your vehicle has.
We will start with the driver position.
Safety belts are for everyone.
Driver Position
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.
1-16
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4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height
that is right for you. Improper shoulder belt height
adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash. See Shoulder Belt Height
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
1-17
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6. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder belt.
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less
likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
1-18
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Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt
is too loose. In a crash, you would move
forward too much, which could increase injury.
The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly
as much protection this way.
1-19
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Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at the
pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the
buckle nearest you.
A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
1-20
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Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to
the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder
bones. You could also severely injure internal
organs like your liver or spleen.
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be worn over the shoulder at all times.
1-21
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Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted
belt. In a crash, you would not have the full
width of the belt to spread impact forces.
If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can
work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.
A: The belt is twisted across the body.
1-22
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Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height
adjuster to the height that is right for you.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the
belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should
be away from your face and neck, but not falling off
your shoulder. Incorrect positioning of the shoulder belt
can reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt.
To move it up or down,
press the square button (A)
in the center of the
height adjuster knob and
move the height adjuster to
the desired position.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way. When the
safety belt is not in use, slide the latch plate up
the safety belt webbing. The latch plate should rest
on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop
on the side wall.
Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of
the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage
both the belt and your vehicle.
After you move the height adjuster to where you want
it, try to move it up and down without touching the
square button to make sure it has locked into position.
1-23
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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the
same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for
one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the
belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint
locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go
back all the way and start again.
Rear Seat Passengers
It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle
up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in
the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those
who are wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be
thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike
others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt,
and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible,
below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more
likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
1-24
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2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All rear seat positions have lap-shoulder belts.
Here is how to wear one properly.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way,
it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and
start again.
If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Do not let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
across you very quickly. If this happens, let the
belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the
belt across you more slowly.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the
shoulder part.
1-25
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{CAUTION:
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt
is too loose. In a crash, you would move
forward too much, which could increase injury.
The shoulder belt should fit against your body.
The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less
likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the
belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle.
The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
1-26
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Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added
safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown
booster seats and for some adults. When installed on
a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt
away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are provided for each outboard
passenger position in the second row. Here is how
to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:
2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the
two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.
1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of
the seatback and the interior body to remove the
guide from its storage clip.
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3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.
The guide must be on top of the belt.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is not properly worn may
not provide the protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could be seriously
injured. The shoulder belt should go over the
shoulder and across the chest. These parts of
the body are best able to take belt restraining
forces.
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4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as
Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the
shoulder.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you,
you should use it.
To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the
belt edges together so that you can take them out of the
guides. Slide the guide onto its storage clip between
the edge of the seatback and the trim panel. Make sure
you remove the comfort guide from the belt before
you fold a rear seat down.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will
order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to
order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid
personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and
use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has
been designed for adults. Never use it for securing
child seats. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety
belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet
that comes with the extender.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver
and right front passenger. Although you cannot see
them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety
belts. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s
forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal crash.
Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a
crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other
new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing
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Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
Child Restraints
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can
provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should
never be worn over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in
a crash.
Older Children
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
Older children who have outgrown booster seats should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
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Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,
move the child toward the center of the vehicle.
page 1-27. If the child is sitting in the center rear
seat passenger position, move the child toward
the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that
the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have
the restraint the belts provide.
{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.
1-31
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{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is
behind the child. If the child wears the belt in
this way, in a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied
right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s
pelvic bones in a crash.
Infants and Young Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes
infants and all other children. Neither the distance
traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes
the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,
the law in every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up to some
age must be restrained while in a vehicle.
1-32
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{CAUTION:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled
if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck
and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never
leave children unattended in a vehicle and never
allow children to play with the safety belts.
Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,
they should have the protection provided by appropriate
restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s
adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.
Instead, they need to use a child restraint.
{CAUTION:
People should never hold a baby in their arms
while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not
weigh much — until a crash. During a crash
a baby will become so heavy it is not possible
to hold it. For example, in a crash at only
25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) baby will
suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a
person’s arms. A baby should be secured in
an appropriate restraint.
1-33
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Q: What are the different types of add-on child
restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the
vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types.
Selection of a particular restraint should take
into consideration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the restraint will
be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will
be used.
For most basic types of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing a
child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used
in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
{CAUTION:
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come
with the restraint, state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
there are many kinds of restraints available for
children with special needs.
Children who are up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer protection for adults and older
children, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its airbag system is designed for them.
Young children and infants need the protection
that a child restraint system can provide.
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{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck.
This is necessary because a newborn infant’s
neck is weak and its head weighs so much
compared with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into
the restraint, so the crash forces can be
distributed across the strongest part of an
infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants
always should be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
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Child Restraint Systems
A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the
seating surface against the back of the infant. The
harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash,
acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat
surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.
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A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some
booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and
some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness.
A booster seat can also help a child to see out the
window.
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Securing an Add-on Child Restraint in
the Vehicle
Q: How Should I Use a Child Restraint?
A: A child restraint system is any device designed for
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position
children. A built-in child restraint system is a
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one, which
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. To help reduce
injuries, an add-on child restraint must be secured
in the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child
restraints, the child has to be secured within the
child restraint.
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a
crash if the child restraint is not properly
secured in the vehicle. Make sure the child
restraint is properly installed in the vehicle
using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH
system, following the instructions that came
with that restraint, and also the instructions
in this manual.
When choosing an add-on child restraint, be sure
the child restraint is designed to be used in a
vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it
meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint.
You may find these instructions on the restraint
itself or in a booklet, or both.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint
must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems
must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the
lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH
system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not
properly secured in the vehicle.
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When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the
instructions that come with the restraint which may be
on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this
manual. The child restraint instructions are important,
so if they are not available, obtain a replacement
copy from the manufacturer.
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed in a
crash if the child is not properly secured in the
child restraint. Make sure the child is properly
secured, following the instructions that came
with that restraint.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no
child is in it.
Because there are different systems, it is important to
refer to the instructions that come with the restraint.
A child can be endangered in a crash if the child is not
properly secured in the child restraint.
Securing the Child Within the Child
Restraint
There are several systems for securing the child within
the child restraint. One system, the three-point
harness, has straps that come down over each of the
infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch.
The five-point harness system has two shoulder straps,
two hip straps, and a crotch strap. A shield may take
the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder
straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low
against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield
has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like
shield that swings up or to the side.
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Where to Put the Restraint
CAUTION: (Continued)
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that child restraints be secured in a
rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant
seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and
an older child riding in a booster seat.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This
is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far back as it will
go. It is better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure
the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no
child is in it.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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Your vehicle has lower anchors and top tether anchors.
Your child restraint may have lower attachments and
a top tether.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH)
Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have
lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors
and attachments.
Your vehicle has the LATCH system. The LATCH
system holds a child restraint during driving or in a
crash. This system is designed to make installation of a
child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses
anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child
restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system
Lower Anchors
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint
is properly installed using the anchors, or use the
vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following
the instructions that came with that restraint, and
also the instructions in this manual. When installing a
child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either
the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly
secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never
be installed using only the top tether and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle,
you need a child restraint equipped with LATCH
attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will
provide you with instructions on how to use the child
restraint and its attachments. The following explains
how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in
your vehicle.
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle.
There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating
position that will accommodate a child restraint with
lower attachments (B).
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Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a
dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B)
to secure the top tether to the anchor.
Top Tether Anchor
Some top tether-equipped child restraints are designed
for use with or without the top tether being attached.
Others require the top tether always to be attached.
In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing
child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. In the United States, some child restraints
also have a top tether. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint.
If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one
can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.
Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not
a kit is available.
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint
to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the
vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child
restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle
in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation
of the child restraint during driving or in a crash.
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Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor
Locations
i (Top Tether Anchor):
Seating positions with
top tether anchors.
j (Lower Anchor):
Seating positions with
two lower anchors.
Rear Seat
Do not secure a child restraint in the right front
passenger’s position if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that
come with the child restraint say that the top tether
must be attached. There is no place to attach the top
tether in this position.
Each outboard seating position in the rear seat has
exposed metal lower anchors in the crease between the
seatback and the seat cushion.
The top tether anchors are located on the back of the
rear seatbacks. Be sure to use an anchor located on the
same side of the vehicle as the seating position where
the child restraint will be placed.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See
information.
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Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System
{CAUTION:
Each top tether anchor and lower anchor in
the vehicle is designed to hold only one child
restraint. Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could cause the
anchor or attachment to come loose or even
break during a crash. A child or others could
be injured if this happens. To help prevent
injury to people and damage to your vehicle,
attach only one child restraint per anchor.
{CAUTION:
If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached
to anchors, the restraint will not be able to
protect the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or killed.
Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint
is properly installed using the anchors, or
use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions that came
with that restraint, and also the instructions
in this manual.
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Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts
secured, may cause damage to the safety belt or
the seat. When removing the child restraint, always
remember to return the safety belts to their
normal position before folding the rear seat.
{CAUTION:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled
if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their
neck and the safety belt continues to tighten.
Secure any unused safety belts behind the
child restraint so children cannot reach them.
Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has
one, after the child restraint has been installed.
Be sure to follow the instructions of the child
restraint manufacturer.
1. Find the lower anchors, if equipped, for the desired
seating position.
2. If the desired seating position does not have lower
anchors, see Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
installing the child restraint using the safety belts.
3. Put the child restraint on the seat.
4. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on the
child restraint to the lower anchors, if equipped,
in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
Notice: Contact between the child restraint or the
LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety
belt assembly may cause damage to these parts.
Make sure when securing unused safety belts
behind the child restraint that there is no contact
between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment
parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly.
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5. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and
tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor.
Refer to the child restraint instructions and
the following steps:
If the position you are
using has a fixed head
restraint and you are
using a single tether, route
the tether over the head
restraint.
5.1. Find the top tether anchor.
5.2. Route and tighten the top tether according
to your child restraint instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are
using has a fixed head
restraint and you are
using a dual tether, route
the tether around the
head restraint.
If the position you are
using does not have a
head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
route the tether over
the seatback.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
If the position you are
using does not have a
head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether over
the seatback.
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Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
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4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the
lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder
belt back into the retractor. If you are using a
forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful
to use your knee to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
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6. If your child restraint manufacturer recommends
using a top tether, attach and tighten the top
tether to the top tether anchor. Refer to the
instructions that came with the child restraint and
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system. The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag
when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small
child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is
for more information on this including important
safety information.
To remove the child restraint, if the top tether is attached
to the top tether anchor, disconnect it. Unbuckle the
vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way.
The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to
work for an adult or larger child passenger.
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A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position, move the seat as far
back as it will go before securing the forward-facing
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
There is no top tether anchor in the right front
passenger’s position. Do not secure a child restraint in
this position if a national or local law requires that
the top tether be anchored or if the instructions that
come with the child restraint say that the top tether must
be anchored. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for
a top tether.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
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You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal
page 1-63. General Motors recommends that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is
forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it
will go before securing the child restraint in this seat.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag status indicator
should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition
to ON or START. See Passenger Airbag Status
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap
portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing
child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your
knee to push down on the child restraint as you
tighten the belt. You should not be able to pull
more of the belt from the retractor once the lock
has been set.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
8. If the airbag is off, the off indicator on the instrument
panel will be lit and stay lit when the key is turned
to ON or START.
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If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint.
Airbag System
Your vehicle has a frontal airbag for the driver and a
frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle
may also have roof-mounted side impact airbags
designed for either side impact or rollover deployment.
Roof-mounted side impact airbags are available for
the driver and the passenger seated directly behind the
driver and for the right front passenger and the
If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting
the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is
not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint.
passenger seated directly behind that passenger.
If your vehicle has roof-mounted side impact airbags,
the words AIR BAG will appear on the airbag covering
on the sidewall trim near the driver’s and right front
passenger’s window.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and
check with your dealer.
Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk
of injury from the force of an inflating frontal airbag.
But these airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job
and comply with federal regulations.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety
belt will move freely again and be ready to work for
an adult or larger child passenger. When the safety belt
is not in use, slide the latch plate up the safety belt
webbing. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on
the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall.
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Here are the most important things to know about the
airbag system:
CAUTION: (Continued)
And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal
airbags may provide less protection in frontal
crashes than more forceful airbags have
provided in the past.
{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you are not wearing your safety belt — even
if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt
during a crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or being
ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental
restraints” to the safety belts. All airbags are
designed to work with safety belts but do not
replace them.
Roof-mounted side impact airbags are
designed to inflate in moderate to severe
crashes where something hits the side of your
vehicle. They are not designed to inflate in
frontal or in rear crashes. If the vehicle is
equipped with rollover capable airbags, it has
been designed to deploy the roof-mounted
side impact airbags in the event of a vehicle
rollover. Everyone in your vehicle should wear
a safety belt properly — whether or not there
is an airbag for that person.
Frontal airbags for the driver and right front
passenger are designed to deploy in moderate
to severe frontal and near frontal crashes.
They are not designed to inflate in rollover,
rear crashes, or in many side crashes.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Both frontal and roof-mounted side impact
airbags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you are too close to an
inflating airbag, as you would be if you were
leaning forward, it could seriously injure you.
Safety belts help keep you in position for
airbag inflation before and during a crash.
Always wear your safety belt even with frontal
airbags. The driver should sit as far back as
possible while still maintaining control of the
vehicle. Occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the door.
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
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There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
Where Are the Airbags?
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
for more information.
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
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The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
If your vehicle has a roof-mounted airbag for the driver
and the person seated directly behind the driver, it
is located in the ceiling above the side windows.
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has
roof-mounted side impact airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tiedown through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating side impact airbag will be blocked.
The path of an inflating airbag must be
kept clear.
If your vehicle has a roof-mounted airbag for the right
front passenger and the person directly behind that
passenger, it is located in the ceiling above the
side windows.
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If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall
that does not move or deform, the threshold level
for the reduced deployment is about 11 to 18 mph
(17.5 to 28.9 km/h), and the threshold level for a full
deployment is about 18 to 23 mph (28.9 to 37 km/h).
(The threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or
below this range.)
When Should an Airbag Inflate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate
only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account
a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment
events and are used to predict how severe a crash
is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags
will or should deploy is not based on how fast your
vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds.
For example:
• If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags
could inflate at a different crash speed than if the
object were moving.
• If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than
if the object does not deform.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags,
which adjust the restraint according to crash severity.
Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors,
which help the sensing system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal
impact. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags
inflate at a level less than full deployment. For
• If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
• If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
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The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determined by
what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down. For roof-mounted
side impact airbags, inflation is determined by the
location and severity of the impact.
Your vehicle has seat position sensors which enable the
sensing system to monitor the position of the driver’s
seat and the right front passenger’s seat. Seat position
sensors provide information that is used to determine
if the airbags should deploy at a reduced level or at full
deployment.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough
terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See Off-Road
Your vehicle may or may not have a roof-mounted side
impact airbag and rollover sensor. See Airbag System
on page 1-53. These “rollover capable” airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes
or during a rollover. A roof-mounted side impact
airbag will inflate if the crash severity is above the
system’s designed “threshold level.” The threshold level
can vary with specific vehicle design. Roof-mounted
side impact airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal
or near-frontal impacts, or rear impacts.
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What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. In the
case of a “rollover capable” roof-mounted side impact
airbag, the sensing system detects that the vehicle
is about to roll over. The sensing system triggers
a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the
airbag. The inflator, airbag, and related hardware are
all part of the airbag modules inside the steering wheel
and in the instrument panel in front of the right front
passenger. For vehicles with roof-mounted side impact
airbags, the airbag modules are located in the ceiling
of the vehicle, near the side windows.
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the airbag. Roof-mounted side impact
airbags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including many frontal or near frontal collisions, and
rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is
not toward those airbags. Airbags should never be
regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions or rollovers for the roof-mounted
side impact airbags.
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What Will You See After an
Airbag Inflates?
{CAUTION:
After an airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the airbag inflated.
Some components of the airbag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s bag or the ceiling of your
vehicle near the side windows — will be hot for a short
time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with
you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the
driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
When an airbag inflates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors (if equipped), turn the interior lamps on,
and flash the hazard warning flashers when the airbags
inflate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again, and turn the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers off by using the door lock, and the
interior lamp and the hazard warning flasher controls.
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In many crashes severe enough to inflate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.
Passenger Sensing System
Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger’s position. A passenger airbag
status indicator on the instrument panel will be visible
when you turn your ignition key to ON or START.
The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off,
will be visible on the instrument panel during the system
check. When the system check is complete, either
the word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or
the symbol for off will be visible. See Passenger
• Airbags are designed to inflate only once.
After an airbag inflates, you will need some
new parts for your airbag system. If you do not
get them, the airbag system will not be there to
help protect you in another crash. A new system
will include airbag modules and possibly other
parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers
the need to replace other parts.
• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event
• Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that your
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – United
States
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – Canada
The passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver’s airbag and the side airbags are not part
of the passenger sensing system.
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The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety
belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence
of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the
passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may
inflate) or not.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
General Motors recommends that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a
rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in the
rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child
is so great, if the airbag deploys.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far back as it will
go. It is better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions
and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
• the right front passenger seat is unoccupied
• the system determines that an infant is present in a
rear-facing infant seat
• the system determines that a small child is present
in a forward-facing child restraint
If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is
not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint.
• the system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat
• a right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time
• the right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and
check with your dealer.
• or if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system is designed to enable
(may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag anytime the system senses that a person of
adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s
seat. When the passenger sensing system has
allowed the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will
light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off
the passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator on the
instrument panel will light and stay lit to remind you
that the airbag is off.
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For some children who have outgrown child restraints
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating
posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who
has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for
that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the
person to place the seatback in the fully upright
position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the
seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably
extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person
remain in this position for about two minutes. This will
allow the system to detect that person and then
enable the passenger’s airbag.
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Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
You may want to consider not using seat covers or
other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has
the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment
more information about modifications that can affect
how the system operates.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness
important safety information.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s
seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion
and seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
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Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. You do not want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications
Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or
sides of the vehicle that could keep the
airbags from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet
metal or height, they may keep the airbag system
from working properly. Also, the airbag system may
not work properly if you relocate any of the airbag
sensors. If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two
of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this
page 7-2
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inflate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inflates. Avoid yellow wires,
wires wrapped with yellow tape or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my
vehicle modified. How can I find out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
A: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic
module, or the instrument panel can affect
the operation of the airbag system. If you have
questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance
are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual. See Customer
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the side
impact airbag covering (if equipped) on the ceiling
near the side windows, the airbag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the airbag
module in the steering wheel, both the airbag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag module
and ceiling covering for roof-mounted side impact
airbags (if equipped.) Do not open or break the
airbag coverings.
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If the LATCH system was being used during a more
severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH
system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
or LATCH system was not being used at the time of
the collision.
{CAUTION:
A crash can damage the restraint systems
in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in
a crash. To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.
If the frontal airbags inflate you will also need to replace
the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor
assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.
After a crash you may need to replace the driver and
front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even
if the frontal airbags have not deployed. The driver
and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies
contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your
safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has
been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays
on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving.
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or
LATCH system parts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if
worn during a more severe crash, then you need
new parts.
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Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. They
could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move.
The children or others could be badly injured
or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a
vehicle with children.
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There is one double-sided
key for the ignition, and
driver’s door lock.
The key code number tells your dealer or a qualified
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number
in a safe place. If you lose your keys, you will be able
to have new ones made easily using this number.
Your dealer should also have this number.
Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle call the GM
Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar® system with
an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar® may be able to send a command to
for more information.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.
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At times you may notice a decrease in operating range.
This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to
your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Remote Keyless Entry System
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
• Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
• Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
page 2-5.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization
to use this equipment.
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LOCK: Press this button to lock all the doors. The
parking lamps may also flash and the horn may chirp
when this button is pressed.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
If a door is open or ajar when the lock button is pressed,
the doors will lock, but the theft-deterrent system will
not arm until the open door is closed.
You can lock and unlock the vehicle’s doors and disarm
or arm the theft-deterrent system from about 3 feet (1 m)
up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry
for additional information.
You can program different feedback modes through
the Driver Information Center (DIC). To program
the feedback modes, see “Remote Keyless Entry
page 3-41.
UNLOCK: Press this
button to unlock the driver’s
door and turn on the
interior lamps. The parking
lamps may also flash,
and the horn may chirp,
when this button is pressed.
L(Panic): Press this button to make the horn
sound and the headlamps and taillamps flash for up
to 30 seconds. To turn them off, do one of these
three things: wait for 30 seconds; press the panic
button again; or start the vehicle.
Press the unlock button again within three seconds and
all of the doors will unlock.
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To replace the battery, do the following:
Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of
four transmitters matched to it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in the remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about two years.
1. Insert a coin, or similar object, in the slot
between the covers of the transmitter housing.
Gently pry the transmitter apart.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter will not
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it is probably time to change the battery.
2. Remove and replace the battery with a
three-volt CR2032 or equivalent battery.
3. Align the covers and snap them together.
4. Check the operation of the transmitter.
Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not
to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage the
transmitter.
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There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
Doors and Locks
From the outside, use the key in the driver’s door or
use the remote keyless entry transmitter.
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
• Passengers — especially children — can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the
handle will not open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors are not locked.
So, wear safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.
• Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
From the inside, use the manual lock levers or power
door lock switch.
• Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors
can help prevent this from happening.
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Power Door Locks
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is
programmed from the factory to lock the doors
automatically when the shift lever is moved out of
PARK (P). All the doors will unlock when the shift lever
is moved back into PARK (P).
The power door lock
switches are located on
the driver’s and the
front passenger’s
armrests.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, it is
programmed from the factory to lock the doors
automatically when the vehicle speed is greater than
15 mph (24 km/h). The doors will unlock when the
key is removed from the ignition.
To personalize the automatic door locks, see “Automatic
page 3-41.
Driver’s side shown
Press L (lock) to lock all the doors at once.
To unlock all the doors, press U (unlock).
Lockout Protection
This feature protects you from locking your key in
the vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.
If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door
is open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will
lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. A chime
will sound to indicate that the key has been left in the
ignition.
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Swing-gate
To lock or unlock the swing-gate, use the power door
lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter.
{CAUTION:
Make sure the swing-gate is completely closed.
Driving with the swing-gate open could injure
pedestrians or damage the vehicle.
To open the swing-gate, pull the door handle.
Pull the swing-gate rearward slightly and it will
automatically open.
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Windows
{CAUTION:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat
and suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a
helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows closed in warm
or hot weather.
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Express-Down Window
Power Windows
The driver’s window has an express-down feature
that allows you to lower the window without holding
the switch. Press the front edge of the switch past
the first position to activate the express-down mode.
The express-down mode can be canceled at any time by
pulling up on the switch. To open the window partway,
press the front of the switch to the first position until
the window is at the desired level.
Window Lockout
o (Window Lockout): The window lockout button is
located forward of the window switches. This feature
disables the passenger’s window switches when
the button is pressed. Press the button again to turn
the lockout off. A red band on the side of the button
can be seen when the windows are not locked out.
The power window controls are located on the armrest
of each door.
The driver’s door has switches for the passenger
windows as well. Your power windows will work when
the ignition is in ACC (Accessory) or ON, or when
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Pull up the front edge of the control to raise the window.
Press the front edge of the control down to lower the
window.
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Sun Visors
Content Theft-Deterrent
To block glare, pull the visor down. It can also be
detached from the center mount and moved to the side
to block glare from that direction. There are extenders
that can be pulled out for further coverage.
Your vehicle has a
content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
Visor Vanity Mirror
Your vehicle has a vanity mirror located on the driver’s
and passenger’s visor.
To activate the content theft-deterrent system, do the
following:
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirror
Your vehicle may have an illuminated vanity mirror on
both visors. Lift the cover on the mirror and the lights will
automatically come on.
1. Close all the doors.
2. Lock the doors with the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The security light, located on the
instrument panel cluster, will flash.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal.
If the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter
is pressed, but a door is open, the doors will lock, the
lights may flash and the horn may sound. Close
the open door and the alarm system will arm.
If a locked door is not opened using the remote keyless
entry transmitter, or by OnStar®, the alarm will go off.
First, a pre-alarm will sound the horn at reduced
intensity for 10 seconds. Then, the front turn signal
lamps will flash for two minutes, and the horn will sound
for two minutes. The alarm will then turn off to save
battery power.
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Starting the engine with the correct key will shut off the
pre-alarm or alarm at any time.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
Remember, the theft-deterrent system will not activate
if you lock the doors with the key, the manual door lock,
or power door lock switch. The system can only be
activated using the remote keyless entry transmitter,
for additional information. You should also remember
that you can start your vehicle with the correct key if
the alarm has been set off.
1. From inside the vehicle, activate the system by
locking the doors with the remote keyless entry
transmitter.
2. Unlock the door with the manual door lock and
open the door. This should set off the pre-alarm.
Wait 10 seconds for the full alarm to activate.
3. To turn the alarm off, press the unlock button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter or start
the engine.
Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
• If you do not want to arm the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the
manual door lock lever, the power door lock switch,
or the key, after the doors are closed.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
lights flash, check to see if the horn works. The horn
fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses
• If the content theft-deterrent system is armed,
unlock the doors by pressing the unlock button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by
OnStar®. Unlocking a door any other way will
activate the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound or the front turn signal
lamps do not flash, see your dealer for service.
If you set off the alarm by accident, you can turn it
off by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, starting the vehicle with the correct key, or
by having OnStar® unlock the doors. The alarm will
not stop if you try to unlock a door any other way.
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Passlock®
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
Your vehicle has the Passlock® theft-deterrent system.
Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock® enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If an incorrect key is used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system
is disabled and the vehicle will not start.
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
During normal operation, the security light will turn off
approximately five seconds after the engine is started.
• Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the first 500 miles (805 km).
• Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
If the engine stalls and the security light flashes, wait
about 10 minutes until the light stops flashing before
trying to restart the engine. Remember to release
the key from START as soon as the engine starts.
• Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the
engine off. However, your Passlock® system is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock® at
this time. See your dealer for service.
capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
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If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while
you turn the key hard. If none of this works,
then your vehicle needs service.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn to
four different positions.
ACC (ACCESSORY) (B): This is the position in
which you can operate your electrical accessories or
items plugged into the accessory power outlets.
On automatic transmission vehicles, this position
unlocks the ignition. On manual transmission vehicles,
it unlocks the ignition and steering wheel. Use this
position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed.
ON (C): This is the position that the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate your electrical accessories and to display
some instrument panel cluster warning and indicator
lights. The transmission is also unlocked in this position
on automatic transmission vehicles.
LOCK (A): This position locks your ignition. It also
locks your transmission on automatic transmission
vehicles. It will lock your steering wheel on manual
transmission vehicles when the key is removed.
It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to
remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
START (D): This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to ON for normal driving.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P).
When the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio or items plugged into the accessory power outlets.
Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the
key is in the ignition.
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Manual Transmission
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor
and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down — that is a safety
feature.
Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
which will allow certain features of your vehicle
to continue working for up to 20 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to LOCK.
The radio, front wipers, power windows, and a sunroof
if your vehicle has one, will work when the ignition
key is in ON or ACC. Once the key is turned from
ON to LOCK, these features will continue to work for
up to 20 minutes or until a door is opened.
Starting Your Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Starting the Engine
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that
is a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
2. If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while
you hold the ignition key in START. When the
engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the
accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
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For both the manual and automatic transmissions, when
starting the vehicle after it has been sitting idle and
the engine is cold, the engine starter may continue
cranking the engine up to approximately four seconds
after you release the ignition key. This is normal.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have this feature.
In very cold weather, 0°F (–18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or 18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then
stops, it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
for five or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located in the engine compartment
behind the underhood fuse block on the driver’s
side of the vehicle.
Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
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3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
Automatic Transmission Operation
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a fire. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
The automatic transmission has a shift lever on the
console.
It features an electronic shift position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved out of
PARK (P). This means that if your key is turned off,
but not in LOCK, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you need to leave your key in
the ignition but not in LOCK for an extended period,
it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature,
the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that
you contact your dealer in the area where you will
be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the
best advice for that particular area.
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There are several different positions for your shift lever.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift
lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
as you maintain brake application. Then move the
shift lever into the gear you want. See Shifting Out of
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-30
PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start the engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P)
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging your transmission,
Snow on page 4-50
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NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer. You
may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or,
if necessary, a lower gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills
or winding roads or for off-road driving.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power
but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed
as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into FIRST (1)
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you
are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
you need more power for passing, and you are:
• Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
• Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
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THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH (3, 4 and 5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same
way you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
Manual Transmission Operation
This is your shift pattern.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press
the brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal. After
the vehicle stops, shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
If it is hard to shift, let the shift lever return to NEUTRAL
and release the clutch pedal. Then press the clutch again
and shift into REVERSE (R). Do not attempt to shift into
the fifth gear position prior to shifting into REVERSE (R).
Your transmission has a lock out feature which prevents
a fifth gear to reverse gear shift.
Here is how to operate your manual transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you slowly press down on the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less
than 20 mph (30 km/h). If you have come to a complete
stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Then press
the clutch pedal back down and shift into FIRST (1).
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up
on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, for
parking your vehicle.
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Up-Shift Light
Shift Speeds
This light will show you
when to shift to the next
higher gear for best
fuel economy.
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not shift down
more than one gear at a time when you
downshift.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift
when the light comes on.
Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go
on and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the shift light when you downshift.
Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive sends your engine’s driving
power to all four wheels for extra traction. To get the
most out of Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive, you must
be familiar with its operation.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and has a manual
transmission, disregard the shift light when the
transfer case is in four-wheel low.
For more information, see Up-Shift Light (Manual
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Notice: Driving on pavement in Four-Wheel
High Lock or Four Wheel Low Lock for extended
periods may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s
powertrain and tires. Do not drive in Four-Wheel
High Lock or Four-Wheel Low Lock on pavement for
extended periods.
Transfer Case Buttons
4 mQ (Four-Wheel-High Lock): Use this mode
when you need extra traction in most off-road situations
such as sand, mud, snow or level, rocky trails.
The transfer case buttons are located to the right of
the instrument panel cluster. Use these switches to
shift into and out of the different Full-Time Four-Wheel
Drive modes.
Notice: Operating your vehicle in
Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h) for
any extended period of time could cause damage
to the transfer case. Do not operate your vehicle
in Four-Wheel-Low Lock above 30 mph (48 km/h)
for extended periods.
You can choose between four modes:
4 m(Four-Wheel High): This setting is used for driving
in most street and highway situations. You can also
use this setting for light or variable off-road conditions.
4 nQ (Four-Wheel-Low Lock): This mode
delivers extra torque to all four wheels and is used
for extreme off-road conditions. You might choose
4-Wheel-Low Lock if you are driving in off-road
situations, such as, deep sand, mud, or snow and
climbing or descending steep hills.
N (NEUTRAL): Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
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When in this mode you can also choose to lock the rear
axle, if equipped, for additional traction in extreme
Shifting into Four-Wheel Low Lock
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops flashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops flashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
Indicator lights in the buttons show which mode you
are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition the mode the vehicle is in
will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator
light will flash while shifting the transfer case. It will
remain lit when the shift is complete. If for some reason
the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it
will return to the last chosen setting.
To shift into Four-Wheel-Low Lock, the ignition must
be in ON and the vehicle must be stopped or moving
less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting
into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release
the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be pressed
to the floor while you press the Four-Wheel-Low Lock
button, or the shift will not be completed. You must
wait for the Four-Wheel-Low Lock indicator light to
stop flashing and remain lit before shifting your
transmission in gear.
If the SERV 4WD message stays on, you should take
your vehicle to your dealer for service. See Service
4WD message under DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-44.
Shifting between Four-Wheel High and
Four-Wheel-High Lock
With the vehicle traveling less than 45 mph (73 km/h),
press and release the Four-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel-High Lock button. The indicator light will
flash while shifting. It will remain lit when the shift
is complete.
It may be necessary to drive backwards while turning
for a distance of 25 feet (7.5 m) to get the lock feature
to disengage.
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It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low
and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with
the engine running.
Press and release the Four-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel-High Lock button. If your vehicle has
a manual transmission, the clutch pedal must be
pressed to the floor while you press the Four-Wheel
High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button, or the shift will
not be completed. You must wait for the Four-Wheel
High or Four-Wheel-High Lock indicator light to
stop flashing and remain lit before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the Four-Wheel-Low Lock button is pressed when
your vehicle is in gear and/or moving too fast, the
Four-Wheel-Low Lock indicator light will flash for
15 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 15 seconds
the transfer case will return to the last chosen setting.
It is normal for your vehicle to have engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low
and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with
the engine running.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops flashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops flashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
If the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High Lock button
is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving
too fast, the Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-High
Lock indicator light will flash for 15 seconds but will
not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving
less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is
in NEUTRAL (N).
To shift out of Four-Wheel-Low Lock, your vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition
in ON. The preferred method for shifting out of
Four-Wheel-Low Lock is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h).
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5. Simultaneously press and hold the Four-Wheel
High and Four-Wheel-Low Lock buttons for
Shifting Into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, do the following:
1. Set the parking brake.
10 seconds. The NEUTRAL light will come on when
the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
6. Press and hold the regular brake pedal and Shift
the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second,
then shift the transmission for one second to
DRIVE (D) for an automatic transmission, or
FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission and then let out the clutch. This is to
ensure the transfer case is in NEUTRAL. If not,
repeat this procedure starting at Step 3.
2. Start the vehicle by turning the ignition to START.
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). If your
vehicle has a manual transmission, press and
hold the clutch pedal down while you perform
Steps 5 through 9.
4. Shift the transfer case to Four-Wheel High.
7. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to ACC.
{CAUTION:
8. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P)
for an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for
vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
Shifting an all-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the automatic transmission is in
PARK (P) or the manual transmission is in any
gear. You or others could be injured. Make
sure the parking brake is firmly set before
you shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
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Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL:
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located to the left of the
regular brake pedal,
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) for an
automatic transmission, or press the clutch pedal
for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.
Then turn the ignition to ON with the engine off.
near the driver’s door.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (Four-Wheel High, Four-Wheel-High Lock
or Four-Wheel-Low Lock).
After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push the parking brake
pedal down to its fully-applied position with your
left foot.
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the indicator light stops flashing could cause
damage to the transfer case. Always wait until the
indicator light stops flashing before putting the
transmission back in gear.
A chime will activate and the brake warning light,
located on the instrument panel, will flash when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three seconds.
The chime will deactivate and the light will turn off
when the parking brake is set and the vehicle is moving
below 3 mph (5 km/h). See Brake System Warning
5. You may start the engine and shift the transmission
to the desired position.
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Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle
can roll. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, use the steps that follow.
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking brake
symbol, directly rearward to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
With all-wheel drive, your vehicle will be free to
roll — even if your shift lever is in PARK (P) — if
your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear, four-wheel
high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in
NEUTRAL.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the
shift lever button and moving the lever as far
forward as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pressing
the shift lever button. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).
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Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
Shifting Out of Park (P)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque
lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To find out how, see Shifting Into
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift
lock control system. You have to apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when
the ignition is in ON. See Automatic Transmission
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. Press
the shift lever button before moving the shift lever.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your vehicle has a manual transmission. Before you
get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into
REVERSE (R), and firmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, turn the ignition key
to LOCK, remove the key and release the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is pulling
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Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
• Your exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
• Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
• Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
• Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
• Repairs were not done correctly.
• Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
{CAUTION:
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your
vehicle:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
• Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and
• Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
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Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
vehicle when the engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
will not move, even when it is on fairly level
ground, always set the parking brake and
move the automatic transmission shift lever to
PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift
lever to NEUTRAL.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle
even if the climate control fan is at the highest
setting. One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will
not move. See Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
If you are pulling a trailer with your vehicle, see
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Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Mirrors
Press the TEMP button for approximately eight seconds
to turn the automatic dimming feature on and off. An
indicator light on the bottom of the mirror face will be
on when the automatic dimming feature is on.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature
Display
Compass Operation
If the vehicle has an automatic dimming mirror, it will
automatically dim to the proper level to minimize
glare from lights behind you after dark.
Press the COMP button once briefly to turn the compass
on or off.
When compass feature is on, the compass will show
the direction the vehicle is traveling, with a maximum of
two characters.
The mirror also includes a display in the upper right
corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and
the outside temperature will both appear in the display
at the same time.
Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration from time to time.
Temperature Display
In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the mirror
compass window. If CAL is not displayed, push in the
COMP button for approximately eight seconds or
until CAL is displayed.
The temperature can be displayed by pressing
the TEMP button. Pressing the TEMP button for
approximately four seconds, will toggle the temperature
reading from Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C).
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle
in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction, or the word CAL disappears.
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To adjust for compass variance:
Compass Variance
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the following zone map.
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the
factory. It will be necessary to adjust the compass to
compensate for compass variance if you live outside
zone eight. Under certain circumstances, as during
a long distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary
to adjust for compass variance. Compass variance is
the difference between earth’s magnetic north and
true geographic north. If not adjusted to account
for compass variance, your compass could give
false readings.
2. Press and hold the COMP button for five seconds
until a zone number appears in the display.
3. Press the COMP button on the bottom of the mirror
until the new zone number appears in the display.
After you stop pressing the button, the display
will show a compass direction within a few seconds.
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If the mirror begins making a ratcheting sound, the
mirror has reached the end of its travel and can go no
farther in that direction. To stop the sound, reverse
the mirror direction using the control pad.
Cleaning the Mirror
Use a paper towel or similar material dampened with
glass cleaner. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on
the mirror as that may cause the liquid cleaner to enter
the mirror housing.
The mirrors can be manually folded inward to prevent
damage when going through an automatic car wash
or confined space. Pull the mirror toward the vehicle to
fold. To return the mirror to its original position, push
outward. Be sure to return both mirrors to the unfolded
position before driving.
Outside Power Mirrors
The outside power mirror
controls are located on the
driver’s door armrest.
To adjust the power mirrors, do the following:
1. Press the top of the selector switch to choose
the driver’s side mirror. Press the bottom of the
selector switch to choose the passenger’s
side mirror.
2. Use the round, four-way control pad to move the
mirror in the desired direction.
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OnStar® System
Outside Convex Mirror
Your passenger’s outside rearview mirror is convex.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver’s seat.
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
OnStar® uses global positioning system (GPS) satellite
technology, wireless communications, and live
advisors to provide you with a wide range of safety,
security, information, and convenience services.
If your airbags deploy, the system is designed to make
an automatic call to OnStar® Emergency where we
can request emergency services be sent to your
location. If you lock your keys in the car, call OnStar®
at 1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send a signal to
unlock your doors. If you need roadside assistance,
press the OnStar® button and they will get you the
help you need.
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A complete OnStar® User’s Guide and the Terms and
Conditions of the OnStar® Subscription Service
Agreement are included in the vehicle’s glove box
literature. For more information, visit www.onstar.com or
www.onstar.ca. Contact OnStar® at 1-888-4-ONSTAR
(1-888-466-7827), or press the OnStar® button to speak
to an OnStar® advisor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• AccidentAssist
• Remote Door Unlock/Vehicle Alert
• Remote Diagnostics
• Online Concierge
Directions and Connections® Plan
• All Safe and Sound Plan Services
• Driving Directions
Terms and conditions of the Subscription Service
Agreement can be found at www.onstar.com or
www.onstar.ca.
OnStar® Services
• RideAssist
• Information and Convenience Services
OnStar® Personal Calling
For new vehicles equipped with OnStar®, the Safe and
Sound Plan is included for one year from the date of
purchase. You can extend this plan beyond the
first year, or upgrade to the Directions and Connections®
Plan to meet your needs. For more information, press
the OnStar® button to speak to an advisor.
As an OnStar® subscriber, the Personal Calling
capability allows you to make hands-free calls using
a wireless system that is integrated into the vehicle.
Calls can be placed nationwide using simple voice
commands with no additional contracts and no additional
roaming charges. To find out more about OnStar®
Personal Calling, refer to the OnStar® User’s Guide in
the vehicle’s glove box, visit www.onstar.com or
www.onstar.ca, or speak to an OnStar® advisor by
pressing the OnStar® button or calling 1-888-4-ONSTAR
(1-888-466-7827).
Safe and Sound Plan
• Advanced Automatic Collision Notification
• Automatic Notification of Airbag Deployment
• Emergency Services
• Roadside Assistance
• Stolen Vehicle Tracking
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OnStar® Virtual Advisor
Universal Home Remote
System
Your vehicle may have Virtual Advisor. It is a feature
of OnStar® Personal Calling that uses minutes to
access weather, local traffic reports, and stock
quotes. By pressing the phone button and giving a
few simple voice commands, you can browse through
the various topics. Customize your information profile
at www.myonstar.com. See the OnStar® User’s
Guide for more information.
OnStar® Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may be
equipped with a Talk/Mute
button that can be used
to interact with the OnStar®
when pressed. It is
located on the driver’s side
of the instrument panel.
If your vehicle has this feature, the control buttons are
located on the driver’s sun visor.
The Universal Home Remote System provides a way
to replace up to three hand-held radio-frequency (RF)
transmitters used to activate devices such as gate
operators, garage door openers, entry door locks,
security systems, and home lighting.
When calling into voice mail systems, or to dial
directory numbers, press the control, wait for the
“number please” response”, say the number(s) to be
dialed, wait for the number(s) to be repeated and
then say “dial”. See the OnStar® User’s Guide for
more information.
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This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
Read the instructions completely before attempting to
program the Universal Home Remote. Because of
the steps involved, it may be helpful to have another
person available to assist you in the programming steps.
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Keep the original hand-held transmitter for use in
other vehicles as well as for future Universal Home
Remote programming. It is also recommended that upon
the sale of the vehicle, the programmed Universal
Home Remote buttons should be erased for security
purposes. See “Erasing Universal Home Remote
Buttons” later in this section or, for assistance, see
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door or gate operator you are programming. When
programming a garage door, it is advised to park outside
of the garage.
It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio-frequency signal.
Universal Home Remote System
Operation
Do not use the Universal Home Remote with any garage
door opener that does not have the stop and reverse
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982. If you have a newer
garage door opener with rolling codes, please be sure
to follow Steps 6 through 8 to complete the programming
of your Universal Home Remote Transmitter.
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4. The indicator light will flash slowly at first and then
rapidly after Universal Home Remote successfully
receives the frequency signal from the hand-held
transmitter. Release both buttons.
Programming Universal Home Remote
Follow these steps to program up to three channels:
1. Press and hold down the two outside Universal
Home Remote buttons, releasing only when the
Universal Home Remote indicator light begins
to flash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold down the
buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not
repeat this step to program a second and/or third
hand-held transmitter to the remaining two Universal
Home Remote buttons.
5. Press and hold the newly-trained Universal Home
Remote button and observe the indicator light.
If the indicator light stays on constantly,
programming is complete and your device should
activate when the Universal Home Remote button
is pressed and released.
To program the remaining two Universal Home
Remote buttons, begin with Step 2 under
“Programming Universal Home Remote.” Do not
repeat Step 1 as this will erase all of the
programmed channels.
2. Position the end of your hand-held transmitter
about 1 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm) away from the
Universal Home Remote buttons while keeping the
indicator light in view.
3. Simultaneously press and hold both the desired
Universal Home Remote button and the hand-held
transmitter button. Do not release the buttons
until Step 4 has been completed.
If the indicator light blinks rapidly for two seconds
and then turns to a constant light, continue with
Steps 6 through 8 following to complete the
programming of a rolling-code equipped device,
most commonly, a garage door opener.
Some entry gates and garage door openers
may require you to substitute Step 3 with the
procedure noted in “Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming” later in this section.
6. Locate in the garage, the garage door opener
receiver (motor-head unit). Locate the “Learn”
or “Smart” button. This can usually be found where
the hanging antenna wire is attached to the
motor-head unit.
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7. Firmly press and release the “Learn” or “Smart”
button. The name and color of the button may
vary by manufacturer.
Gate Operator and Canadian
Programming
Canadian radio-frequency laws require transmitter
signals to time out or quit after several seconds of
transmission. This may not be long enough for Universal
Home Remote to pick up the signal during programming.
Similarly, some U.S. gate operators are manufactured
to time out in the same manner.
You will have 30 seconds to start Step 8.
8. Return to the vehicle. Firmly press and hold
the programmed Universal Home Remote button
for two seconds, then release. Repeat the
press/hold/release sequence a second time, and
depending on the brand of the garage door opener,
or other rolling code device, repeat this sequence
a third time to complete the programming.
If you live in Canada, or you are having difficulty
programming a gate operator or garage door opener
by using the “Programming Universal Home Remote”
procedures, regardless of where you live, replace Step 3
under “Programming Universal Home Remote” with
the following:
The Universal Home Remote should now activate
your rolling-code equipped device.
To program the remaining two Universal Home Remote
buttons, begin with Step 2 of “Programming Universal
Home Remote.” You do not want to repeat Step 1,
as this will erase all previous programming from
the Universal Home Remote buttons.
Continue to press and hold the Universal Home Remote
button while you press and release every two seconds
(cycle) the hand-held transmitter button until the
frequency signal has been successfully accepted by the
Universal Home Remote. The Universal Home Remote
indicator light will flash slowly at first and then rapidly.
Proceed with Step 4 under “Programming Universal
Home Remote” to complete.
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Using Universal Home Remote
Press and hold the appropriate Universal Home Remote
button for at least half of a second. The indicator light
will come on while the signal is being transmitted.
Reprogramming a Single Universal
Home Remote Button
To program a device to Universal Home Remote using
a Universal Home Remote button previously trained,
follow these steps:
Erasing Universal Home Remote
Buttons
1. Press and hold the desired Universal Home
Remote button. Do not release the button.
To erase programming from the three Universal Home
Remote buttons do the following:
2. The indicator light will begin to flash after
20 seconds. While still holding the Universal Home
Remote button, proceed with Step 2 under
“Programming Universal Home Remote” shown
earlier in this section.
1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons until
the indicator light begins to flash, after 20 seconds.
Do not hold the two outside buttons for longer
than 30 seconds.
For additional information on Universal Home Remote,
2. Release both buttons.
The Universal Home Remote is now in the training
(learning) mode and can be programmed at any time
beginning with Step 2 under “Programming Universal
Home Remote” shown earlier in this section.
Individual buttons cannot be erased, but they can be
reprogrammed. See “Reprogramming a Single Universal
Home Remote Button” following this section.
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Luggage Carrier
Storage Areas
If your vehicle has this feature, you can load cargo on
your vehicle.
Glove Box
Open the glove box by pulling the bottom of the
handle upward.
The luggage carrier consists of siderails attached to
the roof. The crossrails attach into the siderails and
can be moved back and forth to accommodate various
cargo sizes.
Cupholder(s)
Notice: Loading cargo on the luggage carrier
that weighs more than 250 lbs. (113 kg) or hangs
over the rear or sides of the vehicle may damage
your vehicle. Load cargo only on top of the
crossrails and tie the cargo down to the crossrail
support cargo tie-down loops, making sure to
fasten it securely
Your vehicle may have two cupholders in front of
the front armrest storage area. You may also have
a cupholder in the center of the rear bench seat.
Pull down on the lid to open the cupholder.
Front Seat Storage Net
Your vehicle is equipped with storage nets located
on the back of the front seats. To remove these nets,
pull out on each of the four clips located on the net.
Do not exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when
loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle
page 4-52.
Front Armrest Storage Area
Your vehicle is equipped with a front armrest storage
area. To open, lift the latch on the front of the armrest
and pull up.
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Adjusting the Crossrails
Adjust the crossrails to fit your load by doing the
following:
2. Remove the end cap.
1. Use the provided crossrail key to unlock the
crossrail end cap by turning it counterclockwise.
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6. Push the lever labeled “PULL” from right to left
to lock the crossrail in place.
7. Reinstall end cap and lock by turning the key
clockwise.
8. Repeat Steps 5 through 7 to the opposite end
of the crossrail.
Stop Tabs
If your vehicle has a sunroof, it will have a crossrail stop
tab placed in the siderail. This tab prevents you from
moving the crossrails past the opening of the sunroof
and loading cargo too far forward.
Your vehicle may be equipped with cargo tie downs.
Once you load the cargo onto the crossrails, secure
it by tying it down to the cargo tie downs. Do not load
cargo directly on the roof of your vehicle. See Cargo
3. Pull the lever labeled “PULL” from left to right to
loosen the crossrail.
4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 to the opposite end of
the crossrail.
5. Once both sides of the crossrail are loose, adjust
the crossrail to the desired position.
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If your vehicle has a cargo cover, you can use it to
cover items in the rear of the vehicle. Remove the cover
from its pouch and place the loops found on each
corner of the cover, over the two pegs in each corner of
the rear if the vehicle. When it is not in use, fold up
the cover and return it to the pouch.
Rear Storage Area
Your vehicle is equipped with a rear storage area
located on the passenger’s side of the cargo area.
To open, pull the two tabs out and open lid.
Convenience Net
Cargo Tie Downs
Your vehicle may be equipped with a convenience net
in the rear of the vehicle. Put small loads behind the net.
The net is not for heavier loads. Store them as far
forward as you can.
Your vehicle may be equipped with four cargo tie-downs.
These tie-downs are located in tracks on the roof of the
vehicle. Each tie-down can be moved to anywhere on
the track. To loosen, turn the tie-down counterclockwise
until it moves freely in the track. To tighten, turn the
tie-down clockwise.
Cargo Cover
Notice: If you put items onto the cargo cover, the
weight of the items could cause the attachment clips
to break. You would no longer be able to attach
and use the cargo cover. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Never put anything
on top of the cargo cover.
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Press the front of the switch to close the sunroof.
To stop the sunroof before it is fully closed, press and
release the front or back of the switch.
Sunroof
Your vehicle may have a power sliding sunroof. The
ignition must be on or in ACC, or Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) must be active. See Retained Accessory
Vent: Press and hold the back of the switch to vent the
sunroof. To stop the sunroof before it reaches its full
vent position, release the switch.
The switch used to
operate the sunroof
is located in the
headliner.
Do not keep the sunroof open for long periods of time
as debris may collect in the tracks.
Sunshade Operation
The sunshade will open automatically open with the
sunroof.
However, it can manually be pulled shut after the
sunroof is closed. To adjust the sunshade, push it
backward or pull it forward to the desired position.
The sunshade cannot be adjusted further than
the current closed position of the sunroof.
Open/Close: Press and release the back of the switch
to open the sunroof. If the sunshade is in the closed
position, it will automatically open with the sunroof.
To stop the sunroof before it has reached the full open
position press and release the front or back of the
switch. An air deflector will raise when the sunroof
is fully opened.
Anti-Pinch Feature
If an object is in the path of the sunroof when it is
closing, the anti-pinch feature will detect the object
and stop the sunroof from closing at the point of
the obstruction. The sunroof will then return to the
full-open or vent position, and the air deflector
will raise.
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✍ NOTES
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Section 3
Instrument Panel
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✍ NOTES
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The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
page 2-27.
F. All-Wheel Drive, Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator,
Locking Rear Axle, and Traction Control
page 3-17.
on page 2-21.
G. Exterior Lamps Control, Dome Override
Button, Instrument Panel Brightness Control,
Fog Lamp Button, and OnStar® Button.
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Hazard Warning Flashers
Other Warning Devices
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
The hazard warning
flasher button is located
in the center of the
instrument panel.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the horn symbol on the
steering wheel pad.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. If you have the tilt steering wheel,
you can raise it to the highest level to allow more room
for the driver to enter and exit the vehicle.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in the
ignition switch.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
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Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
The tilt lever is located on the left side of the steering
column, under the turn signal lever.
To tilt, hold the steering wheel and pull the tilt lever
toward you. Move the wheel to a comfortable level, then
release the tilt lever to lock the wheel in place.
• 53 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
page 3-9.
on page 3-10.
page 3-11.
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Turn Signal On Chime
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has one upward (for right) and one
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
If a turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal and the message TURN SIGNAL will also appear
in the DIC. To turn the chime and message off, move
the turn signal lever to the off position.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will automatically
return to the off position.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until the change is
completed. The lever will return by itself when released.
See “TURN SIGNAL” under DIC Warnings and
for more information.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
53(Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer): To
change the headlamps from low to high beam, push
the lever toward the instrument panel. To return
to low-beam headlamps, pull the multifunction lever
toward you. Then release it.
turn or lane change.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
flash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers will not see your
vehicle’s turn signal.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when signaling
a turn, check for a burned-out bulb or a blown fuse.
For bulb replacement, see Taillamps, Turn Signal,
blown fuse or circuit breaker, see Fuses and Circuit
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N(Delay): You can set the wiper speed for a long or
short delay between wipes. This can be very useful
in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay
time. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter
the delay.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are in the automatic
position.
6 (Low Speed): For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from you to the first solid position
past the delay settings.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then
release it.
If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on
low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on.
They’ll stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you.
The high-beam indicator on the instrument panel
cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to
normal operation.
1 (High Speed): For high-speed wiping, turn the
band to the second solid position past the delay settings.
9(Off): To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
worn or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
Windshield wipers will work in all power modes except
when set to LOCK. After the engine is turned off,
wipers will work in Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
mode until a door is opened. See Retained Accessory
8(Mist): For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
mist. Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let go.
The wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want
more wipes, hold the band on mist longer.
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Windshield Washer
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
L(Washer Fluid): There is a paddle marked with the
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction
lever. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, push
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and then
either stop or return to your preset speed.
This knob is located on the
instrument panel below the
climate controls.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer fluid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Z (Rear Wiper): To turn the rear wiper on, turn the
knob to either 1 or 2. For a slower wiping speed, turn the
knob to 1. For a faster wiping speed, turn the knob to 2
0 (Off): To turn the wiper off, turn the knob to this
symbol.
=(Washer Fluid): To wash and wipe the window,
press the button within the knob with this symbol.
The rear window washer uses the same fluid bottle as
the windshield washer. However, the rear window
washer will run out of fluid before the windshield washer.
If you can wash your windshield but not your rear
windows, check the fluid level.
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rT(Set): Press this button to set the speed.
Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if your parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake fluid level is low.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
{CAUTION:
9(Off): This position
turns the system off.
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
R(On): This position activates the system.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system (if equipped) begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. See
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
turn cruise control back on.
+ (Resume/Accelerate): Move the lever to this symbol
to make the vehicle accelerate or resume to a
previously set speed.
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Setting Cruise Control
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake or step on the clutch.
This, of course, disengages the cruise control. But you
don’t need to reset it.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you
can move the cruise control switch briefly from on to
resume/accelerate.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate the vehicle
will keep going faster until you release the switch or
apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, don’t
hold the switch at resume/accelerate.
1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The cruise symbol on the
instrument panel will
illuminate when the cruise
control is engaged.
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Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
• Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the set button at the end of the
lever, then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
If the accelerator pedal is held longer than
60 seconds, cruise control will turn off.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control.
Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and don’t
use cruise control on steep hills.
• Move the cruise switch from on to
resume/accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to
the speed you want, and then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts,
move the switch briefly to resume/accelerate.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Ending Cruise Control
To turn off the cruise control, do one of the following:
• Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
• Press and hold the set button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.
• Move the cruise control switch to off.
• Lightly tap or press the clutch, if you have a
• To slow down in very small amounts, briefly press
the set button. Each time you do this, you’ll go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
manual transmission.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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9(Off): Turn the knob to this position to turn off all
exterior lamps including the DRL. This is a momentary
control that will spring back to AUTO when released.
Vehicles first sold in Canada do not have the DRL
disable feature available. Vehicles first sold in Canada
cannot turn off the DRL unless the following conditions
are met:
Exterior Lamps
• The vehicle has an automatic transmission.
• The gear position is in PARK (P).
• The headlamp switch is turned to the Off position.
AUTO (Automatic): Turn the knob to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
The control on the driver’s side of your instrument panel
operates the exterior lamps.
• Sidemarker Lamps
• Taillamps
• Parking Lamps
• Instrument Panel Lights
O(Exterior Lamps): Turn the knob, located to the
right of this symbol, to choose one of the four exterior
lamp positions.
Due to the momentary switch design, your automatic
headlamps may be disabled even if the control is in the
AUTO position.
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To enable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
;(Parking Lamps): Turn the knob to this position to
turn on the parking lamps, together with the following:
• Sidemarker Lamps
• Taillamps
• License Plate Lamps
• Instrument Panel Lights
• Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
• Turn the headlamp control from the parking lamp
position to AUTO.
• Turn the headlamp control from the headlamp
position to AUTO.
2(Headlamps): Turn the knob to this position to turn
on the headlamps, together with the previously listed
lamps and lights.
To disable automatic lighting, do any of the following:
• Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the control. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
You can switch your headlamps from low to high beam
by pushing the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
the instrument panel.
• Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
parking lamp position.
Headlamps on Reminder
A headlamp reminder chime will sound if the following
conditions are met:
• The driver door is open.
• Parking lamps or headlamps are manually turned on.
• Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
headlamp position.
more information.
Vehicles first sold in Canada with an automatic
transmission cannot turn off automatic headlamps
unless the gear position is in PARK (P) and the
headlamp switch is turned to the Off position. Vehicles
first sold in Canada with a manual transmission can
turn off the automatic headlamps with the headlamp
control; however, the parking lamps will remain on.
• The key is either not in the ignition switch, or it is in
the LOCK position of the ignition switch.
The headlamp reminder cannot be turned off if the
conditions listed above are met.
In the automatic mode, the headlamps turn off once
the ignition is in ACC.
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Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL
can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps, roof marker
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will become more dim when the headlights are off
compared to when the headlights are on.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
• The ignition is on.
Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered, or
the system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
• The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
• The transmission is not in PARK (P) if you have an
automatic transmission.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp system so that driving under
bridges or bright overhead street lights does not affect the
system. The DRL and automatic headlamp system will
only be affected when the light sensor sees a change in
lighting lasting longer than the delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once you
leave the garage, it will take approximately one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if it is
light outside. During that delay, your instrument panel
cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure your
instrument panel brightness control is in the full bright
• The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only the DRLs will be on. The
other lamps will not be on. The instrument panel will not
be lit up either. For vehicles first sold in Canada, if
parking lamps are manually turned on, DRL will stay on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Vehicles first sold in Canada cannot turn off DRL
unless certain conditions are met. See Exterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
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The switches for the off-road lamps are located in the
center of the instrument panel below climate controls.
One switch is used for the front lower-grille mounted
off-road lamps, if equipped, and the other switch is used
for the roof-mounted off-road lamps, if equipped.
Off-Road Lamps
The off-road lamps, if equipped, provide auxiliary
lighting when your vehicle is used off road. These lamps
are not intended to be used in place of existing vehicle
lighting. The lamps are not to be used on any public
street or highway and are to be covered when not
in use. Check your state and local laws before installing
or using any auxiliary lighting. In some states it may
be necessary to remove the roof lamps when operating
the vehicle on the highway.
To use the lamps, remove the covers from the lamps
and press the switch to turn them on. Press the switch
again to turn them off. An indicator light on the switch
will turn on when the lamps are on.
Notice: Turning on the off-road lamps before
removing the lamp covers could damage the
off-road lamps and the covers. Always remove the
covers before turning on the off-road lamps.
The off-road lamps will remain on even after the ignition
is turned off. The off-road lamp switch must be
pressed to turn them off.
Roof Mounted Off-Road
Light Switch
Lower Grille Off-Road
Light Switch
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Fog Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
Your vehicle has fog lamps. You can use them for
better vision in foggy or misty conditions. Your parking
lamps and/or low-beam headlamps must be on for
your fog lamps to work.
D (Instrument Panel Brightness): This feature
controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to
the exterior lamp control.
The fog lamp button is
located in the exterior
lamps control.
Turn the thumbwheel up to brighten or down to dim the
instrument panel lights. Turn the thumbwheel all the
way up to turn the dome lamps on.
Dome Lamp
The dome and footwell lamps will come on when you
open a door. The dome lamps are located in the cargo
and front area of the vehicle.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on while the
headlamps or parking lamps are on. Press the button
again to turn them off. An indicator light will glow in the
button when the fog lamps are on.
You can also turn the dome and footwell lamps on by
turning the thumbwheel, located next to the exterior
lamps control, all the way up. In this position, the lamps
will remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use your fog lamps
in the dark without turning on the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off, the
fog lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
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Dome Lamp Override
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome lamp if it is left on for
more than 20 minutes when the ignition is in LOCK. This
will help prevent your battery from running down.
E (Dome Lamp Override): You can use the dome
override button, located below the exterior lamps control,
to set the dome and footwell lamps to come on
automatically when a door is opened, or to remain off.
To turn the lamps off, press the button into the in
position. With the button in this position, the dome lamps
will remain off when the doors are open. To return the
lamps to automatic operation, press the button again
and return it to the out position. With the button in this
position, the dome lamps will come on when you
open a door.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Your vehicle has accessory power outlets.
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
Your vehicle has two accessory power outlets located on
the lower part of the instrument panel below the climate
control system and there may be one located in the rear
cargo area. A small cap must be pulled down to access
an accessory power outlet. When not using an outlet, be
sure to cover it with the protective cap.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lamps will not
come on if the dome override button is pressed in.
Notice: Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
Reading Lamps
Your vehicle has reading lamps, press the button
located next to the lamp to turn them on or off.
These lamps will not come on with the dome lamps.
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Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information
on accessory power outlets.
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have an ashtray and cigarette lighter.
Your ashtray is located in your center console area.
The ashtray can be removed for cleaning. When
the ashtray is removed, this area can also be used as a
cupholder.
Notice: Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not use equipment
exceeding maximum amperage rating. Check
Notice: If you put papers, pins, or other flammable
items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them and possibly
damage your vehicle. Never put flammable items in
the ashtray.
with your dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.
To use the lighter, press it in all the way, and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
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#(Air Conditioning): Press the left knob on the
control panel to turn the air conditioning system on or
off. An indicator light on the button will come on to
let you know the air conditioning is activated. When the
system is on, this setting cools and dehumidifies the
air entering your vehicle.
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
The air conditioning will not function if the fan is turned
off. If air conditioning is selected with fan off, the
indicator will flash three times and then turn off.
You may notice a slight change in engine performance
when the air conditioning compressor shuts off and
turns on again. This is normal. The system is designed
to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while
still maintaining the selected temperature.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.
With this system you can control the heating, cooling,
and ventilation of your vehicle. In-between modes
are available by moving the right control knob between
modes with symbols. The in-between mode will be a
combination of the two modes that the control is
selected between.
9(Fan): Turn the center knob on the control panel
to control the fan speed. Turn the knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
fan speed.
Temperature: Turn the left knob on the control panel
to adjust the temperature of the air in the vehicle.
Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the temperature.
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9(Off): Turn the center knob to this position to turn
the fan off. With the fan off, you may still experience
airflow from the system that increases with vehicle
speed depending on the mode and temperature settings.
Enable recirculation mode to stop this airflow from
occurring.
\(Bi-Level): Turn the right knob on the control panel
to this mode to direct air to the instrument panel outlets,
and the remaining air to the floor outlets and the defroster
and side window outlets. Cooler air is directed to the
upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
[(Floor): Turn the right knob on the control panel to
this mode to direct air to the floor outlets, side window
outlets, and defroster. Recirculation is not available
in this mode.
The right knob on the control panel is used to direct the
airflow inside your vehicle. Turn the knob to select
one of the following modes:
@(Recirculation): Press the center knob on the
control panel to recirculate air inside the vehicle
Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high
humidity (moisture) condensing on the cool window
glass. This can be minimized if the climate control
system is used properly. There are two modes to clear
fog or frost from your windshield and side windows.
Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog
or moisture and warm the passengers. Use the defrost
mode to remove fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. For best results, clear all snow and ice
from the windshield before defrosting.
and prevent outside air from coming in. It can be used
to prevent outside odors from entering your vehicle
and cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly. Press
this button to turn the recirculation mode on or off.
An indicator light on the button will come on to let you
know the recirculation mode is activated. This is normal.
Recirculation is available in the bi-level, and vent
modes. Recirculation is not available, and the light will
not come on, while in floor, floor/defog and defrost
mode. If recirculation is selected in these modes, the
indicator will flash three times indicating it is not
available in that mode.
/(Floor/Defog): Turn the right knob on the control
panel to this mode to direct the air to the windshield,
the side window outlets, and to the floor outlets.
When you select this mode, the system runs the
air conditioning system unless the outside temperature
is near freezing or below. Recirculation is not available
in this mode.
H(Vent): Turn the right knob on the control panel to
this mode to direct air to the instrument panel outlets.
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0(Defrost): Turn the right knob on the control panel
to this mode to direct most of the air to the windshield,
and the side window outlets. When you select this mode,
the system runs the air conditioning system unless
the outside temperature is near or below freezing.
Recirculation is not available in this mode.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the air outlets located in the center and on the side
of your instrument panel to direct the airflow.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust
the direction and amount of airflow inside the vehicle.
Move the louvers up or down to change the direction of
the airflow. Use the thumbwheel under the outlets to
change the direction of the airflow from left to right.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window when the key
is in the ignition and turned to ON.
Operation Tips
• Enable recirculation mode for maximum air
conditioning performance.
=(Rear Defogger): Press the right knob on the
control panel to turn the rear window defogger on or off.
First press of this button will activate the rear window
defogger for 15 minutes and each subsequent activation
lasts 7 and one-half minutes.
• Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the flow of air into your vehicle.
• Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or
damage the warming grid, and the repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Do not attach
a temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or
anything similar to the defogger grid.
• Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of your vehicle more
effectively.
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Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.
Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that may
be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly — and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They are a big help.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you
are familiar with this section, you should not be
alarmed when this happens.
Your vehicle has a DIC that works along with the
warning lights and gages. See Driver Information
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Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will know
how fast you are going, about how much fuel you have used, and many other things you will need to know to drive
safely and economically.
United States Manual Transmission version shown, Canada similar
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Speedometer and Odometer
Tachometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
revolutions per
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles or kilometers.
minute (rpm).
The odometer mileage can be checked with the ignition
off. Simply press the trip information stem. See
page 3-41 for more information.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then it must
be. But if it cannot, then it is set at zero, and a label
must be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Notice: If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your vehicle
could be damaged, and the damages would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not operate
the engine with the tachometer in the shaded
warning area.
Trip Odometer
Your vehicle has a trip odometer that can tell you how
far your vehicle has been driven since you last set
the trip odometer to zero.
See “Trip Odometer” under DIC Controls and Displays
on page 3-41 for more information.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder
Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
be provided for several seconds to remind people
to buckle their safety belts. The driver safety belt light
will also be provided and stay on for several seconds,
then it will flash for several more. You should buckle
your seat belt.
Several seconds after the key is turned to ON or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds to
remind the front passenger to buckle their safety belt.
This would only occur if the passenger airbag is
for more information. The passenger safety belt light
will also come on and stay on for several seconds, then
it will flash for several more.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
This chime and light will be
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor the
light will be provided.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
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Airbag Readiness Light
{CAUTION:
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the airbag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should
go out. This means
the system is ready.
The airbag readiness light should flash for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON.
If the light does not come on then, have it fixed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start
the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right
front passenger’s seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned off
the passenger’s frontal airbag. A child in a
rear-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger’s
airbag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inflating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – United
States
Passenger
Airbag Status
Indicator – Canada
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF,
or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as
a system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This
is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate).
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If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is failsafe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in the rear seat,
even if the airbag is off.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag readiness
light ever come on together, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle
serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger seat
may not have the protection of the frontal
page 3-28.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal
for more on this, including important safety information.
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Battery Warning Light
Up-Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
This light will come on
briefly when you start the
vehicle, as a check to
show you it is working;
then it should go out.
This light appears when
you need to shift to the
next higher gear on
a manual transmission
vehicle.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is
on could drain your battery and result in a vehicle that
page 3-44 for more information.
Shifting when the indicator light is on will help you get
the best fuel economy. See “Up-Shift Light” under
information.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the
radio and climate control system.
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does not
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. See Towing
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
{CAUTION:
United States
Canada
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning
light on can lead to an accident. If the light
is still on after you have pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
Traction Off Light
If you have the traction
control system, this light
will come on when
the traction control system
has been turned off.
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on briefly when you
start your engine to show
it is working. Then it
will turn off. This is normal.
This light will come on briefly when the ignition is turned
to ON, if it does not the system may require service.
For more information on the traction off light, see
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
StabiliTrak® Not Ready Light
If you have the StabiliTrak®
system, this light will come
on when the StabiliTrak®
system has been
The anti-lock brake system warning light should
come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
turned off.
This light will come on briefly when the ignition is turned
to ON, if it does not the system may require service.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Tire Pressure Light
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition to ON. It will
then come on only when
a flat or low tire pressure
condition exists.
more information.
United States
Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer is in the shaded area of the gage,
the engine is too hot. It means that your engine coolant
has overheated. If you have been operating your
vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
information.
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Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. See Accessories
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which monitors
operation of the fuel,
ignition, and emission
control systems.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it
is working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light does not come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in
one of two ways:
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The check engine light comes on to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
• Light Flashing — A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system
on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
• Light On Steady — An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after awhile, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
be as good, and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that
may not be covered by your warranty.
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If the Light is Flashing
If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
• Reducing vehicle speed
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light off.
• Avoiding hard accelerations
• Avoiding steep uphill grades
• If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your
vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and
restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous steps, and see your
dealer for service as soon as possible.
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen
if you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix
any mechanical or electrical problems that may
have developed.
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This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
The light goes on when you turn your key to ON or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That’s a
check to be sure the light works. If it doesn’t come
on, be sure to have it fixed so it will be there to warn
you if something goes wrong.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn’t flowing through your engine properly. You could
be low on oil and you might have some other system
information.
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Security Light
Cruise Control Light
This light will come on
briefly when you turn
the key to START.
This light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control.
The light will stay on
until the engine starts.
If the ignition is turned on, and the light flashes, the
Passlock® system has entered a tamper mode. If
The light will go out when the cruise control is
more information.
If the ignition is turned on, but the engine is not running,
the light should be on solid.
Highbeam On Light
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock®
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock®,
and you should see your dealer.
This light comes on
whenever the high-beam
headlamps are on.
additional information regarding the security light.
for more information.
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Here are three things that some owners ask about.
None of these indicate a problem with your fuel gage:
Fuel Gage
• At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
• It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
fill the tank.
• The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
When the fuel in the fuel tank is low, you will see a
LOW FUEL message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-44 for more information.
United States
Canada
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have remaining in the fuel tank.
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Trip Information
Odometer
The odometer is automatically displayed on the DIC
when you start the vehicle. The odometer shows
the total distance the vehicle has been driven in either
miles for the United States or kilometers for Canada.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) displays information
such as the trip odometer, personalization features,
and warning messages. The DIC display is located on
the instrument panel cluster.
DIC Controls and Displays
Trip Odometer
Press and release the reset stem until TRIP appears
on the DIC display. This shows the current distance
traveled since the last reset of the trip odometer in either
miles for the United States or kilometers for Canada.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on when the
ignition is on.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Pressing and releasing the trip odometer
reset stem on the DIC will acknowledge some current
warnings or service messages. Some messages will
only clear after the required action has been taken.
Press and hold the reset stem for approximately
four seconds to reset the trip odometer.
The DIC has different modes which can be accessed
by pressing the trip odometer reset stem on the
DIC. These modes are explained in the following
section. The DIC trip odometer reset stem is located on
the instrument panel cluster next to the DIC display.
To scroll through the available functions, press
and release the reset stem.
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4. To view the next available language, press and
hold the reset stem for approximately two seconds.
Release the reset stem and press and hold
again to view each language. You can choose from
English (default), Spanish, or French.
Engine Oil Life System
Press the reset stem until OIL LIFE RESET
appears — alternating between OIL LIFE and
RESET — on the DIC display. The engine oil life
system calculates an estimate of the oil’s remaining
useful life. The CHANGE OIL message will alert you
to change your oil on a schedule consistent with
your driving conditions. Always reset the OIL LIFE
message after an oil change. To reset the message,
5. Once the desired language is shown on the DIC
display, briefly press the reset stem to set your
choice.
Automatic Door Locks
This feature allows you to program your door locks to
a preferred setting.
In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring the
oil life, additional maintenance is recommended in
the Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See Engine
page 6-4 for more information.
To set your choice for this feature, perform the
following steps:
1. With the engine off, turn the key to LOCK.
Do not remove the key from the ignition.
Language
2. Press and hold the power door lock button for
approximately three seconds until the DIC
display shows the current door lock mode.
This feature allows you to choose the language in which
the DIC display will show information.
To set your choice for this feature, perform the
following steps:
3. To view the next available mode, press and hold
the reset stem for approximately two seconds.
Release the reset stem and press and hold again
to view each mode.
1. With the engine off, turn the key to ON.
2. Close all doors and make sure that the DOORS
message is not displayed in the DIC.
4. Once the desired mode is shown on the DIC
display, briefly press the reset stem to set your
choice. The DIC display will then clear.
3. Press and release the reset stem until the language
is shown on the DIC display.
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The following are the available modes:
Remote Keyless Entry Feedback
Lock 1 (default): On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, this mode locks all of the doors when the
vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P) and unlocks all of
the doors when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
This feature allows you to program your remote keyless
entry feedback to a preferred setting.
To set your choice for this feature, perform the
following steps:
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode locks
all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h) and unlocks all of the doors
when the key is removed from the ignition.
1. With the engine off, turn the key to LOCK.
Do not remove the key from the ignition.
2. Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the
remote keyless entry transmitter at the same time.
Hold both buttons until the DIC display shows
the current remote keyless entry feedback mode.
Lock 2: On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
this mode locks all of the doors when the vehicle
is shifted out of PARK (P) and unlocks the driver’s door
when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P).
3. To view the next available mode, press and hold
the reset stem for approximately two seconds.
Release the reset stem and press and hold again
to view each mode.
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h) and unlocks the driver’s door
when the key is removed from the ignition.
4. Once the desired mode is shown on the DIC
display, briefly press the reset stem to set your
choice. The DIC display will then clear.
Lock 3: On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
this mode locks all of the doors when the vehicle
is shifted out of PARK (P). The doors will not
automatically unlock.
On vehicles with a manual transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the vehicle speed is greater
than 15 mph (24 km/h). The doors will not automatically
unlock.
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The following are the available modes:
DIC Warnings and Messages
RFA 1 (default): This mode flashes the parking lamps
when you press the lock or unlock buttons on the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
Warning messages are displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) to notify the driver that the
status of the vehicle has changed and that some action
may be needed by the driver to correct the condition.
More than one message may appear at one time. They
will appear one after the other. The messages are
displayed for four seconds each. Some messages may
not require immediate action but you should press and
release the trip odometer reset stem to acknowledge that
you received the message and clear it from the display.
Each message must be acknowledged individually. Some
messages cannot be cleared from the display because
they are more urgent. These messages require action
before they can be removed from the DIC display. You
should take any messages that appear on the display
seriously and remember that clearing the messages will
only make the messages disappear, not correct the
problem. The following are the possible messages that
can be displayed and some information about them.
RFA 2: This mode flashes the parking lamps and
sounds the horn when you press the lock button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter. This mode also
flashes the parking lamps when you press the unlock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 3: This mode flashes the parking lamps and
sounds the horn when you press the lock or unlock
buttons on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 4: This mode disables remote keyless entry
feedback. There will be no feedback when you press
the lock or unlock buttons on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
AC (Air Conditioning) OFF
This message will be displayed when the engine coolant
temperature is too high and the air conditioning in
your vehicle needs to be turned off. See Engine
on page 3-21 for more information. This message
will be displayed along with the ENG HOT message.
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ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) FAULT
CHANGE OIL
This message will be displayed if there is a problem
with the anti-lock brake system. Check the anti-lock
brake system as soon as possible and have your vehicle
page 3-33 for more information. Press and release the
reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display.
This message will be displayed when the oil needs to
be changed. Check the oil in your vehicle as soon
as possible and have your vehicle serviced by your
and release the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.
DOORS
BATTERY
This message will be displayed when one or more of
the doors is ajar. You should check all the doors on your
vehicle to make sure they are closed. The message
will clear from the display after all of the doors are
closed.
This message will be displayed when there is a problem
BRAKES
ENG (Engine) HOT
This message will be displayed if there is a problem
with the brakes. Check the brakes as soon as possible
and have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer.
release the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the DIC display.
This message will be displayed when the engine
coolant temperature is hot. Check the engine coolant
temperature gage. See Engine Coolant Temperature
serviced by your GM dealer as soon as possible if
you suspect the engine is overheating. See Engine
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FLUID
LOW TIRE
This message will be displayed if the brake fluid is low.
Check the brake fluid as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. See Brakes
on page 5-36 for more information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display.
This message will be displayed if a low tire pressure is
detected in any of the vehicle’s tires. Press and
release the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display. The message will appear at
each ignition cycle until the tires are inflated to the
FUEL CAP
information on tires and the correct inflation pressures.
This message will be displayed if the vehicle’s fuel cap
is either off or loose. You should pull over and check
to see if your vehicle’s fuel cap is secure as soon
as possible. You may also see the check engine light
on the instrument panel cluster. If the check engine
light does come on when your vehicle’s fuel cap
was loose, it may take a few driving trips before the
page 3-35 for more information if the light still remains
on. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the display.
OIL
This message will be displayed when the oil pressure is
PARK BRK (Brake)
This message will be displayed when the parking
information. The message will clear from the display
after the parking brake is released or by pressing
and releasing the reset stem.
LOW FUEL
This message will be displayed if the level of fuel in the
vehicle is low. You should also check the fuel gage.
should fill your vehicle’s fuel tank as soon as possible.
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REDUCED POWER
SERVICE STAB (Stability) SYS
(System)
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak®, this message will be
displayed if there is a problem with the StabiliTrak®
system. You should have your vehicle serviced by
This message will be displayed when the vehicle’s engine
power is reduced. Reduced engine power can affect the
vehicle’s ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but
there is no reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while this message is on, but acceleration
and speed may be reduced. Anytime this message stays
on, the vehicle should be taken to your GM dealer for
service as soon as possible. Press and release the reset
stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from the
display.
SERV (Service) TPM
(Tire Pressure Monitor)
This message will be displayed if any of the tire monitor
sensors have malfunctioned, if the tire monitor sensors
have not been programmed, or if the recommended
tire pressures are not programmed. See your GM dealer
for service. Press and release the reset stem to
SERV (Service) 4WD
(Four-Wheel Drive)
This message will be displayed when there is a problem
with the transfer case control system. Check the
transfer case on your vehicle and have it serviced by
your GM dealer. See Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive
on page 2-22 for more information about the transfer
case. Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the display.
acknowledge the message and clear it from the display.
This message will appear at each ignition cycle until
the system is serviced. See your GM dealer.
more information.
SERV (Service) VEH (Vehicle)
This message will be displayed if your vehicle needs
service. You should have your vehicle serviced by your
GM dealer as soon as possible.
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STAB (Stability) SYS (System) OFF
Audio System(s)
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak®, this message will be
displayed when the StabiliTrak® system is turned
on page 4-11 for more information.
Determine which radio your vehicle has and then read the
pages following to familiarize yourself with its features.
Driving without distraction is a necessity for a safer
By taking a few moments to read this manual and
get familiar with your vehicle’s audio system, you can
use it with less effort, as well as take advantage of
its features. While your vehicle is parked, set up your
audio system by presetting your favorite radio stations,
setting the tone, and adjusting the speakers. Then,
when driving conditions permit, you can tune to
your favorite stations using the presets and steering
wheel controls if the vehicle has them.
TRAC (Traction) OFF
This message along with the traction off light will be
displayed when the traction control system is turned off
by pressing the TCS button. See Traction Off Light
page 4-9 for more information.
TRACTION FAILED
This message will be displayed if there is a problem
with the traction control system. Check the traction
control system as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. See Traction
Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
{CAUTION:
This system provides you with a far greater
access to audio stations and song listings.
Giving extended attention to entertainment
tasks while driving can cause a crash and you
or others can be injured or killed. Always keep
your eyes on the road and your mind on the
drive — avoid engaging in extended searching
while driving.
TURN SIGNAL
This message will be displayed when the turn signal
is on for approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of travel.
Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
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Keeping your mind on the drive is important for safe
driving. For more information, see Defensive Driving
on page 4-2.
Notice: The chime signals related to safety belts,
parking brake, and other functions of your vehicle
operate through the radio/entertainment system.
If that equipment is replaced or additional equipment
is added to your vehicle, the chimes may not
work. Make sure that replacement or additional
equipment is compatible with your vehicle before
installing it. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
While your vehicle is parked:
• Familiarize yourself with all of its controls.
• Familiarize yourself with its operation.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can be
played even after the ignition is turned off. See Retained
information.
• Set up your audio system by presetting your
favorite radio stations, setting the tone, and
adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving
conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite
radio stations using the presets and steering wheel
controls if the vehicle has them.
Setting the Time
Notice: Before adding any sound equipment to
your vehicle, such as an audio system, CD player,
CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make
sure that it can be added by checking with your
dealer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile
radio and telephone units. If sound equipment can
be added, it is very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment may interfere with
Press and hold H until the correct hour appears on
the display. AM or PM will appear on the display
(Radio with CD (UpLevel, MP3, and Six-Disc CD)).
Press and hold M until the correct minute appears
on the display. The time can be set with the ignition
on or off.
the operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or
other systems, and even damage them. Your
vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation
of sound equipment that has been added.
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Playing the Radio
Radio with CD
P(Power/Volume): Press this knob to turn the
system on and off.
Turn this knob to increase or to decrease the volume.
DISP (Display): Press this button to switch the
display between the radio station frequency and the
time. When the ignition is turned off, press this knob
to display the time.
For XM™ (if equipped), press the DISP button while
in XM™ mode to retrieve four different categories
of information related to the current song or channel:
Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel
Number/Channel Name.
Radio with Single CD shown, Radio with
Single CD (MP3) similar
To change the default on the display, press the DISP
button until you see the display you want, then hold this
knob for two seconds. The radio will produce one
beep and the selected display will now be the default.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ is a satellite radio service that is based in the
48 contiguous United States and in Canada (if available).
XM™ offers over 100 coast-to-coast channels including
music, news, sports, talk, and children’s programming.
XM™ provides digital quality audio and text information
that includes song title and artist name. A service fee is
required in order to receive the XM™ service. For more
information, contact XM™ at www.xmradio.com or
call 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).
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AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): With automatic
volume, the audio system adjusts automatically to make
up for road and wind noise as you drive.
To scan preset stations, press and hold either arrow for
more than four seconds. PSC will appear on the display
and the radio will produce two beeps. The radio will go to
a preset station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the
next preset station. Press either arrow again or one of the
pushbuttons to stop scanning presets.
Set the volume at the desired level. Press this button to
select LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH. Each higher setting
will allow for more volume compensation at faster
vehicle speeds. Then as you drive, automatic volume
increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise
at any speed. The volume level should always sound
the same to you as you drive. NONE will appear on the
display if the radio cannot determine the vehicle
speed. To turn automatic volume off, press this button
until AVOL OFF appears on the display.
The radio will only seek and scan stations with a strong
signal that are in the selected band.
4(Information) (XM™ Satellite Radio Service and
MP3 Features): If the current station has a message,
the information symbol will appear on the display. Press
this button to see the message. The message may
display the artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc.
Finding a Station
If the entire message is not displayed, parts of the
message will appear every three seconds. To scroll
through the message, press and release the information
button. A new group of words will appear on the
display after every press of this button. Once the
complete message has been displayed, the information
symbol will disappear from the display until another
new message is received. The last message can
be displayed by pressing the information button.
You can view the last message until a new message
is received or a different station is tuned to.
BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2,
AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). The display will
show the selection.
e(Tune): Turn this knob to select radio stations.
tSEEK u: Press and release the right or the left
arrow to go to the next or to the previous station
and stay there.
To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for more
than two seconds. SCN will appear on the display
and the radio will produce one beep. The radio will go
to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to
the next station. Press either arrow again or one of the
pushbuttons to stop scanning presets.
When a message is not available from a station,
NO INFO will appear on the display.
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To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. CEN will appear on the
display and you will hear a beep.
Setting Preset Stations
Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM,
six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed
on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the
following steps:
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1
or XM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode,
push and release the tone knob until MANUAL appears
on the display.
4. Press EQ to select the equalization.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
that was set will return and the equalization that
was selected will be stored for that pushbutton.
e(Balance/Fade): To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the speaker knob until FAD
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
e(Bass/Treble): Push and release this knob until
BAS or TRE appears on the display. Turn this knob to
increase or to decrease. The display will show the
bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy,
decrease the treble.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, push the speaker knob, then push it again and
hold it until you hear one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the speaker knob when no tone
or speaker control is displayed. CEN will appear on
the display and you will hear a beep.
To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position,
push and hold the tone knob. The radio will produce
one beep.
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BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequency
allows the radio to switch to a stronger station with
the same category. To turn alternate frequency
on, press and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ON
will appear on the display. The radio may switch
to stations with a stronger frequency.
Finding a Category (CAT) Station
To select and find a desired category perform the
following:
1. Press the CAT button to activate program type
select mode. A category will appear on the
display.
To turn alternate frequency off, press and hold BAND
again for two seconds. AF OFF will appear on the
display. The radio will not switch to other stations.
2. Press the CAT button to select a category.
3. Once the desired category is displayed, press
either SEEK arrow to select and to take you to
the categories first station.
This function does not apply for XM™ Satellite Radio
Service.
4. To go to another station within that category and
the category is displayed, press the CAT button
once. If the category is not displayed, press the
CAT button twice to display the category and then
to go to another station.
Radio Messages
CAL ERR (Calibration Error): The audio system
has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory.
If CAL ERR appears on the display it means that
the radio has not been configured properly for your
vehicle and it must be returned to your GM dealer for
service.
5. Press CAT to exit program type select mode.
If CAT times out and is no longer on the display,
go back to Step 1.
If the radio cannot find the desired program type,
NONE will appear on the display and the radio will
return to the last station you were listening to.
LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take your vehicle
to your GM dealer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer.
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XM™ Radio Messages
Radio Display
Message
Condition
Action Required
XL (Explicit Language
Channels)
XL on the radio display,
after the channel name,
indicates content with
explicit language.
These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a
customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).
Updating
No Signl
Loading
Updating encryption code
The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and
no action is required. This process should take no longer
than 30 seconds.
Loss of signal
The system is functioning correctly, but the vehicle is in a
location that is blocking the XM™ signal. When the vehicle
is moved into an open area, the signal should return.
Acquiring channel audio
(after 4 second delay)
The radio system is acquiring and processing audio and
text data. No action is needed. This message should
disappear shortly.
Off Air
Channel not in service
This channel is not currently in service. Tune to another
channel.
CH Unavl
Channel no longer
available
This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned.
Tune to another station. If this station was one of the
presets, choose another station for that preset button.
No Info
No Info
Artist Name/Feature
not available
No artist information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
Song/Program Title
not available
No song title information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
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XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d)
Radio Display
Message
Condition
Action Required
No Info
Category Name
not available
No category information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
No Info
No Text/Informational
message available
No text or informational messages are available at this
time on this channel. The system is working properly.
Not Found
XM Lock
No channel available for
the chosen category
There are no channels available for the selected category.
The system is working properly.
Theft lock active
The XM™ receiver in your vehicle may have previously
been in another vehicle. For security purposes, XM™
receivers cannot be swapped between vehicles. If this
message is received after having your vehicle serviced,
check with your GM dealer.
Radio ID
Unknown
Check XM
Radio ID label (channel 0) If tuned to channel 0, this message will alternate with the
XM™ Radio eight digit radio ID label. This label is needed
to activate the service.
Radio ID not known
(should only be if
hardware failure)
If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there
may be a receiver fault. Consult with your GM dealer.
Hardware failure
If this message does not clear within a short period of
time, the receiver may have a fault. Consult with your
GM dealer.
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If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as cracked,
broken, or scratched, the CD will not play properly. If the
page 3-77 for more information.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing.
If you want to insert a CD with the ignition off, first press
the eject button or the DISP knob.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.
Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the
CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer
and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of
the recorded CD with a marking pen instead.
If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the
player it will stay in the player. When the ignition or radio
is turned on, the CD will start to play where it stopped,
if it was the last selected audio source.
Notice: If you add any label to a CD, insert more
than one CD into the slot at a time, or attempt
to play scratched or damaged CDs, you could
damage the CD player. When using the CD player,
use only CDs in good condition without any
label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol will appear
on the display. As each new track starts to play,
the track number will appear on the display.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. There may be an increase
in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty in
loading and ejecting. If these problems occur, check
the bottom surface of the CD.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
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BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when
a CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely
inside the radio for future listening.
tSEEK u: Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current or the previous track. Press the right arrow to
go to the start of the next track. Pressing either arrow for
more than two seconds will search the previous or next
tracks at two tracks per second. Release the arrow to
stop searching and to play the track.
B(CD): Press this button to play a CD when listening
to the radio. The CD symbol will appear on the display
when a CD is loaded.
1 r(Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the
start of the current track if more than eight seconds have
played. The previous symbol and the track number
will appear on the display. If this pushbutton is held or
pressed more than once, the player will continue moving
backward through the CD.
DISP (Display): Press this button to see how long
the current track has been playing. The elapsed time of
the track will appear on the display. To change the
default on the display, track or elapsed time, press this
button until you see the display you want, then hold
the button for two seconds. The radio will produce one
beep and the selected display will now be the default.
2 [(Next): Press this pushbutton to go to the next
track. The next symbol and the track number will appear
on the display. If this pushbutton is held or pressed
more than once, the player will continue moving forward
through the CD.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press EQ
to select an equalization setting while playing a CD. The
equalization will be set whenever a CD is played. See
“EQ” listed previously for more information. If you select
an EQ setting for your CD, it will be activated each
time you play a CD.
4 y(Random): Press this pushbutton to hear
the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order.
The random symbol will appear on the display.
Press this pushbutton again to turn off random play.
Z(Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject may
be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs
may be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this
button is pressed first.
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To conserve space on the disc, minimize the length of
the file, folder or playlist names. You can also play
an MP3 CD that was recorded using no file folders. The
system can support up to 11 folders in depth, though,
keep the depth of the folders to a minimum in order
to keep down the complexity and confusion in trying
to locate a particular folder during playback. If a
CD contains more than the maximum of 50 folders,
50 playlists, 10 sessions, and 255 files the player will
let you access and navigate up to the maximum, but
all items over the maximum will be ignored.
Using an MP3 CD
MP3 Format
If you burn your own MP3 disc on a personal computer:
• Make sure the MP3 files are recorded on a
CD-R disc.
• Do not mix standard audio and MP3 files on
one disc.
• Make sure playlists have a .m3u or .wpl extension,
other file extensions may not work.
Root Directory
• Files can be recorded with a variety of fixed or
variable bit rates. Song title, artist name, and album
will be available for display by the radio when
recorded using ID3 tags version 1 and 2.
The root directory will be treated as a folder. If the root
directory has compressed audio files, the directory
will be displayed as F1 ROOT. All files contained directly
under the root directory will be accessed prior to any
root directory folders. However, playlists (Px) will always
be accessed before root folders or files.
• Create a folder structure that makes it easy to find
songs while driving. Organize songs by albums
using one folder for each album. Each folder
or album should contain 18 songs or less.
Empty Directory or Folder
• Make sure to finalize the disc when burning an MP3
disc, using multiple sessions. It is usually better to
burn the disc all at once.
If a root directory or a folder exists somewhere in the
file structure that contains only folders/subfolders and no
compressed files directly beneath them, the player will
advance to the next folder in the file structure that
contains compressed audio files and the empty folder
will not be displayed or numbered.
The player will be able to read and play a maximum of
50 folders, 50 playlists, 10 sessions, and 255 files.
Long file names, folder names, or playlist names may
use more disc memory space than necessary.
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When play enters a new folder, the display will not
automatically show the new folder name unless
you have chosen the folder mode as the default display.
See DISP later in this section for more information.
The new track name will appear on the display.
No Folder
When the CD contains only compressed files, the files will
be located under the root folder. The next and previous
folder functions will have no function on a CD that was
recorded without folders or playlists. When displaying the
name of the folder the radio will display ROOT.
File System and Naming
When the CD contains only playlists and compressed
audio files, but no folders, all files will be located under
the root folder. The folder down and the folder up
buttons will search playlists (Px) first and then go to the
root folder. When the radio displays the name of the
folder the radio will display ROOT.
The song name that will be displayed will be the song
name that is contained in the ID3 tag. If the song name is
not present in the ID3 tag, then the radio will display the
file name without the extension (such as .mp3) as the
track name.
Track names longer than 32 characters or 4 pages
will be shortened. The display will not show parts
of words on the last page of text and the extension
of the filename will not be displayed.
Order of Play
Tracks will be played in the following order:
• Play will begin from the first track in the first playlist
and will continue sequentially through all tracks in
each playlist. When the last track of the last playlist
has been played, play will continue from the first
track of the first playlist.
Preprogrammed Playlists
You can access preprogrammed playlists which
were created by WinAmp™, MusicMatch™, or Real
Jukebox™ software, however, you will not have editing
capability. These playlists will be treated as special
folders containing compressed audio song files.
• If the CD does not contain any playlists, then play will
begin from the first track under the root directory.
When all tracks from the root directory have been
played, play will continue from files according to their
numerical listing. After playing the last track from the
last folder, play will begin again at the first track of
the first folder or root directory.
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Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the
CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer
and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of
the recorded CD with a marking pen instead.
Playing an MP3
Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
player will pull it in, and READING will appear on
the display. The CD should begin playing and the CD
symbol will appear on the display. If you want to insert
a CD with the ignition off, first press the eject button
or the DISP knob.
Notice: If you add any label to a CD, insert more
than one CD into the slot at a time, or attempt
to play scratched or damaged CDs, you could
damage the CD player. When using the CD player,
use only CDs in good condition without any
label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the
player it will stay in the player. When the ignition or radio
is turned on, the CD will start to play where it stopped,
if it was the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the track number will
appear on the display.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
tSEEK u: Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the previous track. Press the right arrow to go to
the start of the next track. Pressing either arrow for
more than two seconds will search the previous or next
tracks at two tracks per second. Release the button
to stop searching and to play the track.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality may be reduced due
to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of
the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R
has been handled. There may be an increase in skipping,
difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty in loading and
ejecting. If these problems occur, check the bottom
surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged,
such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not
play properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, see
1 r(Rewind): Press this pushbutton to go to the start
of the current track if more than eight seconds have
played. The previous symbol and the track number will
appear on the display. If this pushbutton is held or
pressed more than once, the player will continue moving
backward through the CD.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.
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2 [(Fast Forward): Press this pushbutton to go to
the next track. The next symbol and the track number
will appear on the display. If this pushbutton is held
or pressed more than once, the player will continue
moving forward through the CD.
4(Information) (XM™ Satellite Radio Service and
MP3 Features): INFO will appear on the display
whenever a current track has ID3 tag information.
Press this button to display the artist name and album
contained in the tag. INFO will disappear from the
display when the information in the ID3 tag has finished.
4 y (Random): To random the tracks in the current
folder or playlist, press and release this pushbutton.
FLDR RDM will appear on the display. Once all of the
tracks in the current folder or playlist have been
played the system will move on to the next folder or
playlist and play all of the tracks in random order.
DISP (Display): Press this knob to switch between
track mode, folder/playlist mode, and time of day mode.
The display will show only eight characters, but there
can be up to four pages of text. If there are more
than eight characters in the song, folder, or playlist
name, pressing this knob within two seconds will take
you to the next page of text. If there are no other pages
to be shown, pressing this knob within two seconds
will take you to the next display mode.
To random all the tracks on the CD, press and hold this
pushbutton for two seconds. You will hear a beep
and CD RDM will appear on the display. This feature
will not work with playlists.
• Track mode will display the current track number
and the ID3 tag song name.
When in random, pressing and releasing either SEEK
arrow will take you to the next or previous random track.
• Folder/playlist mode will display the current folder or
playlist number and the folder/playlist name.
Press and release this pushbutton again to turn off
random play. NO RDM will appear on the display.
• Time of day mode will display the time of day and
the ID3 tag song name.
BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely
inside the radio for future listening.
To change the default on the display, press the DISP
knob until you see the display you want, then hold
this knob for two seconds. The radio will produce one
beep and the selected display will now be the default.
B(CD): Press this button to play a CD when listening
to the radio. The CD symbol will appear on the display
when a CD is loaded.
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AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press EQ to
select an equalization setting while playing a CD. The
equalization will be set whenever a CD is played.
See “EQ” listed previously for more information. If you
select an EQ setting for your CD, it will be activated
each time you play a CD.
• The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.
• The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour
and try again.
• The format of the CD may not be compatible.
See “MP3 Format” earlier in this section.
• There may have been a problem while burning
the CD.
Z(Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject may
be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs
may be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this
button is pressed first.
• The label may be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason,
try a known good CD.
CD Messages
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer. If the radio displays
an error message, write it down and provide it to
your GM dealer when reporting the problem.
CHECK CD: If this message appears on the display
and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the
following reasons:
• It is very hot. When the temperature returns to
normal, the CD should play.
• You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smoother, the CD should play.
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Playing the Radio
Radio with Six-Disc CD
P(Power): Press this knob to turn the system
on and off.
Turn this knob to increase or to decrease the volume.
DISP (Display): When the ignition is turned off,
press this knob to display the time.
For XM™ (if equipped), press the DISP knob while in
XM™ mode to retrieve four different categories of
information related to the current song or channel:
Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel
Number/Channel Name.
To change the default on the display, press the DISP
knob until you see the display you want, then hold
this knob for two seconds. The radio will produce one
beep and the selected display will now be the default.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ is a satellite radio service that is based in the
48 contiguous Untied States and in Canada (if available).
XM™ offers over 100 coast-to-coast channels including
music, news, sports, talk, and children’s programming.
XM™ provides digital quality audio and text information
that includes song title and artist name. A service fee is
required in order to receive the XM™ service. For more
information, contact XM™ at www.xmradio.com or
call 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).
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AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): With automatic
volume, the audio system adjusts automatically to make
up for road and wind noise as you drive.
tSEEK u: Press and release the right or the left
arrow to go to the next or to the previous station
and stay there.
Set the volume at the desired level. Press this button to
select LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH. Each higher setting
will allow for more volume compensation at faster
vehicle speeds. Then as you drive, automatic volume
increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise
at any speed. The volume level should always sound
the same to you as you drive. NONE will appear on
the display if the radio cannot determine the vehicle
speed. To turn automatic volume off, press this button
until AVOL OFF appears on the display.
The radio will only seek stations with a strong signal
that are in the selected band.
Press and hold either arrow for more than two seconds.
SCAN will appear on the display and the radio will
produce one beep. The radio will go to a station, play
for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press
either arrow again or one of the pushbuttons to stop
scanning presets.
The radio will only scan stations with a strong signal
that are in the selected band.
Finding a Station
Press and hold this button until PSCN will appear on
the display and the radio will produce two beeps.
The radio will go to a preset station, play for a few
seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press
either arrow again or one of the pushbuttons to
stop scanning presets.
BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2,
AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). The display will
show the selection.
e(Tune): Turn this knob to select radio stations.
The radio will only scan preset stations with a strong
signal that are in the selected band.
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4(Information) (XM™ Satellite Radio Service):
If the current station has a message, the information
symbol will appear on the display. Press this button
to see the message. The message may display
the artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc.
Setting Preset Stations
Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM,
six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed
on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the
following steps:
If the entire message is not displayed, parts of the
message will appear every three seconds. To scroll
through the message, press and release the INFO
button. A new group of words will appear on the display
after every press of this button. Once the complete
message has been displayed, the information symbol
will disappear from the display until another new
message is received. The last message can be
displayed by pressing the INFO button. You can view
the last message until a new message is received
or a different station is tuned to.
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1
or XM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press AUTO EQ to select the equalization.
5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
that was set will return and the equalization that
was selected will be stored for that pushbutton.
When a message is not available from a station, No Info
will appear on the display.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
1-6 (Preset Pushbuttons): Press this button to play
stations that are programmed on the radio preset
pushbuttons.
The radio will only seek preset stations with a strong
signal that are in the selected band.
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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
e(Bass/Treble): Push and release this knob until
BASS or TREB appears on the display. Turn this knob
to increase or to decrease. The display will show
the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.
e(Balance/Fade): To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, push and release
this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the
knob to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
To adjust the bass and the treble to the middle position,
while in bass or treble, push and hold the tone knob.
The radio will produce one beep.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the tone knob until FADE
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the tone knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, push the tone knob, then push it again and
hold it until you hear one beep.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, while in fade or balance, push and hold
the tone knob when no tone or speaker control is
displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the display
and you will hear a beep.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock and classical.
The equalization one through seven options are included
only if your vehicle is equipped with the Bose® system.
Press the AUTO EQ button to select equalization
settings designed for equalization one through seven.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode,
push and release the tone knob until BASS and TREB
appears on the display.
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Finding a Category (CAT) Station
(XM™ Satellite Radio Service Only)
To select and find a desired category perform the
following:
Radio Messages
CAL ERR (Calibration Error): The audio system
has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory.
If CAL ERR appears on the display it means that
the radio has not been configured properly for your
vehicle and it must be returned to your GM dealer for
service.
1. Press the CAT button to activate category select
mode. The current category will appear on the
display.
LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take your vehicle
to your GM dealer for service.
2. Turn the tune knob to select a category.
3. Once the desired category is displayed, press either
SEEK arrow to take you to that category’s first
station.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer.
4. To go to another station within that category and
the category is displayed, press either SEEK
arrow again. If CAT times out and is no longer on
the display, go back to Step 1.
5. Press CAT to exit category select mode or wait for
CAT to time out.
If the radio cannot find the desired category, NOT
FOUND will appear on the display and the radio will
return to the last station you were listening to.
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XM™ Radio Messages
Radio Display
Message
Condition
Action Required
XL (Explicit Language
Channels)
XL on the radio display,
after the channel name,
indicates content with
explicit language.
These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a
customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).
Updating
No Signl
Loading
Updating encryption code
The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and
no action is required. This process should take no longer
than 30 seconds.
Loss of signal
The system is functioning correctly, but the vehicle is in a
location that is blocking the XM™ signal. When the vehicle
is moved into an open area, the signal should return.
Acquiring channel audio
(after four second delay)
The radio system is acquiring and processing audio and
text data. No action is needed. This message should
disappear shortly.
Off Air
Channel not in service
This channel is not currently in service. Tune to another
channel.
CH Unavl
Channel no longer
available
This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned.
Tune to another station. If this station was one of the
presets, choose another station for that preset button.
No Info
No Info
Artist Name/Feature
not available
No artist information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
Song/Program Title
not available
No song title information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
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XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d)
Radio Display
Message
Condition
Action Required
No Info
Category Name
not available
No category information is available at this time on this
channel. The system is working properly.
No Info
No Text/Informational
message available
No text or informational messages are available at this
time on this channel. The system is working properly.
Not Found
XM Lock
No channel available for
the chosen category
There are no channels available for the selected category.
The system is working properly.
Theft lock active
The XM™ receiver in your vehicle may have previously
been in another vehicle. For security purposes, XM™
receivers cannot be swapped between vehicles. If this
message is received after having your vehicle serviced,
check with your GM dealer.
Radio ID
Unknown
Check XM
Radio ID label (channel 0) If tuned to channel 0, this message will alternate with the
XM™ Radio eight digit radio ID label. This label is needed
to activate the service.
Radio ID not known
(should only be if
hardware failure)
If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there
may be a receiver fault. Consult with your GM dealer.
Hardware failure
If this message does not clear within a short period of
time, the receiver may have a fault. Consult with your
GM dealer.
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Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the
CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer
and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of
the recorded CD with a marking pen instead.
Playing a CD
If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the
player, it will stay in the player. When the ignition
or radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where it
stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
Notice: If you add any label to a CD, insert more
than one CD into the slot at a time, or attempt
to play scratched or damaged CDs, you could
damage the CD player. When using the CD player,
use only CDs in good condition without any
label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials,
liquids, and debris.
When a CD is inserted, READING and the CD symbol
will appear on display. As each new track starts to
play, the track number will appear on the display.
The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
CD-R has been handled. There may be an increase
in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty in
loading and ejecting. If these problems occur, check
the bottom surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD is
damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the
CD will not play properly. If the surface of the CD
information.
LOAD: Press this button to load CDs into the CD
player. This CD player will hold up to six CDs.
To insert one CD, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Press and release the LOAD button.
3. Wait for the indicator light, located to the right of the
slot, to turn green.
If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.
4. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player will pull the CD in.
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To insert multiple CDs, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
Playing a Specific Loaded CD
For every CD loaded, a number will appear on the
display. To play a specific CD, first press the CD button,
then press the numbered pushbutton that corresponds
to the CD. A small bar will appear under the CD number
that is playing and the track number will appear on
the display.
2. Press and hold the LOAD button for two seconds.
You will hear a beep and the indicator light, located
to the right of the slot, will begin to flash and
LOAD # will appear on the display.
3. Once the light stops flashing and turns green,
INSERT CD # will appear on the display, load
a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label
side up. The player will pull the CD in.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”
later in this section.
Z(Eject): Press this button to eject CD(s).
Once the CD is loaded, the indicator light will begin
flashing again. Once the light stops flashing and
turns green, you can load another CD. The
CD player takes up to six CDs. Do not try to load
more than six.
To eject the CD that is currently playing, press and
release this button.
To eject multiple CDs, do the following:
1. Press and hold the CD eject button for five seconds.
To load more than one CD but less than six, complete
Steps 1 through 3. When finished loading CDs,
press the LOAD button to cancel the loading function.
The radio will begin to play the last CD loaded.
You will hear a beep and the indicator light, located
to the right of the slot, will begin to flash and
EJECT ALL will appear on the display.
2. Once the light stops flashing and turns green,
REMOVE CD # will appear on the display. The
CD will eject and can be removed.
If more than one CD has been loaded, a number for
each CD will appear on the display.
Once the CD is removed, the indicator light will
begin flashing again and another CD will eject.
To stop ejecting the CDs, press the LOAD or the
eject button.
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If the CD is not removed, after 25 seconds, the CD will
be automatically pulled back into the player. If CD is
pushed back into the player, before the 25 second time
period is complete, the player will sense an error
and will try to eject the CD several times before
stopping.
To use repeat, do the following:
• To repeat the track you are listening to, press and
release the repeat button. RPT ON will appear on
the display. Press this button again to turn off repeat
play. RPT OFF will appear on the display.
• To repeat the CD you are listening to, press and
hold the repeat button for two seconds. RPT ON
will appear on the display. Press this button again to
turn off repeat play. RPT OFF will appear on the
display.
Do not repeatedly press the CD eject button to eject a
CD after you have tried to push it in manually. The
player’s 25-second eject timer will reset at each press of
the eject button, causing the player to not eject the
CD until the 25-second time period has elapsed.
y (Random): With random, you can listen to the
tracks in random, rather than sequential, order, on
one CD or on all of the CDs. To use random, do
one of the following:
r(Reverse): Press this button to reverse within
the track.
[(Fast Forward): Press this button to fast forward
within the track.
• To play the tracks on the CD you are listening to
in random order, press and release the random
button. RANDOM ONE will appear on the display.
Press this button again to turn off random play.
N(Repeat): With repeat, one track or an entire CD
can be repeated.
• To play the tracks on all of the CDs that are loaded
in random order, press and hold this button for
more than two seconds. You will hear a beep and
RANDOM ALL will appear on the display. Press
this button again to turn off random play.
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DISP (Display): Press this knob to see how long the
current track has been playing. The elapsed time of
the track will appear on the display. To change
the default on the display, track or elapsed time, press
this knob until you see the display you want, then
hold the knob for two seconds. The radio will produce
one beep and the selected display will now be the
default.
tSEEK u: Press the left arrow to go to the start of
the current track, if more than ten seconds have played.
Press the right arrow to go to the next track. If either
arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player will
continue moving backward or forward through the CD.
To scan one CD, press and hold either arrow for more
than two seconds until SCAN appears on the display and
you hear a beep. The radio will go to the next track, play
for 10 seconds, then go on to the next track. Press either
arrow again, to stop scanning.
BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
CD is playing. The inactive CD(s) will remain safely
inside the radio for future listening.
To scan all loaded CDs, press and hold either arrow for
more than four seconds until CD SCAN appears on the
display and you hear a beep. Use this feature to listen to
10 seconds of the first track of each loaded CD. Press
either arrow again, to stop scanning.
B(CD): Press this button to play a CD when listening
to the radio. The CD symbol will appear on the display
when a CD is loaded.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press AUTO EQ
to select an equalization setting while playing a CD.
The equalization will be set whenever a CD is played.
See “AUTO EQ” listed previously for more information.
If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will be
activated each time you play a CD.
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To play the song list, press the song list button. One beep
will be heard and S-LIST will appear on the display.
The recorded tracks will begin to play in the order they
were saved.
Using Song List Mode
R (Song List): The six-disc CD changer has a
feature called song list. This feature is capable of
saving 20 track selections.
Seek through the song list by using the SEEK SCAN
arrows. Seeking past the last saved track will return to
the first saved track.
To save tracks into the song list feature, perform the
following steps:
To delete tracks from the song list, perform the
following steps:
1. Turn the CD player on and load it with at least one
CD. See “LOAD CD” listed previously in this section
for more information.
1. Turn the CD player on.
2. Check to see that the CD changer is not in song
list mode. S-LIST should not appear on the
display. If S-LIST is present, press the song list
button to turn it off.
2. Press the song list button to turn song list on.
S-LIST will appear on the display.
3. Press either SEEK SCAN arrow to select the
desired track to be deleted.
3. Select the desired CD by pressing the numbered
pushbutton and then use the SEEK SCAN right
arrow to locate the track to be saved. The track
will begin to play.
4. Press and hold the song list button for two seconds.
When the song list button is pressed, one beep will
be heard immediately. After two seconds of
continuously pressing the song list button, two
beeps will be heard to confirm that the track has
been deleted.
4. Press and hold the song list button to save the
track into memory. When the song list button is
pressed, one beep will be heard immediately.
After two seconds of continuously pressing the
song list button, two beeps will sound to confirm
the track has been saved.
After a track has been deleted, the remaining tracks are
moved up the list. When another track is added to the
song list, the track will be added to the end of the list.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for saving other selections.
S-LIST FULL will appear on the display if you try to save
more than 20 selections.
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To delete the entire song list, perform the
following steps:
CD Messages
CHECK CD: If this message appears on the display
and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the
following reasons:
1. Turn the CD player on.
2. Press the song list button to turn song list on.
S-LIST will appear on the display.
• It is very hot. When the temperature returns to
normal, the CD should play.
3. Press and hold the song list button for more than
four seconds. One beep will be heard, followed by
two beeps after two seconds, and a final beep
will be heard after four seconds. S-LIST EMPTY
will appear on the display indicating the song
list has been deleted.
• You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smoother, the CD should play.
• The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.
• The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour
and try again.
If a CD is ejected, and the song list contains saved
tracks from that CD, those tracks are automatically
deleted from the song list. Any tracks saved to the
song list again are added to the bottom of the list.
• There may have been a problem while burning
the CD.
• The label may be caught in the CD player.
To end song list mode, press the song list button.
One beep will be heard and S-LIST will be removed
from the display.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason,
try a known good CD.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer. If the radio displays
an error message, write it down and provide it to
your GM dealer when reporting the problem.
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Navigation/Radio System
Radio Reception
Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system.
You may experience frequency interference and static
during normal radio reception if items such as cellphone
chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and
external electronic devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is interference or static,
unplug the item from the accessory power outlet.
The navigation system has built-in features intended
to minimize driver distraction. Technology alone,
no matter how advanced, can never replace your own
judgment. See the Navigation System manual for
some tips to help you reduce distractions while driving.
AM
Theft-Deterrent Feature
The range for most AM stations is greater than for
FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with each other.
For better radio reception, most AM radio stations
will boost the power levels during the day, and then
reduce these levels during the night. Static can
also occur when things like storms and power lines
interfere with radio reception. When this happens,
try reducing the treble on your radio.
THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your
vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically by
learning a portion of the Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it
will not operate and LOCKED will appear on the display.
When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinking
red light indicates that THEFTLOCK® is armed.
With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio will not
operate if stolen.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).
Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals,
causing the sound to fade in and out.
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XM™ Satellite Radio Service
Care of the CD Player
XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio
reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada (if available). Just as
with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite
radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out.
In addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage,
bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause loss of the
XM™ signal for a period of time. The radio may display
NO SIGNAL to indicate interference.
The use of CD lens cleaners for CD players is not
advised, due to the risk of contaminating the internal
lens of the CD optics with lubricants.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes
without being damaged. If the mast should ever
become slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the
mast is badly bent, replace it.
Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still
tightened to the fender. If tightening is required, tighten
by hand, then with a wrench one quarter turn.
Care of Your CDs
Handle CDs carefully. Store them in their original
cases or other protective cases and away from direct
sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom
surface of the disc. If the surface of a CD is damaged,
such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will
not play properly or not at all. If the surface of a CD is
soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean,
soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed
with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process
starts from the center to the edge.
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System
The XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roof
of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of snow and
ice build up for clear radio reception.
If your vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of the
XM™ system may be affected if the sunroof is open.
Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while handling
it; this could damage the surface. Pick up CDs by
grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and
the outer edge.
Loading items onto the roof of your vehicle can interfere
with the performance of the XM™ system. Make sure
the XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is not obstructed.
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✍ NOTES
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
{CAUTION:
Defensive driving really means “Be ready for
anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or
expressways, it means “Always expect the
unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other
drivers are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and
be ready. Rear-end collisions are about the
most preventable of accidents. Yet they are
common. Allow enough following distance.
Defensive driving requires that a driver
concentrate on the driving task. Anything that
distracts from the driving task makes proper
defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a
passenger to help do these things, or pull off
the road in a safe place to do them. These
simple defensive driving techniques could
save your life.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive
defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in
your vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are
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Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult
population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they
never drive after drinking. For persons under 21,
it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological, and
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving
is a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive. But what if people do? How much is
“too much” if someone plans to drive? It is a lot less
than many might think. Although it depends on
each person and situation, here is some general
information on the problem.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
• Judgment
• Muscular Coordination
• Vision
• Attentiveness
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
• The amount of alcohol consumed
• The drinker’s body weight
• The amount of food that is consumed before
and during drinking
• The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol
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According to the American Medical Association, a 180 lb
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 ml)
bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of liquors like whiskey, gin, or vodka.
the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A
person who consumes food just before or during drinking
will have a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women generally
have a lower relative percentage of body water
than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this
means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC
level than a man of her same body weight will when
each has the same number of drinks.
The law in most U.S. states, and throughout Canada,
sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other
countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is
0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The
BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States
is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen,
it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks,
and how quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent.
It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example,
if the same person drank three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour,
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Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision
increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of
0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a
collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance
of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a
level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness,
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can have a
serious — or even fatal — collision if you
drive after drinking. Please do not drink and
drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with
a group, designate a driver who will not drink.
The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol
in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the
right answer. What if there is an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to
react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There is something else about drinking and driving that
many people do not know. Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or
heart. This means that when anyone who has been
drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that
person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled
is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering, and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice,
it is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can
lose control of your vehicle. See Traction Control
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This
is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
If your vehicle ever loses electrical power while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump your brakes.
If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your
vehicle loses electrical power, you will still have some
power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer
to stop, the brake pedal will be harder to push, and you
may experience longer pedal travel.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake
force applied.
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Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You may hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on.
This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. See Anti-Lock
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
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ABS can change the brake pressure faster than any
driver could. The computer is programmed to make the
most of available tire and road conditions. This can
help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle
in front of you, you will not have time to apply your
brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though
you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
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When this message is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS) that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that any of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system applies the
brakes to limit wheel spin and also reduces engine
power. You may feel or hear the system working, but
this is normal.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should always
leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control
system off if you ever need to.
To turn the system off,
press and release the
TCS button located on
the instrument panel.
The Traction Control System may operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When this happens, you may
notice a reduction in acceleration or a pumping sound.
This is normal and doesn’t mean there’s a problem with
your vehicle. Examples of these conditions include hard
acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of
the transmission or driving on rough roads.
This light will come on
steady when the traction
control system has been
turned off. This light flashes
when TCS is active.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
If your vehicle has a Driver information Center (DIC),
a TRACTION FAILED message will appear when
a Traction Control System or Anti-Lock Brake System
problem has been detected and the vehicle needs
for more information.
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If you press the TC button once, the traction control
system will turn off and a TRAC OFF message
will appear on the DIC. Press the TC button again to
turn the system back on. The TRAC OFF message will
then go off. The traction control system will reset
itself at each ignition cycle. If your vehicle also has
To lock the rear axle, do the following:
1. Place the transfer case in the 4LO Lock mode.
This is the only mode which will allow the rear
axle to lock. See Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive
on page 2-22 for more information regarding the
transfer case and 4LO Lock mode.
2. Press the button with the vehicle stopped or moving
less than 2 mph (3 km/h).
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3 for more information.
You must wait for the light in the button to stop flashing
and remain illuminated before the rear axle is locked.
Notice: If you try to lock the rear axle while
your vehicle is stuck and the tires are spinning,
you could damage your vehicle’s drivetrain.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Always lock the rear axle before attempting
situations and/or navigating terrain which could
possibly cause the vehicle to become stuck.
Locking Rear Axle
Your vehicle may have this feature. The locking rear axle
can give your vehicle additional traction from the rear
wheels when traveling in off-road situations such as mud,
snow, sand, steep hills and uneven terrain.
The locking rear axle will be disengaged when the
wheel speed is greater than 20 mph (32 km/h), if the
vehicle’s battery is low and/or the transfer case is
shifted out of 4LO Lock mode.
The button used to turn
this feature on or off is
located to the right of the
transfer case buttons
on the center of the
Notice: If you lock the rear axle while driving
on pavement, you could damage your vehicle’s
drivetrain. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Do not use the locking rear axle
on pavement. If you need four-wheel drive when
traveling on pavement, use only 4HI.
instrument panel.
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StabiliTrak® System
(Automatic Transmission)
more information. When this message is displayed,
the system is not operational. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a vehicle stability
enhancement system called StabiliTrak®. It is an
advanced computer controlled system that assists
you with directional control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak® activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between your intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak®
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of
the vehicle’s brakes to assist the driver with keeping
the vehicle on the intended path.
StabiliTrak® comes on automatically whenever you
start your vehicle. However, when the transfer case is
placed in Four-Wheel-Low Lock mode, StabiliTrak®
is automatically disabled. See Full-Time Four-Wheel
you with directional control of the vehicle, you should
always leave the system on. You can turn StabiliTrak®
off if you ever need to using the TC (traction control)
on/off button. If you press and hold the TC button for
five seconds, the StabiliTrak® system and the traction
control system will turn off. When this is done, the
STAB SYS OFF message will be displayed on the DIC.
Press the TC button again to turn StabiliTrak® back
When you first start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks
to insure there are no problems. You may hear or
feel the system working. This is normal and does not
mean there is a problem with your vehicle.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak®,
a SERVICE STAB SYS message will be
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak®
activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may reengage the cruise control.
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
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Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
Steering
systems — steering and acceleration — have to
do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding
the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. See Traction Control
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you will understand this.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your
front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle
at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you
are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. See Accessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find
a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking — if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you cannot; there is not room.
That is the time for evasive action — steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes. See Braking
on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as
you can from a possible collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or right depending on the
space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel
at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving
at all times and wear safety belts properly.
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Off-Road Recovery
Passing
You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while you are driving.
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger
can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
• Drive ahead. Look down the road, to the sides
and to crossroads for situations that might affect
your passing patterns. If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass,
wait for a better time.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up
to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts
the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel
to go straight down the roadway.
• Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass.
A broken center line usually indicates it is all
right to pass, providing the road ahead is clear.
Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty
of approaching traffic.
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• Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For
one thing, following too closely reduces your area
of vision, especially if you are following a larger
vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space
if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
• Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. Remember that if
your passenger side outside mirror is convex, the
vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away
from you than it really is.
• When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do
not get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into
the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will
have a running start that more than makes up for
the distance you would lose by dropping back.
And if something happens to cause you to cancel
your pass, you need only slow down and drop back
again and wait for another opportunity.
• Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
• Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
• If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
• If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone is not
trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder
and check the blind spot.
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Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction system is off,
then an acceleration skid is also best handled by easing
your foot off the accelerator pedal. See Traction
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area
of less danger.
Skidding
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration
skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a mirrored surface — and
slow down when you have any doubt.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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Before You Go Off-Roading
Off-Road Driving
There are some things to do before you go out. For
example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance
and service work done. Check to make sure all
underbody shields are properly attached. Make sure
any equipment you may need — first aid kit, cell phone,
flashlight, etc. — is securely stored in the vehicle.
Be sure you read all the information about your
four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is there enough
fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the fluid
levels up where they should be? What are the local
laws that apply to off-roading where you will be driving?
If you do not know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you be on
someone’s private land? If so, be sure to get the
necessary permission.
This off-road guide is meant to provide advice for
when you drive your vehicle off paved roads. Also,
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some definite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great North
American road system behind. Traffic lanes are
not marked. Curves are not banked. There are no
road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill
or downhill. In short, you have gone right back
to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that
is why it is very important that you read this guide.
You will find many driving tips and suggestions.
These will help make your off-road driving safer
and more enjoyable.
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Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
CAUTION: (Continued)
• Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s
center of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over. You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo area, not on the
roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and low as possible.
{CAUTION:
• Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep
cargo below the top of the seatbacks.
There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle.
• Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can
be struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
• The heaviest things should be on the load floor and
forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items in the
rear area, as far forward as you can.
• Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on
the off-road terrain does not toss things around.
CAUTION: (Continued)
You will find other important information in this manual.
on page 5-51.
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Environmental Concerns
Traveling to Remote Areas
Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying
recreation. However, it also raises environmental
concerns. We recognize these concerns and urge every
off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting
the environment:
It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going
to a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your
route. You are much less likely to get bad surprises.
Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Try to learn of
any blocked or closed roads.
• Always use established trails, roads, and areas that
have been specially set aside for public off-road
recreational driving; obey all posted regulations.
It is also a good idea to travel with at least one other
vehicle. If something happens to one of them, the other
can help quickly.
Does your vehicle have a winch? If so, be sure to
read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch
can be handy if you get stuck. But you will want to
know how to use it properly.
• Avoid any driving practice that could damage
the environment — shrubs, flowers, trees,
grasses — or disturb wildlife. This includes
wheel-spinning, breaking down trees, or
unnecessary driving through streams or over
soft ground.
• Always carry a litter bag — make sure all refuse
is removed from any campsite before leaving.
• Take extreme care with open fires (where
permitted), camp stoves, and lanterns.
• Never park your vehicle over dry grass or other
combustible materials that could catch fire from
the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system.
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High Mobility Characteristics
The HUMMER H3 has a 10 inch (25.4 cm) running
ground clearance (A) and a 9 inch (22.8 cm) axle
to ground clearance (B) while maintaining a low
silhouette and a low center of gravity.
The HUMMER H3 has an approximate approach
angle (A) of 37.5 degrees and a departure angle (B)
of 35.5 degrees, depending on suspension packages.
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Design specifications required a minimum gradeability
of 60% (31 degrees) slope, with the vehicle fully loaded,
on high friction surfaces with maximum vehicle speed
not to exceed 6 mph (9.7 km/h). The vehicle is expected
to traverse this grade only for short durations. Never
stop and idle the vehicle or park it on this grade.
Also, your vehicle should be able to traverse a
40% (22 degrees) side slope at 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
while fully loaded on high friction surfaces.
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Brake and Accelerator Operation
Techniques for Off-Road Driving
For logs, walls, rocks, severe ditches,
hills, sand, etc.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Do not rev
the engine.
2. Select the proper transmission and transfer
case gear range; usually FIRST (1) gear,
Four-Wheel-Low Lock for such obstacles.
3. If wheel spin is experienced, maintain steady
throttle, with your foot off the brake pedal, to
allow the Traction Control System (TCS) to control
the wheel spin. TCS will not operate if the brakes
are applied, even slightly.
4. If wheel spin cannot be controlled by the system,
fully press the brake pedal with your left foot so
all wheel spin is halted.
Your vehicle can climb a 16 inch (40.6 cm) vertical step.
Step climbing is best done by approaching the step at
an angle rather than straight on.
5. Back away from the obstacle so that a new
approach can be tried.
6. As the first wheel crosses the obstacle, be prepared
to alternate the brake and accelerator pedal to
maintain control and avoid tire drop-off from
obstacles. Repeat this process for the other wheels.
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For mounds, washouts, loose up-hill
slopes, ditches, etc.
When wheel spin occurs as the vehicle is moving, the
driver may notice a slight shaking or shuddering of
the vehicle. This should be stopped as soon as possible
to prevent damage to vehicle components. This is the
indication that a loss of traction is occurring on this
terrain. The operator should:
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe
and close to home before you go into the wilderness.
Off-road driving does require some new and different
skills. Here is what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your
eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain
for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen
for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms,
hands, feet and body, you will need to respond to
vibrations and vehicle bounce.
1. Reduce speed and apply the brakes.
2. Assess the terrain properly and adjust
vehicle speed and gear ranges accordingly:
Four-Wheel High position for higher speeds
and Four-Wheel-Low Lock for more torque and
lower speeds. Transmission FIRST (1) gear
is generally recommended.
3. Apply slight pressure to the brake when the shaking
or shuddering sensation is felt, keeping the vehicle
moving in a controlled manner.
4. Be prepared to alternate between braking and
accelerating through the adverse terrain.
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Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road
driving. One of the best ways to control your vehicle
is to control your speed. Here are some things to keep
in mind. At higher speeds:
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain
and its many different features. Here are some things
to consider.
• You approach things faster and you have less time
to scan the terrain for obstacles.
Surface Conditions: Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow,
or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration, and braking of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on,
you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning,
delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer
braking distances.
• You have less time to react.
• You have more vehicle bounce when you drive over
obstacles.
• You will need more distance for braking, especially
since you are on an unpaved surface.
Surface Obstacles: Unseen or hidden obstacles can
be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startle
you if you are not prepared for them. Often these
obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or even
the rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some
things to consider:
{CAUTION:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw
you out of position. This could cause you
to lose control and crash. So, whether you
are driving on or off the road, you and your
passengers should wear safety belts.
• Is the path ahead clear?
• Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
• Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
There is more discussion of these subjects later.
• Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction
quickly?
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When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep
a firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands
if you are not prepared.
Crossing Obstacles
Approach Angle — a Key to Mobility
If you encounter a large dip in the terrain, do not enter
straight on; enter at an angle — 15 degrees minimum
approach (A), 75 degrees maximum approach angle (B).
For very large dips, ditches, or small washes, coast
in, using the engine as a brake (transmission and
transfer case lowest gears). Then, use the low ranges
in the transmission and transfer case to power out.
When possible, it is a good practice to survey the
landscape ahead on foot prior to driving to observe
hidden obstacles.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns, or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what is not.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving.
At the very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes, perceptions, and judgment can
be affected by even a small amount of alcohol.
You could have a serious — or even fatal — accident
if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has
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Roll Your Tires Over Large Rocks
Log Crossing
Using the proper technique, your vehicle will cross
logs up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter. Approach
the log at approximately a 15 degree angle (A) with
the transmission in FIRST (1) and the transfer case
in Four-Wheel-Low Lock and “walk” your vehicle over,
one tire at a time. It may be necessary to modulate
your brake pedal and accelerator to avoid spin-out.
Ease the vehicle down from the log with your brake.
Do not straddle large
rocks; drive over them,
letting the tire cover
the rock. The tread of
the tire is thicker and
tougher than the sidewall
of the tire and is more
resilient to impact
than underbody
components.
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On a very small hill, for example, there may be a
smooth, constant incline with only a small change in
elevation where you can easily see all the way to
the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as
you near the top, but you may not see this because the
crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs.
Driving on Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across
a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and
an understanding of what your vehicle can and cannot
do. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven,
no matter how well built the vehicle.
Here are some other things to consider as you
approach a hill:
• Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get
sharply steeper in places?
{CAUTION:
• Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the
surface cause tire slipping?
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot control your speed.
If you drive across them, you will roll over.
You could be seriously injured or killed. If you
have any doubt about the steepness, do not
drive the hill.
• Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you
will not have to make turning maneuvers?
• Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your
path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?
• What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an
embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and
walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way
to find out.
Approaching a Hill
• Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have
ruts, gullies, troughs and exposed rocks because
they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.
When you approach a hill, you need to decide if
it is one of those hills that is just too steep to climb,
descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge.
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Driving Uphill
{CAUTION:
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps:
• Use transmission and transfer case low gear and
get a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up
hills, always try to go straight up.
• Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Do not use more power than you
need, because you do not want your wheels to
start spinning or sliding.
• Let the traction system work to control any wheel
slippage. The traction control system allows for
moderate wheel spin with some capability to dig
in and power up the hill.
• Ease up on your speed as you approach the
top of the hill.
• Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more
visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
• Do not continue if the vehicle shudders or exhibits
suspension hopping. This can cause damage to
the driveline or suspension components. Improper
driving technique is not covered by your vehicle
warranty.
• Sound the horn as you approach the top of the
hill to let opposing traffic know you are there.
• Use your headlamps even during the day.
They make you more visible to oncoming traffic.
• Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to
find another route.
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• If your engine has stopped running, you will need
to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed, apply
the parking brake. If you have an automatic
{CAUTION:
transmission, shift the transmission to PARK (P).
Restart the engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R),
release the parking brake, and slowly back down the
hill as straight as possible in REVERSE (R).
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed
can cause an accident. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another
vehicle. You could be seriously injured or
killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.
• As you are backing down the hill, put your left
hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock
position. This way, you will be able to tell if your
wheels are straight and maneuver as you back
down. It is best that you back down the hill with
your wheels straight rather than in the left or right
direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or
right will increase the possibility of a rollover.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or is about
to stall, and I cannot make it up the hill?
A: If this happens, there are some things you should
do, and there are some things you must not do.
First, here is what you should do:
• Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep
it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking
brake.
• If your engine is still running, shift the transmission
to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and
slowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R).
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Here are some things you must not do if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill:
{CAUTION:
• Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into
NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine and regain
forward momentum. This will not work. Your vehicle
will roll backwards very quickly and you could go
out of control.
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P), or, if you have
a manual transmission, even if you are in gear.
This is because the NEUTRAL position on
the transfer case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be injured.
If you are going to leave your vehicle, set the
parking brake and shift the transmission to
PARK (P), or, put the manual transmission in
FIRST (1). But do not shift the transfer case
to NEUTRAL. Leave the transfer case in the
Four-Wheel High, Four-Wheel-High Lock,
or Four-Wheel-Low Lock position.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the
vehicle. Then apply the parking brake. Shift to
REVERSE (R), release the parking brake,
and slowly back straight down.
• Never attempt to turn around if you are about
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep
enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep enough to
cause you to roll over if you turn around. If you
cannot make it up the hill, you must back straight
down the hill.
Q: Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down the
hill and decide I just cannot do it. What should
I do?
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to
consider a number of things:
• How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
• What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
A: Set the parking brake. If you have an automatic
transmission, shift to PARK (P). Turn off the
engine. Leave the vehicle and go get some help.
Exit on the uphill side and stay clear of the path
the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do
not shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL when
you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.
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• Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
Q: Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a hill?
• What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks?
A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore
them you could lose control and have a serious
accident:
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a
low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes
and they will not have to do all the work. Descend
slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
• When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive
across. You could roll over if you do not drive
straight down.
• Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have to do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
{CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade.
This could cause loss of control and a serious
accident. Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
Q: Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It is much more likely to happen going uphill. But if
it happens going downhill, here is what to do:
1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply the parking brake.
2. If you have an automatic transmission, shift to
PARK (P). While still braking, restart the engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help.
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For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because the
trail goes across the incline does not mean you have to
drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go
across the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have
to decide whether to try to drive across the incline.
Here are some things to consider:
• A ill that can be driven straight up or down may
be too steep to drive across. When you go
straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel
base — the distance from the front wheels to
the rear wheels — reduces the likelihood the
vehicle will tumble end over end. But when you
drive across an incline, the much more narrow track
width — the distance between the left and right
wheels — may not prevent the vehicle from tilting
and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline puts
more weight on the downhill wheels. This could
cause a downhill slide or a rollover.
{CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that is too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any
doubt about the steepness of the incline, do
not drive across it. Find another route instead.
Q: What if I am driving across an incline that is not
too steep, but I hit some loose gravel and start
to slide downhill. What should I do?
• Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that
will trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over.
A: If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways,
turn downhill. This should help straighten out the
vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However,
a much better way to prevent this is to get out and
“walk the course” so you know what the surface
is like before you drive it.
• Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with the
uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a
rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
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Stalling on an Incline
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle stalls when you are crossing an incline,
be sure you, and any passengers, get out on the
uphill side, even if the door there is harder to open.
If you get out on the downhill side and the vehicle
starts to roll over, you will be right in its path.
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a
vehicle stopped across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed
or killed. Always get out on the uphill (high)
side of the vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the path
the vehicle will take if it does roll over.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, your wheels
will not get good traction. You cannot accelerate
as quickly, turning is more difficult, and you will need
longer braking distances.
It is best to use a low gear when you are in mud — the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud,
the idea is to keep your vehicle moving so you do not get
stuck. Be careful to keep mud from building up and
washing onto the engine cooling system.
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When you drive on sand, you will sense a change in
wheel traction. But it will depend upon how loosely
packed the sand is. On loosely packed sand, such as
on beaches or sand dunes, your tires will tend to
sink into the sand. This has an effect on steering,
accelerating, and braking. Drive at a reduced speed
and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
Driving in Water
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before you drive
through it. If it is deep enough to cover your wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe, do not try it — you
probably will not get through. Also, water that deep
can damage your axle and other vehicle parts.
Your vehicle is capable of depths up to 20 inches.
Know how to judge whether the water is deeper than
this before proceeding into it.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control.
On wet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that
you will have difficulty accelerating. And if you do get
moving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause
you to slide out of control.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.
At faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if
you get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as
your tailpipe is under water, you will never be able
to start your engine. When you go through water,
remember that when your brakes get wet, it may take
you longer to stop.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can
be dangerous. Underwater springs, currents
under the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken
the ice. Your vehicle could fall through the ice
and you and your passengers could drown.
Drive your vehicle on safe surfaces only.
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Thoroughly and carefully clean these devices to allow
proper cooling. Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, underbody shields, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines
and cooling system for any leakage.
{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle
downstream and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can
still wash away the ground from under your
tires, and you could lose traction and roll
the vehicle over. Do not drive through
rushing water.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due
to off-road use. See the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
Assist Steps
Your vehicle may be equipped with removable
side steps.
Remove the steps prior to off-roading to give your
vehicle more ground clearance and to prevent damage
to the vehicle from the side steps dragging and/or
catching on obstacles.
more information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Notice: Do not drive off-road with the side steps
attached to your vehicle. You can damage the
side steps and/or your vehicle’s frame if they get
caught or drag against an obstacle. This damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
Always remove the side steps prior to any off-road
driving.
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the engine and oil
coolers for mud accumulation.
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No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
Here are some tips on night driving.
• Drive defensively.
• Do not drink and drive.
• Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare
from headlamps behind you.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare, as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps, slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
• Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
• Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
• In remote areas, watch for animals.
• If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
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Keep the windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made
much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of
the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass
makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass
would, making the pupils of your eyes contract
repeatedly.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep
your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out
dimly lighted objects. Just as the headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
are not even aware of it.
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a
wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as
on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread
left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise
to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if
your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy
rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic
signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road,
and even people walking.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will not
work as well in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
It is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape
and keep your windshield washer fluid reservoir filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts
when they show signs of streaking or missing areas
on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start
to separate from the inserts.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow down before
you hit them.
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Hydroplaning
Driving Through Flowing Water
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build
up under your tires that they can actually ride on
the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough
and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through flowing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle
can be carried away. As little as six inches
of flowing water can carry away a smaller
vehicle. If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water
is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from
trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and
raindrops dimple the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
• Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
Notice: If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you cannot avoid deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
• Have good tires with proper tread depth.
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Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
City Driving
• Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for
a cross-country trip.
• Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
• Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out
for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to traffic signals.
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The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
Freeway Driving
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway
as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should
begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at
close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors, and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to
the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways — are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your blind spot.
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Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain
you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect
to move slightly slower at night.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you will find experienced and able service experts in
GM dealerships all across North America. They will be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit,
do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up.
Drive on to the next exit.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
• Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer,
not to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going slower than you actually are.
• Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
• Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
• Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
• Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.
• Weather Forecasts: What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
• Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of
the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
• Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
• Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead
and to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
• If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable. See Off-Road
off-road.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing down.
They could get so hot that they would not
work well. You would then have poor braking
or even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Always have your engine running and
your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
• Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transmission. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes could
get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could crash.
Shift down to let your engine assist your
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
• Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you
go down a steep or long hill.
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• Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your
engine and transmission, and you can climb the
hill better.
Winter Driving
• Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
• As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
• You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks
area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Here are some tips for winter driving:
• Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
• You may want to put winter emergency supplies
in your vehicle.
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Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom,
a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some
winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a
red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles.
And, if you will be driving under severe conditions,
include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet,
or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction.
Be sure you properly secure these items in
your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the tires meet
the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between the tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery situation.
You will have a lot less traction, or grip, and will
need to be very careful.
What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold snow
or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice
can be even more trouble because it may offer the least
traction of all. You can get wet ice when it is about
freezing, 32°F (0°C), and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there.
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Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed, blowing,
or loose snow — drive with caution.
Your Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improve your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Even though you have ABS, you will
want to begin stopping sooner than you would on
dry pavement. See Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
on page 4-7.
The Traction Control System (TCS) improves your
ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery
road. It will improve your ability to accelerate. See
on page 4-50. Even though your vehicle has TCS,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving
to the road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you may want to turn your traction system off, such
as when driving through deep snow and loose gravel,
to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds.
on page 4-11.
• Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
• Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On
an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear
in shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such
as around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or
under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or
an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding
roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead
of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake
while you are actually on the ice, and avoid
sudden steering maneuvers.
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If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in
a serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near
help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and
your passengers safe:
• Turn on your hazard flashers.
• Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you have been stopped by the snow.
• Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags,
rags, floor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
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Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get
and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see
it or smell it, so you might not know it is in
your vehicle. Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle, especially any that
is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so
until help comes.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
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If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
will need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
rocking can help you get out when you are stuck,
but you must use caution.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. Your vehicle
has a traction control system that will activate when
the system senses that the wheels are spinning.
more information. Then, with the wheels straight
ahead, shift back and forth between REVERSE (R)
and a forward gear, or with a manual transmission,
between FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R),
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.
By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion
that may free your vehicle. If that does not get you
out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
Or, you can use your recovery loops. If you do need to
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transmission or other parts
of the vehicle can overheat. That could cause
an engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you are stuck, spin the wheels as
little as possible. Do not spin the wheels
above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transmission
back and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For more information about using tire chains on your
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Recovery Loops
{CAUTION:
These loops, when used, are under a lot of
force. Keep people away from the vicinity of
the loops and any chains or cables during use.
Always pull the vehicle straight out. Never pull
on the loops at a sideways angle. The loops
could break off and you or others could be
injured from the chain or cable snapping back.
Front of Vehicle
Notice: Never use the recovery loops to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged and it
would not be covered by warranty.
Your vehicle has
two recovery loops at
the front of the vehicle
and one at the rear of
the vehicle. You may
need to use them if you
are stuck off-road and
need to be pulled to
some place where you
can continue driving.
Rear of Vehicle
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Tire and Loading Information Label
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,
cargo and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information is
attached to the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar). With
the driver’s door open, you will find the label attached
below the door latch post. The tire and loading
information label shows the number of occupant seating
positions (A), and the maximum vehicle capacity
weight (B) in kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading Information label also shows the
size of your vehicle’s original equipment tires (C)
and the recommended cold tire inflation pressures (D).
For more information on tires and inflation see Tires
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There is also important information on the
information on towing a trailer, towing safety,
and trailering tips.
Certification/Tire label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axles. See
“Certification/Tire Label” later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 − 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed the available cargo
Example 1
Item
Description
Total
Vehicle Capacity
Weight for Example 1 =
A
1,000 lbs (453 kg)
Subtract
B
C
Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg) x 2 =
Available Cargo
Weight =
300 lbs (136 kg)
700 lbs (317 kg)
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
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Example 2
Description
Example 3
Description
Item
Total
Item
Total
Vehicle Capacity
Weight for Example 2 =
Vehicle Capacity
Weight for Example 3 =
A
1,000 lbs (453 kg)
A
1,000 lbs (453 kg)
Subtract
Subtract
B
C
Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg) x 5 =
750 lbs (340 kg)
250 lbs (113 kg)
B
C
Occupant Weight
200 lbs (91 kg) x 5 =
1,000 lbs (453 kg)
0 lbs (0 kg)
Available Cargo
Weight =
Available Cargo
Weight =
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label
for specific information about your vehicle’s capacity
weight and seating positions. The combined weight of
the driver, passengers, cargo and any accessories or
equipment added to your vehicle after it left the factory
should never exceed your vehicle’s capacity weight.
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Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
Certification/Tire Label
If you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
Similar appearing vehicles may have different GVWRs
and capacity weights. Please note your vehicle’s
Certification/Tire label or consult your dealer for
additional details.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
Label Example
A vehicle specific Certification/Tire label is attached to
the bottom section of the center pillar (B-pillar), on
the driver’s side of the vehicle. The label shows
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel, cargo and trailer tongue weight, if pulling a trailer.
The Certification/Tire label also tells you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual
loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to
a weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer
can help you with this. Be sure to spread out your
load equally on both sides of the centerline.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask your
dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way.
Notice: Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
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If you put things inside your vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else — they will go as
fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or
Towing
turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going.
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service
if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
{CAUTION:
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn,
or in a crash.
• Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
• Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and
“dolly towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels
on the ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”).
• Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
• When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
• Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
There is also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual. See “Loading Your Vehicle for
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Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
{CAUTION:
• What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
Shifting a full-time four-wheel-drive vehicle’s
transfer case into NEUTRAL can cause
your vehicle to roll even if the automatic
transmission is in PARK (P) or the manual
transmission is in any gear. You or others
could be injured. Make sure the parking brake
is firmly set before you shift the transfer case
to NEUTRAL.
• How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
• Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
• Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to
be towed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip
on page 4-42.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N). See
the proper procedure to select the NEUTRAL
position for your vehicle.
Dinghy Towing
6. Put the transmission in PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission or in FIRST (1) for a manual
transmission.
Use the following procedure to tow your vehicle:
1. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
2. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition in ON.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
7. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached to the towing vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition off.
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
After towing, see “Shifting Out of NEUTRAL” under
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Notice: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
Dolly Towing
Notice: Dolly towing your vehicle will damage
drivetrain components. Do not dolly tow your
vehicle.
Your vehicle cannot be dolly towed. If you must tow
your vehicle behind another, use the dinghy towing
procedure listed previously.
To identify the trailering capacity of your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your 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.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and that of your
passengers. So please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
If you do not use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well — or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
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• If you have an automatic transmission, you can
tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions. If you have a
manual transmission and you are towing a trailer,
it is better not to use the highest gear.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
• There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
• the weight of the trailer
• Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches” later
in this section.
• the weight of the trailer tongue
• Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
• and the weight on your vehicle’s tires
• Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
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Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only
the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle
must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can depend on
any special equipment that you have on your vehicle,
and the amount of tongue weight the vehicle can
carry. See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue” later in
this section for more information.
Use the following chart to determine how much
your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle
model and options.
Engine
Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission
Axle Ratio
Maximum Trailer Weight
4,500 lbs (2 041 kg)
**GCWR
4.56
4.56
9,500 lbs (4 309 kg)
8,000 lbs (3 629 kg)
3,000 lbs (1 364 kg)
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) in the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle
and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should not
be exceeded.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information
or advice, or you can write us at the address listed
in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information
Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight
to measure because it affects the total gross weight
of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you
may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in
the vehicle. If you have a lot of options, equipment,
passengers or cargo in your vehicle, it will reduce
the tongue weight your vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight your vehicle can tow. If you
will tow a trailer, you must add the tongue load to
the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that
for more information about your vehicle’s maximum
load capacity.
The trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to
15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight (B), up to
a maximum of 500 lbs (227 kg) with a weight carrying
hitch or a weight distributing hitch.
Do not exceed the maximum allowable tongue weight
for your vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch extension
that will position the hitch ball closest to the vehicle.
This will help reduce the effect of trailer tongue weight
on the rear axle.
Your spare tire carrier is behind the tailgate. If your
hitch extension is too short, the spare tire may interfere
with trailer coupling or trailer tongue jack operation
on some types of trailers.
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then
the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply
by moving some items around in the trailer.
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Weight-Distributing Hitches and Weight
Carrying Hitches
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on
the Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s
Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit for your
vehicle, or the GAWR, including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If you use a weight distributing hitch,
make sure you don’t go over the rear axle limit
before you apply the weight distribution spring bars.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads
are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
(A) Body-to-Ground Distance (B) Front of Vehicle
When using a weight-distributing hitch, the hitch must
be adjusted so that the distance (A) remains the
same both before and after coupling the trailer to the
tow vehicle.
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Trailering may also be limited by the vehicle’s ability to
carry tongue weight. Tongue weight cannot cause the
vehicle to exceed the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The effect of additional weight may reduce your trailering
capacity more than the total of the additional weight.
Since the rear axle already weighs 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg),
adding 1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to 3,975 lbs
(1 803 kg). This is very close to, but within the limit for
RGAWR as well. The vehicle is set to trailer up to
8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).
But let’s say your specific vehicle is equipped with some
of the latest options and you have a front seat passenger
and two rear seat passengers with some luggage and
gear in the vehicle as well. You may add 300 lbs (136 kg)
to the front axle weight and 400 lbs (181 kg) to the rear
axle weight. Your vehicle now weighs:
Consider the following example:
A vehicle model base weight is 5,500 lbs (2 495 kg);
2,800 lbs (1 270 kg) at the front axle and 2,700 lbs
(1 225 kg) at the rear axle. It has a GVWR of 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg), a RGAWR of 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) and a
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) of
14,000 lbs (6 350 kg). The trailer rating should be:
Weight is still below 7,200 lbs (3 266 kg) and you may
think that you should subtract 700 additional pounds
(318 kg) from your trailering capacity to stay within
GCWR limits. Your maximum trailer would only
be 7,800 lbs (3 538 kg). You may go further and think
you must limit tongue weight to less than 1,000 lbs
(454 kg) to avoid exceeding GVWR.
You can expect tongue weight to be at least 10 percent of
trailer weight (850 lbs (386 kg)) and because the weight
is applied well behind the rear axle, the effect on the
rear axle will be greater than just the weight itself, as
much as 1.5 times as much. The weight at the rear axle
could be 850 lbs (386 kg) X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs (578 kg).
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But, you must still consider the effect on the rear axle.
Because your rear axle now weighs 3,100 lbs (1 406 kg),
you can only put 900 lbs (408 kg) on the rear axle
without exceeding RGAWR. The effect of tongue
weight is about 1.5 times the actual weight. Dividing
the 900 lbs (408 kg) by 1.5 leaves you with being able
to handle only 600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue weight.
Since tongue weight is usually at least 10 percent of
total loaded trailer weight, you can expect that the
largest trailer your vehicle can properly handle is
6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,500 lbs (680 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes — and they must
be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap into the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system only if:
• The trailer parts can withstand 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
It is important that you make sure your vehicle does not
exceed any of its ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Maximum Trailer Rating or Tongue Weight. The
only way to be sure you are not exceeding any of
these ratings is to weigh your vehicle and trailer.
• The trailer’s brake system will use less than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won’t work well. You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at
the port on the master cylinder that sends the fluid
to the rear brakes. But don’t use copper tubing for this.
If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use steel
brake tubing.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. 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 you can
turn with your rig. Never allow safety chains to drag
on the ground.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
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And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. Because you’re a good
deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
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Driving On Grades
Parking on Hills
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you
start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t
shift down, you might have to use your brakes so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with
a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow
in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission
to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection
if the transmission shifts too often under heavy loads
and/or hilly conditions.
If you have a manual transmission and you are towing
a trailer, it is better not to use the highest gear.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked, preferably on level ground,
with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a
few minutes before turning the engine off. For manual
transmissions, let the engine run while parked,
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet for an automatic transmission, or into
gear for a manual transmission. Turn your 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, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
preferably on level ground, with the transmission out of
gear and the parking brake applied, for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake and shift into PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission or into gear for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
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When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
Trailer Wiring Harness
Light-Duty Trailer Wiring Package
If your vehicle is not equipped with a trailer towing
package, the chassis harness will contain the following
blunt cut circuits:
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
• start your engine,
• Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
• Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
• White: Ground
• shift into a gear, and
• release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
• Brown: Tail Lamps
If you want to add on a trailer tow, it should be installed
by your dealer or a qualified service center. Also, see
information.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and brake
system. Each of these is covered in this manual, and
the Index will help you find them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Package
Four-Wire Harness Adapter
If you need to tow a light-duty trailer with a standard
four-way, flat pin connector, an adapter is available from
your dealer.
Use this adapter to
connect a standard
four-way pin connector to
the seven-wire harness
on your vehicle.
If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer towing package,
the rear bumper harness will have a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer connector attached to a
bracket on the hitch platform.
The trailer towing harness contains the following
seven trailer circuits:
• Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
• Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
• Brown: Taillamps
• White: Ground
• Light Green: Back-up Lamps
• Red: Battery Feed
• Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
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Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR). CWR is the maximum weight
of the load your vehicle can carry. It doesn’t include the
weight of the people inside, but you can figure about
150 lbs. (68 kg) for each seat. The total cargo load
must not be more than your vehicles CWR.
Weigh your vehicle with your trailer attached, so that
you won’t go over the GVWR or GAWR. If you are using
a weight-distributing hitch, weigh the vehicle without
the spring bars in place.
You’ll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
Connect the adapter with the tab pointing up. The flip
cap on the vehicle’s seven-wire harness will lock
onto the tab (see arrow in the previous graphic) and
help hold the adapter in place. Plug the four-way
pin connector onto the adapter.
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✍ NOTES
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Section 5
Service and Appearance Care
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Accessories and Modifications
Service
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle they
can affect your vehicle’s performance and safety,
including such things as, airbags, braking, stability, ride
and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like anti-lock brakes,
traction control and stability control. Some of these
accessories may even cause malfunction or damage not
covered by warranty.
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer
for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts
and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle. Your GM
dealer can accessorize your vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer and
ask for GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM Accessories.
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If you want to do some of your own service work, you
will want to use the proper service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service manual,
page 7-15.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle), many fluids, and
some component wear by-products contain and/or emit
these chemicals.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see Servicing Your
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
• Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts,
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
• Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
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Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
Fuel
Gasoline Specifications
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specification D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
General Motors recommends against the use of
for additional information.
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California Fuel
Additives
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but
emission control system performance may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on and your
vehicle may fail a smog-check test. See Malfunction
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined
that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by your warranty.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you should not have to add
anything to your fuel. However, some gasolines contain
only the minimum amount of additive required to
meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also, your
GM dealer has additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area. General Motors recommends that you use
these gasolines if they comply with the specifications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol)
and other fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must
not be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
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Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly
repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors
recommends against the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs
and the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
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Filling the Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to
you and others, read and follow all the
instructions on the pump island. Turn off your
engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke
if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle.
Keep sparks, flames, and smoking materials
away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended when refueling your vehicle — this
is against the law in some places. Keep
children away from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
The fuel cap is located on the driver’s side of the
vehicle.
Some vehicles may be equipped with a fuel door. Open
the door to access the fuel cap.
Some vehicles may be equipped with a locking fuel cap.
Use the fuel cap key to unlock the fuel cap. If you
ever need a replacement key, your dealer can help you
get one.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise.
While refueling, let the fuel cap hang by the tether, if
it has one.
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The FUEL CAP message will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not properly
page 3-44 for more information.
{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray out
on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly.
This spray can happen if your tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot weather. Open
the fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise
to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
{CAUTION:
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by notifying the
station attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overfill the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel
from painted surfaces as soon as possible. See
Notice: If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not fit properly.
This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage your fuel tank and emissions
page 3-35.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it
clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed. This would allow fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere. See Malfunction
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Filling a Portable Fuel Container
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
• Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
• Do not fill a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or
on any surface other than the ground.
• Bring the fill nozzle in contact with the
inside of the fill opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the filling is complete.
• Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
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Hood Release
To open the hood, do the following:
{CAUTION:
1. Pull the handle with
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
this symbol on it. It is
located inside the
vehicle on the lower
left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Release the secondary latch on the hood. It is
located below the front center of the hood.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on properly. Then pull the hood down and close it firmly.
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A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-35.
on page 5-24.
N. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped).
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
E. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick (If Equipped).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” under Automatic
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
page 5-29.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
on page 5-40.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
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Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
When to Add Engine Oil
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere
in the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all
the way back in when you are through.
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area (L), you will
need to add at least one quart/liter of oil. But you must
use the right kind. This section explains what kind of
oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Notice: Do not add too much oil. If 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.
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These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils such as SAE 20W-50.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Oils meeting these
requirements should also
have the starburst
symbol on the container.
This symbol indicates
that the oil has been
certified by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
You should look for this information on the oil container,
and use only those oils that are identified as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and have the starburst symbol
on the front of the oil container.
Look for two things:
• GM6094M
Notice: Use only engine oil identified as meeting
GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American
Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
• SAE 5W-30
GM Goodwrench® oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is best
for your vehicle.
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If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below −20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your
engine at extremely low temperatures.
When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE OIL message will come on.
Change your oil as soon as possible within the next
600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over
a year. However, your engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year and at this time the
system must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained
people who will perform this work using genuine GM
parts and reset the system. It is also important to check
your oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM6094M are all you will need for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change
your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated
can vary considerably. For the oil life system to
work properly, you must reset the system every time
the oil is changed.
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How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use.
Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it
can calculate when the next oil change is required.
If a situation occurs where you change your oil prior
to a CHANGE OIL message being turned on, reset
the system.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may 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, pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it
by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you
have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station, or a local recycling
center for help.
To reset the Engine Oil Life system, do the following:
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press and release the stem in the lower center
of the instrument cluster until the OIL LIFE
message is displayed.
3. Once the alternating OIL LIFE and RESET
messages appear, press and hold the stem
until several beeps sound. This confirms that
the oil life system has been reset.
4. Turn the key to LOCK.
If the CHANGE OIL message comes back on when
you start your vehicle, the engine oil life system has
not reset. Repeat the procedure. See DIC Warnings
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When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the Maintenance II
intervals and replace it at the first oil change after each
50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. See Scheduled
are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the filter
at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter,
do the following:
1. Unfasten the clips that hold the cover on and
remove the cover.
The engine air cleaner/filter is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
for more information on location.
2. Lift out the engine air cleaner/filter.
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 6-14
to determine which filter to use.
4. Reinstall the engine air cleaner/filter cover.
Fasten the clips to hold the cover in place.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
{CAUTION:
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter
off can cause you or others to be burned.
The air cleaner not only cleans the air; it helps
to stop flames if the engine backfires. If it is
not there and the engine backfires, you could
be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off.
Change the fluid and filter at the intervals listed in
to use the transmission fluid listed in Recommended
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt
can easily get into your engine, which will damage
it. Always have the air cleaner/filter in place
when you are driving.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice: Too much or too little fluid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
Too little fluid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.
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Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in PARK (P).
• When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
• At high speed for quite a while.
• In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
• While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C), drive the vehicle
in THIRD (3) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
The automatic
A cold fluid check can be made after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine off,
but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine
run at idle for five minutes if outside temperatures are
50°F (10°C) or more. If it is colder than 50°F (10°C), you
may have to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid
level be low during this cold check, you must check the
fluid hot before adding fluid. Checking the fluid hot
will give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level.
transmission dipstick
handle with this symbol
on it is located in the
engine compartment on
the passenger’s side
of the vehicle.
for more information on location.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
while it is hot. A cold check is used only as a reference.
If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot
check. It does not take much fluid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overfill.
Notice: Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
fluid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission fluid listed in
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be in the COLD area,
below the cross-hatched area, for a cold check
or in the HOT or cross-hatched area for a hot check.
Be sure to keep the dipstick pointed down to get
an accurate reading.
• After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier in this section.
• When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual transmission
does not require changing.
How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See Recommended
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Then, follow these steps:
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your GM dealership
service department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading.
Notice: Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too little fluid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure to get an accurate
reading if you check your transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.
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How to Add Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Here is how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir
is filled with hydraulic clutch fluid.
1. Remove the filler plug.
The hydraulic clutch fluid
reservoir cap has this
symbol on it. See Engine
on page 5-12 for reservoir
location.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully
seated.
It is not necessary to regularly check clutch fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the system. Adding
fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
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When to Check and What to Use
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX-COOL® extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see Engine Overheating
on page 5-27.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL® coolant will:
• Give freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C).
• Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
• Protect against rust and corrosion.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often you should check the fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid. See
• Help keep the proper engine temperature.
• Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the first maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or
24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper fluid should be added if the level does not
reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it is in place in
the reservoir. See the instructions on the reservoir cap.
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Notice: If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you
do not need to add anything else.
Checking Coolant
{CAUTION:
The coolant recovery tank
cap has this symbol on it.
It is located toward the
rear of the engine
compartment on the
passenger’s side of the
vehicle. See Engine
on page 5-12 for more
information on location.
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at FULL
COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is warm,
the level could be above the FULL COLD level.
Notice: If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts.
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Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
{CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly. With the coolant recovery tank,
you will almost never have to add coolant at
the radiator. Never turn the radiator pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
Occasionally check the coolant level in the radiator.
For information on how to add coolant to the radiator,
Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be careful
not to spill it.
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If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
Radiator Pressure Cap
Notice: If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
you badly, even if you just open the hood.
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood.
more information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. See Engine Coolant
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire.
You or others could be badly burned. Stop
your engine if it overheats, and get out of
the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Your air conditioning may stop working if your engine
is too hot. This is normal and helps cool the engine.
Notice: If your engine catches fire because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not
be covered by your warranty.
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If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or
hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
• Climb a long hill on a hot day.
• Stop after high-speed driving.
• Idle for long periods in traffic.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. Push down
the accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as
fast as normal idle speed for at least three minutes
while you are parked. If you still have the warning,
turn off the engine and get everyone out of the vehicle
until it cools down.
• Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” under
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn off the air conditioning.
3. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
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Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at least up to the FULL COLD mark. If it is not,
you may have a leak at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
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How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant
level is not at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL®
engine coolant at the coolant recovery tank. See Engine
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive
the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again.
The engine cooling fan speed should increase when
idle speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator
pedal down. If it does not, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
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Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
If the overheat warning continues, there is one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper mixture
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system
is cool before you do it.
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap — even a little — they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
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3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture, up to the base of the filler
information about the proper coolant mixture.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap
slowly counterclockwise about one full turn.
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
FULL COLD mark.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some pressure left.
5. Reinstall the cap on the coolant recovery tank,
but leave the radiator pressure cap off.
2. Then keep turning the cap to remove it.
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Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan.
When the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine. In most everyday
driving conditions, the clutch is not engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces fan noise.
Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high
outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when
the clutch engages. So you may hear an increase in
fan noise. This is normal and should not be mistaken
as the transmission slipping or making extra shifts.
It is merely the cooling system functioning properly.
The fan will slow down when additional cooling is not
required and the clutch disengages.
6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch disengages.
7. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture
through the filler neck until the level reaches
the base of the filler neck.
Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of
the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure
to secure it tightly.
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How to Check Power Steering Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment
cool down.
Overview on page 5-12
for reservoir location.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a
clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Then remove the cap again and look at the fluid
level on the dipstick.
The level should be between the ADD and FULL marks.
If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level
up to the proper range.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
What to Use
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
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Notice:
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to
read the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you
will be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that
has sufficient protection against freezing.
• When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
• Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer fluid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water does not
clean as well as washer fluid.
Adding Washer Fluid
• Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the
tank is full. See Engine
on page 5-12 for reservoir
location.
• Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your washer
system and paint.
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So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid. See
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you should have
your brake system fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or will
not work at all.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check your brake fluid. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
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Checking Brake Fluid
{CAUTION:
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Look at the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid level should
be above MIN. If it is not, have your brake system
checked to see if there is a leak.
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over
the MAX mark.
What to Add
Notice:
• Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system parts
so badly that they will have to be replaced. Do
not let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid.
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed container
page 6-12.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
• If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint finish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. See Washing
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Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc 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 may come
and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving,
except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly.
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 GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
{CAUTION:
Brake Pedal Travel
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes will not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
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 of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery. When
it is time for a new battery, get one that has the
replacement number shown on the original battery’s
label. We recommend an ACDelco® replacement
page 5-12 for battery location.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in — be sure
you get new approved GM replacement parts. If you
do not, your brakes may no longer work properly.
For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are
wrong for your vehicle, the balance between your
front and rear brakes can change — for the worse.
The braking performance you have come to expect
can change in many other ways if someone puts in
the wrong replacement brake parts.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
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Notice: If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may want to
use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do
it safely.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
• They contain acid that can burn you.
• They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
• They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved
in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is not in NEUTRAL.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice: If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlets. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save the radio!
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
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4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries on both
vehicles. You will use the positive (+) battery terminal
and the remote negative (−) jump starting terminal to
jump start your vehicle. To access the positive (+)
battery terminal, open the terminal cover. See
more information on the terminal locations.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need more light.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
Be sure the batteries have enough water.
You do not need to add water to the ACDelco®
battery (or batteries) installed in your new
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
the right amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that first. If you do
not, explosive gas could be present.
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
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6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the dead battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery.
If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it
to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.
Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
Notice: If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may
occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always connect
and remove the jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the cables do not touch
each other or other metal.
8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part, or to a remote
negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable at
least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move. The electrical
connection is just as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.
Your vehicle has a remote negative (−) terminal,
marked GND (Ground), for this purpose.
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To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles,
do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other
vehicle.
5. Return the positive (+) battery terminal cover to its
original position.
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal
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If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
located on the rear axle, you will need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A fluid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
What to Use
to determine which kind of lubricant to use.
How to Check Lubricant
Four-Wheel Drive
It is recommended that the four-wheel drive transfer
case fluid be checked and filled by your dealer.
Front Axle
It is recommended that the front axle fluid be checked
and filled by your dealer.
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on
a level surface.
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The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:
Headlamp Aiming
The vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system. The aim has been preset at the factory and
should need no further adjustment.
• The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps
are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light colored wall or
other flat surface.
• The vehicle must have all four tires on a level
surface which is level all the way to the wall or
other flat surface.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in an accident, the
headlamp aim may be affected and adjustment may
be necessary.
• The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall or other flat surface.
If oncoming vehicles flash their high beams at you, this
may also mean the vertical aim needs to be adjusted.
• The vehicle should not have any snow, ice, or
mud on it.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer for service if the headlamps need to be re-aimed.
It is possible however, to re-aim the headlamps as
described in the following procedure.
• The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being
performed.
• The vehicle should be normally loaded with a full
tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs (75 kg)
sitting on the driver’s seat.
• Tires should be properly inflated.
• The spare tire is in its original location in the
vehicle.
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To adjust the vertical aim, do the following:
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp to improve beam
cut-off when aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up which may cause
damage to the headlamp.
for more information.
6. Turn on the headlamps and place a piece of
cardboard or equivalent in front of the headlamp
not being aimed. This should allow only the beam
of light from the headlamp being aimed to be
seen on the flat surface.
2. Find the aim dot on the lens of the headlamp.
3. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim
dot on the headlamp. Record the distance.
4. At the wall or other flat surface, measure from the
ground upward the recorded distance from Step 2
and mark it.
Passenger’s Side Shown
7. Locate the vertical headlamp aiming screws, which
are under the hood near each headlamp assembly.
The adjustment screw can be turned with an
E8 Torx® socket or T15 Torx® screwdriver.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line the width of the
vehicle at the wall or other flat surface where it
was marked it Step 4.
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Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside
and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or others could be injured. Be sure to
read and follow the instructions on the bulb
package.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp
beam is aimed to the horizontal tape line. If you
turn it clockwise, it will raise the beam and if
you turn it counterclockwise, it will lower the beam.
The top edge of the cut-off should be positioned
at the bottom edge of the horizontal tape line.
9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 for the opposite headlamp.
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4. Unplug the electrical connector by pushing the
release tab and pulling the bulb socket out.
Headlamps
To replace a headlamp bulb, do the following:
5. Replace with a new bulb socket.
6. Reinstall the electrical connector.
for more information.
7. Reinstall the bulb socket into the headlamp
assembly making sure to align the tabs on the bulb
socket with the tabs in the headlamp housing.
2. Reach in and access the headlamp bulb.
8. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to secure it.
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps
A. Stoplamp, Taillamp and
Turn Signal Lamp
B. Back-up Lamp
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly.
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To replace one of these bulbs in the taillamp assembly,
do the following:
4. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove
it from the taillamp housing.
5. Replace with a new bulb.
for more information.
6. Insert the bulb into the taillamp housing and turn it
counterclockwise until it is locked into place.
2. Remove the
two screws from
the taillamp
7. Reinstall the rear lamp assembly by lining up the
locator tabs with the holes in the vehicle’s frame.
assembly.
8. Reinstall the two screws.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp
Bulb Number
Back-up Lamp, Stoplamp,
Taillamp and Turn Signal Lamp
3157K
Low-Beam and High-Beam
Headlamp
H13
Passenger’s Side
Shown
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact your
dealer.
3. Remove the taillamp assembly by pulling it gently
to release the two locator tabs. The locator tabs
connect the taillamp assembly to the vehicle’s frame.
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Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear
for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
page 6-14.
2. Push the release lever (B) to disengage the hook
and push the wiper arm (A) out of the blade (C).
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm
until you hear the release lever click into place.
To replace the rear wiper blade, follow the steps
listed above.
To replace the windshield wiper blade assembly do the
following:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
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Tires
CAUTION: (Continued)
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional
information refer to the tire manufacturer’s booklet
included with your vehicle’s Owner Manual.
• Underinflated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The resulting
accident could cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure. Tire pressure
should be checked when your tires are
page 5-58.
{CAUTION:
• Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
• Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See Loading Your
• Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If your tread is badly worn, or if your
tires have been damaged, replace them.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification): Original equipment tires designed to
GM’s specific tire performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the sidewall. GM’s
TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into the
sidewall. The following illustrations are examples of a
typical P-Metric and a LT-Metric tire sidewall.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation): The
Department of Transportation (DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number (TIN): The letters and
numbers following DOT code are the Tire Identification
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and
plant code, tire size, and date the tire was manufactured.
The TIN is molded onto both sides of the tire, although
only one side may have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material: The type of cord and number
of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG): Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires based on
three performance factors: treadwear, traction,
and temperature resistance. For more information,
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size: The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to define a particular tire’s
width, height, aspect ratio, construction type, and
service description. See the “Tire Size” illustration later
in this section for more detail.
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit: Maximum
load that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load. For information on
recommended tire pressure see Inflation - Tire Pressure
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(C) Dual Tire Maximum Load: Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to
support that load when used in a dual configuration.
For information on recommended tire pressure see
(D) DOT (Department of Transportation): The
Department of Transportation (DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(E) Tire Identification Number (TIN): The letters and
numbers following DOT code are the Tire Identification
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and
plant code, tire size, and date the tire was manufactured.
The TIN is molded onto both sides of the tire, although
only one side may have the date of manufacture.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
(F) Tire Ply Material: The type of cord and number
of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(A) Tire Size: The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to define a particular tire’s
width, height, aspect ratio, construction type, and
service description. See the “Tire Size” illustration later
in this section for more detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification): Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specific tire performance criteria have a
TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal
safety guidelines.
(G) Single Tire Maximum Load: Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to
support that load when used as a single. For information
on recommended tire pressure see Inflation - Tire
on page 4-52.
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(A) Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire: The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letters LT as
the first two characters in the tire size means a light
truck tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
Tire Size
The following examples show the different parts of a
tire size.
(B) Tire Width: The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio: A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example,
if the tire size aspect ratio is 75, as shown in item C
of the light truck (LT-Metric) tire illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is 75% as high as it is wide.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(D) Construction Code: A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The
letter R means radial ply construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter: Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description: The service description
indicates the load range and speed rating of a tire.
The load index can range from 1 to 279. Speed ratings
range from A to Z.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P as
the first character in the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
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Cold Inflation Pressure: The amount of air pressure
in a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi)
or kilopascals (kPa) before a tire has built up heat from
Tire Terminology and Definitions
Air Pressure: The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Curb Weight: This means the weight of a motor vehicle
with standard and optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
Accessory Weight: This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
DOT Markings: A code molded into the sidewall of a
tire signifying that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) motor vehicle
safety standards. The DOT code includes the Tire
Identification Number (TIN), an alphanumeric designator
which can also identify the tire manufacturer, production
plant, brand, and date of production.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship of a tire’s height to
its width.
Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords that is located
between the plies and the tread. Cords may be made
from steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead: The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by
steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight Rating for the front
Bias Ply Tire: A pneumatic tire in which the plies are
laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
GAWR RR: Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle,
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Intended Outboard Sidewall: The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Outward Facing Sidewall: The side of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that faces
outward when mounted on a vehicle. The side of the
tire that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering,
or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than the same moldings
on the other sidewall of the tire.
Kilopascal (kPa): The metric unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire: A tire used on light duty
trucks and some multipurpose passenger vehicles.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: A tire used on passenger
cars and some light duty trucks and multipurpose
vehicles.
Load Index: An assigned number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure: The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire may be inflated. The
maximum air pressure is molded onto the sidewall.
Recommended Inflation Pressure: Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire inflation pressure and
shown on the tire placard. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
Maximum Load Rating: The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire.
Radial Ply Tire: A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords
that extend to the beads are laid at 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight: The sum of curb
weight; accessory weight; vehicle capacity weight;
and production options weight.
Rim: A metal support for a tire and upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Normal Occupant Weight: The number of occupants a
vehicle is designed to seat multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg).
Sidewall: The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead.
Occupant Distribution: Designated seating positions.
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Speed Rating: An alphanumeric code assigned to
a tire indicating the maximum speed at which a tire can
operate.
Vehicle Capacity Weight: The number of designated
seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus
the rated cargo load. See Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-52.
Traction: The friction between the tire and the road
surface. The amount of grip provided.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire: Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory weight,
occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Tread: The portion of a tire that comes into contact
with the road.
Vehicle Placard: A label permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight and
the original equipment tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See “Tire and Loading Information
Treadwear Indicators: Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of a tire
when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards):
A tire information system that provides consumers
with ratings for a tire’s traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing procedures. The ratings
are molded into the sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
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A Tire and Loading Information label is attached to the
vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar), below the driver’s
door latch. This label shows your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct inflation pressures for
your tires when they are cold. The recommended
cold tire inflation pressure, shown on the label, is the
minimum amount of air pressure needed to support your
vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
Inflation - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice: Do not let anyone tell you that
under-inflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not.
If your tires do not have enough air (under-inflation),
you can get the following:
For additional information regarding how much weight
your vehicle can carry, and an example of the tire
and loading information label, see Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-52. How you load your vehicle affects
vehicle handling and ride comfort, never load your
vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry.
• Too much flexing
• Too much heat
• Tire overloading
• Premature or irregular wear
• Poor handling
• Reduced fuel economy
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Also check the
tire pressure of the spare tire. If you have a compact
spare tire, it should be at 60 psi (420 kPa). See
If your tires have too much air (over-inflation), you
can get the following:
• Unusual wear
• Poor handling
• Rough ride
• Needless damage from road hazards
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How to Check
Tire Pressure Monitor System
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they are underinflated. Check the
tire’s inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Cold
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). This system uses radio and sensor technology
to check tire pressure levels. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly on your
vehicle, including the spare tire. The TPMS sensors
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver located in
the vehicle.
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary.
If the inflation pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the proper inflation
pressure for those tires.)
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
As an added safety
feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated.
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Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling
and stopping ability.
This may be an early indicator that the air pressure in
the tire(s) is getting low and needs to be inflated to
the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct inflation pressure
for your vehicle’s tires when they are cold. See Loading
information label and its location on your vehicle.
additional information.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle’s TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal
When a low tire pressure condition is detected, the
TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure warning
symbol on the instrument panel cluster, and at the same
time display the LOW TIRE message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The message will appear at
each ignition cycle until the tires are inflated to the
correct inflation pressure. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation and displays
Notice: Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle
has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid sealant can
damage the tire pressure monitor sensors.
The SERV (Service) TPM message is displayed when
the TPMS system is malfunctioning. One or more
missing or inoperable TPMS sensors will cause the
service tire monitor message to be displayed. See your
dealer for service.
You may notice, during cooler weather conditions, that
the low tire pressure warning light and the DIC LOW
TIRE message may come on when the vehicle is
first started, and then turn off as you start to drive.
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The TPMS warning light should continue flashing
throughout the matching procedure. The SERV TPM
message will be displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
TPMS Sensor Identification Codes
Each TPMS sensor has a unique identification code.
Any time you rotate your vehicle’s tires, install the spare
tire onto your vehicle, or replace one or more of the
TPMS sensors, the identification codes will need to be
matched to the new tire/wheel position. The sensors
are matched to the tire/wheel positions in the following
order: driver’s side front tire, passenger’s side front
tire, passenger’s side rear tire, and driver’s side rear tire.
You will have one minute to match the first tire/wheel
position, and five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes longer than
one minute, to match the first tire and wheel, or more
than five minutes to match all four tire and wheel
positions the matching process stops and you will
need to start over.
4. Start with the driver’s side front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the valve cap stem.
Activate the TPMS sensor by increasing or
decreasing the tire’s air pressure for 10 seconds,
then stop and listen for a single horn chirp.
The single horn chirp should sound within
15 seconds, confirming that the sensor identification
code has been matched to this tire and wheel
position. If you do not hear the confirming single
horn chirp, you will need to start over with step
number one. To let air-pressure out of a tire you can
use the pointed end of the valve cap, a pencil-style
air pressure gage, or a key.
The TPMS sensor matching procedure is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
6. Proceed to the passenger’s side front tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 5.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON with the engine off.
7. Proceed to the passenger’s side rear tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 5.
3. Turn the exterior lamp switch from AUTO to ON
four times within three seconds. A double horn
chirp will sound and the TPMS low tire warning
light will begin to flash. The double horn chirp
and flashing TPMS warning light indicates
the TPM matching process has started.
8. Proceed to the driver’s side rear tire, and repeat
the procedure in Step 5.
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9. After hearing the confirming horn chirp for the left
rear tire, check to see if the TPMS warning light is
still flashing. If it is, turn the ignition switch to LOCK.
If the TPMS warning light is not flashing, the five
minute time limit has passed and you will need to
start the process over beginning with Step 1.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. See When It Is Time
on page 5-67 for more information.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information label.
11. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first rotation
is the most important, see Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
Federal Communications Commission
and Industry and Science Canada
The TPMS operates on a radio frequency subject to
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules
and with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization
to use this equipment.
When rotating your vehicle’s tires, always use one of
the correct rotation patterns shown here.
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After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For the location of the tire
and loading information label see Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-52. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened, see “Wheel Nut Torque” under
proper wheel nut torque specification.
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it
is time for new tires is
to check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of
tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires
may not have treadwear
indicators.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become
loose after a time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if needed, to get all the rust or dirt off. See
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
• You can see the indicators at three or more
places around the tire.
• You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
• The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
Any time you rotate the vehicle’s tires the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS) will need to be reset. The TPMS
identification codes will need to be matched to tire and
wheel position. See “TPMS Sensor Identification Codes”
• The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
• The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage
that cannot be repaired well because of the size
or location of the damage.
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Buying New Tires
{CAUTION:
GM has developed and matched specific tires for your
vehicle. The original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to meet
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria Specification
(TPC spec) system rating. If you need replacement
tires, GM strongly recommends that you get tires with
the same TPC Spec rating. This way, your vehicle
will continue to have tires that are designed to give the
same performance and vehicle safety, during normal
use, as the original tires.
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and bias-belted tires)
the vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes, brands, or types may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the
correct size, brand, and type of tires on your
vehicle’s wheels.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specifications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and
tire pressure monitoring performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s sidewall by the tire
manufacturer. If the tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC spec number will be followed by
a MS, for mud and snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling
on page 5-52 for additional information.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
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If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those that
do not have a TPC Spec number, make sure they
are the same size, load range, speed rating, and
construction type (radial and bias-belted tires) as your
vehicle’s original tires.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability,
and resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as, anti-lock brakes,
traction control, and electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems can be affected.
Vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure warning
if non-TPC spec rated tires are installed on your vehicle.
Non-TPC Spec rated tires may give a low-pressure
warning that is higher or lower than the proper warning
level you would get with TPC Spec rated tires. See
{CAUTION:
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed on
the Tire and Loading Information Label. This label
is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar).
more information about the Tire and Loading
Information Label.
If you add different sized wheels, your
vehicle may not provide an acceptable level
of performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only use
GM specific wheel and tire systems developed
for your vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a GM certified technician.
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Treadwear
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States. The
grades are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver, or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.
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Temperature – A, B, C
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you
the longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing
will not be necessary on a regular basis. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling to
one side or the other, the alignment may need to be
checked. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your tires and wheels may
need to be rebalanced. See your dealer for proper
diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
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Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
Notice: The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure
to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts
for your vehicle.
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash. If you have
to replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
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Notice: If your vehicle has a tire size other than
LT285/75R16 use tire chains only where legal
and only when you must. Use chains that are the
proper size for your tires. Install them on the tires
of the rear axle. Do not use chains on the tires of
the front axle. Tighten them as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened. Drive slowly
and follow the chain manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will damage
your vehicle.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has LT285/75R16 size tires, do
not use tire chains. They can damage your
vehicle because there is not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause damage
to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the tire chains
could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and
do not spin your vehicle’s wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the rear tires.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
{CAUTION:
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is designed
only for changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be badly
injured or killed if the vehicle slips off the jack.
Use the jack provided with your vehicle only
for changing a flat tire.
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your
hazard warning flashers.
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear — not in NEUTRAL.
{CAUTION:
4. Turn off the engine and do not restart while
the vehicle is raised.
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured or even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the
vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift
lever in PARK (P), or shift a manual
transmission to FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).
CAUTION: (Continued)
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When you have a flat tire, you will first need to set up
the wheel blocks before changing it. They are located
in the tool bag, in the swing-gate. See Removing
information.
Then, use the following as a guide to assist you in the
placement of the wheel blocks.
To use the wheel blocks,
lift the wheel block as
shown and lock into place.
The following information will tell you next how to use
the jack and change a tire.
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4. Remove the tool bag and jack from its compartment.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the
swing-gate, behind a cover. To remove the equipment,
do the following:
5. Undo the straps that secure the jack tool bag to
the jack.
6. Open the tool bag and you will find the following
tools, which you will use to remove the spare tire
and flat tire:
for more information.
2. Remove the cover, located on the inside of the
swing-gate, by lifting the two latches.
A. Wheel Wrench
C. Jack Handle
D. Jack
B. Jack Handle
Extensions
3. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise to release the
jack tool bag and jack.
E. Wheel Blocks
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The spare tire is attached to the outside of the
swing-gate. To remove the spare tire, do the following:
2. Use the wheel wrench
to remove the wheel
nuts securing the
spare tire.
1. Remove the center cap
by placing the flat end
of the wheel wrench
in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the
If your vehicle has
locking lug nuts,
the key is supplied
in the tool bag.
Use the key along
with the wheel wrench
to remove the wheel
nuts from the tire.
center cap out.
3. Pull off and gently lower the spare tire to the
ground. Set it next to the flat tire.
In order to remove the spare tire, you may need
someone to assist you.
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If your vehicle has locking lug nuts, the key is
supplied in the tool bag. Use the key along with the
wheel wrench to remove the wheel nuts from the tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
You will now need to jack up the vehicle using the
instructions following.
1. Remove the center cap
by placing the flat end
of the wheel wrench
in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the
center cap out.
2. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to
loosen the wheel
nuts. Do not remove
them yet.
Jacking Locations (Overall View)
A. Front Position — Lower Control Arm
B. Rear Position — Lower Axle
3. Locate the vehicle’s jacking positions (A and B).
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4. Assemble the jack and tools as follows:
Rear Positions
Front Position
Refer to the graphic above to locate the placement of
the jack if the flat tire is on the rear of the vehicle.
Front Tire Flat: If the flat tire is on a front tire of
the vehicle, you will need to use the jack handle
and both jack handle extensions. Attach the wheel
wrench to the jack handle extension. Attach the
jack handle to the jack. Position the jack on the front
lower control arm along the bar that runs front to
back. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise
the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire to clear the ground.
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5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the jack
head to the lifting point.
{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up
is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack
you could be badly injured or killed. Never
get under a vehicle when it is supported only
by a jack.
Rear Tire Flat: You will need to use the jack
handle and both jack handle extensions. Attach the
wheel wrench to the jack extensions. Attach the
jack handle to the jack. Align the jack under the
rear axle. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise
the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room for the spare tire
to clear the ground.
{CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
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6. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.
7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
If you do, the nuts might come loose. Your
wheel could fall off, causing a serious accident.
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush later, if needed,
to get all the rust or dirt off.
8. Put the spare tire on the mounting surface.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel after mounting the spare.
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10. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the
wheel wrench to tighten the nuts until the wheel
is held against the hub.
Notice: Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten
the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to
the proper torque specification. See Capacities
nut torque specification.
11. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the vehicle. Lower the jack completely.
{CAUTION:
12. Tighten the nuts
firmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown
by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
the proper torque specification. See Capacities
nut torque specification.
13. When you install the wheel and tire, you must
also reinstall the center cap. Place the cap on
the wheel and tap it into place until it sits flush
with the wheel.
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Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
the proper torque specification. See Capacities
nut torque specification.
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose equipment could strike someone.
Store all these in the proper place.
Use the art and text following to help you store the spare
or flat tire back into its proper spot when you are done.
To store the flat or spare tire on the spare tire mount,
do the following:
1. Slide the flat or spare tire onto the swing-gate.
In order to store the flat or the spare tire, you
may need someone to assist you.
2. Reinstall the nuts to retain the flat or spare tire.
3. Tighten the nuts by hand.
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4. Use the wheel wrench
to tighten the nuts
firmly. Try to move
the tire back and forth
slightly to be sure it
is secure.
To store the jack tool bag and jack, follow these
procedures:
1. Return the tools to the jack tool bag.
5. Reinstall the center tire cover onto the spare
or flat tire.
2. Secure the tool bag to the jack by securely wrapping
the straps around the jack. Then, slide the straps
through the rings on the bag and secure.
3. Position the jack and jack tool bag in the
swing-gate.
When reinstalling the jack and jack tool bag, make
sure the jack base is securely seated behind
the tabs in the swing-gate.
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Spare Tire
Your vehicle, when new, had a fully-inflated spare tire.
A spare tire may lose air over time, so check its
inflation pressure regularly. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
for information regarding proper tire inflation and loading
your vehicle. For instruction on how to remove, install
or store a spare tire, see Removing the Flat Tire
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inflated. Have the damaged or flat road
tire repaired or replaced as soon as you can and
installed back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire
will be available in case you need it again.
4. Reinstall the wing nut retainer to fasten the jack
and tool bag in the storage compartment.
Make sure that the wing nut passes through the
tool bag and the jack before you tighten it.
Do not mix tires and wheels of different sizes, because
they will not fit. Keep your spare tire and its wheel
together.
5. Turn the wing nut retainer clockwise to secure.
6. Reinstall the compartment cover by inserting
the locator tabs in the holes in the swing-gate.
Push the latches down to secure.
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Notice: If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaning
glass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratch
the glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
defogger. When cleaning the glass on your
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
vehicle, use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its best if
it is cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust
and dirt can accumulate on your upholstery. Dirt
can damage carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove
particles from your upholstery. It is important to keep
your upholstery from becoming and remaining heavily
soiled. Soils should be removed as quickly as possible.
Your vehicle’s interior may experience extremes of
heat that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Many cleaners contain solvents that may become
concentrated in your vehicle’s breathing space.
Before using cleaners, read and adhere to all safety
instructions on the label. While cleaning your vehicle’s
interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening
your vehicle’s doors and windows.
Dust may be removed from small buttons and knobs
using a small brush with soft bristles.
Your GM dealer has a product for cleaning your
vehicle’s glass. Should it become necessary, you
can also obtain a product from your GM dealer to
remove odors from your vehicle’s upholstery.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home furnishings may also
transfer color to your vehicle’s interior.
When cleaning your vehicle’s interior, only use
cleaners specifically designed for the surfaces being
cleaned. Permanent damage may result from using
cleaners on surfaces for which they were not
intended. Use glass cleaner only on glass. Remove
any accidental over-spray from other surfaces
immediately. To prevent over-spray, apply cleaner
directly to the cleaning cloth.
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Do not clean your vehicle using the following cleaners
or techniques:
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only be used
on floor carpet and carpeted floor mats. For soils, always
try to remove them first with plain water or club soda.
Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil as
possible using one of the following techniques:
• Never use a knife or any other sharp object to
remove a soil from any interior surface.
• Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage to
your vehicle’s interior surfaces.
• Never apply heavy pressure or rub aggressively
with a cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure
can damage your interior and does not improve the
effectiveness of soil removal.
• For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a paper
towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the paper towel
until no more can be removed.
• For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible and
then vacuum.
• Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid laundry
detergents or dishwashing soaps with degreasers.
Using too much soap will leave a residue that
leaves streaks and attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners,
about 20 drops per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a
good guide.
To clean, use the following instructions:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water
or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub
toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the
cleaning cloth remains clean.
• Do not heavily saturate your upholstery while
cleaning.
• Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result from
the use of many organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild
soap solution and repeat the cleaning process
that was used with plain water.
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If any of the soil remains, a commercial fabric cleaner
or spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test
a small hidden area for colorfastness first. If the
locally cleaned area gives any impression that a ring
formation may result, clean the entire surface.
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a clean soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution
can be used to gently remove dust and dirt. Never use
spot lifters or removers on plastic surfaces. Many
commercial cleaners and coatings that are sold to
preserve and protect soft plastic surfaces may
permanently change the appearance and feel of your
interior and are not recommended. Do not use silicone
or wax-based products, or those containing organic
solvents to clean your vehicle’s interior because
they can alter the appearance by increasing the gloss
in a non-uniform manner.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet.
Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not use
heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather. Never
use spot lifters or spot removers on leather. Many
commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are sold
to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of your leather and are
not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to clean
your vehicle’s interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on your leather.
Some commercial products may increase gloss on your
instrument panel. The increase in gloss may cause
annoying reflections in the windshield and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield under certain
conditions.
5-85
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Care of Safety Belts
Washing Your Vehicle
Keep belts clean and dry.
The paint finish on the vehicle provides beauty, depth of
color, gloss retention, and durability.
The best way to preserve the vehicle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
{CAUTION:
Do not wash the vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Use a car washing soap. Do not use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,
removing all soap residue completely. GM-approved
cleaning products can be obtained from your dealer.
Do not use cleaning agents that are petroleum
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do,
it may severely weaken them. In a crash,
they might not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean safety belts only with
mild soap and lukewarm water.
based, or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed
to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish
with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water spotting.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather frequent application may be required.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
the vehicle.
5-86
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Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain
on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as
possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car
washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
page 5-86.
Finish Care
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint finish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. See Vehicle Care/Appearance
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
If your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish,
the clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep
their luster. Washing with water is all that is usually
needed. However, you may use chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid damaging
protective trim, never use auto or chrome polish,
steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is recommended for all
bright metal parts.
Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may
damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish on your vehicle.
5-87
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Windshield, Backglass, and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap or other material may be on the blade or
windshield.
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
Your vehicle may be equipped with either aluminum
or chrome-plated wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with mild
soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After rinsing
thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax may then
be applied.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strength
glass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean if beads do
not form when you rinse it with water.
Notice: If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or cleaners
that contain acid on aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels, you could damage the surface of the
wheel(s). The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Use only GM-approved cleaners on
aluminum or chrome-plated wheels.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Do not use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
them because you could damage the surface.
Do not use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
Notice: Using chrome polish on aluminum wheels
could damage the wheels. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Use chrome polish
on chrome wheels only.
5-88
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Use chrome polish only on chrome-plated wheels, but
avoid any painted surface of the wheel, and buff off
immediately after application.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Notice: If you drive your vehicle through an
automatic car wash that has silicone carbide tire
cleaning brushes, you could damage the aluminum
or chrome-plated wheels. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Never drive a vehicle
equipped with aluminum or chrome-plated wheels
through an automatic car wash that uses silicone
carbide tire cleaning brushes.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide the
corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the
finish should be repaired right away. Bare metal
will corrode quickly and may develop into major repair
expense.
Do not take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes. These
brushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your GM dealer. Larger areas of
finish damage can be corrected in your GM dealer’s body
and paint shop.
Tires
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner.
Notice: Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on your vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying a tire dressing,
always wipe off any overspray from all painted
surfaces on your vehicle.
5-89
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Underbody Maintenance
Chemical Paint Spotting
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on the vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations,
and small, irregular dark spots etched into the
paint surface.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of
the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can
do this for you.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
5-90
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Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description
Usage
Removes swirl marks, fine
scratches, and other light
surface contamination.
Description
Usage
Swirl Remover Polish
Polishing Cloth
Wax-Treated
Interior and exterior
polishing cloth.
Removes light scratches
and protects finish.
Cleaner Wax
Tar and Road Oil
Remover
Removes tar, road oil,
and asphalt.
Cleans, shines, and
protects in one step.
No wiping necessary.
Foaming Tire Shine
Low Gloss
Chrome Cleaner
and Polish
Use on chrome or
stainless steel.
Medium foaming
shampoo. Cleans and
lightly waxes.
White Sidewall
Tire Cleaner
Removes soil and black
marks from whitewalls.
Wash Wax Concentrate
Biodegradable and
phosphate free.
Vinyl Cleaner
Glass Cleaner
Cleans vinyl.
Removes dirt, grime,
smoke and fingerprints.
Quickly removes spots
and stains from carpets,
vinyl, and cloth
Spot Lifter
Removes dirt and grime
from chrome wheels and
wire wheel covers.
Chrome and Wire
Wheel Cleaner
upholstery.
Odorless spray odor
eliminator used on fabrics,
vinyl, leather and carpet.
Removes dust,
Odor Eliminator
fingerprints, and surface
contaminants. Spray on
and wipe off.
Finish Enhancer
5-91
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Engine Identification
The eighth character in the VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your vehicle’s engine,
specifications, and replacement parts.
Vehicle Identification
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Service Parts Identification Label
You will find this label on the inside of the glove box.
It is very helpful if you ever need to order parts.
On this label, you will find the following:
• VIN
• Model designation
• Paint information
• Production options and special equipment
Do not remove this label from the vehicle.
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears
on a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel,
on the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through
the windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN
also appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service
Parts labels and the certificates of title and registration.
5-92
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Power Windows and Other
Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice: Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working as they should.
Power and Heated Seat Circuit
Breakers
There is a circuit breaker located underneath the
driver’s side front seat that controls the power and
heated seat functions.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, see Servicing
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow or ice, the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If the overload is caused by some electrical problem,
be sure to get it fixed.
5-93
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Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the chance of fires
caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and do not have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without — like the radio or
cigarette lighter — and use its fuse, if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
The engine compartment fuse block is located on
the driver’s side of the engine compartment. See
more information on location.
5-94
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To remove the cover, push in on the tabs at the ends
of the cover and lift. To reinstall the cover, line up
the tabs and push down on the cover until the tabs
clicks into place.
5-95
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Fuse
1
Usage
Fuse
18
Usage
Heated Seats
Grille Guard
Fuel Pump
Roof Lamp
Spare 6
Cluster
2
19
3
20
Rear Turn Signal, Hazard Signal
Powertrain Control Module 1
4
21
5
Battery Ignition Switch
Front Wiper
Mass Air Flow Sensor, Purge
Solenoid
22
6
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Injector
7
Spare 1
Fog Lamp
8
Power Locks
Powertrain Control Module B
Spare 4
9
Sunroof, Front Washer Pump
Accessories (SPO)
Not Used
10
11
12
Airbags
Back-up Lamps
Anti-lock Brakes, StabiliTrak®
Rear Window Defogger
Canister Vent
Spare 5
Transfer Case Control Module
Radio, Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning Display
13
14
15
16
17
Body Control Module
Rear Wiper Motor
Rear Wiper Pump Switch
Spare 2
Ignition 1
Transmission
5-97
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Fuse
35
Usage
Cruise, Inside Rearview Mirror
Horn
Fuse
52
Usage
StabiliTrak®, Anti-lock Brakes
Power Heater Switch
Stop
36
53
37
Driver’s Side Rear Park Lamp
Amplifier
54
38
55
Trailer Parking Lamps
Front Turn Signal, Hazard Signal
Power Sunroof
Reduced Intensity Low-Beam
Daytime Running Lamps
56
39
57
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Passenger’s Side Headlamp
Driver’s Side Headlamp
Trailer Back-Up Lamp
Front Park Lamps
Transfer Case Control Module
Switch
58
59
60
61
62
63
Climate Control
Spare 8
Not Used
Power Seats
Auxiliary Power 2
Air Pump
Electronic Throttle Control
Oxygen Sensor
Passenger’s Side Power Window
Anti-lock Brakes, StabiliTrak®
Motor
2
64
Air Conditioning Clutch
Passenger’s Side Rear Park Lamp
XM™ Satellite Radio
Auxiliary Power 1
Anti-lock Brakes, StabiliTrak®
Solenoid
1
67
68
Driver’s Side Power Window
5-98
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Fuse
82
Usage
Climate Control Fan
Relay
77
Usage
Powertrain Control Module
Run, Crank
83
Electronic Brake Controller
Trailer B+ Fuse
Starter
78
84
Reduced Intensity Low-Beam
Daytime Running Lamps
79
85
80
81
86
Not Used
91
Megafuse
Powertrain (Starter)
Spare 2
Relay
66
Usage
Fuel Pump
Heating, Ventilation,
Air Conditioning
87
69
Fog Lamp
88
89
Retained Accessory Power
Park Lamp
70
High, Low Beam Headlamps
Rear Defogger
71
72
Windshield Wiper On/Off
Windshield Wiper High/Low
Horn
Diode
65
Usage
Wiper Diode
73
74
90
Air Conditioning Clutch Diode
75
Headlamp
76
Air Conditioning Clutch
5-99
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Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric. Please refer to Recommended Fluids and
Capacities and Specifications
Capacities
Application
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a
Cooling System
English
1.28 lbs
10.0 qt
6.0 qt
Metric
0.58 kg
9.5 L
Engine Oil with Filter
Fuel Tank
5.7 L
23.0 gal
1.6 qt
87.1 L
1.5 L
Transfer Case
Transmission (Drain and Refill)
Automatic
5.0 qt
2.5 qt
4.7 L
Manual
2.4 L
Wheel Nut Torque
100 lb ft
140 Y
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in this manual.
Engine Specifications
Engine
VIN Code
Transmission
Spark Plug Gap
Automatic
Manual
VORTEC™ 3.5L L5
6
.042 inches (1.07 mm)
5-100
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Your Vehicle and the Environment
Maintenance Schedule
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance is
important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good condition,
be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.
Introduction
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Using the Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we do not know
exactly how you will drive it. You may drive very
short distances only a few times a week. Or you may
drive long distances all the time in very hot, dusty
weather. You may use your vehicle in making deliveries.
Or you may drive it to work, to do errands, or in many
other ways.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Maintenance Requirements
Notice: Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,
replacement parts, and recommended fluids and
lubricants as prescribed in this manual are necessary
to keep your vehicle in good working condition.
Any damage caused by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance may not be covered by warranty.
6-2
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Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements. So please read
the following and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your GM Goodwrench® dealer.
{CAUTION:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle
can be dangerous. In trying to do some jobs,
you can be seriously injured. Do your own
maintenance work only if you have the
required know-how and the proper tools and
equipment for the job. If you have any doubt,
see your GM Goodwrench® dealer to have a
qualified technician do the work. See Doing
This schedule is for vehicles that:
• carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on the tire and
loading information label. See Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-52.
• are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
• are driven off-road in the recommended manner.
Some maintenance services can be complex. So,
unless you are technically qualified and have the
necessary equipment, you should have your
GM Goodwrench® dealer do these jobs.
on page 5-5.
should be performed when indicated. See Additional
When you go to your GM Goodwrench® dealer for your
service needs, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM parts.
If you want to purchase service information, see Service
6-3
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should be checked, when to check it, and what you
can easily do to help keep your vehicle in good
condition.
If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. See
the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the system.
The proper replacement parts, fluids, and lubricants to
use are listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
make sure these are used. All parts should be replaced
and all necessary repairs done before you or anyone
else drives the vehicle. We recommend the use of
genuine GM parts.
When the CHANGE OIL message appears, certain
services, checks, and inspections are required.
Required services are described in the following for
“Maintenance I” and “Maintenance II.” Generally,
it is recommended that your first service be
Maintenance I, your second service be Maintenance II,
and that you alternate Maintenance I and Maintenance II
thereafter. However, in some cases, Maintenance II
may be required more often.
Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHANGE OIL message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) comes on, it means that
service is required for your vehicle. See DIC Warnings
serviced as soon as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are driving
under the best conditions, the engine oil life system may
not indicate that vehicle service is necessary for over
a year. However, your engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and at this time the system
must be reset. Your GM Goodwrench® dealer has
GM-trained service technicians who will perform this
work using genuine GM parts and reset the system.
Maintenance I — Use Maintenance I if the CHANGE
OIL message comes on within 10 months since the
vehicle was purchased or Maintenance II was
performed.
Maintenance II — Use Maintenance II if the previous
service performed was Maintenance I. Always use
Maintenance II whenever the message comes on
10 months or more since the last service or if the
message has not come on at all for one year.
6-4
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Scheduled Maintenance
Service
Maintenance I Maintenance II
Control Service.
•
•
Lubricate chassis components. See footnote #.
•
•
•
•
Visually check for any leaks or damage. See footnote (j).
Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If necessary, replace filter. See Engine
•
Rotate tires and check inflation pressures and wear. See Tire Inspection and
on page 6-9.
•
•
Inspect brake system. See footnote (a).
•
•
•
•
Check engine coolant and windshield washer fluid levels and add fluid as
needed.
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services”
in this section.
•
•
Inspect suspension and steering components. See footnote (b).
Inspect engine cooling system. See footnote (c).
Inspect wiper blades. See footnote (d).
•
•
•
•
•
•
Inspect restraint system components. See footnote (e).
Lubricate body components. See footnote (f).
Check transmission fluid level and add fluid as needed.
6-5
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Additional Required Services
The following services should be performed at the first maintenance service (I or II) after the indicated miles (kilometers)
shown for each item.
Additional Required Services
25,000
(40 000)
50,000
75,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
Service and Miles (Kilometers)
(80 000) (120 000) (160 000) (200 000) (240 000)
Inspect fuel system for damage or leaks.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Inspect exhaust system for loose or
damaged components.
•
Replace engine air cleaner filter. See
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter (severe service). See footnote (h).
Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter (normal service).
Change transfer case fluid.
See footnote (g).
•
•
Replace spark plugs and inspect spark
plug wires. An Emission Control Service.
Engine cooling system service (or every
five years, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service. See
footnote (i).
•
•
Inspect engine accessory drive belt.
An Emission Control Service.
See footnote (k).
6-6
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(d) Visually inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking.
Replace wiper blades that appear worn or damaged
or that streak or miss areas of the windshield.
Maintenance Footnotes
# Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints, steering
linkage, transmission shift linkage, and parking
brake cable guides. Ball joints should not be lubricated
unless their temperature is 10°F (-12°C) or higher,
or they could be damaged.
(e) Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts
replaced. Also look for any opened or broken airbag
coverings, and have them repaired or replaced.
(a) Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect
disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface
condition. Inspect other brake parts, including calipers,
parking brake, etc.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
(f) Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood latch
assembly, secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor,
release pawl, rear compartment hinges, outer
swing-gate handle pivot points, rear door detent link,
roller mechanism, swing-gate handle pivot points, latch
bolt, fuel door hinge, locks, and folding seat hardware.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make
them last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(b) Visually inspect front and rear suspension and
steering system for damaged, loose, or missing parts,
signs of wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect power
steering lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Visually check constant
velocity joints, rubber boots and axle seals for leaks.
Rotate and inspect U-joints, retainers, and bolts on rear
drive shaft for seizing or loosening.
(c) Visually inspect hoses and have them replaced if
they are cracked, swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect
all pipes, fittings, and clamps; replace with genuine GM
parts as needed. To help ensure proper operation, a
pressure test of the cooling system and pressure
cap and cleaning the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser is recommended at least
once a year.
(g) Check vent hose at transfer case for kinks and
proper installation.
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(h) Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety,
dependability, and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your GM Goodwrench® dealer can assist you
with these checks and services.
− In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
− In hilly or mountainous terrain.
− When doing frequent trailer towing.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
− Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i) Drain, flush, and refill cooling system. This service
can be complex; you should have your dealer perform
what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap, and filler neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel fill.
(j) A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the fluid level checked. Add fluid if needed.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
details.
(k) Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
Notice: It is important to check your oil regularly
and keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep your
engine oil at the proper level can cause damage
to your engine not covered by your warranty.
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Engine Coolant Level Check
At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
Check the engine coolant level and add
DEX-COOL® coolant mixture if necessary.
{CAUTION:
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
washer fluid reservoir and add the proper fluid if
necessary.
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
At Least Once a Month
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. On automatic transmission vehicles, try to start
the engine in each gear. The vehicle should
start only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the
vehicle starts in any other position, contact your
GM Goodwrench® dealer for service.
Tire Inflation Check
Visually inspect your vehicle’s tires and make sure they
are inflated to the correct pressures. Do not forget to
details. Check to make sure the spare tire is stored
Tire Wear Inspection
Tire rotation may be required for high mileage highway
drivers prior to the Engine Oil Life System service
notification. Check the tires for wear and, if necessary,
rotate the tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-62.
On manual transmission vehicles, put the shift lever
in NEUTRAL (N), push the clutch down halfway,
and try to start the engine. The vehicle should start
only when the clutch is pushed down all the way
to the floor. If the vehicle starts when the clutch
is not pushed all the way down, contact your
GM Goodwrench® dealer for service.
6-9
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3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON, but do
not start the engine. Without applying the regular
brake, try to move the shift lever out of PARK (P)
with normal effort. If the shift lever moves out
of PARK (P), contact your GM Goodwrench® dealer
for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK in each shift lever position.
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
• With an automatic transmission, the ignition should
turn to LOCK only when the shift lever is in
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
PARK (P). The key should come out only in LOCK.
• With a manual transmission, the key should
come out only in LOCK.
Contact your GM Goodwrench® dealer if service is
required.
on page 2-27.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately
if the vehicle begins to move.
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Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism Check
• To check the parking brake’s holding ability:
With the engine running and transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle
is held by the parking brake only.
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could
be injured and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front of your
vehicle in case it begins to roll. Be ready to
apply the regular brake at once should the
vehicle begin to move.
• To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P).
Then release the parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your GM Goodwrench® dealer if service is
required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care
to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other
debris can collect.
6-11
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Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part
number, or specification may be obtained from
your dealer.
Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
Windshield
Washer
GM Optikleen® Washer Solvent.
GM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184, in
Canada 89021186).
Power Steering
System
Automatic
DEXRON®-VI Automatic
Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
Transmission Transmission Fluid.
Engine oil which meets
GM Standard GM6094M and
displays the American Petroleum
Institute Certified for Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol.
Manual Transmission Fluid
Manual
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021806, in
Canada 89021807).
Transmission
Engine Oil
GM Goodwrench® oil meets all
the requirements for your vehicle.
To determine the proper viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine, see
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345347, in
Clutch System Canada 10953517) or equivalent
DOT-3 brake fluid.
Hydraulic
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
Key Lock
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL®
Coolant. See Engine Coolant
on page 5-24.
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Cylinders
Canada 10953474).
Engine Coolant
Chassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in
Chassis
Hydraulic Brake Delco® Supreme 11 Brake Fluid
System or equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid.
Canada 88901242) or lubricant
Lubrication
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
6-12
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Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
SAE 75W-90 Synthetic
Axle Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12378261,
in Canada 10953455) meeting
GM Specification 9986115.
DEXRON®-III Automatic
Transmission Fluid. Look for
“Approved for the H-Specification”
on the label.
Outer
Swing-gate
Handle Pivot
Points
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Front and
Rear Axle
Dielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579,
in Canada 992887).
Weatherstrip
Conditioning
Transfer Case
Synthetic Grease with
Weatherstrip Teflon, Superlube
Squeaks
Spline Lubricant, Special Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345879,
in Canada 10953511) or
lubricant meeting requirements
of GM 9985830.
(GM Part No. U.S. 12371287,
in Canada 10953437).
Front Axle
Propshaft
Spline
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
Hood Hinges (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
6-13
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Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identified below by name, part number or specification can be obtained from your GM dealer.
Part
Automatic Transmission Filter Kit
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Engine Oil Filter
GM Part Number
24225323
ACDelco® Part Number
—
15202408
A1624C
PF61
89017342
Spark Plugs
12599232
41-981
Wiper Blades
Driver – 16.7 inches (42.5 cm)
Passenger – 15.7 inches (40.0 cm)
Rear – 11.8 inches (30.0 cm)
10389555
10389556
10389557
—
—
—
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Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service, and the
type of services performed in the boxes provided. See Maintenance Requirements on page 6-2. Any additional
information from Owner Checks and Services on page 6-8 can be added on the following record pages. You should
retain all maintenance receipts.
Maintenance Record
Odometer
Reading
Maintenance I or
Maintenance II
Date
Serviced By
Services Performed
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Maintenance Record (cont’d)
Odometer
Reading
Maintenance I or
Maintenance II
Date
Serviced By
Services Performed
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Maintenance Record (cont’d)
Odometer
Reading
Maintenance I or
Maintenance II
Date
Serviced By
Services Performed
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Maintenance Record (cont’d)
Odometer
Reading
Maintenance I or
Maintenance II
Date
Serviced By
Services Performed
6-18
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We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order to
give your inquiry prompt attention. Please have the
following information available to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:
Customer Assistance and
Information
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to
• Vehicle Identification Number (This is available
from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate
at the top left of the instrument panel and visible
through the windshield.)
your dealer and to HUMMER. Normally, any concerns
with the sales transaction or the operation of your
vehicle will be resolved by your dealer’s sales or service
departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best
intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can
occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your
satisfaction, the following steps should be taken:
• Dealership name and location
• Vehicle delivery date and present mileage
When contacting HUMMER, please remember that your
concern will likely be resolved at a dealer’s facility.
That is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you
have a concern.
STEP ONE: Discuss your concern with a member of
dealership management. Normally, concerns can
be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has
already been reviewed with the sales, service or parts
manager, contact the owner of the dealership or
the general manager.
STEP THREE: Both General Motors and your dealer
are committed to making sure you are completely
satisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continue
to remain unsatisfied after following the procedure
outlined in Steps One and Two, you should file with the
BBB Auto Line Program to enforce any additional
rights you may have. Canadian owners refer to your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for
information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration
Plan (CAMVAP).
STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of dealership
management, it appears your concern cannot be
resolved by the dealership without further help, contact
the HUMMER Consumer Relations Manager by calling
1-866-HUMMER6 (486-6376), Customer Assistance
prompt. In Canada, contact GM of Canada Customer
Communication Centre in Oshawa by calling
1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
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The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program
administered by the Council of Better Business
Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle
repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Although you may be required to
resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to
filing a court action, use of the program is free of
charge and your case will generally be heard within
40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in
your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other
venue for relief available to you.
Online Owner Center
The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership
needs. Specific vehicle information can be found in
one place.
The Online Owner Center allows you to:
• Get e-mail service reminders.
• Access information about your specific vehicle,
including tips and videos and an electronic
version of this owner’s manual (United States only).
Contact the BBB Auto Line Program using the toll-free
telephone number or write them at:
• Keep track of your vehicle’s service history and
maintenance schedule.
BBB Auto Line Program
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
• Find GM dealers for service nationwide.
• Receive special promotions and privileges only
available to members (United States only).
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Refer to the web for updated information.
Telephone: 1-800- 955-5100
To register your vehicle, visit www.MyGMLink.com
(United States) or My GM Canada within
www.gmcanada.com (Canada).
This program is available in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. Eligibility is limited by vehicle age,
mileage, and other factors. General Motors reserves
the right to change eligibility limitations and/or
discontinue its participation in this program.
7-3
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From Puerto Rico:
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
1-800-496-9992 (English)
1-800-496-9993 (Spanish)
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or
speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),
HUMMER has TTY equipment available at its Customer
Assistance Center. Any TTY user can communicate
with HUMMER by dialing: 1-800-833-6537.
From U.S. Virgin Islands:
1-800-496-9994
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
Canada – Customer Assistance
(TTY users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830.)
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Customer Assistance Offices
HUMMER encourages customers to call the toll-free
number for assistance. However, if a customer wishes to
write or e-mail HUMMER, refer to the addresses below.
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
1-800-263-3777 (English)
1-800-263-7854 (French)
1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800
United States – Customer Assistance
HUMMER Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33177
Detroit, MI 48232-5177
www.HUMMER.com
1-866-HUMMER6 (1-866-486-6376)
1-800-833-6537 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance: 1-866-HUMMER6
(1-866-486-6376)
Fax Number: 313-381-0022
7-4
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Overseas – Customer Assistance
Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit.
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program
Mexico, Central America and
Caribbean Islands/Countries
(Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) – Customer Assistance
General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
Customer Assistance Center
Paseo de la Reforma # 2740
Col. Lomas de Bezares
This program, available to qualified applicants, can
reimburse you up to $1,000 of the cost of eligible
aftermarket adaptive equipment required for your vehicle,
such as hand controls or a wheelchair/scooter lift.
C.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F.
01-800-508-0000
Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800
The offer is available for a very limited period of time
from the date of vehicle purchase/lease. For more
details, or to determine your vehicle’s eligibility, visit
gmmobility.com or call the GM Mobility Assistance
Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text telephone (TTY) users,
call 1-800-833-9935.
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program.
Call 1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details.
TTY users call 1-800-263-3830.
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• Flat Tire Change: Installation of a spare tire will be
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not
covered by a warrantable failure.
Roadside Assistance Program
As the owner of a new HUMMER vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the HUMMER Roadside
Assistance program. This value-added service is
intended to provide peace of mind as you drive in the
city or travel the open road. Call 1-866-HUMMER6
(486-6376) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to speak
with a HUMMER Roadside Assistance Representative.
• Jump Start: No-start occurrences which require a
battery jump start will be covered at no charge.
• Dealer Locator Service Directions to the nearest
dealer.
We will provide the following services during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expense
to you:
• Trip Routing: A Roadside Assistance
Representative can provide specific information
regarding this feature.
• Fuel Delivery: Delivery of enough fuel
($5 maximum) for the customer to get to the
nearest service station.
• Trip Interruption Expense Benefits: A Roadside
Assistance Representative can provide specific
information regarding this feature.
• Lock-out Service (identification required):
Replacement keys or locksmith service will
be covered at no charge if you are unable to gain
entry into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacement
key will be covered within 10 miles (16 km).
In many instances, mechanical failures are covered
under HUMMER’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty.
However, when other services are utilized, our Roadside
Assistance Representatives will explain any payment
obligations you might incur.
• Emergency Tow: Tow to the nearest dealership
for warranty service or in the event of a
vehicle-disabling accident.
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For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please
provide the following to the Roadside Assistance
Representative:
Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
HUMMER reserves the right to make any changes or
discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at
any time without notification.
• Your name, home address, and home telephone
number.
Canadian Roadside Assistance
• Telephone number of your location.
• Location of the vehicle.
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive
roadside assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information book.
• Model, year, color, and license plate number
of the vehicle.
• Mileage, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
and delivery date of the vehicle.
Courtesy Transportation
• Description of the problem.
To enhance your ownership experience, we and our
participating dealers are proud to offer Courtesy
Transportation, a customer support program for
new vehicles.
While we hope you never have the occasion to use
our service, it is added security while traveling for
you and your family. Remember, we are only a
phone call away. HUMMER Roadside Assistance:
1-866-HUMMER6 (486-6376), text telephone (TTY)
users, call 1-888-889-2438.
The Courtesy Transportation program is offered to
customers in conjunction with the Bumper-to-Bumper
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Several transportation options are available when
warranty repairs are required. This will reduce your
inconvenience during warranty repairs.
HUMMER reserves the right to limit services or
reimbursement to an owner or driver when, in
HUMMER’s judgement, the claims become excessive
in frequency or type of occurrence.
7-7
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Public Transportation or Fuel
Reimbursement
Scheduling Service Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty service, you
should contact your dealer and request an appointment.
By scheduling a service appointment and advising
your service consultant of your transportation needs,
your dealer can help minimize your inconvenience.
If your vehicle requires warranty repairs, reimbursement
of public transportation expenses may be available,
for up to a maximum of five days. In addition, should
you arrange transportation through a friend or relative,
reimbursement for reasonable fuel expenses may
be available, up to a five-day maximum. Claim amounts
should reflect actual costs and be supported by
original receipts.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service
department immediately, keep driving it until it can be
scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is
safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership, let
them know this, and ask for instructions.
Courtesy Rental Vehicle
If the dealer requests that you simply drop the vehicle off
for service, you are urged to do so as early in the work
day as possible to allow for the same day repair.
Your dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy
rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle
that you obtain if your vehicle is kept for a warranty
repair. Reimbursement will be limited to a maximum
amount per day and must be supported by receipts. This
requires that you sign and complete a rental agreement
and meet state, local and rental vehicle provider
requirements. Requirements vary and may include
minimum age requirements, insurance coverage, credit
card, etc. You are responsible for fuel usage charges
and may also be responsible for taxes, levies,
usage fees, excessive mileage or rental usage beyond
the completion of the repair.
Transportation Options
Warranty service can generally be completed while you
wait. However, if you are unable to wait, GM helps
to minimize your inconvenience by providing several
transportation options. Depending on the circumstances,
your dealer can offer you one of the following:
Shuttle Service
Participating dealers can provide you with shuttle
service to get you to your destination with minimal
interruption of your daily schedule. This includes
one-way or round trip shuttle service to a destination
up to 10 miles (16 km) from the dealership.
Generally it is not possible to provide a like-vehicle as a
courtesy rental.
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Additional Program Information
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders
Courtesy Transportation is available during the
Bumper-to-Bumper warranty coverage period, but
it is not part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
A separate booklet entitled Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information furnished with each new vehicle
provides detailed warranty coverage information.
Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a
number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor
and control several aspects of the vehicle’s performance.
Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers to monitor
emission control components to optimize fuel economy,
to monitor conditions for airbag deployment and, if so
equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the
driver control the vehicle in difficult driving situations.
Some information may be stored during regular
operations to facilitate repair of detected malfunctions;
other information is stored only in a crash event by
computer systems, such as those commonly called
event data recorders (EDR).
Courtesy Transportation is available only at participating
dealers and all program options, such as shuttle
service, may not be available at every dealer. Please
contact your dealer for specific information about
availability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangements
will be administered by appropriate dealer personnel.
Canadian Vehicles: For warranty repairs during
the Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the General
Motors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty,
alternative transportation may be available under the
Courtesy Transportation Program. Please consult
your dealer for details.
In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Airbag
Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle
may record information about the condition of the vehicle
and how it was operated, such as data related to engine
speed, brake application, throttle position, vehicle speed,
safety belt usage, airbag readiness, airbag performance,
and the severity of a collision. If your vehicle is equipped
with StabiliTrak®, steering performance, including yaw
rate, steering wheel angle, and lateral acceleration, is
also recorded. This information has been used to improve
vehicle crash performance and may be used to improve
crash performance of future vehicles and driving safety.
General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify,
change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at
any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility
pursuant to the terms and conditions described
herein at its sole discretion.
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Unlike the data recorders on many airplanes, these
on-board systems do not record sounds, such as
conversation of vehicle occupants.
Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to
the special equipment that can read the information
if they have access to the vehicle or the device
that stores the data.
If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar®, please check
the OnStar® subscription service agreement or
manual for information on its operations and data
collection.
To read this information, special equipment is needed
and access to the vehicle or the device that stores
the data is required. GM will not access information
about a crash event or share it with others other than:
• with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,
Collision Damage Repair
• in response to an official request of police or similar
government office,
If your vehicle is involved in a collision and it is
damaged, have the damage repaired by a qualified
technician using the proper equipment and quality
replacement parts. Poorly performed collision repairs
will diminish your vehicle’s resale value, and safety
performance can be compromised in subsequent
collisions.
• as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the
discovery process, or
• as required by law.
In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may:
• use the data for GM research needs,
Collision Parts
• make it available for research where appropriate
confidentiality is to be maintained and need is
shown, or
Genuine GM Collision parts are new parts made with
the same materials and construction methods as
the parts with which your vehicle was originally built.
Genuine GM Collision parts are your best choice
to assure that your vehicle’s designed appearance,
durability and safety are preserved. The use of
Genuine GM parts can help maintain your GM New
Vehicle Warranty.
• share summary data which is not tied to a specific
vehicle with non-GM organizations for research
purposes.
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Recycled original equipment parts may also be used for
repair. These parts are typically removed from vehicles
that were total losses in prior accidents. In most
cases, the parts being recycled are from undamaged
sections of the vehicle. A recycled original equipment
GM part, may be an acceptable choice to maintain your
vehicle’s originally designed appearance and safety
performance, however, the history of these parts is not
known. Such parts are not covered by your GM New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any related failures
are not covered by that warranty.
Insuring Your Vehicle
Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with
comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the quality of coverage
afforded by various insurance policy terms. Many
insurance policies provide reduced protection to your
GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage repairs
by using aftermarket collision parts. Some insurance
companies will not specify aftermarket collision
parts. When purchasing insurance, we recommend
that you assure your vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts. If such insurance
coverage is not available from your current insurance
carrier, consider switching to another insurance carrier.
Aftermarket collision parts are also available. These
are made by companies other than GM and may
not have been tested for your vehicle. As a result,
these parts may fit poorly, exhibit premature
durability/corrosion problems, and may not perform
properly in subsequent collisions. Aftermarket parts
are not covered by your GM New Vehicle Limited
Warranty, and any vehicle failure related to such
parts are not covered by that warranty.
If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may
require you to have insurance that assures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts.
Read your lease carefully, as you may be charged at
the end of your lease for poor quality repairs.
Repair Facility
GM also recommends that you choose a collision repair
facility that meets your needs before you ever need
collision repairs. Your GM dealer may have a collision
repair center with GM-trained technicians and state
of the art equipment, or be able to recommend a
collision repair center that has GM-trained technicians
and comparable equipment.
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• If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from
the tow truck operator or write down the driver’s
name, the service’s name, and the phone number.
If an Accident Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in an accident.
• Try to relax and then check to make sure you
are all right. If you are uninjured, make sure that
no one else in your vehicle, or the other vehicle,
is injured.
• Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these
items in your vehicle.
• If there has been an injury, call 911 for help.
Do not leave the scene of an accident until
all matters have been taken care of. Move your
vehicle only if its position puts you in danger or
you are instructed to move it by a police officer.
• Gather the important information you will need from
the other driver. Things like name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, vehicle license
plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN), insurance company
and policy number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
• Give only the necessary and requested information
to police and other parties involved in the accident.
Do not discuss your personal condition, mental
frame of mind, or anything unrelated to the accident.
This will help guard against post-accident legal
action.
• If possible, call your insurance company from the
scene of the accident. They will walk you through
the information they will need. If they ask for a
police report, phone or go to the police department
headquarters the next day and you can get a
copy of the report for a nominal fee. In some states
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially true if there are no
injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
• If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6 for more information.
7-12
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Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live
with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your
insurance company may initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts.
Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be
obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM
parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay
the full cost.
• Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your
vehicle. Whether you select a GM dealer or a
private collision repair facility to fix the damage,
make sure you are comfortable with them.
Remember, you will have to feel comfortable
with their work for a long time.
• Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and
make sure you understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you have a question,
ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome
this opportunity.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for
the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits
with that company. In such cases, you can have control
of the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays
within reasonable limits.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs,
GM recommends that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of
choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any required replacement
collision parts be original equipment parts, either new
Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts.
Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your
GM vehicle warranty.
7-13
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To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov;
or write to:
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying
General Motors.
Administrator, NHTSA
400 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may call them at
1-800-333-0510 or write to:
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your dealer, or
General Motors.
Transport Canada
Place de Ville Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
7-14
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Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specifications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.
Please call us at 1-866-HUMMER6 (486-6376), or write:
HUMMER Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33177
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
Detroit, MI 48232-5177
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE
(1-800-463-7483).
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
7-15
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ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc.
on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specifically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual,
and Warranty Booklet.
Or you can write to:
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-16
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2
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C
California Fuel .................................................. 5-6
3
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4
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E
5
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6
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I
Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-15
7
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Light (cont.)
Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
8
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N
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
9
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Power (cont.)
10
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Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-16
11
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12
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Tires (cont.)
13
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W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-24
14
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