2005 Chevrolet Kodiak Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 Service ..................................................... 5-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8 Fuel ......................................................... 5-6
Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-20
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-27 Rear Axle ............................................... 5-60
Airbag System ......................................... 1-48 Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-62
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-60 Front Axle ............................................... 5-63
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 Noise Control System ............................... 5-64
Keys ........................................................ 2-2 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-65
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-6 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-65
Windows .................................................. 2-8 Other Service Items .................................. 5-66
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-11 Tires ...................................................... 5-70
Mirrors .................................................... 2-45 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-79
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-47 Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-87
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 Electrical System ...................................... 5-88
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4 Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-95
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-20 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-100
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-24 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-44 Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2 Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Towing ................................................... 4-35 Reporting Safety Defects ............................ 7-7
Index ................................................................ 1

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 Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,

CHEVROLET, and the CHEVROLET Emblem are
How to Use This Manual
registered trademarks; and the name KODIAK is a Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
trademark of General Motors Corporation. end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
This manual includes the latest information at the time it is done, it can help you learn about the features
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
after that time without further notice. For vehicles first together in the owner manual to explain things.
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of
Canada Limited” for GM Medium Duty Truck Division Index
when it appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it A good place to quickly locate information about the
is needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is
is sold, leave this manual in the vehicle. an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and
the page number where it can be found.

Litho in U.S.A.
©
Part No. 05KODIAK B First Edition 2004 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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 Safety Warnings and Symbols In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. hazard. Please read these cautions. If you do not,
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about you or others could be hurt.
things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning. You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
{CAUTION: symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.

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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
Notice: These mean there is something that could the text describing the operation or information
damage your vehicle. relating to a specific component, control, message,
A notice tells about something that can damage the gage, or indicator.
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But component, gage, or indicator, reference the following
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage. topics:
When you read other manuals, you might see • Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words. • Features and Controls in Section 2
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use • Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. • Climate Controls in Section 3
• 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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 Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Where to Put the Restraint
Manual Seats ................................................1-2 (Crew Cab Models) ....................................1-38
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4 Top Strap ....................................................1-39
Split Bench Seat (80/20 Split) ..........................1-6 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Air Suspension Seats ......................................1-6 Seat Position (Crew Cab Models) ................1-40
Rear Seats .......................................................1-8 Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-8 Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab) or Center
Front Position ...........................................1-42
Safety Belts .....................................................1-9 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9 Seat Position ............................................1-44
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14 Airbag System ...............................................1-48
Driver Position ..............................................1-14 Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-52
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-21 When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-53
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22 What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-54
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-22 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-54
Center Passenger Position .............................1-22 What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-54
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-24 Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-56
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-26 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-59
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Child Restraints .............................................1-27 Vehicle ....................................................1-59
Older Children ..............................................1-27
Infants and Young Children ............................1-30 Restraint System Check ..................................1-60
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-33 Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-60
Where to Put the Restraint Replacing Restraint System Parts
(Regular Cab Models) ................................1-36 After a Crash ............................................1-60

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 Front Seats
Manual Seats
Bucket Seats

{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust the 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 If your vehicle has bucket seats, you can adjust them
only when the vehicle is not moving. forward or rearward with the lever located at the front
of the seat.
To adjust the seat, pull the lever up, slide the seat to
where you want it and release the lever. Then try to
move the seat with your body to make sure the seat
is locked in place.

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 Seatback Adjustment
{CAUTION: The seatback adjustment
knob is located on the
If the seatback is not locked, it could move inboard side of the
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could driver’s and passenger’s
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always seat cushions.
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

Lumbar Adjustments
The lumbar adjustment
knob is located on the
seatback, on the inboard
side of the driver’s seat and To tilt the seatback rearward, turn the knob
on the outboard side of the counterclockwise. Turn the knob clockwise to tilt the
passenger’s seat. seat forward.

For more support to your lower back, turn the lumbar

adjustment knob clockwise. To decrease the amount of
lumbar support, turn the knob counterclockwise.

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 Fore-and-Aft Adjustment Reclining Seatbacks
The fore-and-aft
adjustment lever is
located underneath the
seat, in the front.

To slide the seat forward or rearward, move the lever If your vehicle has non-suspension bucket seats, you
toward the driver’s door. The seat will lock in at 1/2 inch can recline the seatbacks. The lever is located on
(1.5 cm) increments. the outboard side of the seat cushion.
To recline the seatback, lift the lever and use your body
to move the seatback. Release the lever to lock the
{CAUTION: seatback where you want it. Lean forward and pull up on
the lever to return the seatback to an upright position.
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
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

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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
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is internal injuries.
moving.
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.

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 Split Bench Seat (80/20 Split) Height Adjustment
If your vehicle has a split bench seat, your seat is The suspension seat
not adjustable. height adjustment lever
is located on the front
There is a storage area underneath the seat cushion. inboard side of the seat.
See Storage Areas on page 2-47.

Air Suspension Seats

Your vehicle may have a low-back or high-back air
suspension seat. There are two ways you can adjust
the seat.

To adjust the height of the air suspension seat, pull the

lever up to inflate. Push the lever down to deflate.

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 The seat cushion can also be raised or lowered. Chugger-Snubber Lock-Out Feature
The seat cushion height If your vehicle has this
adjustment handle is feature, the handle is
located underneath the located on the outboard
front of the seat. side of the driver’s
and passenger’s seats.

To adjust the height of the cushion, lift the handle up and Move the handle down to reduce any backslap
pull it forward. You can choose between two settings. experienced while in tractor/trailer operation or while
operating a dump truck application.

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 Rear Seats The rear bench seat on the crew cab can be folded
down to provide more cargo space.
Rear Seat Operation To fold down the seatback,
pull this nylon strap
Folding the Rear Seat (Crew Cab) located on the rear of the
seat, while pulling the
seatback down.
{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 To raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising
routed and attached, and are not twisted. the seatback until it locks upright.
After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked in place.

{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
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

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 Safety Belts
{CAUTION:
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
not do with safety belts. 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
{CAUTION: that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not seat and using a safety belt properly.
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 Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
reminder to buckle up.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the See Safety Belt Reminder
same crash, you might not be, if you are Light on page 3-27.
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.

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 In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law Why Safety Belts Work
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
Q: Aren’t safety belts for kids?
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so A: Yes. And they’re for adult truckers, and anyone
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. else who rides in your vehicle.
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!

Here’s why: when your vehicle goes, say, 30 mph

(50 km/h), so do you and your passengers.

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 If the vehicle hits something, it stops – right then. Then something will stop them. It could be the
But nothing stops the people. They keep moving. windshield.

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 Or it could be the instrument panel. With belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get
more time to stop.
Now, what if you and your passengers were to give that
big vehicle a chance to deal with the force of the You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones
impact, instead of you? take the forces. Safety belts are for everyone.

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 Questions and Answers About Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
Safety Belts
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident accident — even one that is not your fault — you
if I am wearing a safety belt? and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver does not protect you from things beyond your
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety control, such as bad drivers.
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you are upside down. And your chance of Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
being conscious during and after an accident, of home. And the greatest number of serious
so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
you are belted. 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
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.

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 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
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
riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-27
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-30.
Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you will want to know which restraint systems
your vehicle has.
We will start with the driver position.

Driver Position
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Lap-Shoulder Belt Do not let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt
wear it properly. go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
1. Close and lock the door. across you more slowly.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt
Extender on page 1-26.
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.

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 5. Move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height
that is right for you. See Shoulder Belt Height
Adjustment on page 1-21.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
6. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.
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.

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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.

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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.

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 Q: What is wrong with this?
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured if your belt goes
over an armrest like this. The belt would be
much too high. In a crash, you can slide under
the belt. The belt force would then be applied
at the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and
that could cause serious or fatal injuries.
Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.

A: The belt is over an armrest.

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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.

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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.

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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.

To move it down, press in

at the top of the arrows
and move the height
adjuster to the desired
position. You can move the
height adjuster up just
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. by pushing up on the
The belt should go back out of the way. shoulder belt guide.
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 down without pressing in to make sure
it has locked into position.

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 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-14.
seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt. If your vehicle has a
static seat in this position and 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.

Center Passenger Position

Lap Belt
If your vehicle has a front bench seat, someone can sit
in the center position. If your vehicle is a crew cab,
someone can also sit in the center rear position.

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.

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 When you sit in a center seating position, you have a To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown
lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt until the belt is snug.
longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the
lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt is not
long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-26.
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.

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 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.

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions

(Crew Cab)
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here is how to wear one properly. 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.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

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 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 Extender on page 1-26. 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.

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
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
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 a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

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 Each position next to the windows has a shoulder belt Safety Belt Extender
height adjuster. See Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment on
page 1-21. If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you,
you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will
{CAUTION: order you an extender. It is free. When you go in to
order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid
is too loose. In a crash, you would move personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and
forward too much, which could increase injury. use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has
The shoulder belt should fit against your body. 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.

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.

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 Child Restraints Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A: If possible, an older child should wear a
Older Children 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.
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.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.

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 {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.

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: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
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 that belts provide.
If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child’s face or neck, you might
want to place the child in a rear seat that has a lap
belt, if your vehicle has one.

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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.

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 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.
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.

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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
Children who are up against, or very close to, limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,
any airbag when it inflates can be seriously there are many kinds of restraints available for
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder children with special needs.
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, The body structure of a young child is quite
including support for the head and neck. unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
This is necessary because a newborn infant’s the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
neck is weak and its head weighs so much hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, regular safety belt may not remain low on the
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
the restraint, so the crash forces can be up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash,
distributed across the strongest part of an the belt would apply force on a body area
infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants that is unprotected by any bony structure.
always should be secured in appropriate infant This alone could cause serious or fatal
restraints. injuries. Young children always should be
secured in appropriate child restraints.

We know securing a child can present real problems

in a medium-duty vehicle like yours.
If your vehicle is a regular cab model with an
air-suspension seat in the right front passenger’s
position, there is no place in your vehicle to secure a
child restraint. The only answer is to have smaller
children make the trip in another vehicle, where they
can get the protection they need.

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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.
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a The harness system holds the infant in place and,
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in
to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat the restraint.
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 A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to
the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system.
with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. 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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 Q: How do child restraints work? When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it
A: A child restraint system is any device designed for will have a label saying that it meets federal motor
use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position vehicle safety standards.
children. A built-in child restraint system is a Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may
permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
child restraint system is a portable one, which booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in
is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured
For many years, add-on child restraints have within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal
used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help injury. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer
reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be to the instructions that come with the restraint which may
be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and
secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt
to this manual. The child restraint instructions are
system secures the add-on child restraint in the
important, so if they are not available, obtain a
vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness replacement copy from the manufacturer.
system holds the child in place within the restraint.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
One system, the three-point harness, has straps that move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure
buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness any child restraint in your vehicle – even when no child
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a is in it.
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 If your vehicle is a regular cab model with a static seat
in the right front passenger’s position, or if it has a
(Regular Cab Models) bench seat, the child restraint must be secured properly
in the right front passenger’s seat. If your vehicle has
If your vehicle is a regular cab model with an airbags and you need to secure a child restraint in
air-suspension seat in the right front passenger’s the right front passenger’s seat, there is a switch on
position, there is no place in your vehicle to secure a
the instrument panel that you can use to turn off
child restraint. The only answer is to have smaller
the passenger’s airbag. See Airbag Off Switch on
children make the trip in another vehicle, where they
page 1-56 and Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
can get the protection they need.
Front Seat Position on page 1-44 for more on this,
including important safety information.
{CAUTION:
A child restraint cannot be secured properly in
an air-suspension type seat. This is because
an air-suspension seat is designed to move up
and down for an adult passenger. Do not use a
child restraint in an air-suspension seat.

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 Unless the passenger’s airbag has been turned off,
never put a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle. CAUTION: (Continued)
Here is why:

that an airbag will not deploy under some

{CAUTION: unusual circumstance, even though it is turned
off. We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be transported in vehicles with a
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing
seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
child restraint, whenever possible.
airbag inflates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close If you need to secure a forward-facing child
to the inflating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing restraint in the right front static seat or the
child restraint in this vehicle unless the right front bench seat, always move the
passenger’s airbag has been turned off. passenger seat as far back as it will go.
Even though the airbag off switch is designed
to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag, no Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.
CAUTION: (Continued)

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 Where to Put the Restraint Unless the passenger’s airbag has been turned off,
never put a rear-facing child restraint in this vehicle.
(Crew Cab Models) Here is why:
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 {CAUTION:
seat position, including an infant riding in a rear-racing
infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. seriously injured or killed if the right front
If your vehicle has airbags and you need to secure a passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because
child restraint in the right front passenger’s seat, there is the back of the rear-facing child restraint
a switch on the instrument panel that you can use to would be very close to the inflating airbag.
turn off the passenger’s airbag. See Airbag Off Switch Be sure to turn off the airbag before using a
on page 1-56 and Securing a Child Restraint in the Right rear-facing child restraint in the right front
Front Seat Position on page 1-44 for more on this, seat position.
including important safety information.
Even though the airbag off switch is designed
to turn off the passenger’s airbag, 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)

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 Wherever you install a child restraint, be sure to secure
CAUTION: (Continued) the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
people in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.
restraint in the right front static seat or right
front bench seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. Top Strap
It is better to secure the child restraint in a Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether,”
rear seat. which can help hold the child restraint during a
crash. For it to work, a top strap must be properly
anchored to the vehicle. Some child restraints with a
If your vehicle has an air-suspension seat in the right
top strap are designed to be used whether or not the top
front passenger’s position, do not secure a child restraint
strap is anchored. Others require that the top strap be
there. Here is why:
anchored. Also, a national or local law may require
that the top strap be anchored.

{CAUTION: If your child restraint top strap must be anchored, then

do not use the restraint in this vehicle, because in
it, a top strap cannot be properly anchored.
A child restraint cannot be secured properly in
an air-suspension type seat. This is because
an air-suspension seat is designed to move up
and down for an adult passenger. Do not use a
child restraint in an air-suspension seat.

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 Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Outside Seat Position
(Crew Cab Models)
There are no top strap anchors in the rear outside seat
positions. Do not secure a child seat in these positions
if a national or local law requires that the top strap
be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt. See Top
Strap on page 1-39 if the child restraint has one.
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. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
1. Put the child restraint on the seat. positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.

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 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of 5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
the retractor to set the lock. 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.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
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.

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 Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Rear Seat Position {CAUTION:
(Crew Cab) or Center Front Position
A child in a child restraint in the center front
There are no top strap anchors in these positions. seat can be badly injured or killed by the right
Do not secure a child seat in these positions if a national front passenger airbag if it inflates. If your
or local law requires that the top strap be anchored, vehicle has airbags, never secure a child
or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say restraint in the center front seat. It is always
that the top strap must be anchored.
better to secure a child restraint in the rear
You will be using the lap belt. seat if your vehicle has one. You may secure a
Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the forward-facing child restraint in the right front
child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint passenger static seat, but before you do,
when and as the instructions say. But do not use the always move the front passenger seat as far
center front passenger position if your vehicle has back as it will go. It is better to secure the
airbags, or if the child restraint interferes with child restraint in a rear seat.
shifting gears.

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 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
plate and pulling it along the belt. positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
2. Put the child restraint on the seat. safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the 5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show down on the child restraint. If you are using a
you how. 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.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or
large child passenger.

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 Securing a Child Restraint in the A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing
child restraint. Never put a rear-facing child restraint
Right Front Seat Position in the right front passenger’s seat unless the airbag
is off. Here is why:
Do not use a child restraint with an air suspension seat.

{CAUTION: {CAUTION:
A child restraint cannot be secured properly in A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
an air-suspension type seat. This is because seriously injured or killed if the passenger’s
an air-suspension seat is designed to move up airbag inflates. This is because the back of the
and down for an adult passenger. Do not use a rear-facing child restraint would be very close
child restraint in an air-suspension seat. to the inflating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in this vehicle unless the
passenger’s airbag has been turned off.
There is no top strap anchor in this position. Do not
secure a child seat in this position if a national or local Even though the airbag off switch is designed
law requires that the top strap be anchored, or if the to turn off the passenger’s frontal airbag, no
instructions that come with the child restraint say that the system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee
top strap must be anchored. See Top Strap on page 1-39 that an airbag will not deploy under some
if your child restraint has one. unusual circumstance, even though it is
If your vehicle has a right front passenger airbag, turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
there is a switch on the instrument panel that you can child restraints be transported in vehicles with
use to turn off the right front passenger’s airbag a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing
when you need to secure a child restraint in the right child restraint, whenever possible.
front passenger’s position. See Airbag Off Switch
CAUTION: (Continued)
on page 1-56 for more on this, including important safety
information.

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 CAUTION: (Continued)
{CAUTION:
If you need to secure a forward-facing child If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
restraint in the right front static seat or the when you have turned off the airbag, it means
right front bench seat, always move the that something may be wrong with the airbag
passenger seat as far back as it will go. system. The right front passenger’s airbag
could inflate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identified as a
member of a passenger airbag risk group sit in
the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced. See
Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56 for more on
this, including important safety information.

United States Canada

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 You will be using the lap-shoulder belt. See Top Strap
on page 1-39 if the child restraint has one. 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. If your vehicle has a right front passenger’s airbag

see Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56. If your vehicle
has a right front passenger’s airbag and your
child restraint is forward-facing, always move the
seat as far back as it will go before securing it in this
seat. See Manual Seats on page 1-2. Never use
a rear-facing child restraint in this seat unless
the airbag is off.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
will show you how.

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 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of 6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,
the retractor to set the lock. 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.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
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.

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 If you were using a child restraint in a vehicle equipped
with a right front passenger’s airbag, turn on the
Airbag System
right front passenger’s airbag when you remove the
child restraint from the vehicle unless the person who
will be sitting there is a member of a passenger
airbag risk group. See Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56.

{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned off
for a person who is not in a risk group identified
by the national government, that person will not
have the extra protection of an airbag. In a
crash, the airbag will not be able to inflate and
help protect the person sitting there. Do not turn
off the passenger’s airbag unless the person
sitting there is in a risk group. See Airbag Off
Switch on page 1-56 for more on this, including
important safety information.

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 If it says AIR BAG on the middle part of the steering
wheel, but it does not say AIR BAG on the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger’s seat,
your vehicle has an airbag for the driver only.
If it says AIR BAG on the middle part of the steering
wheel, but there is no right front passenger seat,
your vehicle has an airbag for the driver only.
If it does not say AIR BAG on the middle part of the
steering wheel, your vehicle does not have airbags.
Frontal airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of
injury from the force of an inflating airbag. But these
airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job
and comply with federal regulations.

If it says AIR BAG on the middle part of the steering

wheel and AIR BAG on the instrument panel in front of
the right front passenger’s seat, your vehicle has
two airbags — one airbag for the driver and another
airbag for the right front passenger.

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 Here are the most important things to know about the
airbag system:
{CAUTION:
{CAUTION: Airbags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you are too close to an
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash inflating airbag, as you would be if you were
if you are not wearing your safety belt — even leaning forward, it could seriously injure you.
if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt Safety belts help keep you in position before
during a crash helps reduce your chance of and during a crash. Always wear your safety
hitting things inside the vehicle or being belt, even with airbags. The driver should sit
ejected from it. Airbags are designed to work as far back as possible while still maintaining
with safety belts, but do not replace them. control of the vehicle.
Airbags are designed to deploy only in
moderate to severe frontal and near frontal
crashes. They are not designed to inflate in
rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or
in many side crashes. And, for some
unrestrained occupants, airbags may provide
less protection in frontal crashes than more
forceful airbags have provided in the past.
Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.

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 If your vehicle has an airbag for the right front There is an airbag
passenger, please read this: readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder The system checks the airbag electrical system for
belts offer the best protection for adults, but malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-27
not for young children and infants. Neither the
for more information.
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,
see Older Children on page 1-27 and Infants
and Young Children on page 1-30.

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 Where Are the Airbags?

The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument

panel on the passenger’s side.
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.

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 It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the
impact and how quickly your vehicle slows down.
{CAUTION: (The threshold level can vary, however, with specific
vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above
If something is between an occupant and an or below this range.)
airbag, the bag might not inflate properly or it Airbags may inflate at different crash speeds. For example:
might force the object into that person causing • If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag could
severe injury or even death. The path of an inflate at a different crash speed than if the object
inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put were moving.
anything between an occupant and an airbag, • If the object deforms, the airbag could inflate at a
and do not attach or put anything on the different crash speed than if the object does not
steering wheel hub or on or near any other deform.
airbag covering. • If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbag could inflate at a different crash speed than
if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
When Should an Airbag Inflate? • If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the
airbag could inflate at a different crash speed than
Airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to
The frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during
inflate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined
vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts
deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take
because inflation would not likely help the occupants.
into account a variety of desired deployment and
non-deployment events and are used to predict In any particular crash, no one can say whether
how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the an airbag should have inflated simply because of the
airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants. damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair
Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy costs were. Inflation is determined by the angle of the
is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal
or near-frontal impacts.

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 What Makes an Airbag Inflate? What Will You See After an
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing Airbag Inflates?
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash.
The sensing system triggers a release of gas from the After an airbag inflates, it quickly deflates,
inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, airbag, so quickly that some people may not even realize
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel module — the steering wheel hub for the driver’s
in front of the right front passenger. airbag, or the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s bag — will be hot for a short time.
The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
How Does an Airbag Restrain? may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle,
the instrument panel. Airbags supplement the protection nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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 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
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.

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 In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
{CAUTION: Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.
When an airbag inflates, there is dust in the • Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After they
air. This dust could cause breathing problems inflate, you will need some new parts for your
for people with a history of asthma or other airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in system will not be there to help protect you in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe another crash. A new system will include airbag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag other parts.
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
window or a door. If you experience breathing
diagnostic module which records information after
problems following an airbag deployment, a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event
you should seek medical attention. Data Recorders on page 7-6.
• Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, the airbag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel or both the
airbag module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag. Do not open or break
the airbag coverings.

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 Airbag Off Switch This switch should only be turned to the off position if
the person in the right front passenger’s position is
If your vehicle has a right front passenger airbag, it has a member of a passenger risk group identified by the
a switch on the instrument panel that you can use to national government as follows:
turn off the right front passenger’s airbag.
Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old) must
ride in the front seat because:
• my vehicle has no rear seat;
• my vehicle has a rear seat too small to
accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or
• the infant has a medical condition which, according
to the infant’s physician, makes it necessary for the
infant to ride in the front seat so that the driver
can constantly monitor the child’s condition.
Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must
ride in the front seat because:
United States Canada • my vehicle has no rear seat;
• although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the rear
seat(s) whenever possible, children ages 1 to 12
sometimes must ride in the front because no space
is available in the rear seat(s) of my vehicle; or
• the child has a medical condition which, according
to the child’s physician, makes it necessary for the
child to ride in the front seat so that the driver
can constantly monitor the child’s condition.

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 Medical Condition. A passenger has a
medical condition which, according to his or
her physician:
• causes the passenger airbag to pose a special risk
for the passenger; and
• makes the potential harm from the passenger
airbag in a crash greater than the potential
harm from turning off the airbag and allowing the
passenger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard
or windshield in a crash.

United States Canada

{CAUTION:
To turn off the right front passenger’s airbag, insert your
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the
off for a person who is not in a risk group switch to the off position.
identified by the national government, that
person will not have the extra protection of an
airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able to
inflate and help protect the person sitting
there. Do not turn off the passenger’s airbag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group.

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 The airbag off light will come on to let you know that the
right front passenger’s airbag is off. The light will stay
on to remind you that the airbag is off. The right front
passenger’s airbag will remain off until you turn it
back on.

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the airbag, it means
that something may be wrong with the airbag
system. The right front passenger’s airbag United States Canada
could inflate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom To turn the right front passenger’s airbag on, insert your
the national government has identified as a ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the
member of a passenger airbag risk group sit switch to the on position.
in the right front passenger’s position
(for example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced.

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 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Adding Equipment to Your
Vehicle Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places Q: Is there anything I might add to the front of
around your vehicle. You do not want the system to the vehicle that could keep the airbags from
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. working properly?
Your dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications frame, bumper system, front end sheet metal or
Ordering Information on page 7-8. 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
{CAUTION: sensors. If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance before
you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is and addresses for Customer Assistance are in
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure
airbag can still inflate during improper service. on page 7-2.
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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 Restraint System Check Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
Checking the Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light {CAUTION:
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other A crash can damage the restraint systems in
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired. may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in a
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. To help make sure your restraint
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt systems are working properly after a crash,
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. have them inspected and any necessary
Also look for any opened or broken airbag covers, and replacements made as soon as possible.
have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
If you have had a crash, do you need new belts?
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.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety
belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts
and repairs may be necessary even if the belt was not
being used at the time of the collision.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.

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 Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ...............................................................2-2 Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake .........................2-25
Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-3 Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control ......2-26
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-4 Air Shift Control (Automatic Transmission) ........2-27
Doors and Locks .............................................2-6 Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-28
Door Locks ....................................................2-6 Manual Transmission Operation ......................2-29
Power Door Locks ..........................................2-7 Four-Wheel Drive ..........................................2-33
Parking .......................................................2-38
Windows .........................................................2-8 Hydraulic Brakes (Parking Brake Operation) ......2-38
Manual Windows ............................................2-8 Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure .................2-39
Power Windows .............................................2-9 Air Brake .....................................................2-40
Sliding Rear Window .....................................2-10 Air Suspension .............................................2-42
Sun Visors ...................................................2-10 Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-43
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-11 Engine Exhaust ............................................2-43
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-11 Running the Engine While Parked ...................2-44
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-12
Engine Starter Over-Crank Protection ..............2-12 Mirrors ...........................................................2-45
Starting the Gasoline Engine ..........................2-12 Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-45
Starting the Diesel Engine ..............................2-14 Outside Manual Mirrors ..................................2-45
Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown ............2-18 Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-45
High Idle System (Caterpillar® Diesel/ Outside Convex Mirrors .................................2-46
Gasoline Engine) .......................................2-19 Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................2-46
Exhaust Restrictor (DURAMAX® Diesel) ...........2-21 Storage Areas ................................................2-47
Engine Checks Before Operating ....................2-22 Center Console Storage Area .........................2-47
Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-24

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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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 Your vehicle has one Remote Keyless Entry System
double-sided key for the
ignition and all door locks. If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
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.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
If you ever lose your key, your dealer will be able to Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
assist you with obtaining a new one. 1. This device may not cause interference.
Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, 2. This device must accept any interference received,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. including interference that may cause undesired
Be sure you have spare keys. operation of the device.
If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle, call GM Changes or modifications to this system by other than
Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance an authorized service facility could void authorization to
Program on page 7-5. use this equipment.

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 At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is Remote Keyless Entry System
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer Operation
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
• Check the distance. You may be too far from your your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m)
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied
rainy or snowy weather. with your vehicle.
• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the To unlock the driver’s
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and door, press the UNLOCK
try again. button one time.

• Check to determine if battery replacement is

necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4.
• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.

If you press the button again within five seconds, all of

the doors will unlock. When the UNLOCK button is
pressed, the interior dome lamps are turned on for about
40 seconds or until the ignition switch is activated.
Press the LOCK button to lock all doors.

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 Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to transferred to these surfaces may damage the
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. transmitter.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can 1. Insert a thin object, such as a coin, into the slot
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring between the covers of the transmitter near the key
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to ring hole. Remove the bottom by twisting the object.
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters 2. Remove and replace the battery, positive (+) side
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the down. Use one Panasonic® type CR2032 battery.
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 your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about two years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won’t
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it’s probably time to change the battery.

3. Align the covers and snap them together.

4. Check the operation of the transmitter. If the
transmitter does not work after battery replacement,
it may need to be resynchronized to your vehicle.
See Resynchronization following.
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 Resynchronization Doors and Locks
Resynchronization may be necessary due to the
security method used by this system. The transmitter Door Locks
does not send the same signal twice to the receiver.
The receiver will not respond to a signal it has been sent
previously. This prevents anyone from recording and {CAUTION:
playing back the signal from the transmitter.
To resynchronize your transmitter, stand close to your Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
vehicle and simultaneously press and hold the LOCK • Passengers — especially children — can
and UNLOCK buttons on the transmitter for at least easily open the doors and fall out of a
five seconds. The door locks should cycle to confirm moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
resynchronization. If the locks do not cycle, see the handle will not open it. You increase
your dealer for service. 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.
• 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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 There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. Power Door Locks
If your vehicle is equipped with keyless entry, you
can use your transmitter to lock or unlock your vehicle. If your vehicle has power
See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on door locks, press the
page 2-4. bottom of the power door
lock switch to lock all
To lock or unlock your door from the outside, the doors at once.
use your key. To unlock all the doors at
once, press the top of
To lock the door from the the power door lock switch.
inside, slide the manual
lever on the door down.
To unlock the door,
slide the manual lever up.

When a door is locked, the inside door handle will

not work.

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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.

Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower
the window.

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 Power Windows If your vehicle is a crew cab model with power windows,
the driver’s door will have four switches on it that can
If your vehicle is equipped with power windows, the control all of the windows. There will be switches located
switches are located on each of the side doors. on the rear doors as well.
The driver’s door also has a switch for the passenger’s Your power windows will work when the ignition has
window. been turned to ACCESSORY or RUN.
Press the rear of the switch with the power window
symbol on it to lower the window and the front of the
switch to raise the window.

Crew Cab model shown

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 Express-Down Feature Sliding Rear Window
The driver’s window also has an express-down feature To open the sliding rear window, pull the latch toward
that allows the window to be lowered without holding the driver’s side of the vehicle.
down the switch. Press and hold the rear of the window
switch labeled AUTO for one second to activate the To close the window, slide the window toward the
express-down mode. passenger’s side of the vehicle. The latch will
automatically lock into place. Try to open the window
The express-down mode can be cancelled at any time without releasing the latch to be sure the window is in the
by pressing the front of the switch. To open the locked position.
window part way, lightly tap the switch until the window
is at the desired position.
Sun Visors
Lockout Feature To block out glare, you can swing down the visors.
o (Lockout): If you have a crew cab model with You can also swing them out to block glare from the side.
power windows, the driver’s door will have a window
lockout feature. When engaged, this feature will prevent
all window switches, except the driver’s window
switches, from operating. This switch is located above
the four window switches on the driver’s door. When the
switch is not engaged, all windows will return to
normal operation.

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 Starting and Operating • Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
Your Vehicle linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
New Vehicle Break-In every time you get new brake linings.
Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate • Use the lowest gear you can when you start a
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if loaded vehicle in motion and when going up hills
you follow these guidelines: to avoid overloading the engine.
• Let your engine warm up before you operate • Check and adjust engine and transmission fluid
your vehicle under load. levels often and be sure tires are properly
• Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for inflated for the load you are carrying.
the first 500 miles (805 km). • If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, see the
• Do not drive at any one speed, fast or slow, Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation and
for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not make Maintenance Manual.
full-throttle starts.

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 Ignition Positions C (OFF): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It does not lock the
With your key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to steering wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have
five different positions. your vehicle in motion while the engine is off.
D (RUN): This is the position for driving.
E (START): This position starts your engine.

Engine Starter Over-Crank

Protection
Your vehicle may have an engine starter over-crank
protection system. If the starter motor overheats and
shuts off due to over-cranking, the motor must cool down
before it will reset and allow starter operation. It can take
up to six minutes before the starter will work again.

Starting the Gasoline Engine

A (ACCESSORY): This position allows you to use Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
things like the radio, power windows and the windshield Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter for your
wipers when the engine is off. To get into ACCESSORY, engine. See Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on
push in the key and turn it toward you. Your steering page 5-87. Follow the proper steps to start the engine.
wheel will remain locked, just as it was before you
To start a diesel engine, see Starting the Diesel Engine
inserted the key.
on page 2-14.
B (LOCK): This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK.
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 Automatic Transmission Starting Your Engine
Set the parking brake and move your shift lever to 1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P), if so equipped. Your engine ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
will not start in any other position — that is a safety let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
feature. your engine gets warm.

Manual Transmission 2. If the engine does not start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down and crank the
Set the parking brake, shift to neutral NEUTRAL (N) engine for five more seconds, unless it starts sooner.
and hold the clutch pedal to the floor while starting
3. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then
the engine.
stops, it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Starter Motor Operation Wait 15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down.
• The starter motor will disengage if you release Do Steps 1 through 3 again.
the key or the engine reaches a predetermined When the engine starts, let go of the key and the
engine speed. accelerator pedal.
• To prevent overheating, the starter motor will Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
disengage after continuously operating for electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
15 seconds. You must release the key from the parts or accessories, you could change the way the
start position to re-engage the starter. engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
• The starter motor will not engage if the engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage
is already running. would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
• The starter motor will disengage if, after If you ever need to have your vehicle towed,
two seconds, the starter pinion gear does not see Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-35.
engage the flywheel or there is no engine
rpm signal from the engine speed sensor.

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 Gasoline Engine Warm-Up While your engine is idling and before you turn it off,
you can make a list of any operational or handling
When you have started your engine, let it run for concerns to give to responsible maintenance personnel
20 or 30 seconds to warm up before you put a load so they can handle them right away.
on the engine.
Moisture will condense in a fuel tank that is almost
Drive at moderate speeds for the first 2 to 3 miles empty if the engine has not run for a while, even just
(3.2 to 4.8 km), especially in cold weather. See High overnight under some conditions. So, it is always best
Idle System (Caterpillar® Diesel/Gasoline Engine) to refuel your vehicle at the end of each run.
on page 2-19.
Restarting the Gasoline Engine While Starting the Diesel Engine
Moving (Automatic Transmission) Your vehicle’s diesel engine starts differently than a
gasoline engine. Read the following pages to learn how
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
to start, restart, warm-up, and stop your diesel engine.
moving, you will first have to shift to NEUTRAL (N).
This safety feature prevents starting the engine when The information applies to both Caterpillar® diesel
the transmission is in a drive gear. engine and DURAMAX® diesel engine unless
otherwise noted.
Stopping the Gasoline Engine
If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, also refer to
Let your engine idle for a few seconds before turning it your Caterpillar® diesel engine Operation & Maintenance
off after you have finished driving your vehicle. Manual for the starting procedure.
If you shift to NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P), set the
parking brake.
If your vehicle has a two-speed axle, put the range
selector in LOW. To be sure the axle has shifted into
LOW, engage the clutch and transmission; the vehicle
may move slightly when you do this.

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 Automatic Transmission Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). 1. Turn your ignition key to RUN.
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is Observe the wait to start light. See Wait to
a safety feature. To restart when you are already Start Indicator (Diesel Engine) on page 3-36.
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. This light may not come on if the engine is hot.
Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your 2. As soon as the wait to start light goes off,
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the immediately turn the ignition key to START.
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your When the engine starts, let go of the key.
vehicle is stopped. If your vehicle is equipped with a DURAMAX® 6600
engine, it has a fast warm-up glow plug system.
Manual Transmission The wait to start light will illuminate for a much
shorter time than most diesel engines, due to the
Move your shift lever to NEUTRAL and hold the
rapid heating of the glow plug system.
clutch pedal to the floor while starting the engine.
Your vehicle will not start if the clutch pedal is not Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
all the way down — that is a safety feature. 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor.
Notice: If the wait to start light stays on after
starting your vehicle, your vehicle may not run
properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.
3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds
of cranking, turn the ignition key to OFF. Wait
one minute for the starter to cool, then try the same
steps again.

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 If you are trying to start your engine after you have run If you do not have the GM Automatic Ether Injection
out of fuel, see Running Out of Fuel on page 5-15. System, do not use starting fluid or you could
damage your engine. If you have the GM system,
When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes
use only GM approved starting fluid that has been
before you move your vehicle. This lets oil pressure
tested to establish compatibility with the air inlet
build up. Your engine will sound louder when it is cold.
heater system.
Notice: If you are not in an idling vehicle and The following tips will help you get good starting in
the engine overheats, you would not be there to cold weather.
see the overheated engine indication. This could
damage your vehicle. Do not let your engine • Use the recommended engine oil when the outside
run when you are not in your vehicle. temperature drops below freezing. See Engine Oil
(Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on page 5-22 or
Cold Weather Starting Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on page 5-22 or
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26.
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX® Diesel Engine, When the outside temperature drops below
the following notice applies: 0°F (−18°C), use of the optional engine coolant
block heater is recommended.
Notice: Your diesel engine has an electric air intake
heater system which reduces white smoke and helps • If you experience longer cranking times, notice an
start the engine in cold weather. Do not spray unusual amount of exhaust smoke or are at
starting fluid into the air intake where it can contact higher altitudes (over 7,000 ft. or 2 135 m), you may
the heater elements. use your optional engine coolant block heater.
See Engine Coolant Heater on page 2-24.
• See What Fuel to Use on page 5-8 for information
on what fuel to use in cold weather.

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 Cold Weather Starting Diesel Engine Warm-Up
(Caterpillar® Diesel) Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
Because the diesel engine uses compression ignition, warms up. These can include outside temperature,
it is harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline engine load, idle time and your vehicle’s option content.
engine. The air intake heater and use of the proper Your vehicle may be equipped with some features
engine oil, optional engine coolant heaters and optional that can help the engine reach operating temperature
ether injection systems help cold weather starting. sooner. Some of these features are discussed below.
See the Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation &
Also, remember that an automatic transmission
Maintenance Manual for more information. adds heat to the cooling system through the heat
Restarting the Diesel Engine While exchanger in the radiator. Because of this, vehicles
equipped with automatic transmissions are often able to
Moving (Automatic Transmission) retain engine coolant heat better than manual
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is transmission vehicles.
moving, you will first have to shift to NEUTRAL (N). See your Caterpillar® Operation & Maintenance manual
This safety feature prevents starting the engine when for additional diesel engine warm-up information.
the transmission is in a drive gear for more information.

Stopping the Diesel Engine

1. Set the parking brake and shift to NEUTRAL (N)
or PARK (P).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
If your vehicle has a two-speed axle, see
Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control on
page 2-26.
If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for additional information.

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 If Your Diesel Engine Will Not Start Be sure you are using the proper fuel for existing
weather conditions. See What Fuel to Use on page 5-8.
If you have run out of fuel, see Running Out of Fuel on
page 5-15. If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops,
your vehicle needs service.
If you are not out of fuel, and your engine will not start,
do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. Immediately after the wait {CAUTION:
to start light goes off, turn the ignition key to START.
If the light does not go off, wait a few seconds, then try Do not use gasoline or starting aids, such as
starting your engine again. And, see your dealer as ether, in the air intake. They could damage
soon as you can for a starting system check. your engine. There could also be a fire, which
If the light comes on and then goes off and you know could cause serious personal injury.
your batteries are charged, but your engine still will not
start, your vehicle needs service.
If the light does not come on when the engine is cold, Engine Alarm and Automatic
your vehicle needs service.
If your batteries do not have enough charge to start
Shutdown
your engine, see Battery on page 5-55. Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature or low engine
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that
oil pressure. If high engine temperature or low engine oil
you have changed the oil at the proper times. If you
pressure is detected, you will also hear a tone alarm
use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder to start.
at two beats per second. The alarm and the light
will remain on until the condition is fixed. If the engine
temperature or oil pressure condition worsens, the
tone alarm will go to five beats per second.

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 If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat High Idle System
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on. (Caterpillar® Diesel/Gasoline Engine)
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in about 25 to 30 seconds. Automatic High Idle System
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that (Diesel Engines)
the engine will shut down. See Engine Shutdown
Warning Light on page 3-39. The automatic high idle feature will engage whenever
you start your vehicle and the engine is below the preset
Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Do not start it operating temperature. This will help decrease engine
until the reason for the problem is known, and the warm-up time.
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the engine and get Idle speed will then return to normal under any of the
another 25 to 30 seconds of operation. Do this only if following conditions:
you have to, since there is a problem that can harm the • The engine reaches the preset operating
engine if it is not fixed. Engine automatic shutdown, temperature or has been operating for at least
for gasoline engines, requires activation by your dealer. 10 minutes.
Notice: If you try to operate the vehicle after the • The brake pedal is pressed.
engine automatically shuts down, you may damage • The manual transmission clutch pedal is pressed
the vehicle. Have your vehicle repaired as soon
or, the automatic transmission (if equipped) is
as possible.
shifted from NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).
• The vehicle speed exceeds about 5 mph (8 km/h).
• The throttle is pressed.

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 Manual High Idle System The manual high idle feature is activated by pressing
the switch on the instrument panel. When the switch is
If your vehicle has this pressed again, or any of the previous conditions are
feature, the manual high not met, manual high idle will be deactivated.
idle switch is located in
The manual high idle has been preset at the factory.
the instrument panel
Your dealer may change the setting to fit your needs.
switchbank.
For vehicles with Caterpillar® diesel engines, manual
high idle can be used to set any desired high idle speed.
To set a new temporary engine idle speed do the
following:
1. Make sure all of the previously described
conditions are met.
2. Press the accelerator pedal to the desired
engine speed.
This system can be used to increase your engine idle
speed whenever the following conditions are met: 3. Momentarily press the manual high idle switch.
• The brake pedal is not pressed. The temporary high idle speed will be set. This new high
• The vehicle speed is below about 5 mph (8 km/h) idle rpm level will be remembered by the system until
for vehicles with diesel engines. The vehicle must either the ignition is turned to OFF or a new high idle
not be moving and the accelerator must not be speed is set.
pressed for vehicles with gasoline engines.
• The manual transmission (if equipped) clutch pedal
is not pressed or, the automatic transmission
(if equipped) is in NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).

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 Exhaust Restrictor If this feature is turned on when the engine is started,
the green exhaust brake/restrictor light below the
(DURAMAX® Diesel) radio controls will be lit for 10 seconds. If this feature is
If your vehicle is equipped with a DURAMAX® 6600 turned on and the algorithm comes on, based upon
engine, it has a cold temperature high idle feature which the temperature conditions and other conditions, then
the green exhaust brake/restrictor light will remain lit and
elevates the engines idle speed from 660 to 1500 rpms,
and restricts the exhaust gas flow, when outside the engine will slowly ramp up to the high idle speed
after a delay of a few seconds up to approximately
temperatures are below 32°F (0°C), and the engine
coolant temperature is below 150°F (65°C). This feature two minutes.
enhances heater performance by raising the engine When the engine is started, it will slowly ramp up to the
coolant temperature faster. high idle speed after a delay of a few seconds up to
This feature is already turned on. This feature can be about two minutes. For this method to work properly
turned off and on by doing the following brake stomp there must be no throttle or brake pedal faults, and the
procedure: throttle pedal must not fall below 75 percent of wide
open throttle while pressing the brake pedal.
1. Turn the ignition to RUN, with the vehicle off.
The engine idle speed will return to normal once the
2. Press the accelerator pedal to the floor and following conditions are met:
hold while quickly pressing the brake pedal
three times in less than eight seconds. • Once engine coolant temperature reaches
150°F (65°C).
3. Release the accelerator pedal and start
the engine. • Air intake temperature reaches 41°F (5°C).

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 The high idle speed will be temporarily interrupted and Engine Checks Before Operating
the engine speed will return to normal if any of the
following conditions occur: When you have started your engine, let it run for
20 to 30 seconds before you put a load on the engine.
• The brake pedal is applied. But do not leave the vehicle while the engine is running.
• The accelerator pedal is pressed. Avoid unnecessary idling of diesel engine equipped
• The automatic transmission is shifted out of vehicles.
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the engine idles too long, the temperature of the
• The clutch pedal on the manual transmission is engine coolant will fall below the normal operating
pressed. range. Low engine operating temperature causes
several conditions which affect engine operation and
• Vehicle speed is detected. reduce engine life.
Once these inputs are removed, the engine idle speed The engine should be permitted to go through a
will slowly ramp back up to high idle after the normal warm-up period. Operate the vehicle at a minimum of
delay, if the conditions for engine coolant temperature 600 rpm during the warm-up period. During this
and air intake temperature are still met. period and during operation, the following observations
If this feature is turned off, by doing the brake stomp should be made.
procedure described above, and then the engine
is started the exhaust brake/restrictor light will flash for
10 seconds and then it will turn off.

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 During this warm-up period, check your warning lights • The charging system light should come on when
and gages: the ignition key is turned to RUN or START and
• If oil pressure does not begin to rise within should go out when the engine is running above
15 seconds of starting, stop the engine and find the idle. If the light does not go out or comes back on
cause. See Oil Pressure Gage on page 3-37 for during normal engine operation, have the charging
more information. system checked right away. (This light tells you
if the generator is not charging; it does not reflect
• If the engine coolant temperature gage needle goes the condition of the battery.) See Charging System
into the hot area on the gage, stop the engine and Light on page 3-30 for more information.
find the cause of the overheating. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-35 for • The voltmeter charge indicator gage tells you the
more information. condition of your battery’s charge. The gage
should be in the center area during engine
• If you have air brakes, the dual-needle air pressure operation. The red area on the left indicates an
gage should read at least 115 psi (790 kPa) for undercharge condition; the red area on the
both service systems before you try to move right indicates an overcharge. If the gage is in
the vehicle. When air pressure is below 60 psi either red area, have the battery and charging
(420 kPa), the LOW AIR light will come on and you system checked right away. See Voltmeter Gage
will hear a tone alarm. See Brake System Warning on page 3-30 for more information.
Light on page 3-31 for more information. If the
pressure does not build up or drops during warm-up, Notice: Do not allow the engine to operate at low
stop the engine and find the cause before you try idle for more than five minutes. This can cause
to move the vehicle. Recommended air pressure low engine operating temperatures which can
before driving is 120 psi (830 kPa). See Air affect engine operation and reduce engine life.
Pressure Gage on page 3-44 for more information. Engine idle speed should be increased to 1200 rpm
whenever extended idle is required. Once started,
the engine should be placed under load to allow the
engine coolant temperature to reach 150°F (66°C)
before shutting off the engine.

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 Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with this feature. {CAUTION:
In very cold weather, 0°F (–18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. and cause a fire. You could be seriously
At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
heater is not required. three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Find the plug-in outlet located under the 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
driver’s door. store the cord as it was before to keep it away
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. 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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 Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake When using the exhaust brake, the proper gear range
selection is important. The exhaust brake will be
If your vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine, most effective if the gear range selected is the lowest
it may have an exhaust brake, which is located in the possible range that does not allow the engine rpm to go
exhaust system. more than 200 rpm above rated (full load) rpm. If you
have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, do not exceed
The exhaust brake is used to help slow the vehicle and
2900 rpm. If you have a DURAMAX® 7800 diesel
may assist the vehicle’s foundation brakes. The use of
engine, do not exceed 2550 rpm. If you have a
the exhaust brake will assist the braking of the vehicle
DURAMAX® 6600 diesel engine, do not exceed
and prolong the life of the foundation brake lining
3600 rpm.
material.
If you have an Allison® 1000/2000/2200/2400/2500
The exhaust brake switch series automatic transmission and press this button,
is located in the instrument the transmission will downshift to a factory default
panel switchbank. setting of fourth gear. To change the default setting,
or for more information on factory default settings,
contact your dealer for assistance.
The accelerator and clutch pedals must be released in
order for the exhaust brake to engage. The exhaust
brake will not function when the cruise control feature
Push the bottom of the switch to turn the exhaust brake is active with a DURAMAX® 6600 engine, and will
on. When you push the top of the switch, the exhaust automatically shut off when the anti-lock brake system
brake will turn off. is active.
There is an indicator light on the instrument panel similar When equipped with a Caterpillar® diesel engine,
to the symbol on the switch, that will come on when the the exhaust brake will become active in cruise control
exhaust brake is active. See Exhaust Brake Indicator when you exceed the set speed by 3 mph.
Light on page 3-40 for more information.

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 Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric When the switch is up, the rear axle is in the high
range. Push the switch down to change to low range.
Shift Control The two-speed axle should be in low when you park
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, you will find the vehicle. You will need to engage the transmission,
a label on the headliner above the windshield or in even move the vehicle a little, to be sure the axle is
another place near the driver that shows how to use it. in the low range. Then apply the parking brake, shift into
Be sure to follow the directions carefully. NEUTRAL and shut off the engine.
Use the following directions based on the type of shift Also, always start the vehicle in motion with the
control you have. two-speed axle in the low range. To shift up from low
to high, do the following:
The rear axle shift control
switch for a manual 1. Move the switch up for the high range,
transmission is located 2. disengage the clutch, and
on the shift lever.
3. after a brief pause, engage the clutch and then
press down on the accelerator.
To shift down from high to low, do the following:
1. Move the switch down to low,
2. release the accelerator and then quickly
apply it again.

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 Air Shift Control To shift up from low to high, press the top of the rear
axle shift control switch and press down on the
(Automatic Transmission) accelerator. When you shift the axle from high to low,
press the bottom of the switch, release the accelerator
The rear axle shift control and then quickly press it down again.
switch for an automatic To operate off-road or under a heavy load, shift into
transmission is located in low range when the vehicle is standing still and
the instrument panel then operate the transmission normally.
switchbank.
On the highway, with the axle in low range and the
transmission in top gear, you may shift the axle to
high range by raising the switch and releasing
the accelerator momentarily. Re-apply the accelerator
Press the bottom of the switch to get to the low range. after you shift.
The switch indicator light will come on when the
vehicle is in low range. Press the top of the switch to Under light load conditions, first shift the axle into the
return to the high range. high range with the vehicle at a standstill and then
operate the transmission normally.
The two-speed axle should be in low range when you
park the vehicle. You will need to engage the
transmission, even moving the vehicle a little, to be sure
the axle is in low range. Then shift into PARK (P),
apply the parking brake and shut off the engine.

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 Automatic Transmission Operation
We build vehicles with Allison® five and six-speed {CAUTION:
automatic transmissions. This part of the manual covers
the basics of these. With these transmissions, you It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
will find another Allison® manual in your vehicle that without the parking brake firmly set. Your
goes into more detail. On the headliner, in front of and vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine
above the driver, or in some other place near the
running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or
driver, you will see a label that describes important
operating facts about the automatic transmission in others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle
your vehicle. Make sure you follow the instructions on will not move, even when you are on fairly level
this label. ground, always set the parking brake.
Be sure to keep your parking brake set until you are
ready to shift into DRIVE (D), and press the brake pedal
while shifting from NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P) to a
drive gear. {CAUTION:
All vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions can
be started in PARK (P), if equipped, or in NEUTRAL (N). Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
See the Allison® Transmission Operator’s Manual in running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your vehicle for more information about this. 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.

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 Overdrive Defeat Manual Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has this feature, you can select not to
shift up to fifth gear. This is useful when towing or under Using the Clutch
a heavy load. When you are starting to move the vehicle, it is
important to begin with the engine speed at idle.
The overdrive defeat Then start to engage the clutch and listen for an engine
switch is located in the speed drop of about 100 rpm. At this point, the clutch
instrument panel to is engaging, so you should increase the engine speed
the right of the and fully engage the clutch. It is important not to
steering column. increase the engine speed sooner or before the clutch
begins its engagement. If you do, you can cause
damage to your vehicle.

Press the switch to limit the transmission to fourth gear.

Double-Clutching
This will allow for fewer downshifts while pulling a You must use the double-clutching method when you
trailer or under a heavy load. The indicator light in the shift an unsynchronized gear set. Disengage the clutch,
switch will come on whenever overdrive defeat is active. shift to NEUTRAL and engage the clutch. When
upshifting, slow the engine until the engine rpm and
road speed match. When downshifting, accelerate the
engine until the engine rpm and road speed match.
Then quickly disengage the clutch and move the shift
lever to the next gear position and engage the clutch.

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 Eaton® Fuller® Five and Six-Speed ZF Six-Speed Transmission
Transmissions and TTC Spicer Here is how to operate your transmission.
Seven-Speed Transmissions This six-speed pattern is
These transmissions have gears that automatically unique to GM manual
synchronize when you shift up or down (except transmissions.
FIRST (1) gear on the five-speed and seven-speed
transmission which is unsynchronized). Choose the
gear that will maintain the road speed you want while
keeping the engine above two-thirds of the governed
speed. When the engine speed drops below two-thirds
of the governed speed, shift into the next lower gear
before your engine begins to lug. When you shift down,
be sure to double-clutch if required.
The transmission always repositions the shift lever to
NEUTRAL, which is located between FOURTH (4)
and FIFTH (5) gear.
To prevent unintentional gear selections, additional force
is required to move the shift lever into REVERSE (R) or
FIRST (1). Use FIRST (1) when trailer towing, driving
with a heavier payload or launching on a grade.
Otherwise, start in SECOND (2) gear. Only shift into
FIRST (1) when the vehicle has stopped moving.

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 During the first 500 miles (805 km) of vehicle use, start THIRD (3): Press the clutch pedal and upshift into
the vehicle moving in FIRST (1) gear. This allows THIRD (3). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
the clutch components to wear-in properly. you press the accelerator pedal.
FIRST (1): With the vehicle at a stop, release the FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6): Upshift into
brake, press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). the higher forward gears the same way as you do
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the THIRD (3). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you
accelerator pedal. Only downshift into FIRST (1) press the accelerator pedal.
when the vehicle has come to a complete stop. If the
shift lever will not go into FIRST (1), put the lever NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch pedal to fully your engine.
engage the clutch. Press the clutch pedal again. REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal.
Then, shift into FIRST (1). Wait for the vehicle to stop moving and then, shift
SECOND (2): With the vehicle at a stop, release the to REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch slowly while
brake, press the clutch pedal and shift into SECOND (2). pressing the accelerator pedal. Also, use REVERSE (R),
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press along with the parking brake, when turning off your
the accelerator pedal. With the vehicle moving, press the engine and parking your vehicle.
clutch pedal and upshift into SECOND (2) from
FIRST (1) while applying light pressure to the right on
the shifter. Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the accelerator pedal. If you come to a
complete stop and the shift lever will not go into
SECOND (2), put the lever in NEUTRAL and let up on
the clutch pedal to fully engage the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal again. Then, shift into SECOND (2).

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 Eaton® Fuller® Nine and Ten-Speed Clutch Brake (Vehicles with
Non-Synchronized Manual Non-Synchronized Transmission)
Transmissions A clutch brake is used to stop transmission input shaft
If your vehicle has one of these transmissions the rotation so that FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R) gear
engine rpm and road speed must match when upshifting selection can be initiated when the vehicle is at a
and downshifting. The label above the windshield will standstill and the engine is idling.
tell you the operating basics you need to know. Press the clutch pedal all the way down to the floorboard
The following are driving tips. to apply the clutch brake.

• Always choose an initial starting gear suitable for When using the clutch brake, disengage the clutch
the load and terrain. pedal and shift the transmission into either the initial
starting gear or REVERSE (R). If the tooth-butting
• Always use double-clutching procedures when occurs between the clutching teeth, re-engage the clutch
shifting. while applying light pressure to the shift lever. This
• Never move the range shift lever to the LO speed will provide for a smooth shift into either FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (R) gear.
gear position after HI range preselection, or
anytime the transmission is in the HI range. Notice: Using the clutch brake for shifting into any
• Never move the range knob or lever with the shift gear other than FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R) may
lever in NEUTRAL while the vehicle is moving. cause premature wear of the clutch brake and make
gear shift effort more difficult. Do not use the
• Never make a range shift while moving in clutch brake for shifting after engaging FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (R). REVERSE (R).

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 Four-Wheel Drive Locking Hubs
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the
part that follows before using four-wheel drive.
You should use two-wheel drive high for most normal
driving conditions.
Notice: Driving on clean, dry pavement in
four-wheel drive for an extended period of time may
cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain.
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in four-wheel
Hublock Dial Location Hublock Dial
drive for extended periods of time.
Turn the dial of the hublock (A) from the “Free” position
to the “Lock” position to lock the front axle.
Turn the dial of the hublock (A) from the “Lock” position
to the “Free” position to unlock the axle.
You do not have to back the vehicle up to disengage
the hublocks.

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 Electronic Transfer Case An indicator light will show you which position the
transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on
If your vehicle is equipped briefly when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on.
with four-wheel drive, the If the lights do not come on, you should take your
transfer case knob is vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will
located to the right of the flash while shifting the transfer case. It will remain
steering wheel on the illuminated when the shift is complete. If for some
instrument panel. Use this reason the transfer case cannot make a requested shift,
knob to shift into and it will return to the last chosen setting.
out of four-wheel drive.
2m(Two-Wheel High): This setting is for driving in
most street and highway situations. The transfer
case does not drive the front axle in two-wheel drive.
The front-axle will spin if the front wheel hubs are
locked. Be sure to unlock the hubs to achieve the best
Recommended Transfer Case Settings fuel economy.
Transfer Case Settings
Driving Conditions 4m(Four-Wheel High): Use Four-Wheel High when
2 m 4 m 4 n N you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or
Normal YES in most off-road situations. Be sure the front wheel hubs
are locked when you want to drive in Four-Wheel High.
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-35 for further
information.

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 4n(Four-Wheel Low): This setting sends maximum Notice: If your vehicle has an Allison® transmission
power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel and you try to put the transmission in PARK (P)
Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, while the transfer case is in Four-Wheel Low,
and climbing or descending steep hills. Be sure the the transmission may not go into PARK (P) and
front wheel hubs are locked when you want to drive in could damage your vehicle. When parking your
Four-Wheel Low. vehicle, make sure the transfer case is in Two-Wheel
High or Four-Wheel High.
NEUTRAL: Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
{CAUTION: NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle.

Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can

Shifting Into Four-Wheel High
cause your vehicle to roll even if the Turn the knob to four-wheel high. This can be done
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone at 3 mph or less and when you are shifting out of
else could be injured. If you are going to leave Four-Wheel Low. The indicator light will flash while
your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift shifting. It will remain illuminated when the shift is
the transmission to PARK (P) and make sure complete.
the transfer case is in a drive gear. Shifting Into Two-Wheel High
Turn the knob to Two-Wheel High. This can be done
at 3 mph or less and when you are shifting out of
Four-Wheel Low.

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 Shifting Into Four-Wheel Low Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Low
To shift to Four-Wheel Low, the vehicle’s engine must To shift from four-wheel low to Four-Wheel High or
be running and the vehicle must be stopped or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be stopped
moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the engine running.
into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel
1 or 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 or 2 mph
Four-Wheel Low. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Low (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to Four-Wheel High or
indicator light to stop flashing and remain illuminated Two-Wheel High. You must wait for the Four-Wheel
before shifting your transmission into gear. High or Two-Wheel High indicator light to stop flashing
and remain illuminated before shifting your transmission
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before into gear.
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the transfer case. To help Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel High indicator
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop flashing light has stopped flashing could damage the transfer
before shifting the transmission into gear. case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always
wait for the Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel High
If you turn the knob to Four-Wheel Low when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop flashing before shifting
indicator light will flash for 30 seconds and not the transmission into gear.
complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving If the knob is turned to Four-Wheel High or two-wheel
less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the transmission is in high when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds, the transfer case the Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel high indicator light
will return to the setting last chosen. If your vehicle is in will flash for 30 seconds. It will not complete the
gear and moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h), the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph
transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel High. (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).

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 Shifting Into NEUTRAL Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
Before shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL, first To shift the transfer case out of NEUTRAL, do the
make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll. following:
1. Set the parking brake. 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Start the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
3. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
4. Turn the transfer case knob to the desired shift
5. Turn the transfer case knob all of the way past position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High,
Four-Wheel Low and hold it there for a minimum Four-Wheel Low).
of 10 seconds. The neutral indicator light will
come on. 5. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL,
the indicator light will go out.
6. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for
one second, then shift the transmission to 6. Release the parking brake.
DRIVE (D) for one second. 7. Start the engine and shift the transmission lever to
7. Turn the ignition to OFF. the desired position.
8. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK. (P). Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK. shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case
from possible damage and will only allow the transfer
case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer
case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes.

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 Parking Hydraulic Brakes
(Parking Brake Operation)
{CAUTION: If your vehicle has hydraulic brakes, it has either a
parking brake foot pedal or hand lever. If you have the
parking brake foot pedal, it is located below the
If you do not park your vehicle properly, it can
instrument panel to the left of the steering column.
roll. If you have left the engine running, it can
move very quickly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on level ground, follow the
steps below.

Two-Speed Rear Axle

1. With the engine running, shift the two-speed rear
axle into low. To be sure it is in low, you will need
to move the vehicle in gear just a little.
2. Hold the regular brake pedal down with your
right foot.
3. Apply the parking brake.
Parking Brake Hand Lever Shown
4. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL for manual
transmission or PARK (P) for automatic If you have the parking brake hand lever, it is located to
transmission. the right of the driver, on the floor.
To set the foot pedal parking brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your right foot. Push down
the parking brake pedal with your left foot.

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 To set the hand lever parking brake, hold the regular Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
brake pedal down with your right foot. Pull up on damage the transmission and brake system parts.
the handle with your right hand, until it stops. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is set,
the brake system warning light will come on.
Rear Wheel Park Brake Burnish
To release the foot pedal parking brake, hold the
regular brake pedal down. Pull the brake release handle,
Procedure
located just above the parking brake pedal, to release It is recommended that the rear wheel mounted
the parking brake. parking brake be burnished as part of the new vehicle
To release the hand lever parking brake, hold the break-in. The parking brake will work best after it
regular brake pedal down and push down on the handle has been burnished following these instructions:
until it stops. Make one or two stops using the parking brake hand
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released, lever or foot pedal from 55 mph (92 km/h) to a stop
the brake system warning light will go off. with moderate apply. Each stop should occur within
1/4 of a mile.
Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
It is recommended that the propshaft-mounted parking wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
brake be burnished as part of the new vehicle break-in. the parking brake is fully released and the brake
The parking brake will work best after it has been warning light is off before driving.
burnished following these instructions:
Make 10 stops, using the parking brake hand lever or
foot pedal, from 20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles
(4 km) apart. Between stops, drive the vehicle at
20 mph (32 km/h) to allow the brake to cool.

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 Air Brake Vehicles built for use as tractors or towing vehicles have
two air brake controls. They look like this:
If your vehicle has air
brakes, you will have
this parking brake.
It is located above
the radio in the
instrument panel.

Pulling it out applies the parking brake. The park brake

light will come on when the air parking brake is applied.
{CAUTION:
When the yellow PARKING BRAKE and the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knobs are both pushed
in, your rig will be free to move. It could strike
someone or something. When both of these
knobs are pushed in, hold the regular brake
pedal down to keep your rig from moving.

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 To charge a trailer’s air brake system do the following:
1. Move your vehicle into the proper position. {CAUTION:
2. Apply the parking brake by pulling the yellow
parking brake knob out. If you apply any one of the air brake parking
3. Hook up the trailer air system properly. controls while the vehicle is moving, your rig
4. Get into the vehicle. will stop suddenly. If you are not ready for this,
you or others could be injured. Do not apply any
5. Push and hold down the regular brake pedal.
one of these controls while you are driving,
6. Push in both the yellow parking brake and the red unless you have to make an emergency stop.
trailer air supply knobs. This will charge your
trailer’s air system.
If the air pressure drops below 60 to 70 psi
After a few minutes, the trailer system should be fully
(413 to 482 kPa), the primary brake light and warning
charged. When it is, the air pressure gage will show
buzzer will come on. If the air pressure drops to
about 125 to 135 psi (862 to 931 kPa).
35 to 45 psi (241 to 310 kPa), the red trailer air supply
For driving with a trailer, the yellow and red (if equipped) knob will automatically pop out and apply the spring
knobs must be pushed in. When you are not pulling a brakes on the trailer.
trailer, the red trailer air supply knob must be pulled out.
If the air pressure drops to 35 to 45 psi (241 to 310 kPa),
the yellow park brake knob will automatically pop out
and apply the spring brakes on the truck or tractor.

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 If you ever have a complete loss of air so that your air Rear Air Suspension Dump Control
brakes automatically apply, there is a way that the
tow operator can release the parking brakes to tow the If your vehicle is equipped with the Hendrickson HAS
vehicle. See Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-35. Series single-axle air suspension, you may have
this control. The air suspension dump control allows the
operator to lower the deck height approximately
Air Suspension 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) from the normal frame height.
Your vehicle may have the Hendrickson HAS Series
The switch to deflate and
single-axle air suspension which is designed for a
inflate the air suspension
single-axle on-highway use. This feature is available in
is located in the instrument
19,000 lb (8 613.3 kg), 21,000 lb (9 525.4 kg) and
panel.
23,000 lb (10 432.6 kg) capacities.

Press the bottom of the switch to deflate the air

suspension and lower the deck height. Press the
top of the switch to return the suspension to normal
deck height.
An indicator light will come on and stay on whenever
the switch is in the dumped position.

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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 • Drive it only with all the windows down to
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not blow out any CO; and
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other • Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
things that can burn.

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 Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you {CAUTION:
ever have to, here are some things to know.
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
{CAUTION: fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your
Idling the engine with the climate control vehicle when the engine is running unless you
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into have to. If you have left the engine running,
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
Engine Exhaust on page 2-43. could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when it is on fairly level
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
ground, always set the parking brake and
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
move the automatic transmission shift lever
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
to PARK (P), or the manual transmission
One place this can happen is a garage.
shift lever to NEUTRAL.
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.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See Winter Driving on page 4-26.

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 Mirrors Outside Power Mirrors
If you have outside power mirrors, they can be adjusted
Manual Rearview Mirror from the inside of the vehicle.

If your vehicle has this feature, pull the tab under the The control for this
mirror toward you to reduce glare from headlamps feature is located on the
behind you after dark. Push the tab away from you to driver’s door.
restore the mirror to the daytime position.

Outside Manual Mirrors

Adjust the outside rearview mirrors so you can see a
little of the side of your vehicle, and the area beside your
vehicle from a comfortable driving position. All mirrors
can be folded in to enter narrow passageways.
Select the mirror you want to move by turning the
switch clockwise to adjust the passenger’s side mirror,
or counterclockwise to adjust the driver’s side mirror.
The center position is neutral.
Then, adjust the mirror by pressing the outer arrows on
the switch until the mirror is in the desired position.

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 Outside Convex Mirrors Outside Heated Mirrors
Your vehicle has convex mirrors on the lower quarter of If your vehicle has this feature, your outside rearview
both the driver’s and passenger’s side rearview mirrors. mirrors can be defrosted.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see
more from the driver’s seat. The switch for this feature
is located in the instrument
panel switchbank.
{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 or left lane,
you could hit a vehicle. Check your regular
outside mirrors (or your inside mirror, if you
have one) before changing lanes.

Push the bottom of the switch to turn the outside heated

rearview mirrors on. The switch indicator light will
come on and stay on whenever the outside heated
rearview mirrors are activated.
If your vehicle has a crew cab, your vehicle may be
equipped with a rear window defogger. It will also come
on each time the outside heated mirror feature is
activated. See “Rear Window Defogger” under Climate
Control System on page 3-20.

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 Storage Areas Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle includes a number of storage Your vehicle may have a center console compartment if
compartments. you have the bucket or suspension seats.
Some vehicles have storage areas in the instrument The back of your center bench seat may also fold
panel. Another small storage area may be located forward to reveal a console compartment.
overhead. Other models may have more storage area
underneath the front passenger’s bench seat. Lift the The release strap for the
seat cushion to use the storage area. center console is located
between the center seat
Your vehicle may have a storage tray located behind and passenger’s seat.
the driver and passenger seats.
All models have storage pockets and cupholders on
each of the doors. Some models may have additional
cupholders in the center floor console.
All models also have storage compartments located
beneath the floorboard on both sides of the vehicle.

To expose the storage compartment, pull the strap to

release the seatback. Then fold the seatback forward.
To open the storage compartment, press the release
button and lift the lid rearward. With the lid closed, it can
be used as a clipboard to hold papers in place.
Before returning the seatback to the upright position,
make sure the console is snapped shut. Lift the seatback
all the way up until it clicks. Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure the seat is locked in place.

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 ✍ NOTES

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 Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview ...............................3-4 Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............3-24
Hazard Warning Flashers ................................3-6 Instrument Panel Cluster ................................3-25
Other Warning Devices ...................................3-6 Speedometer and Odometer ...........................3-26
Horn .............................................................3-6 Trip Odometer ..............................................3-26
Tilt Wheel .....................................................3-7 Tachometer .................................................3-26
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .........................3-7 Engine Speed Limiter ....................................3-26
Turn and Lane-Change Signals ........................3-8 Safety Belt Reminder Light .............................3-27
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer ..................3-8 Safety Belt Reminder Tone ............................3-27
Windshield Wipers ..........................................3-9 Airbag Readiness Light ..................................3-27
Windshield Washer .......................................3-10 Airbag Off Light ............................................3-28
Cruise Control ..............................................3-10 Charging System Light ..................................3-30
Exterior Lamps .............................................3-14 Voltmeter Gage ............................................3-30
Headlamps on Reminder ................................3-15 Service Transmission Warning Light ................3-31
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) .......................3-15 Range Inhibit Warning Indicator ......................3-31
Marker Lamps ..............................................3-16 Brake System Warning Light ..........................3-31
Instrument Panel Brightness ...........................3-16 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light .............3-34
Dome Lamps ...............................................3-16 Trailer Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light .....3-34
Entry Lighting ...............................................3-17 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage ..................3-35
Reading Lamps ............................................3-17 Low Coolant Warning Light ............................3-35
Instrument Panel Switchbank ..........................3-18 Wait to Start Indicator (Diesel Engine) .............3-36
Accessory Power Outlets ...............................3-19 Malfunction Indicator Lamp .............................3-36
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter ........................3-20 Oil Pressure Gage ........................................3-37
Climate Controls ............................................3-20 Low Oil Level Light .......................................3-38
Climate Control System .................................3-20 Change Engine Oil Light ................................3-38
Outlet Adjustment .........................................3-23 Engine Overspeed Warning Light ....................3-39
Rear Heating System ....................................3-24 Engine Shutdown Warning Light .....................3-39

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 Section 3 Instrument Panel
Transmission Temperature Gage .....................3-39 Audio System(s) .............................................3-44
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light .........................3-40 Setting the Time ...........................................3-45
Differential Lock Indicator Light .......................3-40 AM-FM Radio ...............................................3-45
Reduced Engine Power Light .........................3-41 Radio with Cassette ......................................3-48
Highbeam On Light .......................................3-41 Radio with CD ..............................................3-53
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Indicator Light .....3-41 Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios) .......3-57
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light .....................3-42 Radio Reception ...........................................3-57
Check Gages Warning Light ...........................3-42 Care of the Cassette Tape Player ...................3-58
Fuel Gage ...................................................3-42 Care of Your CDs .........................................3-59
Water in Fuel Warning Light ...........................3-43 Care of the CD Player ...................................3-59
Air Filter Restriction Indicator ..........................3-43 Fixed Mast Antenna ......................................3-59
Air Pressure Gage ........................................3-44 Chime Level Adjustment ................................3-59
Hourmeter Gage ...........................................3-44

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 ✍ NOTES

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 Instrument Panel Overview

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 A. Air Outlets. See Outlet Adjustment on page 3-23. H. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See Turn
B. Instrument Panel Cluster. See Instrument Panel Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
Cluster on page 3-25. I. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. See Hazard
C. Shift Lever. See Starting the Gasoline Engine on Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
page 2-12 or Starting the Diesel Engine on J. Audio System(s). See Audio System(s) on
page 2-14. page 3-44.
D. Air Brake Controls. See Air Brake on page 2-40. K. Climate Controls. See Climate Control System on
E. Transfer Case Controls (If Equipped). See page 3-20.
“Automatic Transfer Case” under Four-Wheel Drive L. Instrument Panel Switchbank. See Instrument Panel
on page 2-33. Air Filter Gage (If Equipped). See Switchbank on page 3-18.
Air Filter Restriction Indicator on page 3-43. M. Airbag Off Switch. See Airbag Off Switch on
F. Auxiliary Gages. See Warning Lights, Gages, and page 1-56.
Indicators on page 3-24. N. Accessory Power Outlets. See Accessory Power
G. Exterior Lamp Control. See Exterior Lamps on Outlets on page 3-19.
page 3-14.

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 Hazard Warning Flashers Other Warning Devices
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They If you carry reflective triangles, you can set them up at
also let police know you have a problem. Your front the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off. your vehicle.

The hazard warning

flasher button is located Horn
on top of the steering Sound the horn by pushing the center of the steering
column. wheel. If you have the optional air horn, it is controlled
by a cord that you’ll find up above and to the left of
the driver. The harder you pull on the cord, the louder
the air horn will sound. The air horn works only after
your air brake system pressure gets up to about
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what 115 psi (790 kPa). The air horn will work properly
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in unless the air brake system pressure drops below
the ignition. 60 psi (415 kPa).
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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 Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive. You can raise it to the highest level to
give your legs more room when you exit and enter
the vehicle.
The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel is
located on the left side of the steering column.

The lever located on the left side of the steering column

includes the following:
• Turn and Lane-Change Signals. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
• Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See Headlamp
High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
• Windshield Wipers. See Windshield Wipers on
page 3-9.

To tilt the wheel, hold the wheel and pull the lever. Then
• Windshield Washer. See Windshield Washer on
move the wheel to a comfortable position and release page 3-10.
the lever to lock the wheel in place. • Cruise Control (Option). See Cruise Control on
page 3-10.

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 Turn and Lane-Change Signals As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
don’t flash but just stay on, check the turn signal flasher
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and and circuit breaker. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers
two downward (for left) positions. These positions on page 5-89.
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change. If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will signal a turn, check the circuit breaker and for
return automatically. burned-out bulbs.

An arrow on the instrument Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer

panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the To change the headlamps from low to high beam or
turn or lane change. high to low beam, pull the multifunction lever all the way
toward you, then release it.

When the high beams are

on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever will also be on.
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.

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 Windshield Wipers For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band toward
you to the first solid band below the delay settings.
You control the windshield For high-speed wiping, turn the band farther, to the last
wipers by turning the band solid band below the delay settings. To stop the
with the wiper symbol wipers, move the band to off.
on it.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do
become worn or damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts. For more information, see Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement on page 5-65.
9 (Off): Turn the band on the lever to this symbol to
turn off the windshield wipers. Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. The
windshield wiper motor is protected from overload by a
8 (Mist): For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats
this symbol. Hold it there until the wipers start, then due to heavy snow or ice the wiper will stop until the
let go. The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want motor cools. Although the circuit is protected from
more cycles, hold the band on mist longer. electrical overload, overload due to heavy snow or ice
may cause wiper linkage damage. Always clear ice and
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay heavy snow from the windshield before using your
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain windshield wipers.
or snow. Turn the band to select the delay time.
The farther the band is turned upward, the longer the
delay will be. The farther the band is turned downward,
the shorter the delay will be.

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 Windshield Washer Cruise Control
L (Washer Fluid): There is a paddle marked with the If your vehicle has this
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction feature, it is located at
lever. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, press the end of the
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and multifunction lever.
then either stop or return to your preset speed.

{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. T (Set): Pressing in this button at the end of the
lever sets the cruise control speed.

9 (Off): Moving the switch to this position turns off

the cruise control.

R (On): Moving the switch to this position turns on the

cruise control.

S (Resume/Accelerate): Moving the switch to this

position turns on resume/accelerate.

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 With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about Setting Cruise Control
30 mph (48 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 30 mph (48 km/h).
If you have an automatic transmission and you apply
{CAUTION:
your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
If you leave your cruise control on when you
If you have a manual transmission and you apply your are not using cruise, you might hit a button
brakes or push the clutch pedal, the cruise control
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
will shut off.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you 1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do 2. Get up to the speed you want.
not use your cruise control on winding roads 3. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and
or in heavy traffic. release it.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery 4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire accelerator pedal will not go down.
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.

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 Resuming a Set Speed Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed Control
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
• Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
Once you’re going about 30 mph (48 km/h) or more, you speed. Press the button at the end of the lever, then
can move the cruise control switch briefly from on to release the button and the accelerator pedal.
resume/accelerate. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
The vehicle will return to your chosen speed and • Move the cruise switch from on to
stay there.
resume/accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate, the vehicle the speed you want, and then release the switch.
will keep going faster until you release the switch or To increase your speed in very small amounts,
apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster, don’t move the switch briefly to resume/accelerate. Each
hold the switch at resume/accelerate. time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.

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 Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Ending Cruise Control
Control There are four different ways to turn off the cruise
Press in the button at the end of the lever until you control:
reach the lower speed you want, then release it. • Step lightly on the brake pedal (manual and
To slow down in very small amounts, tap the button automatic transmissions).
briefly. Each time you do this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) • Press the clutch pedal to the floor (manual
slower. transmissions).
Passing Another Vehicle While Using • Move the cruise switch to off, or
Cruise Control • Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. Erasing Speed Memory
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier. When you turn off the ignition, your cruise control set
speed memory is erased.
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 or clutch takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble
and don’t use cruise control on steep hills.

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 Exterior Lamps ; (Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with
the following:
• Marker Lamps
• Taillamps
• License Plate Lamps
• Instrument Panel Lights

O (Headlamps): Turning the control to this position

turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
You can switch your headlamps from low to high beam
by pulling the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you. Pull the lever toward you again to return to
low beam.
The control located to the left of the steering column
operates the exterior lamps. A circuit breaker protects your headlamps. If you have
an electrical overload, your headlamps will flicker on and
The exterior lamp control has three positions: off. Have your headlamp wiring checked right away if
OFF: Turning the control to this position turns off all this ever happens.
lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).

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 Headlamps on Reminder When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be
If you have this system, a tone will sound when your on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
headlamps and/or parking lamps are turned on and your
ignition is in LOCK or ACCESSORY. When it begins to get dark,
your DRL indicator light on
the instrument panel cluster
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) is a reminder to turn the
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for headlamps on. The other
others to see the front of your vehicle during the lamps that come on with
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving your headlamps, will also
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short come on.
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional When you turn the headlamps off, the regular lamps will
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles go off, and your low-beam headlamps will change to
first sold in Canada. the reduced brightness of DRL.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
at reduced brightness when the following conditions brake. The DRL will stay off until you release the
are met: parking brake.
• The ignition is on, As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
• the exterior lamp control is off, and headlamp system when you need it.

• the parking brake is released.

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 Marker Lamps Instrument Panel Brightness
If your vehicle has this feature, you can manually blink This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
the marker and clearance lamps. panel lights.

The marker lamp defeat The thumbwheel for this feature is located to the right of
the exterior lamp control.
switch is located in the
instrument panel Turn the thumbwheel up to brighten the lights. When
switchbank. the thumbwheel is moved to the first position, the radio
display and transmission selection display will go to
full intensity. The instrument panel cluster will also be
dimly lit. Moving the thumbwheel up to the next position
will activate the interior dome lamps.

Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by moving
the thumbwheel, located to the right of the exterior lamp
Press and hold the bottom of the switch to turn off the
control, all the way up to the second position. In this
marker and clearance lamps. When you release
position, the dome lamps will remain on whether a door
the switch, the marker and clearance lamps will come
is open or closed.
back on.
You can use the dome override button to set the dome
lamps to automatically come on when a door is
open, or to remain off.

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 Entry Lighting
The delayed illumination feature will allow you to enter
or exit your vehicle with the lights on for about
20 seconds, after the door is closed or the ignition
is cycled.

Reading Lamps
If your vehicle has reading lamps, press the button next
to the lamp to turn the lamp on or off.

The dome override button is located below the exterior

lamp control.
If the dome override button is pushed in, the dome
lamps will not come on. Use this feature when you want
to leave your door(s) open for an extended period of
time and do not want to run the battery down.
If the dome override button is in the out position, the
interior lamps will work as usual.

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 Instrument Panel Switchbank This switchbank is located in the center of the
instrument panel.

e (Marker Lamp Defeat Switch): See Marker Lamps

on page 3-16.

j (Manual High Idle Switch): See “Manual High

Idle System” under High Idle System
(Caterpillar® Diesel/Gasoline Engine) on page 2-19.

i (Traction Control Switch): See Traction Control

System (TCS) on page 4-10.

f (Outside Heated Mirror Switch): See Outside

Heated Mirrors on page 2-46.

g (Power Take Off Switch): See Power Take-Off

(PTO) on page 4-38.

h (Rear Air Suspension Dump Control Switch): Air

Suspension on page 2-42.

k (Rear Axle Shift Control Switch): See Air Shift

Control (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-27.

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 q (Exhaust Brake Switch): See Diesel Engine Notice: Leaving electrical equipment on for
Exhaust Brake on page 2-25. extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
l (Differential Lock Control Switch): See Rear not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
Axle Differential Lock Contol on page 4-9. amperage rating.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
c (Airbag On/Off Switch): See Airbag Off Switch on with the accessory power outlet and could result
page 1-56. in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
If your vehicle does not have some of the features problem, see your dealer for additional information
controlled by these switches, there will be a blank switch on accessory power outlets.
marker in its place. Notice: Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
Accessory Power Outlets from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not use equipment
With accessory power outlets, you can plug in auxiliary exceeding maximum amperage rating. Check
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or with your dealer before adding electrical equipment.
CB radio.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
The accessory power outlet is located on the the proper installation instructions included with
passenger’s side of the instrument panel. the equipment.
To use an outlet, pull the cover down. When not using Notice: Improper use of the power outlet can cause
it, always cover the outlet with the protective cap. damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
This circuit is protected by a fuse and has a maximum hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
current level. from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.

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 Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter Climate Controls
Your vehicle may have an ashtray and a cigarette
lighter located in the center floor console. See Climate Control System
Instrument Panel Overview on page 3-4. To open the
removable ashtray, flip open the top. With these systems, you can control the heating,
cooling and ventilation for your vehicle.
Notice: If you put papers, pins, or other flammable
items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, the
smoking materials could ignite them and possibly controls will look like this:
damage your vehicle. Never put flammable items in
the ashtray.
To use the cigarette lighter, push it in all the way and let
it go. When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.
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 Vehicles Without Air Conditioning
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating. Turn the mode knob on the far right clockwise
or counterclockwise to direct the airflow inside of
your vehicle.
To change the current mode, select one of the following:

9(Off): This setting turns the system off.

H (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument

panel vents.

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 ) (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the If your vehicle has air conditioning, the controls will look
instrument panel vents, then directs the remaining like this:
air to the floor vents. Cooler air is directed to the upper
vents and warmer air to the floor vents.

6 (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the

floor vents. Use this mode to send air to the rear of the
vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free of
objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear of
the vehicle.
Vehicles With Air Conditioning
The mode knob can also be used to select the defrost On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
mode. For more information, see “Defogging and escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
Defrosting” later in this section. it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
9 (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed. < (Maximum Air Conditioning): Turn the right knob
To increase airflow, turn the knob clockwise. To to this setting for maximum cooling. This setting puts
decrease airflow, turn it counterclockwise. To turn the the system in recirculation mode and helps to maximize
fan off, turn the mode knob on the far right your air conditioner’s performance and your vehicle’s
counterclockwise to the off position. fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest.
Temperature Knob: Turn the middle knob located Y (Air Conditioning): This setting is used for
clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease normal cooling on hot days. It cools outside air and
the temperature inside of your vehicle. Turn the directs it through the instrument panel vents.
knob toward the red area for warmer air. Turn the knob
toward the blue area for cooler air. )(Bi-Level Air Conditioning): This setting divides
airflow between the floor vents and instrument panel
vents. The air conditioning compressor will cycle
continuously in this setting as long as the outside
temperature is warm enough to activate the compressor.

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 Defogging and Defrosting The defog setting is useful for cold weather with a large
number of passengers or very humid conditions to
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity help keep the windshield clear. Use defrost to remove
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. This fog or ice from the windshield quickly in extremely
can be minimized if the climate control is used properly. cold conditions. The temperature knob should be in the
There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your red area and the fan control toward high. Do not
windshield and side windows. drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog or
moisture and warm the passengers. Use the defrost
Rear Window Defogger
mode to remove fog or frost from the windshield more The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
quickly. For best results, clear all snow and ice from the remove fog or frost from the rear window.
windshield before defrosting.
Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear window as
Turn the mode knob on the right of the climate control possible.
panel to select the defog or defrost mode.
Press this button which is
-(Defog): With this setting, the outside air comes out located near the fan
of both the floor and defroster outlets. Adjust the control to turn the rear
temperature knob for warmer or cooler air. The air window defogger on or off.
conditioning compressor may operate in this setting to An indicator light in the
dehumidify the air. button will come on when
the rear window defogger
0(Defrost): This setting operates the defroster. Most is working.
of the air comes out near the windshield, with some
The rear window defogger will only work when the
going to the floor outlets and front side windows. The air
ignition is in RUN.
conditioning compressor may operate in this setting to
dehumidify the air.

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 The rear window defogger will turn off several minutes Operation Tips
after the button is pressed. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning • Keep the hood and front air inlets free of ice, snow,
off the engine. or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The
heater and defroster will work far better, reducing
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside of the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or
damage the warming grid, and the repairs would not
• Keep the air path under the front seats clear
be covered by your warranty. Do not attach a of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything vehicle.
similar to the defogger grid. • Adding outside equipment to the front of your
vehicle, such as hood-air deflectors, may affect the
Outlet Adjustment performance of the heating and air conditioning
system. Check with your dealer before adding
Your vehicle has air outlets on the instrument panel that equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
allow you to adjust the direction and amount of airflow
inside the vehicle.
Move the lever on the outlet up or down to direct the
airflow. Increase or reduce the amount of airflow
by opening and closing the louvers. The outlets can be
moved side-to-side to direct the airflow.

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 Rear Heating System Warning Lights, Gages, and
If you have a crew cab Indicators
and your vehicle has a This part describes the warning lights and gages that
rear heater, the may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
thumbwheel for this locate them.
feature is located on Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
the headliner. 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’re working. If you are
To increase and decrease the flow of heated air to familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
the rear floor vents, turn the thumbwheel to the when this happens.
desired fan speed. To turn the fan off, turn the Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
thumbwheel down. with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
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’re a big help.

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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’ll know how
fast your going, about how much fuel is left and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.

United States Diesel Engine shown, Canada and Gasoline Engine 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).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).

Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle
has been driven since you last set the trip odometer
to zero.
7.2L Caterpillar® Gasoline and
While the engine is running, press the reset button, Diesel Engine and 6.6L DURAMAX®
located to the right of the trip odometer, to toggle 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Engines
between the trip odometer and the regular odometer. Diesel Engines
Holding the reset button for two seconds while the
engine is running and the trip odometer is displayed, will This gage shows the safe operating range for the
reset it. engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button. Engine Speed Limiter
The hourmeter gage is accessed through the trip All engines have electronic engine speed limiting. The
odometer, for more information see Hourmeter Gage on engine limited speeds range between
page 3-44. 2,900 and 4,400 rpm depending on engine option
content.

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 Engine Road Speed Governor Safety Belt Reminder Tone
This system controls maximum vehicle speed If your vehicle has this feature, when you turn your key
automatically and reduces engine power until vehicle to RUN or START, a tone will sound for several
speed gets down to maximum governed speed. seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts.
The default setting for C4500 and C5500 models up to
19,500 lbs GVWR is 80 to 85 mph (128 to 136 km/h). Airbag Readiness Light
Most other models have a default setting of 75 mph
(120 km/h), although some tire sizes and tread patterns If your vehicle has airbags, there is an airbag readiness
may limit maximum speed to 55 to 65 mph light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag
(86 to 105 km/h). You may have a label on the headliner symbol. The system checks the airbag’s electrical
of your vehicle with more information on your engine road system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an
speed governor. See your GM dealer for assistance with electrical problem. The system check includes the
programming your engine limited speed. airbag sensors, the airbag modules, the wiring, the
passenger airbag suppression circuit and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on
Safety Belt Reminder Light the airbag system, see Airbag System on page 1-48.
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a light will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten This light will come on
their safety belts. when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for
The safety belt light will a few seconds. Then the
also come on and stay on light should go out. This
for several seconds. means the system is ready.

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 If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the Airbag Off Light
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your
airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle If your vehicle is equipped with an airbag off switch,
serviced right away. when you turn the right front passenger’s airbag off, this
The airbag readiness light should flash for a few light will come on and stay on to remind you that the
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN or airbag has been turned off. This light will go off
START. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed when you turn the airbag on. See Airbag Off Switch on
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. page 1-56 for more on this, including important safety
information.

{CAUTION:
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.
United States Canada

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 {CAUTION: {CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned If the airbag readiness light ever comes on
off for a person who is not in a risk group when you have turned off the airbag, it means
identified by the national government, that that something may be wrong with the airbag
person will not have the extra protection of an system. The right front passenger’s airbag
airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able to could inflate even though the switch is off. If
inflate and help protect the person sitting this ever happens, do not let anyone whom the
there. Do not turn off the passenger’s airbag national government has identified as a
unless the person sitting there is in a risk member of a passenger airbag risk group sit in
group. See Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56 for the right front passenger’s position (for
more on this, including important safety example, do not secure a rear-facing child
information. restraint in the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced. See
Airbag Off Switch on page 1-56 for more on
this, including important safety information.

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 Charging System Light Voltmeter Gage
The charging system light When your engine is
may be located in the running, the voltmeter
instrument panel cluster, or gage shows the charging
with the auxiliary warning system voltage.
lights in the center of
the instrument panel.

It should come on briefly when you turn on the ignition,

before the engine is running, as a check to show
that it is working.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, have Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
your vehicle checked right away. You could have a loose problem in the electrical system.
generator drive belt or some other problem.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
Driving while this light is on will drain your battery. If you large number of electrical accessories are operating in
must drive a short distance with the light on, turn off the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
your radio and other accessories. Sustained driving with extended period. This condition is normal since the
a generator failure could result in a lack of back-up charging system may not be able to provide full
braking if the engine quits or the power steering pump power at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased,
should fail. this condition should correct itself because higher
engine speeds allow the charging system to create
maximum power.
You can only drive a short time on the battery. Be sure
to shut off the radio, the fan or any unnecessary
accessories and have the system serviced.

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 Service Transmission Warning Light Range Inhibit Warning Indicator
If your vehicle has an Allison automatic transmission, If your vehicle has an Allison
certain transmission malfunctions will turn this light on. 1000/2000/2200/2400/2500 series automatic
transmission, a lighted bar under the current gear
This light is located with selected will flash.
the auxiliary warning lights
in the center of the If your vehicle has an Allison 3000/3500 series automatic
instrument panel. transmission, the current gear selected on the pushbutton
display will flash.
The flashing bar or gear selection indicates that
transmission range shifts may not occur.
For detailed information on shift inhibit limitations, see
If this light comes on while you are driving, do not use the Allison Automatic Transmission Operator’s Manual in
the transmission shift control or you may lose forward your vehicle for further information.
gears. The computer for the transmission senses
a problem and chooses a gear to stay in so that you Brake System Warning Light
can drive the vehicle in that gear. You may not be able
to drive as fast or back up when this light is on. Your vehicle has either hydraulic or air brakes. Each
system has different warning lights.
Notice: If you continue driving your vehicle after
the transmission warning light comes on, you could
damage the transmission. While this light is on,
the transmission cannot operate in all gears. If you
attempt to shift gears, the vehicle may not
continue to move. Do not attempt to shift gears
while the transmission warning light is on. Instead,
drive directly to a GM dealer for service. If you
cannot drive to a dealer immediately, have the
vehicle towed.

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 Hydraulic Brake System If the service brakes soon
warning light comes on, it
Warning Lights means there may be
Vehicles with hydraulic brake systems have two brake something wrong in the
system warning lights on the instrument panel. brake system.

If the BRAKE system

warning light comes on, it
means that the fluid
When this light comes on, you will also hear a warning
level in the master cylinder
tone. Have the system repaired immediately.
reservoir is low or there
is another problem Both of these lights should come on briefly every time
with your hydraulic brakes. you start your engine. If they don’t come on then,
have them fixed so they will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem. If one or both of these warning lights
When it comes on, you will also hear a warning tone. stay on after you start the engine, there could be a
The BRAKE system warning light may come on, and the brake problem. Have your brake system inspected
warning tone may sound, when you’re turning and right away.
braking at the same time. This is normal. See “Hydraulic If one or both of these lights come on while you are
Brake Systems” under Braking on page 4-5. 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 BRAKE light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-35. See
“Hydraulic Brake Systems” under Braking on page 4-5
for further information.

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 Parking Brake Warning Light When the warning light comes on while you are driving,
you should drive only as far as the nearest point of
This light will also come on when you set the parking safety and then stop the vehicle. Here’s a very important
brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake thing for you to know:
does not release fully.
Air Brake System Warning Light
{CAUTION:
Vehicles with air brake systems have a brake system
warning light on the instrument panel.
If the air brake system warning light comes on
and the warning tone sounds, the vehicle can
stop suddenly and without further warning.
This is because the parking brake will come on
if the pressure falls below 35 to 45 psi (240 to
310 kPa). You or others could be injured. If the
air brake system warning light comes on and
the warning tone sounds, stop as soon as you
United States Canada can. You will not know how quickly the system
is losing pressure, so be aware that the
The LOW AIR warning light should come on, as a parking brake may come on suddenly.
check, whenever you start the engine. However, it is
designed to come on, and stay on, when brake reservoir
pressure has dropped below 60 psi (410 kPa).

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 Anti-Lock Brake System Trailer Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light Warning Light
This light should come on If your vehicle is connected
briefly when you start the to a trailer with anti-lock
engine, if it does not brakes, this light should
have your vehicle fixed come on briefly, as a
immediately. check, when you turn on
the ignition.

If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, When this light comes on and stays on, it means there
your vehicle needs service. If the BRAKE or LOW is something wrong in the trailer anti-lock brake
AIR warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you system. Have the system repaired immediately.
don’t have the anti-lock brake feature. If the BRAKE If an anti-lock brake system equipped trailer is not
and/or LOW AIR warning light is on, you don’t
connected, this light is not functional.
have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your
regular brakes. See Brake System Warning Light
on page 3-31.

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 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Low Coolant Warning Light
You have a low coolant
warning light. If this light
comes on, your system is
low on coolant and the
engine may overheat.

The warning light should come on briefly, as a check,

when you turn on the ignition.
United States Canada When it comes on, you will also hear a warning tone at
several beats per second for 10 seconds. See Engine
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the Coolant (Gas and DURAMAX® Engines) on page 5-36
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine or Engine Coolant (Caterpillar® Diesel Engines) on
coolant might have overheated and your engine may be page 5-38 and have your vehicle serviced as soon as
too hot. You should pull off the road, stop your vehicle you can.
and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
This light may also come on if your vehicle is equipped
See Engine Overheating on page 5-38. If you have a with the automatic engine shutdown system and
Caterpillar® diesel engine, also see your Caterpillar® engine shutdown has begun. See Engine Alarm and
Operation & Maintenance Manual. Automatic Shutdown under Starting the Diesel Engine
on page 2-14.

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 Wait to Start Indicator Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Diesel Engine) Service Engine Soon Light
®
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX 6600, you will have
glow plugs. If your vehicle has the DURAMAX® 7800, If this light comes on or
you will have glow plugs and an inlet heater. If your flashes while you are
vehicle has a Caterpillar® engine, you will have an driving, two things
inlet heater. may happen.

The light in the center of

the instrument panel will
come on when the
inlet heater is on and the
ignition key is in RUN. First, you will not notice any difference in engine
performance, but your tail pipe emissions may increase.
Second, your engine may not run properly or may
stall without warning. If either of these things happen,
drive or tow your vehicle to your dealer for service.
Wait until the indicator light turns off before turning the This light should come on when the ignition is on, but
ignition key to START. the engine is not running, as a check to show you
it is working. If it does not come on at all, have
it repaired.
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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 Oil Pressure Gage A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem.
If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, also see your
Caterpillar® Operation & Maintenance Manual.

{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
United States Canada your vehicle serviced.
The engine oil pressure gage, on the lower right portion
of your instrument panel cluster, shows engine oil Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or in damage the engine. The repairs would not be
kPa (kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary with outside covered by your warranty. Always follow the
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings of maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
30 to 40 psi (205 to 275 kPa) on gasoline engines at engine oil.
operating temperature and moderate road speeds
are normal. If you have a diesel engine, the normal
operating range should be between 35 and 70 psi
(240 to 480 kPa).

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 Low Oil Level Light Change Engine Oil Light
This light should come on The change engine oil light
as a check, when you start should come on briefly as
your engine. If the light a bulb check when you
fails to come on, have it start the engine. If the light
repaired as soon as does not come on, have
possible so you will be it serviced.
aware when the oil level
is low.
If this light comes on and stays on, it means your If the change engine oil light comes on and stays on
engine is low on oil. You need to check the oil level after you start the engine, have the oil changed.
right away. See Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine)
on page 5-22 or Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on For additional information on when to change engine oil
page 5-22 or Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26 for gasoline engines or DURAMAX® diesel engines,
for further information. see Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on page 5-22
or Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on page 5-22 or
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26 and
damage the engine. The repairs would not be Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5. To reset the
covered by your warranty. Always follow the change engine oil light, see Engine Oil Life System
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-29 or Engine Oil Life
engine oil. System (DURAMAX® Diesel) on page 5-31 or Engine
Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on
page 5-32.

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 Engine Overspeed Warning Light Transmission Temperature Gage
If your vehicle has this If you have an automatic
light, it will come on if your transmission and this
engine is operating at gage, it is located
too many revolutions per above the switchbank in
minute (rpm). the center of the
instrument panel.

It will also come on for a moment as a check when you

start your engine.
If it comes on when you’re driving, reduce your engine
speed immediately.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in the
Engine Shutdown Warning Light warning zone, the red area beginning at 300°F (150°C),
means you must stop driving and check into the
If your vehicle has the cause. One possible cause is a low oil level in the
engine shutdown feature, transmission.
this light will come on
when engine shutdown Notice: If you drive your vehicle with the
is active. transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the transmission.
This could lead to costly repairs that would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle while the transmission temperature gage
For more information, see Engine Alarm and Automatic reading is above normal. See your dealer for service.
Shutdown under Starting the Diesel Engine on
page 2-14.

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 Exhaust Brake Indicator Light Differential Lock Indicator Light
If your vehicle is equipped If your vehicle has this
with an exhaust brake, you feature, this light is located
will have this light, in the center of the
located above the comfort instrument panel. The light
controls in the center of is on when the rear
the instrument panel. differential lock system is
in use.

The exhaust brake indicator light will come on and stay The light will come on momentarily during starting. If the
on whenever the diesel engine exhaust brake or light fails to come on, have it repaired as soon as
exhaust restrictor is active. For more information, see possible so you will be aware when the lock system is
Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake on page 2-25. in use.
See Rear Axle Differential Lock Control on page 4-9 for
more information.

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 Reduced Engine Power Light Highbeam On Light
If the check engine and This light will come on
reduced engine power when the high-beam
lights are on, the throttle headlamps are in use.
may be disabled, and
a noticeable change in the
vehicle’s performance
may occur.

If the reduced engine power light is on, but there is no See Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
change in performance, proceed to your destination.
The performance may be reduced the next time Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at a
slower speed while the reduced engine power light is on, Indicator Light
but acceleration and speed may be limited.
This light is located on the
Anytime the check engine light stays on, the vehicle
instrument panel cluster. It
should be taken to an authorized GM dealer as soon as
goes on whenever the
possible for service.
Daytime Running Lamps
are on.

See Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 3-15 for

more information.
When it begins to get dark, the DRL indicator light is a
reminder to turn on your headlamps.

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 Low Washer Fluid Warning Light When the check gages light comes on, you will also
hear a warning tone. The tone and the light will
stay activated until the problem is corrected.
This light will come on
when your vehicle is low This light may also come on if your vehicle is equipped
on windshield washer fluid. with the optional automatic engine shutdown system
and engine shutdown has begun. See Engine Alarm and
Automatic Shutdown under Starting the Diesel Engine
on page 2-14.

Fuel Gage
For more information, see Windshield Washer Fluid on
page 5-46. Your fuel gage is located
on the right side of your
instrument panel cluster.
Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on as
you’re starting the engine,
just as a check.

When the ignition is on, your fuel gage lets you know
If this light comes on and stays on while you are driving. about how much fuel you have left. When the gage first
it means that either your engine coolant temperature shows empty, you’ll still have a little fuel left, but you
gage or your engine oil pressure gage may be showing should get more fuel soon.
a reading in the warning zone.

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 If your vehicle has dual fuel tanks, the reading on the Air Filter Restriction Indicator
gage is the total fuel left in both tanks.
Here are four concerns of some operators. None of If your vehicle has this
these shows a problem with your fuel gage: feature, the gage is
• The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or located above the
speed up. switchbank in the center of
• The gage does not go back to empty when you turn the instrument panel. It
off the ignition. monitors the engine
air filter.
• At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.
• It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated.
If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, also see your
Caterpillar® Operation & Maintenance Manual. As the filter gets dirty, the yellow indicator will begin to
rise. When it reaches 25 inches of vacuum on the
Water in Fuel Warning Light scale, the filter should be replaced.
After replacing the filter, reset the gage by pressing in
If your vehicle has the 6.6L the yellow reset button at the bottom of the gage.
or 7.8L DURAMAX® diesel
engine, this light will If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, also see your
come on to warn you that Caterpillar® Operation & Maintenance Manual.
there is water in the
fuel system.

For more information on how this light works, see Water

in Fuel on page 5-10.

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 Air Pressure Gage Hourmeter Gage
To access the engine hourmeter gage, press the trip
If your vehicle has air odometer button three times.
brakes, the air pressure
gage is located above the The instrument panel cluster displays the accumulated
switchbank in the center engine run time hours using the reconfigurable
of the instrument panel. odometer display. The engine run time hours displays
only when the ignition is in the LOCK or ACCESSORY
position and the trip reset button is pressed for about
four seconds. The value of the accumulated hours does
not change when the battery is disconnected.
The hourmeter resets to 0.0 when 10,000 hours are
accumulated. The instrument panel cluster begins to
reaccumulate the engine run time hours from 0.0 hours.
This gage shows the air pressure for both your front
and rear brake systems. Audio System(s)
If the needle on the gage indicates that the air pressure Notice: Before adding any sound equipment to
is below 60 to 75 psi (415 to 517 kPa), the low air your vehicle, such as an audio system, CD player,
warning light will come on. An alarm will also sound if CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make
this happens. sure that it can be added by checking with your
The top pointer shows the pressure available for the dealer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile
front system, while the bottom pointer shows pressure radio and telephone units. If sound equipment can
for the rear. There should be no more than 4 psi be added, it is very important to do it properly.
(28 kPa) difference showing between the systems. Added sound equipment may interfere with
the operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or
Don’t drive until both pointers are showing at least other systems, and even damage them. Your
120 psi (827 kPa), so you’ll have enough air if you need vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation
to apply your brakes. of sound equipment that has been added.

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 Notice: The chime signals related to seat belts, AM-FM Radio
parking brake, and other functions of your vehicle
operate through the GM 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.
Figure out which audio system is in your vehicle, find
out what your audio system can do, and how to operate
all of its controls.

Setting the Time

Press and hold the HR (down) or MIN (up) arrow for Playing the Radio
two seconds. Then press HR until the correct hour
PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on
appears on the display. Press and hold MIN until the
and off.
correct minute appears on the display. The time can be
set with the ignition on or off. VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to
decrease the volume.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display
between the radio station frequency, band, and the
time. When the ignition is off, press this knob to display
the time.

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 Finding a Station Setting Preset Stations
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) can be
or AM. The display will show the selection. programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by
performing the following steps:
TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.
1. Turn the radio on.
o SEEK p: Press the right or the left arrow to go to 2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM.
the next or to the previous station and stay there. 3. Tune in the desired station.
To scan stations, press and hold either SEEK arrow for 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
two seconds until you hear a beep. The radio will go pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
the next station. Press either SEEK arrow again to stop that was set will return.
scanning.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
To scan preset stations, press and hold either SEEK
arrow for more than four seconds until you hear Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset station
AUDIO: To adjust bass or treble, press and release
stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then
AUDIO until BAS or TRE appears on the display. Then
go on to the next preset station. Press either SEEK
press and hold the up or the down arrow to increase
arrow again to stop scanning presets.
or to decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease
The radio will only seek and scan stations with a strong the treble.
signal that are in the selected band.
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or
T and a zero will appear on the display.

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 To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, first end out of audio mode to the middle position, first end out of audio mode
by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform
that function or by waiting five seconds for the display that function or by waiting five seconds for the display
to return to time of day. Then press and hold AUDIO for to return to time of day. Then press and hold AUDIO for
more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN
will appear on the display. will appear on the display.

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular
cab model.
AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, press and release AUDIO until Radio Messages
BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up
or the down arrow to move the sound toward the right CAL (Calibrated): The audio system has been
or the left speakers. calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that the radio has not
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear been configured properly for your vehicle and must
speakers, press and release AUDIO until FAD appears be returned to your GM dealer for service.
on the display. Then press and hold the up or the
down arrow to move the sound toward the front or the LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the
rear speakers. THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle
to your GM dealer for service.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
than two seconds until you hear a beep. L (balance) and corrected, contact your GM dealer.
a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display.

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 Radio with Cassette Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2,
and AM. The display will show the selection.
TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.

o SEEK p: Press 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 one of the SEEK
arrows for two seconds until you hear a beep. The radio
will go to a station, play for a few seconds and flash
the station frequency, then go on to the next station.
Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning.
Playing the Radio
To scan preset stations, press and hold one of the
PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on SEEK arrows for more than four seconds until you hear
and off. two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset station
stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to and flash the station frequency, then go on to the next
decrease the volume. preset station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again
to stop scanning presets.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time. When The radio will only seek and scan stations with a strong
the ignition is off, press this knob to display the time. signal that are in the selected band.

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 Setting Preset Stations Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) can be
programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right
performing the following steps: and the left speakers, press and release AUDIO until
BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up
1. Turn the radio on.
or the down arrow to move the sound toward the right
2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. or the left speakers.
3. Tune in the desired station.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
speakers, press and release AUDIO until FAD appears
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
on the display. Then press and hold the up or the
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
down arrow to move the sound toward the front or the
that was set will return.
rear speakers.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
AUDIO: To adjust bass and treble, press and release than two seconds until you hear a beep. L (balance) and
AUDIO until BAS or TRE appears on the display. a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display.
Then press and hold the up or the down arrow to To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, to the middle position, end out of audio by waiting
decrease the treble. for the display to change to the time display. Then press
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.
two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or
T and a zero will appear on the display. Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular
cab model.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, end out of audio by waiting
for the display to change to the clock display. Then
press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until
you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.
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 Radio Messages While the tape is playing, use the VOL, AUDIO, and
SEEK controls just as you do for the radio. The radio will
CAL (Calibration): The audio system has been display UP if the top side of the tape is playing.
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL DN (Down) will appear if the bottom side is playing. The
appears on the display it means that the radio has not tape player will play the other side of the tape when it
been configured properly for your vehicle and must reaches the end.
be returned to your GM dealer for service. Cassette tape adapter kits for portable CD players will
LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the work in the cassette tape player. See “CD Adapter Kits”
THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle later for more information.
to your GM dealer for service. The tape bias is set automatically when a metal or
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be chrome tape is inserted.
corrected, contact your GM dealer. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape
Messages” later in this section.
Playing a Cassette Tape
1 PREV (Previous): The tape must have at least
The tape player is built to work best with tapes that are three seconds of silence between each selection for
up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes previous to work. Press this pushbutton to go to
longer than that are so thin they may not work well in the previous selection on the tape if the current selection
this player. The longer side with the tape visible should has been playing for less than three seconds. If
face to the right. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled pressed when the current selection has been playing
sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press the eject from three to 13 seconds, it will go to the beginning
button to remove the tape and start over. of the previous selection or the beginning of the current
If the ignition and the radio are off, press the eject selection, depending on the position on the tape. If
button or the RCL knob to insert and to begin play of a pressed when the current selection has been playing for
tape. If the ignition is on and the radio is off, the more than 13 seconds, it will go to the beginning of
tape can be inserted and will begin playing. CAS will the current selection. Pressing this pushbutton multiple
appear on the display when a tape is inserted. times will increase the number of selections to be
searched back, up to −9. Pressing the NEXT pushbutton
will cancel the selections.

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 2 NEXT: The tape must have at least three seconds of 6 RPT (Repeat): The tape must have at least
silence between each selection for next to work. three seconds of silence between each selection for
Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the repeat to work. Press and release this pushbutton
tape. Pressing this pushbutton multiple times in the to hear a selection over again. RPT will appear on the
next mode will increase the number of selections to be display. Press this pushbutton again to turn off repeated
searched forward. Pressing the PREV pushbutton play. OFF will appear on the display.
will cancel the selections.
o SEEK p: The tape must have at least
3 REV (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to quickly three seconds of silence between each selection for
reverse the tape. FR will appear on the display. seek to work. The left arrow is the same as the PREV
The radio will play while the tape reverses. Press it pushbutton and the right arrow is the same as the NEXT
again to return to playing speed. Select stations during pushbutton. If either arrow is held or pressed more
reverse operation by using the TUNE or SEEK than once, the player will continue moving backward or
controls or by using the scan or preset scan features. forward through the tape.
4 FWD (Forward): Press this pushbutton to quickly AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
advance the tape. FF will appear on the display. tape is playing. The inactive tape will remain safely
The radio will play while the tape advances. Press this inside the radio for future listening.
pushbutton again to return to playing speed. Select
stations during forward operation by using the TUNE or TAPE: Press this button to play a cassette tape when
SEEK controls or by using the scan or preset scan listening to the radio. CAS will appear on the display
features. when a tape is loaded.
5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a tape. Eject
the tape. may be activated with the radio off. Cassette tapes can
be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button
is pressed first.

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 Cassette Tape Messages CD Adapter Kits
ERR (Error): If the player detects a tight or broken It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit
tape, this message will appear on the display and the with the cassette tape player after deactivating the
player will eject the tape. The radio will go back to tight/loose tape sensor feature on the tape player.
playing the last station selected. To deactivate this feature, use the following steps:
CLN (Clean): If this message appears on the display, 1. Turn the ignition on.
the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will 2. Turn the radio off.
still play tapes, but it should be cleaned as soon
as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. 3. Press and hold the TAPE button for two seconds
See Care of the Cassette Tape Player on page 3-58. until one beep is produced. CAS will flash,
indicating that the TIGHT/LOOSE TAPE sensor
If the cassette is not playing correctly, for any other feature is no longer active.
reason, try a known good cassette.
4. Insert the adapter into the cassette slot.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer. If the radio displays The override feature will remain active until the eject
an error message, write it down and provide it to button is pressed.
your GM dealer when reporting the problem.

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 Radio with CD Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1,
FM2, and AM. The display will show the selection.
TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.

o SEEK p: Press 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 SEEK arrow for
two seconds until you hear a beep. The radio will go
to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to
the next station. Press either SEEK arrow again to
stop scanning.
Playing the Radio
To scan preset stations, press and hold either SEEK
PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on arrow for more than four seconds until you hear
and off. two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset station
stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to go on to the next preset station. Press either SEEK
decrease the volume. arrow again to stop scanning presets.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display The radio will only seek and scan stations, with a strong
between the radio station frequency and the time. When signal, that are in the selected band.
the ignition is off, press this knob to display the time.

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 Setting Preset Stations To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position, first end out of audio mode
Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), can by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform
be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, that function, or by waiting five seconds for the display
by performing the following steps: to return to the time of day. Then press and hold
1. Turn the radio on. the AUDIO button for more than two seconds until you
hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.
2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM.
3. Tune in the desired station. Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that and the left speakers, press and release the AUDIO
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station button until BAL appears on the display. Then press and
that was set will return. hold the up or the down arrow to move the sound
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. toward the right or the left speakers.

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the AUDIO button until
AUDIO: To adjust the bass or the treble, press and FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the up
release the AUDIO button until BAS or TRE appears on or the down arrow to move the sound toward the front
the display. Then press and hold the up or the down or the rear speakers.
arrow to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
noisy, decrease the treble. BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select than two seconds until you hear a beep. L (balance) and
BAS or TRE. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display.
more than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and
a zero or T and a zero will appear on the display.

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 To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls Playing a CD
to the middle position, first end out of audio mode
by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The
that function, or by waiting five seconds for the display player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. CD
to return to the time of day. Then press and hold will appear on the display. If you want to insert a CD
the AUDIO button for more than two seconds until you with the ignition off, first press the eject button or
hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display. the RCL knob.
Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular If you insert a CD with the radio off and the ignition on,
cab model. it will start to play.
If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the
Radio Messages player, it will stay in the player. When the ignition
or radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where it
CAL (Calibration): The audio system has been stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that the radio has not As each new track starts to play, the track number will
been configured properly for your vehicle and must appear on the display.
be returned to your GM dealer for service. The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single
LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when the CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
to your GM dealer for service. If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
If any error occurs repeatedly or cannot be corrected,
of the music that has been recorded, and the way the
contact your GM dealer.
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 try a
known good CD.

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 Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught 4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to
in the CD player. advance quickly within a track. Release this pushbutton
to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track
Notice: If you add paper labels to a CD, insert more will appear on the display.
than one CD into the slot at a time, or attempt to
play scratched or damaged CDs, you could damage 5 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the
the CD player. When using the CD player, use tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RND will
only CDs in good condition without paper labels, appear on the display. Press RDM again to turn off
load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and random play. OFF will appear on the display.
the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids,
and debris. 6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton once to hear a
track over again. RPT will appear on the display.
If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPT
later in this section. again to turn off repeat play. OFF will appear on
1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go the display.
to the beginning of the current track if more than
eight seconds have played. The track number will o SEEK p: Press the right or the left arrow to go to
appear on the display. If this pushbutton is held the next or to the previous track. The track number
or pressed more than once, the player will continue will appear on the display. If either arrow is held
moving backward through the CD. or pressed more than once, the player will continue
moving backward or forward through the CD.
2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track.
The track number will appear on the display. If this RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see the current
pushbutton is held or pressed more than once, track number or how long the current track has
the player will continue moving forward through the CD. been playing.

3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
reverse quickly within a track. Release this pushbutton CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely
to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track inside the radio for future listening.
will appear on the display.

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 CD: Press this button to play a CD when listening to the Theft-Deterrent Feature
radio. CD will appear on the display if a CD is loaded.
(Non-RDS Radios)
Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject may
be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of
may be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this your vehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically
button is pressed first. by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different
CD Messages vehicle, it will not operate and LOC will appear on
If the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following the display.
reasons: With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio will not operate
• It is very hot. When the temperature returns to if stolen.
normal, the CD should play.
• You are driving on a very rough road. When the Radio Reception
road becomes smoother, the CD should play.
• The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. AM
• The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
try again. especially at night. The longer range, however, can
• There may have been a problem while burning cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
the CD. up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
• The label may be caught in the CD player. reducing the treble to reduce this noise.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, FM
try a known good CD.
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).
corrected, contact your GM dealer. If the radio displays Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals,
an error message, write it down and provide it to causing the sound to come and go.
your GM dealer when reporting the problem.

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 Care of the Cassette Tape Player The cut tape detection feature of the cassette tape
player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause tape. To prevent the cleaning cassette from being
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged ejected, use the following steps:
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their 1. Turn the ignition on.
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and 2. Turn the radio off.
extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate
3. Press and hold the TAPE button for two seconds
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.
until the radio produces one beep. CAS will flash
The tape player should be cleaned regularly after every on the display for five seconds.
50 hours of use. The radio may display CLN to 4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
indicate that the tape player has been used for 50 hours
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer’s
without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message
recommended cleaning time.
appears on the display, the cassette tape player
needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but it should After the cleaning cassette is ejected, the cut tape
be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage detection feature will be active again.
to the tapes and player. If there is a reduction in sound A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a
quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head
or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no can be used. This type of cleaning cassette will not
improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not
clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.
For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasive The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape cassette is not recommended.
head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The
recommended cleaning cassette is available through After the player is cleaned, press and hold the eject
your dealer. button for three seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The
radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before the tape player
is serviced.

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 Care of Your CDs Chime Level Adjustment
Handle CDs carefully. Store them in their original cases The radio is the vehicle chime producer. The chime is
or other protective cases and away from direct produced from the driver’s side front door speakers.
sunlight and dust. If the surface of a CD is soiled, To change the volume level, press and hold
dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent pushbutton 6 with the ignition on and the radio power
solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. off. The chime volume level will change from the normal
Be sure never to touch the side without writing when level to loud, and HI will be displayed on the radio.
handling CDs. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges To change back to the default or normal setting, press
and hold pushbutton 6 again. The chime level will
or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
change from the loud level to normal, and LO will be
displayed. Each time the chime volume is changed,
Care of the CD Player three chimes will sound as an example of the new
volume selected. Removing the radio and not replacing
The use of CD lens cleaners for CD players is not it with a factory radio or chime module will disable
advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the vehicle chimes.
CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.

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.

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 ✍ NOTES

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 Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................4-18
Defensive Driving ...........................................4-2 City Driving ..................................................4-21
Drunken Driving .............................................4-2 Freeway Driving ...........................................4-22
Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-5 Highway Hypnosis ........................................4-23
Braking .........................................................4-5 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................4-24
Hydraulic Brake Systems .................................4-6 Winter Driving ..............................................4-26
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .........................4-6 If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Braking in Emergencies ...................................4-8 Ice or Snow ..............................................4-30
Trailer Brake Hand Control Valve ......................4-8 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out .................4-30
Rear Axle Differential Lock Control ....................4-9 Tow Hooks ..................................................4-31
Traction Control System (TCS) .......................4-10 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-32
Steering ......................................................4-11 Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment .......4-34
Off-Road Recovery .......................................4-13 Towing ..........................................................4-35
Passing .......................................................4-13 Towing Your Vehicle .....................................4-35
Loss of Control .............................................4-15 Trailer Connections .......................................4-37
Driving at Night ............................................4-16 Power Take-Off (PTO) ...................................4-38

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 Your Driving, the Road, and proper defensive driving more difficult and can even
cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to
Your Vehicle help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place
to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving
techniques could save your life.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drunken Driving
Drive defensively.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
Please start with a very important safety device in your a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor
vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
Everyone on page 1-9. every year.
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it means a vehicle:
“always expect the unexpected.”
• Judgment
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to
be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what • Muscular Coordination
they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. • Vision
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of • Attentiveness
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following
distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in Police records show that almost half of all motor
both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving associated with the use of alcohol, with more than
task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, 300,000 people injured.
reading, or reaching for something on the floor — makes

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 Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses
population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces
never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, (45 ml) of liquors like whiskey, gin, or vodka.
it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
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.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
• 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 It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if
consume the alcohol the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces
or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s
According to the American Medical Association, a 180 lb BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 ml) who consumes food just before or during drinking will
bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC have a somewhat lower BAC level.
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the

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 There is a gender difference, too. Women generally Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision
have a lower relative percentage of body water increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of
than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a
level than a man of her same body weight will when collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance
each has the same number of drinks. of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a
level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
The law in most U.S. states, and throughout Canada,
sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol
countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold
0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the
BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United right answer. What if there is an emergency, a need to
States is 0.04 percent. take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to
react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen,
it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, There is something else about drinking and driving that
and how quickly the person drinks them. many people do not know. Medical research shows that
alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
heart. This means that when anyone who has been
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled
drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent.
is higher than if the person had not been drinking.

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 Braking
{CAUTION: Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your
judgment can be affected by even a small foot and do it. That is reaction time.
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. second. But that is only an average. It might be less
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
driver who will not drink. 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
Control of a Vehicle your vehicle and others is important.
You have three systems that make your vehicle go And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement
steering, and the accelerator. All three systems have to or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; the weight of the load and the amount of
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it brake force applied.
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.

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 Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive You may find that the steering wheel seems hard to turn
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy when you are turning and braking at the same time.
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is Also, the primary brake warning light may come on and
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool the warning tone may sound. This is normal because
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much the main hydraulic brake system and power steering
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace both use the power steering pump. If this ever happens,
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, let up on the brake pedal a little. When you let up on
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. the brake pedal in that situation, it lets the steering get a
That means better braking and longer brake life. little more help from the pump.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power electronic braking system that will help prevent a
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and braking skid.
the brake pedal will be harder to push. When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
Hydraulic Brake Systems may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If your engine stops running, or if your primary brake
system stops working, your vehicle has a reserve power If there is a problem with
assist system to help you slow down. Just slowly and the anti-lock brake system,
steadily apply the brake pedal until you can safely get off this warning light will
the road. The pedal will seem harder to push down. stay on. See Anti-Lock
Do not pump the pedal; the system will not work well or Brake System Warning
at all that way. Light on page 3-34.

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 Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what accordingly.
happens with ABS: Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
will separately work the brakes at each wheel. the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
faster than any driver could. The computer is Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
programmed to make the most of available tire and road though you have anti-lock brakes.
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
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 Using Anti-Lock You can apply the trailer brakes a little or apply them all
the way if you have to. Use this control only when
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
you are driving. Do not use it for parking or to hold the
down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
rig on a hill.
the brakes pulsate, or you may hear air exhausting if
you have air brakes, but this is normal.

Braking in Emergencies {CAUTION:

With anti-lock brakes, you can steer and brake at the Using the trailer brake hand control for parking
same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you or for holding the vehicle on a hill may not
more than even the very best braking.
keep the vehicle from rolling. This can happen
if someone hits the valve by accident, or if air
Trailer Brake Hand Control Valve pressure bleeds from the system. If the vehicle
If your vehicle has this feature, the control is mounted rolls, you or others could be injured. To park
on the floor console. the vehicle or hold it on a hill, use the parking
This feature lets you apply brake properly.
the trailer brakes without
applying the tractor brakes.

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 Rear Axle Differential Lock Control If you’re approaching a slippery surface where it looks
like one or even both wheels may start to slip, you
can press the bottom of this switch. It locks your rear
If your vehicle has a
differential so that power is transmitted equally to
controlled traction or
both rear wheels.
locking differential axle, the
switch is located in the Let up on the accelerator before you turn on your rear
center of the instrument axle differential lock.
panel. You’ll see this
Notice: Turning on the inter-axle differential lock
control on single rear
while the rear wheels are spinning freely, as
axle vehicles.
they might on snow or ice, can damage the axle(s).
Turn on this control only while the wheels are
not spinning freely.

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 Traction Control System (TCS) The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery always leave the system on. But you can turn the
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses traction control system off if you ever need to. You
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
the system applies the brake(s) at the affected wheel(s). required. See Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 4-30 for more information.
The bottom light on the TCS on/off button will come
on when the TCS is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or To turn the system on or
hear the system working, but this is normal. The TCS off, press the traction
will function at speeds up to about 25 mph (42 km/h). control button located on
The TCS may operate on dry roads under some the instrument panel.
conditions. When this happens, you may notice a
reduction in acceleration. This is normal and doesn’t
mean there’s a problem with your vehicle. Examples of
these conditions include a hard acceleration in a
turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of the transmission
or driving on rough roads.
When the light in the top of the TCS button is on, the
TCS is off and will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light in the top of the TCS button will come on if the If you used the TCS button to turn the system off, the
TCS is turned off by pressing the TCS on/off button. light in the top of the button will come on and stay
The light may also come on if a problem has been on. You can turn the TCS back on at any time by
detected in either the traction control system or pressing the button again; the light should go off.
the anti-lock brake system.

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 Steering The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
Power Steering which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you
If you lose power steering assist because the engine can control.
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
it will take much more effort. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
On vehicles with hydraulic brakes, the power steering systems — steering and acceleration — have to do
and main hydraulic brake system both use the their work where the tires meet the road. Adding
power steering pump. See Braking on page 4-5. the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. See Traction Control
Steering Tips System (TCS) on page 4-10.
Driving on Curves What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. 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
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. less favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If wheels are straight ahead.
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
will understand this. curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.

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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 4-5. 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 An emergency like this requires close attention and a
on the space available. 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 The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
are driving. 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:
• A vehicle like yours takes a longer time to reach
passing speed, so you will need a longer stretch
of clear road ahead than you would with a
passenger car.
• Drive ahead. Look down the road, to the sides
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the and to crossroads for situations that might affect
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the your passing patterns. If you have any doubt
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait
steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of for a better time.
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.

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 • Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and • If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might your turn. But take care that someone is not trying to
indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
A broken center line usually indicates it is all • Check your mirrors and start your left lane change
right to pass, providing the road ahead is clear.
signal before moving out of the right lane to pass.
Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or
When you are far enough ahead of the passed
a double solid line, even if the road seems empty
vehicle to see its front in your right outside mirror,
of approaching traffic.
activate your right lane change and move back into
• Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to the right lane. Remember that if your right outside
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For mirror is convex, the vehicle you just passed may
one thing, following too closely reduces your area seem to be further away from you than it really is.
of vision, especially if you are following a larger • Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
next vehicle.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
• When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, • Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do
be slowing down or starting to turn.
not get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the • If you are being passed, make it easy for the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can
running start that more than makes up for the ease a little to the right.
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.

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 Loss of Control If you have the Traction Control System (TCS),
remember: It helps avoid only the acceleration skid. See
Let us review what driving experts say about what Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10. If you
happens when the three control systems — brakes, do not have this system, or if the system is off, then an
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough acceleration skid is also best handled by easing
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver your foot off the accelerator pedal.
has asked. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
of less danger. these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
Skidding vehicle control more limited.
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving or braking, including engine braking by shifting to a
those conditions. But skids are always possible. lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
on the road to make a mirrored surface — and
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
slow down when you have any doubt.
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. If you have the anti-lock braking system (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
not have ABS, then in a braking skid, where the
the accelerator pedal.
wheels are no longer rolling, release enough pressure
on the brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This
restores steering control. Push the brake pedal down
steadily when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the
wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.
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 Driving at Night Here are some tips on night driving.
• Drive defensively.
• Do not drink and drive.
• 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
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.

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.

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 No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
as we get older these differences increase. A clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much
50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
make a lot of things invisible. checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even
are not even aware of it.
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.

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 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads 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.
It is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape
and keep your windshield washer tank 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.
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some vehicle 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.

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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 Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
{CAUTION: more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing
on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will not telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple
work as well in a quick stop and may cause the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
pulling to one side. You could lose control of Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
the vehicle. just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a vehicle wash, apply your brake pedal Driving Through Deep Standing Water
lightly until your brakes work normally.
Notice: If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
Hydroplaning through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If
under your tires that they can actually ride on the you cannot avoid deep puddles or standing water,
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and drive through them very slowly.
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.

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 Driving Through Flowing Water Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
• Turn on your low-beam headlamps and your
marker and clearance lamps, if your vehicle has
{CAUTION: them — not just your parking lamps — to help make
you more visible to others.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. • Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
If you try to drive through flowing water, as you distance. And be especially careful when you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
be carried away. As little as six inches of room ahead, and be prepared to have your
flowing water can carry away a smaller vehicle. view restricted by road spray.
If this happens, you and other vehicle • Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires
occupants could drown. Do not ignore police on page 5-70.
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through flowing water.

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 City Driving Here are ways to increase your safety in 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.
• Larger vehicles cannot be driven everywhere
smaller ones can. There are low underpasses, truck
routes and other special situations. Usually these
are well marked, so be sure to watch for the signs.
• Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You will save time and energy. See
Freeway Driving on page 4-22.
• 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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 Freeway Driving 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.
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 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. On some
freeways, larger vehicles are not allowed to use some
lanes. These places usually are well-marked.

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.

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 Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use Highway Hypnosis
your turn signal.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
move slightly slower at night. highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the When you drive the vehicle for a long distance, there is
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do something about an easy stretch of road with the
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
on to the next exit. road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
sharply. The exit speed for cars — but not larger the road in less than a second, and you could crash
vehicles — is usually posted. You should go and be injured.
more slowly.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not aware that it can happen.
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are Then here are some tips:
going slower than you actually are. • 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.
• 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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 Hill and Mountain Roads Here are some tips that can make your drive through
steep country safer:
• Keep the 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.
• 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.

{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
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from to let your engine assist your brakes on a
driving in flat or rolling terrain. steep downhill slope.

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 • Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
{CAUTION: or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the • As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or
to do all the work of slowing down. They could an accident.
get so hot that they would not work well. You
• You may see highway signs on mountains that
would then have poor braking or even none
warn of special problems. Examples are long
going down a hill. You could crash. Always grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks
have your engine running and your vehicle in area, winding roads, and special truck lanes. Be
gear when you go downhill. alert to these and take appropriate action.

• Know how to go uphill. Use lower gears. They help

cool your engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.

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 Winter Driving 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 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 your tires meet
the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your 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.

Here are some tips for winter driving:

• Be sure the vehicle is in good shape for winter.
• You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Also see Tires on page 5-70.

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 If you have the traction control system (TCS), it will
improve your ability to accelerate when driving on
a slippery road. But you can turn the TCS off if you ever
need to. You should turn the system off if your vehicle
ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If
Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-30. 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 the TCS off, such as when driving through
deep snow and loose gravel, to help maintain vehicle
motion at lower speeds. See Traction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-10.
If you do not have TCS, accelerate gently. Try not to
break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the
drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under
the tires even more.

What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold snow Unless you have the anti-lock braking system (ABS),
or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice you will want to brake very gently, too. If you do
can be even more trouble because it may offer the least have ABS, see Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) on
traction of all. You can get wet ice when it is about page 4-6. ABS improves your vehicle’s stability when
freezing, 32°F (0°C), and freezing rain begins to fall. Try you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Whether you
to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews have ABS or not, you will want to begin stopping
can get there. sooner than you would on dry pavement. Without ABS,
if you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed, blowing, brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down steadily to
or loose snow — drive with caution. get the most traction you can.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into 4HI.
See Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-33.

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 Remember, unless you have ABS, if you brake so hard • Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
that your wheels stop rolling, you will just slide. Brake If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
so your wheels always keep rolling and you can body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags,
still steer. rags, floor mats — anything you can wrap around
• Whatever your braking system, allow greater yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
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.

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 You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
and your passengers safe:
• Turn on your hazard flashers.
• Tie a red cloth to your mirror arm to alert police that
you have been stopped by the snow.

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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
{CAUTION: faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your it keeps the battery (or batteries) charged. You will
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon need a well-charged battery (or batteries) to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it or
smell it, so you might not know it is in your If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base higher speed to get enough heat.
of your vehicle if any is blocking your exhaust Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
pipe. And check around again from time to time all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
to be sure snow does not collect there. again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
Open a window just a little on the side of the possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
keep CO out. some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.

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 If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Mud, Ice or Snow First, turn the steering wheel left and right. That will clear
the area around the front wheels. If you have a
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into 4HI. See Four-Wheel
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to Drive on page 2-33. If your vehicle has traction
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as rocking control, you should turn the traction control system off.
can help you get out when you are stuck, but you See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10.
must use caution. Then 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
{CAUTION: the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and
explode, and you or others could be injured.
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that
And, the transmission or other parts of the may free your vehicle. If that does not get you out
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you
engine compartment fire or other damage. do need to be towed out, see Towing Your Vehicle
When you are stuck, spin the wheels as little as on page 4-35.
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.

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 Tow Hooks
If your vehicle has tow hooks, the hooks are provided at {CAUTION:
the front and, on some models, the rear of your
vehicle. You may need to use them if you are stuck These hooks, when used, are under a lot of
off-road and need to be pulled to some place where you force. Always pull the vehicle straight out.
can continue driving. Never pull on the hooks at a sideways angle.
The hooks could break off and you or others
could be injured from the chain or cable
snapping back.

Notice: Never use tow hooks to tow the vehicle.

Your vehicle could be damaged and it would not be
covered by warranty.

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 Loading Your Vehicle The GVW Rating label is provided by the final
manufacturer and should be on the door or door jamb.
There is a vehicle specific GVW Rating label on your It also tells you the maximum weights for the front
vehicle that shows how much weight it may properly and rear axles, called Gross Axle Weight Rating
carry. It also shows the size of your original tires and the (GAWR). To find out the actual loads on your front and
inflation pressures needed to obtain the gross weight rear axles, you need to go to a weigh station and
capacity of your vehicle. This is called the Gross Vehicle weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this.
Weight Rating (GVWR). Be sure to spread out your load equally on both
sides of the center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the GAWR
for either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out.

The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all

occupants, fuel and cargo.

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 {CAUTION: {CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight in a crash.
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your • Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
your vehicle handles. These could cause you • Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading inside the vehicle so that some of them
can shorten the life of your vehicle. are above the tops of the seats.
• Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
Using heavier suspension components to get added
durability might not change your weight ratings. Ask your • When you carry something inside the
dealer to help you load your vehicle the right way. vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
• Do not leave a seat folded down unless
Notice: Overloading your vehicle may cause you need to.
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
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 turn quickly,
or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.

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 Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment {CAUTION:
If you will be installing a snow plow on your vehicle, we
recommend that the vehicle be equipped with the On some vehicles equipped with certain front
snow plow prep package (RPO ANQ). Before installing mounted equipment, such as a snow plow, it
a snow plow, see your dealer for information on may be possible to load the front axle to the
other recommended optional equipment and vehicle front GAWR but not have enough weight on
weight restrictions. the rear axle to have proper braking
performance. If your brakes can not work
Notice: If your vehicle does not have the snow
plow prep package, adding a plow can damage your properly, you could have a crash. To help your
vehicle, and the repairs would not be covered by brakes work properly when a snow plow is
warranty. The payload your vehicle can carry will be installed, always follow the snow plow
reduced when a snow plow is installed. Your manufacturer or installer’s recommendation for
vehicle can be damaged if either the front or rear rear ballast to ensure a proper front and rear
axle ratings, or the GVW, are exceeded. See weight distribution ratio, even though the
your dealer for more information. actual front weight may be less than the front
GAWR, and the total vehicle weight is less
than the GVWR. Maintaining a proper front and
rear weight distribution ratio is necessary to
provide proper braking performance.

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 Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
Releasing Air-Operated Parking Brakes
If your vehicle has air brakes, you could have a
special towing problem. If your vehicle has to be towed
because of a complete loss of air pressure from
both systems, the parking brakes will have automatically
engaged. The tow operator can release the brakes
manually by using the following steps. Then your vehicle 2. Remove the release stud and nut from the side of
can be towed with all wheels or only the rear wheels the brake chamber. Some chambers have studs
on the ground. which are visible at all times.
1. Block the wheels of the vehicle.

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 3. Remove the rubber 6. Turn the stud nut
cap from the rear of clockwise several turns
the chamber. to release the brakes.
Follow the same
procedure to release
the other brake
or brakes.

4. Put the release stud, nut and flat washer into 7. At the repair facility, apply air pressure of at least
the chamber. 70 psi (480 kPa) to the brake chambers, either
5. Turn the stud clockwise a quarter of a turn. from an external air supply or the vehicle’s
air system.
8. Turn the stud nut counterclockwise several turns.
Remove the stud from the chamber.
9. Replace the stud and washer and tighten the nut
into the side of the chamber.
10. Replace the rubber cap.

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 Trailer Connections The eight-wire harness contains the following trailer
circuits:
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Package • Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Your vehicle may be equipped with an eight-wire trailer • Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
towing harness. This harness, with a seven-pin • Brown: Taillamps
universal heavy-duty trailer connector, is attached to a
bracket on the platform hitch. • White: Ground
The Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) wire • Light Green: Back-up Lamps
is tied next to the trailer wiring harness for use with • Light Blue: CHMSL
a trailer.
• Red: Battery Feed
• Dark Blue: Trailer Brake

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 Trailer Connections Power Take-Off (PTO)
(C7/C8 Models Only)
If your vehicle is equipped
If your vehicle has these trailer connections, they are for the addition of a PTO,
located at the rear of the cab for a tractor and at the rear this factory installed
of the chassis when towing a trailer. There will be an switch will be located in
air connection and an electrical connection. the instrument panel.
Be sure that the couplings to the trailer are
made correctly.

Air Connections
Before using a PTO, refer to the manufacturer’s or
If you are not connecting the trailer air line connections installer’s instructions.
to another piece of equipment, be sure to replace
their protective caps.
Electrical Connections
This system is a seven-wire cable that will connect to
the trailer, supplying power to the trailer’s lighting
system. When not in use, it is stored in the trailer
air-hose storage bracket.

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 Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................5-3 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ................................5-33
Doing Your Own Service Work .........................5-4 Automatic Transmission Fluid .........................5-34
Two Safety Cautions about Engine Fan Manual Transmission Fluid .............................5-35
Breakage ...................................................5-5 Engine Coolant (Gas and
Fuel ................................................................5-6 DURAMAX® Engines) .................................5-36
Gasoline Octane ............................................5-6 Engine Coolant (Caterpillar® Diesel Engines) .....5-38
Gasoline Specifications ....................................5-6 Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap ..................5-38
Additives .......................................................5-6 Engine Overheating .......................................5-38
Diesel Engine Fuel .........................................5-7 Cooling System (Gas and
What Fuel to Use ...........................................5-8 DURAMAX® Engines) .................................5-40
Very Cold Weather Operation .........................5-10 Engine Fan Noise .........................................5-45
Water in Fuel ...............................................5-10 Power Steering Fluid .....................................5-45
Running Out of Fuel .....................................5-15 Windshield Washer Fluid ................................5-46
Fuel Filter Replacement .................................5-16 Brakes ........................................................5-47
Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................5-17 Battery ........................................................5-55
Filling the Tank ............................................5-18 Jump Starting ...............................................5-56
Filling a Portable Fuel Container .....................5-19 Rear Axle .......................................................5-60
Checking Things Under the Hood ....................5-20 Rear Axle Shift Motor ....................................5-62
Hood Latches ...............................................5-20 Four-Wheel Drive ............................................5-62
Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) .............5-22 Front Axle ......................................................5-63
Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) ......................5-22
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) ..........................5-26 Noise Control System .....................................5-64
Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine) ........5-29 Tampering with Noise Control System
Engine Oil Life System (DURAMAX® Diesel) .....5-31 Prohibited .................................................5-64
Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Bulb Replacement ..........................................5-65
Diesel Engine) ..........................................5-32 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ..............5-65

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 Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Other Service Items ........................................5-66 Washing Your Vehicle ...................................5-83
Fuel Filter ....................................................5-66 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .....................5-83
Primary Fuel Filter and Water Separator ..........5-67 Finish Care ..................................................5-83
Secondary Fuel Filter and Water Separator/ Windshield and Wiper Blades .........................5-84
Heater (Caterpillar® Diesel) ..........................5-68 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ................5-84
Automatic Ether Injection System Tires ...........................................................5-85
(Caterpillar® Diesel) ....................................5-68 Sheet Metal Damage .....................................5-85
Front Wheel Bearings with Oil-Filled Hubs ........5-69 Finish Damage .............................................5-85
Air Conditioning System .................................5-70 Underbody Maintenance ................................5-85
Tires ..............................................................5-70 Chemical Paint Spotting .................................5-85
Inflation - Tire Pressure .................................5-71 Vehicle Identification ......................................5-87
Wheel Loading .............................................5-71 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .................5-87
Dual Tire Operation .......................................5-72 Service Statement .........................................5-87
When It Is Time for New Tires .......................5-72 Service Parts Identification Label .....................5-88
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ..................5-73 Electrical System ............................................5-88
Tightening the Wheel Nuts .............................5-73 Add-On Electrical Equipment ..........................5-88
Wheel Replacement ......................................5-77 Headlamp Wiring ..........................................5-88
If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................5-78 Windshield Wiper Fuses ................................5-88
Appearance Care ............................................5-79 Fusible Links ................................................5-89
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle .................5-80 Power Windows and Other Power Options .......5-89
Fabric/Carpet ...............................................5-81 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ............................5-89
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Instrument Panel Fuse Block ..........................5-89
Plastic Surfaces ........................................5-82 Underhood Fuse Block ..................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts ......................................5-82 Capacities and Specifications ..........................5-95
Weatherstrips ...............................................5-82
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .........5-100

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 Service California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
emit chemicals known to the State of California to
be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems
and GM-trained and supported service people.
(including some inside the vehicle), many fluids, and
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM. some component wear by-products contain and/or emit
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks: these chemicals.

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 Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you {CAUTION:
will want to use the proper service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your vehicle than You can be injured and your vehicle could be
this manual can. To order the proper service manual, damaged if you try to do service work on a
see Service Publications Ordering Information on vehicle without knowing enough about it.
page 7-8.
• Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting experience, the proper replacement parts,
to do your own service work, see Servicing Your and tools before you attempt any vehicle
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-59. maintenance task.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list • Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
the mileage and the date of any service work you other fasteners. English and metric
perform. See Part D: Maintenance Record on page 6-34. 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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 Two Safety Cautions about
CAUTION: (Continued)
Engine Fan Breakage
Winter Fronts, Grille Covers or Obstructions:
{CAUTION: Winter Fronts, grille covers or other add-on
equipment causing obstructions in front or
Changing the Fan Drive Ratio or Engine behind the fan should not be used on this
Governed Speed: vehicle. If this causes the fan to eventually
break apart while it is rotating, the pieces can
If you change the fan drive ratio or increase cause severe injury to anyone nearby, such as
the governed speed of the engine, you may a service technician working on the engine,
increase stress and the fan could eventually fail. and of course the pieces can severely damage
If the fan breaks apart while it is rotating, pieces the vehicle.
can cause severe injury to anyone — such as
a service technician — who is nearby. And, of
course, the pieces can severely damage the
vehicle. Do not change the fan drive ratio or
increase the governed speed of the vehicle
without getting the necessary information from
your dealer.
CAUTION: (Continued)

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 Fuel Gasoline Specifications
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see Diesel Engine It is recommended that gasoline meet specifications
Fuel on page 5-7. which were developed by automobile manufacturers
around the world and contained in the World-Wide Fuel
For vehicles with gasoline engines, please read this. Charter which is available from the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers at www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm.
Gasoline Octane Gasoline meeting these specifications could provide
improved driveability and emission control system
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of performance compared to other gasoline.
87 or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as Additives
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
A little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill is
are now required to contain additives that will help
considered normal. This does not indicate a problem
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you are
allowing your emission control system to work properly.
using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and hear heavy
In most cases, you should not have to add anything to
knocking, your engine needs service.
your fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
General Motors recommends that you buy gasolines that
are advertised to help keep fuel injectors and intake
valves clean. If your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, try a different brand of gasoline.
Also, your GM dealer has additives that will help correct
and prevent most deposit-related problems.

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 Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and Diesel Engine Fuel
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors For the Caterpillar® diesel, see the Caterpillar®
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if Operation & Maintenance Manual for information
they comply with the specifications described earlier. concerning fuel usage.
Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that Notice: Diesel fuel or fuel additives not
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing recommended in this manual could damage your
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel fuel system and engine. Your warranty would
system and also damage the plastic and rubber not cover this damage. And:
parts. That damage would not be covered under • Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil
your warranty. or automatic transmission fluid could damage
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low your engine and emission controls.
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive • Aftermarket diesel fuel additives are not tested
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl by General Motors. Some additives, particularly
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline those which contain alcohol or water emulsifiers,
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors may damage your fuel system. If you believe that
does not recommend the use of such gasolines. unique circumstances call for a fuel additive to
Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs be used, consult your dealer for advice.
and the performance of the emission control system • If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be difficult
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp to restart your engine. To avoid all this, never let
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized your tank get empty.
GM dealer for service.
If gasoline is ever accidentally added to the fuel
tank, to avoid severe engine damage, do not run the
engine until the fuel tank can be drained.
If you run out of fuel, Running Out of Fuel on page 5-15
tells you how to restart your engine.

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 What Fuel to Use Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils or animal fat
that have been chemically modified to reduce the
In the United States, for best results use Number 2-D possibility of damage to your fuel system and engine.
diesel fuel year-round (above and below freezing Higher concentration (i.e., greater than B5)
conditions) as oil companies blend Number 2-D fuel to biodiesel-containing fuels or the use of unmodified
address climate differences. Number 1-D diesel fuel bio-oils blended into diesel fuel at any concentration is
may be used in very cold temperatures (when it stays not recommended and could damage your fuel
below 0°F or −18°C); however, it will produce a system and engine. Such damage would not be covered
power and fuel economy loss. Avoid the use of by your warranty. If there are questions about the
Number 1-D diesel fuel in warm or hot climates. biodiesel-containing fuels you are using, contact your
It may result in stalling, poor starting when the engine fuel supplier.
is hot and may damage the fuel injection system.
Diesel fuel may foam when you fill your tank. This can
At a minimum, the diesel fuel you use should meet cause the automatic pump nozzle to shut off, even
specifications ASTM D975-03 (Grade Low Sulfur) in the though your tank is not full. If this happens, just wait for
United States. In addition, the Engine Manufacturers the foaming to stop and then continue to fill your tank.
Association (EMA) has identified properties of an
improved diesel fuel for better engine performance and
durability. Diesel fuels corresponding to the EMA {CAUTION:
Recommended Guideline on Premium Diesel Fuel
(FQP-1A) could provide better starting, less noise and
better vehicle performance. If there are questions Heat coming from the engine may cause the fuel
about the fuel you are using, contact your fuel supplier. to expand and force the fuel out of your tank.
If your vehicle has the 6.6L engine, it is acceptable If something ignites the fuel, a fire could start
to use diesel fuel containing up to 5% biodiesel (B5), but and people could be burned. To help avoid this,
the final blended fuel must meet the same specification, fill your fuel tank only until the automatic nozzle
ASTM D975-03 (Grade Low Sulfur), as other fuels shuts off. Do not try to top it off.
used in your vehicle, and the biodiesel used for making
this fuel must meet the ASTM D6751-03 specification.

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 What Fuel to Use in Canada If your vehicle has the 6.6L engine, it is acceptable to
use diesel fuel containing up to 5% biodiesel (B5),
Canadian fuels are blended for seasonal changes. but the final blended fuel must meet the same
Diesel Type “A” fuel is blended for better cold weather specification, CAN/CGSB-3.517-2000 (Low Sulfur
starting (below 0°F or −18°C); however, you may Diesel) in Canada, as other fuels used in your vehicle,
notice some power and fuel economy loss. If Type “A” and the biodiesel used for making this fuel must
fuel is used in warmer temperatures, stalling and meet the ASTM D6751-03 specification. Biodiesel is
hard starting may occur. Diesel Type “B” fuel is blended produced from vegetable oils or animal fat that
for temperatures above 0°F (−18°C). The emission have been chemically modified to reduce the
control system requires the use of diesel fuel with possibility of damage to your fuel system and
low-sulfur (.05% by weight) content. Both low- and engine. Higher concentration (i.e., greater than B5)
higher-sulfur fuels will be available in Canada. Only biodiesel-containing fuels or the use of unmodified
low-sulfur diesel fuels are available in the United States. bio-oils blended into diesel fuel at any concentration is
It is important that diesel-powered trucks are refueled not recommended and could damage your fuel
only with low-sulfur fuel. Use of fuels with higher-sulfur system and engine. Such damage would not be covered
content will affect the function of the emission by your warranty. If there are questions about the
components and may cause reduced performance, biodiesel-containing fuels you are using, contact your
excessive smoke and unpleasant odor. fuel supplier.
At a minimum, the diesel fuel you use should meet
specifications CAN/CGSB-3.517-2000 (Low Sulfur
Diesel) in Canada. In addition, the Engine Manufacturers
Association (EMA) has identified properties of an
improved diesel fuel for better engine performance and
durability (FQP-1A). Diesel fuels corresponding to
the EMA description could provide better starting, less
noise and better vehicle performance. If there are
questions about the fuel you are using, contact your
fuel supplier.

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 Very Cold Weather Operation Notice: If there is water in your diesel fuel and the
weather is warm or humid, fungus and bacteria
Follow the instructions listed previously under the can grow in the fuel. They can damage your
heading “What Fuel to Use.” fuel system. A diesel fuel biocide can be used to
sterilize your fuel system. However, your fuel system
Notice: Never use home heating oil or gasoline in may still need to be cleaned. Your dealer can
your diesel engine. They can cause engine advise you of the appropriate solution.
damage.
If your fuel tank needs to be purged to remove
In cold weather, your fuel filter may become clogged water, see your dealer or a qualified technician.
(waxed). To unclog it, move the vehicle to a warm Improper purging can damage your fuel system.
garage area and warm the filter to between 32°F and
50°F (0°C to 10°C). You will not need to replace it. Sometimes, water can be pumped into your fuel
Additional information on the fuel filter follows. tank along with your diesel fuel. This can happen if a
service station does not regularly inspect and clean
its fuel tanks, or if it gets contaminated fuel from
Water in Fuel its suppliers.

If this happens, the

{CAUTION: water-in-fuel light, if
equipped, will come on in
the instrument panel. If it
Diesel fuel containing water is still flammable.
does, the water must be
You could be burned. If you ever try to drain drained. Your dealer can
water from your fuel, keep sparks, flames and show you how to do this.
smoking materials away from the mixture.

If the light comes on, use this chart to determine what

action to take.

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 Water In Fuel Light Chart Notice: If you drive when this warning indicator is
on, you can damage your fuel injection system
Problem Recommended Action
and your engine. If the indicator comes on right after
Light comes on Drain water from the you refuel, it means water was pumped into your
intermittently. fuel filter. fuel tank. Turn off your engine immediately.
Drain the fuel filter Then, have the water drained at once.
Light stays on at immediately. If no water To drain water, do the following:
temperatures above can be drained and the
1. Stop and park the vehicle in a safe place.
freezing. light stays on, see your
Turn off the engine and apply the parking brake.
dealer for assistance.
2. Remove the fuel cap.
Drain the fuel filter
immediately. If no water 3. Place a fuel-resistant container under the fuel filter.
can be drained, water The filter drain valve is located on the bottom of the
Light stays on at may be frozen in the fuel filter. The fuel filter is located in the engine
temperatures below water drain system, or in compartment, or on the driver’s side frame rail near
freezing. the fuel lines. Move the the engine.
vehicle to a warm location 4. Open the drain valve
to thaw out, and then by turning two to
drain the filter system. three turns. When fuel
Light stays on empties from the
immediately after valve, all the water
Fuel tank purging is has been drained.
refueling, and a large
required. See your dealer Close the valve
amount of water was
for assistance. hand-tight.
possibly pumped into the
fuel tank.

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 5. Remove the fuel-resistant container and properly Fuel Priming
dispose of the contaminated fuel. To find out how to
properly dispose of contaminated diesel fuel, If your vehicle has a Caterpillar® diesel engine, see the
see Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation and Maintenance
page 5-22 or Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) Manual provided with your vehicle.
on page 5-22 or Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on If your vehicle has a DURAMAX® diesel engine, in order
page 5-26. for the fuel system to work properly, the fuel lines
6. Install the fuel cap. must be full of fuel and contain no air. If air gets into the
fuel lines, it will be necessary to prime the fuel lines
7. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes.
to eliminate air before operating the vehicle.
If the engine stalls, the fuel system may need to be
primed. While draining the water from the fuel filter, Air can get into the fuel lines if any of the following happen:
air may enter the fuel system. If air has entered the • The vehicle runs out of fuel.
fuel system the fuel system will need to be primed.
• The fuel filter is removed for servicing or
If the water-in-fuel light comes on again after driving a
replacement.
short distance or the engine runs rough or stalls, a large
amount of water has probably been pumped into the • The fuel lines are removed or disconnected for
fuel tank. The fuel tank should be purged. servicing.
• The fuel filter water drain valve is opened while the
engine is running.
If one or more of the above occurred, it is very likely that
air has entered your fuel system and that you will need to
prime the fuel system before operating the vehicle.
Air in the fuel lines will not harm the engine or the
vehicle. However, the engine may not be able to start
until the fuel system is primed and the air is removed.

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 Priming the 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel 4. Remove any dirt from the fuel filter head and vent
Engine valve by wiping with a cloth.

If your vehicle is equipped with the 6.6L DURAMAX® 5. Open the fuel filter vent
diesel engine, it has a priming pump which is part of the valve by turning the
engine mounted fuel filter. The vent valve and the screw counterclockwise
fuel filter primer pump are located on top of the fuel filter several full turns.
housing. The priming pump is hand operated and is
designed to bring fuel to the engine to eliminate any air
that may be in the fuel lines.
To prime the 6.6L DURAMAX® diesel engine,
do the following:
1. Make sure there is fuel in the tank.
2. Make sure the fuel filter had been installed and
properly tightened.
3. Make sure the fuel lines are properly connected
and the fuel filter is cool enough to touch.

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 6. Repeatedly push down Priming the 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Engine
on the fuel filter primer
pump with the palm of If your vehicle is equipped with the 7.8L DURAMAX®
your hand. Let the diesel engine, use the following procedure to prime the
pump return upward engine:
between pushes.

7. Operate the priming pump until a small amount of

fuel seeps from the vent valve. When you see the
fuel, the filter is now full of fuel and the system
should be primed.
8. Close the vent valve.
9. Clean any fuel which accumulated on the fuel filter. 1. Make sure there is fuel in the fuel tank.
10. Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes. 2. Make sure the specified fuel filter is properly
11. Check the filter for leaks. installed.
3. Make sure the fuel lines are securely connected.
4. Make sure the fuel filter is cool to the touch.
5. Use a clean cloth to remove dirt and oil from the
fuel filter head and breather valve.

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 6. Use the palm of your hand to repeatedly press and Running Out of Fuel
release the plunger (1) at the top of the fuel filter
priming pump. Continue until the plunger resistance If the diesel engine stalls and you think that you have
becomes firm. This may take from 20 to 100 times, run out of fuel, do this to restart your engine:
depending upon fuel tank location.
7. Turn the fuel filter breather valve screw (2)
counterclockwise several turns to open the {CAUTION:
breather valve.
8. Use the palm of your hand to repeatedly press and Diesel fuel is flammable. It could start a fire if
release the plunger (1) at the top of the fuel filter it gets on hot engine parts. You could be
priming pump until fuel begins to seep from burned. Do not let too much fuel flow from the
the breather valve. air bleed valve, and wipe up any spilled fuel
9. Tighten the fuel filter breather screw (2) to the with a cloth.
specified torque, 4.9 Y (43 in. lbs).
10. Use the palm of your hand to press and release the 1. If you are parked on a level surface, add at least
plunger (1) at the top of the fuel filter priming pump 2 gallons (7.6 liters) of fuel. However, if you are
about 20 more times. This sends fuel to the engine. parked on a slope, you may need to add up
11. Use a clean cloth to remove any fuel from the fuel to 5 gallons (18.9 liters) of fuel.
filter and surrounding area. 2. Follow the fuel priming procedure earlier in this
12. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes. section to prime the fuel filter.
13. Check the fuel filter for leakage. 3. Close the air bleed valve.
4. Turn the ignition key to START for 10 to 15 seconds
at a time until your engine starts. If the engine tries
to run, but does not run smoothly, increase the
rpm a little using the accelerator pedal. This will help
force air through the system.

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 Fuel Filter Replacement The fuel filter is located in the engine compartment on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle, or on the driver’s
If you want to change the diesel engine fuel filter side frame rail in front of the fuel tank.
yourself, here is how to do it: 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Unplug the water
{CAUTION: sensor wire connected
to the fuel filter and
unscrew the filter
Diesel fuel is flammable. It could start a fire if element.
something ignites it, and you could be burned.
Do not let it get on hot engine parts, and keep
matches or other ignition sources away.

First, drain any water from the filter by following the

water draining procedure earlier in this section.
Your vehicle’s engine should be off until the end of this
procedure.

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 3. Remove the filter element. If there is any dirt on the Fuels in Foreign Countries
filter sealing surface, clean it off. Remove and
reuse the water sensor float switch located on the If you plan on driving in another country outside the
bottom of the fuel filter. United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be
4. Install the new filter element. hard to find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other
fuel not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
5. Reinstall and tighten the filter container and Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t
reconnect the water sensor wire to the filter. be covered by your warranty.
6. Use the fuel filter priming procedure earlier in this To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
section to prime the fuel filter. contact a major oil company that does business in the
7. Tighten the air bleed valve by turning it clockwise country where you’ll be driving.
until hand-tight.
8. Start your engine and let it idle for five minutes.
Check your fuel filter and air bleed valve for leaks.

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 Filling the Tank The fuel cap can be on either or both sides of your
vehicle depending on option content.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).

{CAUTION:
If you get fuel on yourself 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
C4/C5 Models C6/C7/C8 Models 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
{CAUTION: all the way.

Fuel vapor is highly flammable. It burns

violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from fuel.

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 When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right Filling a Portable Fuel Container
(clockwise) until it is tight.
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.
{CAUTION:
This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage your fuel tank and emissions Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in
system. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
page 3-36. the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
If you have dual tanks, fill the driver’s side tank, or You can be badly burned and your vehicle
forward tank, first. The fuel gage will give better damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
readings this way. Your gage will show the total fuel you and others:
left in both tanks. • 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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 Checking Things Under Hood Latches
the Hood

{CAUTION:
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.

To tilt the hood forward, pull back and up on each of the

hood latches, located above the wheel wells on both
sides of the vehicle.

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 Then take the hand hold and pull the hood forward. When you tilt the hood far enough, the cables will
support it. When you close the hood, make sure both
latches are secured.

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 Engine Oil In order to get an accurate reading, the engine should
be at normal operating temperature, so that the oil
(Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) is warm, and the vehicle must be on level ground.
See your Caterpillar® Operation & Maintenance Manual 1. If the engine is at normal operating temperature and
for information on oil quality and viscosities as well the oil is warm, turn off the engine and allow at
as the temperature range chart. least five minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan. If you do not do this, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) If the engine has not been run long enough to bring
it up to normal operating temperature and the oil
Checking Engine Oil is cool, turn off the engine and allow 30 minutes for
It is a good idea to check your engine oil level every the oil to drain back into the oil pan. If you do
time you get fuel. not do this, the oil dipstick might not show the
actual level.
The engine oil dipstick is 2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
located in the engine or a cloth, then push it back in all the way.
compartment on the
driver’s side of the vehicle. 3. Remove the dipstick again, keeping the tip down,
and check the oil level.

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 This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities
and Specifications on page 5-95.
Notice: Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area for the 6.6L V8 (LLY) engine or
above the upper hole that shows the proper
6.6L V8 (LLY) Engine operating range for the 7.8L L6 (LG4) engine, your
engine could be damaged.

Add oil at the engine

oil fill cap in the engine
compartment. Install
and fully tighten the fill cap
when you are through.

7.8L L6 (LG4) Engine

When to Add Engine Oil

If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of
the dipstick for the 6.6L V8 (LLY) engine, you will need
to add at least two quarts/liters of oil. If the oil is Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere
below the lower hole at the tip of the dipstick for the in the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all
7.8L L6 (LG4) engine, you will need to add at least the way back in when you are through.
one quart/liter of oil. But you must use the right kind.

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 What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for these two things:
• CI-4 or CH-4
Oils designated as API CI-4 or CH-4 are
recommended for your vehicle. The CI-4 or CH-4
designations may appear either alone, together or in
combination with other API designations, such as
API CI-4/SL.
These letters show American Petroleum Institute
(API) levels of quality.
Notice: Use only engine oils that have one of these
designations CI-4 or CH-4 for the DURAMAX®
diesel engine. Failure to use the recommended oils
can result in engine damage not covered by your
warranty.

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 • SAE 15W-40 Engine Oil Additives
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 15W-40 is Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended oils
best for your vehicle. However, you can use with the API service symbol are all you will need for
SAE 10W-30 at temperatures above 0°F (−18°C). good performance and engine protection.
When it is very cold, below 0°F (−18°C), you should
use SAE 5W-40 to improve cold starting. When to Change Engine Oil (Vehicles
These numbers on the oil container show its Without the Engine Oil Life System)
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils such as SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50. If you have the 6.6L V8 (LLY) Engine: Change engine
oil and filter every 15,000 miles (24 000 km), or
This doughnut-shaped every 12 months, or every 750 hours of engine
logo (symbol) is used on operation, whichever occurs first. If you have the
most oil containers to 7.8L V6 (LG4) Engine: Change engine oil and filter
help you select the correct every 12,000 miles (20 000 km), or every 12 months,
oil. It means that the oil or every 600 hours of engine operation, whichever
has been certified by occurs first. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5.
the American Petroleum
Institute.

You should look for this on the oil container, and use
only those oils that display this logo.
GM Goodwrench® oil of the recommended viscosity
grades meets all the requirements for your vehicle.

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 Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) The engine oil dipstick is
located in the engine
compartment on the
If the low oil light appears
driver’s side of the vehicle.
on the instrument cluster, it
means you need to
check your engine oil level
right away. For more
information, see Low Oil
Level Light on page 3-38.

You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is

an added reminder.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
Checking Engine Oil to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.

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 When to Add Engine Oil The engine oil fill cap is
located near the engine oil
dipstick in the engine
compartment, on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.

Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere in

If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the proper operating range in the cross-hatched area.
the dipstick, you will need to add at least one quart/liter Push the dipstick all the way back in when you are
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section through.
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and Specifications on
page 5-95.
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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 What Kind of Engine Oil to Use These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity
oils such as SAE 20W-50.

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:
Notice: Use only engine oil identified as meeting
• GM6094M GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M. oil can result in engine damage not covered by
your warranty.
• SAE 5W-30
As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is best GM Goodwrench® oil meets all the requirements for
for your vehicle. your vehicle.

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 If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the When the system has calculated that oil life has been
temperature falls below −20°F (−29°C), it is diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30 necessary. A change engine oil light will come on.
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide See Change Engine Oil Light on page 3-38.
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine Change your oil as soon as possible within the
at extremely low temperatures. next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system
Engine Oil Additives may not indicate that an oil change is necessary for
over a year. However, your engine oil and filter must be
Do not add anything to your oil. The recommended oils changed at least once a year and at this time the
with the API service symbol are all you will need for system must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained
good performance and engine protection. service people who will perform this work using genuine
GM parts and reset the system. It is also important to
Engine Oil Life System check your oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
(Gasoline Engine) If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
When to Change Engine Oil last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
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 What to Do with Used Oil
System Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long.
Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it can Clean your skin and nails with soap and water, or a
calculate when the next oil change is required. If a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of
situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a clothing or rags containing used engine oil. See the
change engine oil light being turned on, reset the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal of
system. oil products.

To reset the change engine oil light, do the following: Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off. filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
three times within 10 seconds. streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
If the change engine oil light flashes for five seconds,
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask your
the system is resetting.
dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
3. Turn the key to OFF. for help.
If the change engine oil light comes back on when you
start your vehicle, the engine oil life system has not
reset. Repeat the procedure.

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 Engine Oil Life System If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km), or 150 hours
(DURAMAX® Diesel) of engine operation, whichever occurs first, since
your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life
When to Change Engine Oil system whenever the oil is changed.
If your vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System, it has a How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
computer system that lets you know when to change
the engine oil and filter. This is based on injection timing, System
engine load and engine temperature, and not on The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
which an oil change will be indicated can vary your oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, when the next oil change is required. If a situation occurs
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed. where you change your oil prior to a change engine oil
When the system has calculated that oil life has been light being turned on, reset the system.
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is To reset the Engine Oil Life System, do the following:
necessary. A change engine oil light will come on.
See Change Engine Oil Light on page 3-38. 1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off.
Change your oil as soon as possible within the next 2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly
600 miles (1 000 km) or 30 hours of engine operation, three times within 10 seconds.
whichever occurs first. It is possible that, if you are
If the change engine oil light flashes for five seconds,
driving under the best conditions, the oil life system may
the system is resetting.
not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and filter must be 3. Turn the key to OFF.
changed at least once a year and at this time the system If the change engine oil light comes back on when you
must be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained service start your vehicle, the Engine Oil Life System has
people who will perform this work using genuine not reset. Repeat the procedure.
GM parts and reset the system. It is also important to
check your oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.

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 What to Do with Used Oil Engine Oil Life System
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine)
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
Clean your skin and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of System
clothing or rags containing used engine oil. See the The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change
manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal of your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use.
oil products. Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it can
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you calculate when the next oil change is required. If a
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from situation occurs where you change your oil prior to a
the filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting change engine oil light being turned on, reset the
it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, system.
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by To reset the Engine Oil Life System, do the following:
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have
a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask your 1. Turn the ignition key to RUN with the engine off.
dealer, a service station or a local recycling center 2. Fully apply and hold the brake pedal while you fully
for help. press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
3. Turn the key to OFF.
If the change engine oil light comes back on when you
start your vehicle, the Engine Oil Life System has
not reset. Repeat the procedure.

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 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter When to Inspect the Engine
The engine air cleaner/filter
Air Cleaner/Filter
is located in the center of If your vehicle has an
the engine compartment. air cleaner/filter change
indicator, inspect the
indicator at every oil
change and replace the
filter when the indicator
tells you to.

For vehicles without a change indicator, inspect the air

cleaner/filter at every oil change and replace the
filter at the first oil change after 25,000 miles
(40 000 km).

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 How to Inspect the Engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
Air Cleaner/Filter
When to Check
Locate the filter change indicator. When the change
indicator turns black or is in the red/orange change area, A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
replace the filter and reset the indicator. level is when the engine oil is checked. See your Allison
To inspect the engine air cleaner/filter, remove the filter Automatic Transmission Operator’s Manual to find out
from the vehicle and lightly shake the filter to release when to change your transmission fluid and filters.
loose dust and dirt. If the filter remains caked with dirt, How to Check and What to Use
a new filter is required.
The Allison Automatic Transmission Operator’s Manual
that came with the vehicle shows how to check the
{CAUTION: automatic transmission fluid and what fluid to use.

Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter Automatic Transmission External Filter
off can cause you or others to be burned. Your automatic transmission filter requires periodic
The air cleaner not only cleans the air; it helps replacement.
to stop flame if the engine backfires. If it is Consult the Allison Automatic Transmission Operator’s
not there and the engine backfires, you could Manual that came with the vehicle for proper change
be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be intervals.
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off.

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.

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 Manual Transmission Fluid How to Add Fluid
To add transmission fluid, do the following:
When to Check
1. Remove the filler plug.
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
checked. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to find out 2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
when to check and change your manual transmission fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom of the
fluid. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5. fill opening. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine the proper fluid to use. See Part C:
How to Check and What to Use Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the 3. Reinstall the filler plug. Be sure the plug is
vehicle is parked on a level place, and the transmission fully seated.
is cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
To check the transmission fluid level, do the following:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check to be sure that the lubricant level is up to the
bottom of the fill opening. On heavy duty
transmissions, an inch of oil level equals about
one gallon of fluid.
3. If the fluid level is good, reinstall the plug and be
sure it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add
more fluid as described in the next steps. Refer to
the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of fluid to use. See Part C: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.

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 Engine Coolant (Gas and What to Use
DURAMAX® Engines) Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed not need to add anything else.
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. {CAUTION:
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem Adding only plain water to your cooling
with engine overheating, see Engine Overheating on system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
page 5-38.
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
DEX-COOL® coolant will: vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
• Give freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C). proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
• Give boiling protection up to 252°F (122°C). wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
• Protect against rust and corrosion. but you would not get the overheat warning.
• Help keep the proper engine temperature. Your engine could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
• Let the warning lights and gages work as they should. drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.
Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may Notice: If you use an improper coolant mixture,
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs The repair cost would not be covered by your
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle. and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.

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 If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Notice: If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful. Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
Checking Coolant and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.

The vehicle must be parked on a level surface.

When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be
at the FULL COLD mark or higher.

If the low coolant warning

light comes on in the
instrument panel cluster
and stays on, it means you
are low on engine coolant.

The coolant surge tank is located in the engine

compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle. See Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-35 for further
information.

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 Adding Coolant Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
®
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL The coolant surge tank pressure cap is located in
coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when the the engine compartment, on the driver’s side of
engine is cool. the vehicle.
Notice: Your vehicle’s surge tank pressure cap is
{CAUTION: designed for use with medium-duty cooling systems
only. If the surge tank pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine damage
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot may occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, secured.
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine. Engine Overheating
You will find an engine coolant temperature gage, as
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is well as a low coolant warning light, on your vehicle’s
hand-tight. instrument panel. See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-35 and Low Coolant Warning Light on
Engine Coolant page 3-35 for more information.
(Caterpillar® Diesel Engines) Your vehicle also has a check gages warning light on
the instrument panel. See Check Gages Warning
If your vehicle has a Caterpillar® diesel engine, see the Light on page 3-42 for more information.
Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual provided with your vehicle to find out what
to add, as well as when and how to service your
cooling system.

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 If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
{CAUTION: An overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, can
indicate a serious problem. See Low Coolant Warning
Light on page 3-35 for more information.
Steam from an overheated engine can burn
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
you badly, even if you just open the hood. coolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem may
Stay away from the engine if you see or hear not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
steam coming from it. Just turn it off and get little too hot when you:
everyone away from the vehicle until it cools
• Climb a long hill on a hot day.
down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open the hood. • Stop after high-speed driving.
If you keep driving when your engine is • Idle for long periods in traffic.
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
or others could be badly burned. Stop your try this for a minute or so:
engine if it overheats, and get out of the
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL
vehicle until the engine is cool. while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL and let the
engine idle.
Notice: If your engine catches fire because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can 2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be speed and open the windows as necessary.
covered by your warranty. 3. If climbing a hill, downshift to raise engine and
fan speeds.

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 If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can Cooling System
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive (Gas and DURAMAX® Engines)
normally.
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
If the warning continues and you have not stopped, you will see:
pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can 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.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.

A. Engine Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank
If your vehicle has a Caterpillar® diesel engine, see the
Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation and Maintenance
Manual provided with your vehicle.

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 If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface. {CAUTION:
The coolant level should Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
be at the FULL COLD
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
mark or higher. If it is not,
you may have a leak at If you do, you can be burned.
the pressure cap or in the Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
radiator hoses, heater run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
hoses, radiator, water could cause an engine fire, and you could be
pump or somewhere else burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the
in the cooling system.
vehicle.

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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 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant
as follows:
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible {CAUTION:
but the coolant level is not at the FULL COLD mark
or higher, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
and DEX-COOL® coolant at the coolant surge tank,
but be sure the cooling system, including the coolant system can blow out and burn you badly. They
surge tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
See Engine Coolant (Gas and DURAMAX® Engines) surge tank pressure cap — even a little — they
on page 5-36 or Engine Coolant (Caterpillar® Diesel can come out at high speed. Never turn the
Engines) on page 5-38 for more information. cap when the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.

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 {CAUTION: {CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the 1. You can remove the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot coolant surge tank
but you would not get the overheat warning. pressure cap when
Your engine could catch fire and you or others the cooling system,
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, including the coolant
drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant. surge tank pressure
cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot.
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.
Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
(left) about one full turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.

2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and

remove it.

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 3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture, 4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
to the FULL COLD mark. the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches slightly above the FULL
COLD mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.

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 Engine Fan Noise How To Check Power Steering Fluid
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When Check your power steering fluid only when the engine is
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide warm. If the engine is not warm, you probably will not
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving get an accurate reading.
conditions, the clutch is not fully engaged. This improves If the fluid level is between the MIN (Minimum) and
fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy MAX (Maximum) marks, you have enough. If you need
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside fluid, add only enough of the proper fluid to bring it
temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch in between the MIN and MAX marks.
engages. So you may hear an increase in fan noise.
This is normal and should not be mistaken as the If your power steering fluid level is low, this can cause
transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely the brake or service brakes soon warning lights to come
the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will on. In addition, the steering effort and emergency
slow down when additional cooling is not required and brake distance could increase.
the clutch disengages. If either light remains on after you have added power
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the steering fluid to the proper level, then shut off the engine
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch disengages. for 10 seconds. This should reset the brake warning
lights. If one or both lights stay on, see “Hydraulic Brake
System Warning Lights” under Brake System Warning
Power Steering Fluid Light on page 3-31 for more information.
See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5 to determine What to Use
when to check your power steering fluid.
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see Part C:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
Notice: When adding power steering fluid or
making a complete fluid change, always use the
proper fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can
cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.

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 Windshield Washer Fluid Notice:
• When using concentrated washer fluid,
What to Use follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will • Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
be operating your vehicle in an area where the Water can cause the solution to freeze and
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has damage your washer fluid tank and other parts
sufficient protection against freezing. 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
Open the cap with the
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
washer symbol on it. Add
damage the tank if it is completely full.
washer fluid until the
tank is full. • Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your washer
system and paint.

The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located in the

engine compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

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 Brakes Checking Brake Fluid
Apply the brake pedal several times with the ignition off.
Brake Fluid Then clean one of the reservoir caps and the area
around the cap, and remove it.
If your vehicle has
hydraulic brakes, there is a The fluid level should be
brake master cylinder in even with the bottom ring
the engine compartment of the filler opening.
on the driver side of The brake fluid reservoir is
the vehicle. Refer to the located in the engine
Maintenance Schedule to compartment on the driver
determine when to side of the vehicle.
check your brake fluid.

{CAUTION: If it is low, add enough fluid to fill the reservoir to the

proper level.
Do not add brake fluid before you check the
level. If you do, you could get too much brake
fluid. Brake fluid could spill on the hot engine
and it can catch fire. You could be burned and
your vehicle could be damaged. See “Checking
Brake Fluid” in this section.

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 What to Add Notice:
Use the proper fluid listed in your Maintenance • Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brake
Schedule. Use new brake fluid from a sealed system parts. For example, just a few drops of
container only. mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap/cover and the parts so badly that they will have to be replaced.
area around the cap/cover before removing it. This Do not let someone put in the wrong kind of
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir. fluid, and do not use DOT-5 silicone brake fluid.
• If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s painted
{CAUTION: 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 Appearance
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake Care on page 5-79.
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.

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 Four-Wheel Disc Brakes Brake Adjustment
(Hydraulic Only) Every time you make a brake stop, your brakes adjust
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes. for wear.

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake Replacing Brake System Parts
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
your brakes. parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
axle sets. GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings wear
Four-Wheel and Six-Wheel Drum down and you need new ones put in — be sure you get
Brakes (Air Only) new approved GM replacement parts. If you do not,
your brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
The brake drums should be removed and inspected if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for
each time the tires are removed for rotation or changing. your vehicle, the balance between your front and rear
When you have the front brakes replaced, have the brakes can change — for the worse. The braking
rear brakes inspected, too. performance you have come to expect can change in
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete many other ways if someone puts in the wrong
axle sets. replacement brake parts.

Brake Pedal Travel

See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.

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 Air Brake Systems Air Dryer
If your vehicle has air brakes, it is important to get rid of If your vehicle has air brakes, it will have an air dryer.
moisture in your system. Moisture will damage your This collects and removes dirt, moisture, or other foreign
system if it is not removed daily. matter from the air prior to entering the brake system.
There are two ways to do this. One is automatic through The dryer also acts as a moisture ejector. It
automatically ejects the moisture when the compressor
the air brake vehicle’s air dryer with intregal automatic
cycles. The purge tank has a manual drain valve
moisture ejector that purges air from the system through
that must be drained every day. See “Air Brake
a self-contained reservoir. The other way to drain
Systems” for the manual drain procedure. The air dryer
moisture from the air brake system is to manually
activate drain valves at each reservoir. Drain the air is mounted on the passenger side frame rail.
reservoirs occasionally to be sure the air dryer is The dryer has a filter that you need to change at
working properly. intervals. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5 for
Drain the air brakes at full system pressure. To be sure more about servicing this filter.
you are at full pressure, check your air pressure
gage. It should read at least 100 psi (692 kPa).

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 Electric Air Compressor Clutch Pedal Free Travel
Your vehicle may have an electric air compressor. This If you have a V8 engine and a manual transmission,
compressor is used to run options that require your clutch will need adjustment when pedal free travel
pressurized air, such as air horn, air seat, 7.8L engine gets down to about 1/4 inch (32 mm), as measured
exhaust restrictor, or 7.8L engine exhaust brake. at the clutch pedal pad. You should have 1 1/2 to
2 inches (38 to 51 mm) of clutch pedal free travel.
The air compressor is used when vehicles are not
equipped with an air brake system. If your clutch ever needs service, be sure to use only
GM clutch replacement parts.
The air supply for this
system must be Chassis Lubrication
maintained by releasing
the drain valve to eject any Your Maintenance Schedule provides all of the required
moisture that may have chassis lubrication intervals and identifies proper
built up in the system. lubricants to use. Be sure to see your Maintenance
Schedule before performing any chassis lubrication
service. To determine location of chassis lubrication
items, use the following charts.

It is recommended that this system be drained on a

weekly basis.

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 Single Axle Models

Item Number Item Remarks

1 Brake Camshaft** One fitting each (apply sparingly).
2 Steering Column Slip Joint* One fitting.
3 Steering Drag Link Ends One fitting each end.

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 Item Number Item Remarks
4 Pivot Points and Hinges Apply chassis lubricant.
5 Pivot Points and Hinges Apply chassis lubricant.
6 Slack Adjuster** One fitting.
7 Brake Cam Roller Pins at interface Apply engine oil.
of pin and shoe**
One fitting each side, lower bushing.
8 Front Steering Knuckles (Hand-operated grease gun only.)
Hand-pack upper bearing.
9 Front Wheel Bearings Hand-pack or lubricate.
10 Steering Tie Rod Ends One fitting each end.
11 Spring Slip Pads* (Multi-Leaf Only) Apply chassis lubricant.
12 Clutch Release Bearing* Cup or fitting.
13 Battery Terminal (except “ST” type) Keep coated with petroleum jelly.
14 Transmission Fill to level of filler plug.
15 Propshaft U-Joints Lubricate with GM Part No. 1051344 Wheel
Bearing Lubricant.
16 Parking Brake Clevis Pin$ Apply chassis lubricant.
17 Parking Brake Lever Pivot*, $ Apply chassis lubricant.
18 Clutch Release Cross Shaft, Apply chassis lubricant, fill to 1/4 inch (6 mm)
Master Cylinder$ below opening.
19 Release Bearing, Clutch Cross Shaft Two fittings, apply chassis lubricant.
20 Clutch Release Fork Two fittings.
* Applies to some vehicles.
** Applies to air brakes only.
$ Applies to hydraulic brakes only.

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 Tandem Axle Models Item
Number Item Remarks
1 Brake Camshafts One fitting each.
One fitting each
joint. Lubricate with
2 Propshaft U-Joint GM Part
No. 1051344, Wheel
Bearing Lubricant
Fill to level of
3 Rear Axles filler plug.
Brake Shoe Apply engine oil
4 Roller Pins at pin to shoe
joint only.
5 Rear Spring Pin One fitting
each side.

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 Battery Vehicle Storage
Your vehicle has one or more maintenance free If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
batteries. When it is time for a new battery, be sure it more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the
has the replacement number shown on the original battery. This will help keep your battery from running
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco® down. (If your vehicle has more than one battery,
replacement battery. be sure to remove the negative (−) battery cable from
Warning: Battery posts, terminals, and related each battery.)
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after {CAUTION:
handling.
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas
that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you
are not careful. See Jump Starting on
page 5-56 for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.

When you are ready to use the vehicle again, refer to

the engine starting procedure in the Index.

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 Jump Starting Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may by your warranty.
want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
to do it safely.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery (or batteries) with a negative
ground system.
{CAUTION:
Notice: If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
because:
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
• They contain acid that can burn you. If you have a diesel engine vehicle with
• They contain gas that can explode two batteries (or more), you should know before
or ignite. you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
• They contain enough electricity to not be able to get enough power from a single
burn you. battery in another vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the
or all of these things can hurt you. one closest to the starter — this will reduce electrical
resistance.

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 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables 4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching positive (+) and the negative (−) terminal locations
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground on that vehicle.
connection you do not want. You would not be able Open the hood on your
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding vehicle and find the remote
could damage the electrical systems. positive (+) terminal,
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the located under a red plastic
parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in the cover on the passenger’s
jump start procedure. Put an automatic transmission side of the vehicle.
in PARK (P) or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL Squeeze the tab to open
before setting the parking brake. If you have a the cover and access
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is the remote positive (+)
in a drive gear, not in NEUTRAL. terminal.
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 You will not see the battery (or batteries) of your
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle. vehicle under the hood. They are located in a frame
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug mounted battery box, which is located on either
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette the driver’s or the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the You will not need to access your battery (or
radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will batteries) for jump starting. The remote positive (+)
avoid sparks and help save both batteries, and terminal is for that purpose.
it could save the radio!

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 {CAUTION: {CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
this, and some have been blinded. Use a parts once the engine is running.
flashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or
do not need to add water to the ACDelco® missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
battery (or batteries) installed in your new shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure
Before you connect the cables, here are some
the right amount of fluid is there. If it is low, basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
add water to take care of that first. If you do positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if
not, explosive gas could be present. the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you. unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
in your eyes or on your skin, flush the place Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you
with water and get medical help immediately. 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.

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 6. Connect the red 8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the
positive (+) cable to the negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a
positive (+) terminal remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
of the dead battery. Do not let the other end touch anything until the
Use a remote next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable
positive (+) terminal does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a
if the vehicle heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to the
has one. 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.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to
the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a 10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. the engine for a while. Use the high idle option if
your vehicle is equipped with it.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If
it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs
service.

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 Notice: If the jumper cables are connected or To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, do
removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may the following:
occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would 1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
not be covered by your warranty. Always connect vehicle that had the dead battery.
and remove the jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the cables do not touch 2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
each other or other metal. 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 (+) remote terminal cover to its
original position.

Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
how often to check the lubricant and when to change it.
See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5.
Jumper Cable Removal Notice: If you drive your vehicle through deep
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote water that is higher than the front or rear axle, water
Negative (−) Terminal may enter the axle housing and cause the axle
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Remote lubricant to break down. This could damage
Negative (−) Terminals the gears inside. Avoid driving your vehicle through
deep water.
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal

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 You should avoid driving your vehicle through deep
puddles or standing water. If you must drive through
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, see your
dealer immediately afterward to have the condition of
the axle lubricant checked.

How to Check Lubricant

HD2 Axle
Your vehicle may be equipped with one of the axles
shown above.
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
located on the rear axle, you’ll need to add some
GL8 Axle
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Part C: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.

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 Rear Axle Shift Motor How to Check Lubricant

When to Check and Change Fluid

If you have an optional air-shift two-speed, controlled
traction, or locking differential type rear axle, a good time
to check the fluid level in the axle shift motor is when
the rear axle lubricant is checked. Use refrigerant
oil (shift motor only).

How to Check Fluid

Remove the plug on the front plate of the axle shift
motor, add enough fluid to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole, then replace the plug.

What to Use
Refer to your Maintenance Schedule to determine what A. Fill Plug
kind of lubricant to use. See Part C: Recommended B. Drain Plug
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
Four-Wheel Drive If the level is below the bottom of the fill plug hole,
Transfer Case located on the transfer case, you’ll need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level to
When to Check Lubricant the bottom of the fill plug hole. Use care not to
It is not necessary to regularly check transfer case fluid overtighten the plug.
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.
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 When to Change Lubricant How to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to change the lubricant. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 6-5.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Part C: Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.

Front Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check front 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. To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
Notice: If you drive your vehicle through deep
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, water If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
may enter the axle housing and cause the axle you may need to add some lubricant.
lubricant to break down. This could damage the Add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of
gears inside. Avoid driving your vehicle through the filler plug hole.
deep water.
You should avoid driving your vehicle through deep What to Use
puddles or standing water. If you must drive through To determine what kind of lubricant to use see Part C:
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, see your Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
dealer immediately afterward to have the condition of
the axle lubricant checked.

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 Noise Control System Among those acts presumed to constitute tampering are
the acts listed below.

Tampering with Noise Control Insulation:

• Removal of the noise shields or any underhood
System Prohibited insulation.
The following information relates to compliance with
federal noise emission standards for vehicles with a
Engine:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than • Removal or rendering engine speed governor (if
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg). The Maintenance Schedule equipped) inoperative so as to allow engine
provides information on maintaining the noise control speed to exceed manufacturer specifications.
system to minimize degradation of the noise emission
control system during the life of your vehicle. The noise Fan and Drive:
control system warranty is given in your warranty booklet. • Removal of fan clutch (if equipped) or rendering
These standards apply only to vehicles sold in the clutch inoperative.
United States. • Removal of the fan shroud (if equipped).
Federal law prohibits the following acts or the
causing thereof: Air Intake:
1. The removal or rendering inoperative by any person, • Removal of the air cleaner silencer.
other than for purposes of maintenance, repair or • Modification of the air cleaner.
replacement, of any device or element of design
incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of Exhaust:
noise control, prior to its sale or delivery to the
ultimate purchaser or while it is in use; or • Removal of the muffler and/or resonator.
2. The use of the vehicle after such device or element • Removal of the exhaust pipes and exhaust
of design has been removed or rendered inoperative pipe clamps.
by any person.

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 Bulb Replacement Here’s how to remove the Shephard’s Hook type:

It is recommended that all bulbs be replaced by your

dealer.

Windshield Wiper Blade

Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least
twice a year for wear or cracking. See Wiper Blade
Check under At Least Twice a Year on page 6-28 for
more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways.

1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the

windshield.

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 Other Service Items
Fuel Filter
Fuel Filter (Gasoline Engines)

2. Push the release lever and slide the wiper assembly

toward the driver’s side of the vehicle.
3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.

The steel fuel filter is located near the engine

compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
See your Maintenance Schedule for recommended
service intervals.
If your vehicle is equipped with the optional Davco
spin-on type filter, it is located on the driver’s side
frame rail.

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 Fuel Filter (Diesel Engines) It has a clear plastic drain bowl at the bottom. Check
the drain bowl occasionally for any water or particles.
If you have a diesel engine, your fuel filter is located in
the engine compartment on the driver’s side of the To drain the bowl, do the following:
vehicle, or along the driver’s side frame rail. See Fuel 1. Shut off the engine.
Filter Replacement earlier in this section for further
information. 2. Partially open the drain valve at the bottom of
the filter.
Also see Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5 for
recommended service intervals. See Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on
page 5-22 or Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on
page 5-22 or Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26
Primary Fuel Filter and Water for proper disposal procedures.
Separator
If you have a diesel
engine, you may have this
spin-on filter. It is located
on the driver’s side
frame rail.

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 Secondary Fuel Filter and Water Automatic Ether Injection System
Separator/Heater (Caterpillar® Diesel)
(Caterpillar® Diesel) If you have a Caterpillar®
If you have a Caterpillar® diesel engine, you may
diesel engine, you may have this feature. The
also have this spin-on filter ether cylinder is located in
and fuel separator/heater. the engine compartment
It will be mounted in on the driver’s side of
the engine compartment the vehicle.
on the driver’s side of
the vehicle.

To change an empty ether cylinder, follow these steps.

It has a metal drain bowl at the bottom. Occasionally,
check the bowl for any water or particles. 1. Loosen the screw head on the
To check or drain the bowl, do the following: cylinder-to-bracket clamp.
• Shut off the engine. 2. Spread the clamp apart.
• Push up on the spring loaded drain valve until clear 3. Clean any dirt from the neck of the cylinder and the
fuel is flowing from the valve. top of the valve before you take out the cylinder.
The particles or water will drain out first. See Engine Oil
(Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on page 5-22 or Engine 4. Check the inside of the valve for any foreign matter.
Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on page 5-22 or Engine Clean the valve as necessary.
Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26 for proper disposal 5. Cover the valve to protect it from dirt and take out
procedures. the cylinder.

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 6. Install a new gasket whenever you take out the If your vehicle has oil-filled
cylinder. Use only one gasket and spread a light hubs, occasionally check
film of clean oil on it before installation. to see if they have enough
7. Put in the new cylinder. Turn it clockwise until it just oil. You can tell if there
starts to contact the gasket. is oil there by using
the circular gage on the
8. Tighten the cylinder another half turn (180 degrees). sight glass.
Don’t over-tighten.
9. Retighten the cylinder clamp.

Front Wheel Bearings with

Oil-Filled Hubs
Notice: If you drive your vehicle through deep If there isn’t, clean the rubber fill plug in the center of
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, water the glass, and then remove it. Be careful not to
may enter the axle housing and cause the axle allow any dirt or water to get into the oil. Add enough of
lubricant to break down. This could damage the recommended oil to bring it up to the level mark
the gears inside. Avoid driving your vehicle through that you’ll see on the glass.
deep water.
Refer to your Maintenance Schedule for the proper oil
You should avoid driving your vehicle through deep to use.
puddles or standing water. If you must drive through
When you fill the hub, check the glass again after
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, see your
driving a short distance. It takes a while for the oil to
dealer immediately afterward to have the condition of
flow through the system, and you may find that you have
the axle lubricant checked.
to add a little more to fill it to the proper level. Be sure
not to overfill the hub.

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 Air Conditioning System
Every now and then, have your dealership check your {CAUTION:
air conditioning system to be sure it has not lost
any cooling ability. If you think the system is not working Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
properly, have your GM dealer check it out as soon are dangerous.
as possible.
• Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
Tires friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. See Loading Your
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by Vehicle on page 4-32.
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
• Underinflated tires pose the same danger
see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
information refer to the tire manufacturer’s booklet could cause serious injury. Check all tires
included with your vehicle’s Owner Manual. frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be
checked when your tires are cold. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-71.
• 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.
• Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.

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 Inflation - Tire Pressure When to Check
The GVW Rating label, which is on the driver’s door Check your tires once a month or more.
frame, shows the correct inflation pressures for Also, check the tire pressure of the spare tire
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle (if equipped).
has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no
more than 1 mile (1.6 km). How to Check
Notice: Do not let anyone tell you that Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
under-inflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not. pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
If your tires do not have enough air (under-inflation), simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
you can get the following: properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
• Too much flexing Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
• Too much heat stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
• Tire overloading
• Premature or irregular wear Wheel Loading
• Poor handling Wheels are stamped with a maximum load and cold
• Reduced fuel economy inflation rating. Be sure you don’t exceed these. If you
ever think you need to, first contact the rim and
If your tires have too much air (over-inflation), you wheel maker to get their advice.
can get the following:
• Unusual wear
• Poor handling
• Rough ride
• Needless damage from road hazards

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 Dual Tire Operation When It Is Time for New Tires
When the vehicle is new, check the wheel nut tightness Replace your tires when the tread depth is down to
on all wheels with a torque wrench after your first 1/8 of an inch (3.2 mm) for the front tires, or 1/16 of an
100 miles (160 km) and then 1,000 miles (1 600 km) after inch (1.6 mm) for a rear tire. Also, you need a new
that. Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is tire if:
removed or serviced, repeat the 100 miles (160 km), and • You can see cord or fabric showing through the
then 1,000 mile (1 600 km) wheel nut tightness check. tire’s rubber.
See Tightening the Wheel Nuts on page 5-73 for wheel
• The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
nut tightening information and proper torque values. deep enough to show cord or fabric.
• The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
• The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
{CAUTION: can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.

If you operate your vehicle with a tire that is

badly underinflated, the tire can overheat. An
overheated tire can lose air suddenly or catch
{CAUTION:
fire. You or others could be injured. Be sure all
tires (including the spare, if any) are properly Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
inflated. while driving. If you mix tires of different
types — like radial and bias-belted tires — the
vehicle may not handle properly, and you
See Tires on page 5-70 and Inflation - Tire Pressure on could have a crash. Be sure to use the same
page 5-71 for more information on proper tire inflation. type of tires all around.

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 When you replace tires, make sure they are the same Tightening the Wheel Nuts
size, load range, speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, the axle differentials, {CAUTION:
propshafts and transfer case may be damaged if tires
of different sizes, brands or tread types are installed on
the front and rear axles. That damage would not be Wheel nuts that are not tight can work loose. If
covered under your warranty. all the nuts on a wheel come off, the wheel can
come off the vehicle, causing a crash. All
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance wheel nuts must be properly tightened. Follow
the rules in this section to be sure they are.
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned at the
factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall
performance. This section lets you know how often to check the
tightness of the wheel nuts on your vehicle and how tight
Proper front wheel alignment must be maintained in they must be.
order to ensure efficient steering, good directional
stability, and prevent abnormal tire wear. If you notice
unusual tire wear or your vehicle is pulling one way
or the other, the alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, your wheels may need to be balanced.

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 First, use these pictures to decide what kind of wheels Hub-Piloted Wheels, 8-Hole or 10-Hole
you have.
The studs and nuts used with these wheels have
right-hand threads.
1. With intermittent pilot pads, position a pad at
12 o’clock to center the wheel and reduce run-out.
2. Put the tire and rim assembly on the axle hub.
Install the outer rear tire and rim assembly so
that its valve stem is exactly opposite the valve stem
on the inner tire and rim assembly.
3. Put on the wheel nuts.
4. Finger-tighten the nuts.
Hub-Piloted Type, Hub-Piloted Type, 5. Oil the surfaces
8-Hole 10-Hole between the nuts and
washers. Do not oil
Then, refer to the following steps for the wheels you have. the studs or the threads
of the nut.

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 6. Tighten the nuts to 400 lb ft (542 Y) if an 8-hole
stud or 480 lb ft (650 Y) if a 10-hole stud, using
the following diagrams.

10-Hole (Front) 10-Hole (Rear)

8-Hole {CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or the
threads of the wheel nuts. If you do, the wheel
nuts might come loose and the wheel could
fall off, causing a crash.

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 {CAUTION: {CAUTION:
If wheel studs are damaged, they can break. If Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
all the studs on a wheel broke, the wheel could which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
come off and cause a crash. If any stud is become loose after a time. The wheel could
damaged because of a loose-running wheel, it come off and cause a crash. When you change
could be that all of the studs are damaged. To a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places
be sure, replace all studs on the wheel. If the where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
stud holes in a wheel have become larger, the emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper
wheel could collapse in operation. Replace any towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper
wheel if its stud holes have become larger or or wire brush later, if you need to, to get all the
distorted in any way. Inspect hubs and rust or dirt off.
hub-piloted wheels for damage. Because of
loose running wheels, piloting pad damage may
occur and require replacement of the entire hub, How Often to Check
for proper centering of the wheels. When Wheel tightness is so important you should have a
replacing studs, hubs, wheel nuts or wheels, be technician check nut tightness on all wheels with
sure to use GM original equipment parts. a torque wrench after your first 100 miles (160 km), and
then 1,000 miles (1 600 km) after that. Be sure to
repeat this service whenever you have a tire removed
or serviced. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-5
for further information.

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 Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted {CAUTION:
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, replace
the wheel. If the wheel leaks air, replace it. Without the correct wheel, you may not be able
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need. to stop properly, and you could have other
problems like a tire air-out. You could have a
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted collision. If you do not go to your dealer to get
the same way as the one it replaces. a new wheel, be sure you get the correct one.
Each new wheel should match the original
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
wheel in load-carrying capacity, inflation
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to pressure capacity, diameter, width, offset and
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts mounting configuration.
for your vehicle.
Using wheels and tires with higher load-carrying limits
than the original wheels and tires does not change
{CAUTION: the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) or the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your vehicle.
A leaking wheel could fail without warning. A See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32 for more
wheel designed for tubeless tires could be information.
leaking because it is damaged. Do not use an Notice: The wrong wheel can cause trouble in
inner tube or some other thing to try to stop the bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer
leaking. Get a new wheel or the proper type. calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, stopping distance and tire
clearance to the body and chassis. You could also
have other problems like a tire air-out.

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 Used Replacement Wheels A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
{CAUTION: steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is brake to a stop –– well off the road if possible.
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail by driving slowly to a level place and turn on your
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to hazard warning flashers.
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
{CAUTION:
If a Tire Goes Flat Your vehicle, when new, did not include tire
changing equipment or a place to store a tire
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, in the vehicle. Special tools and procedures
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air are required if a tire needs to be serviced. If
goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out these tools and procedures are not used, you
slowly. But if you should ever have a “blow out,” here
or others could be injured or killed while trying
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
to change or service a truck 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. Your truck, when new, did not include tire changing
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to equipment or a place to store a tire in the vehicle. Few
a stop well out of the traffic lane. drivers of these vehicles have the necessary equipment
aboard to be able to change a flat tire safely.

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 For example, you would need a truck jack that can lift
several thousand pounds and a torque wrench that can
Appearance Care
generate several hundred foot-pounds (Y) of Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic.
twisting force. Other cleaning products can burst into flames if a match
is struck near them or if they get on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if their fumes are inhaled
{CAUTION: in an enclosed space. When anything from a container
is used to clean the vehicle, be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. Always open
If you try to put air back into a tire that has run the doors or windows of the vehicle when cleaning
flat, even a tire that was extremely low on air, the inside.
the tire can have a sudden air-out. This could
Never use these to clean the vehicle:
cause you to lose control of the vehicle and
have a serious crash. Do not refill a flat or very • Benzene
low tire with air without first having the tire • Naphtha
taken off the wheel and checked for damage.
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Acetone
So if you’re stopped somewhere by a flat or damaged
tire or wheel, you should get expert help. See Roadside • Paint Thinner
Assistance Program on page 7-5. • Turpentine
• Lacquer Thinner
• Nail Polish Remover

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 They can all be hazardous — some more than When cleaning your vehicle’s interior, only use cleaners
others —and they can all damage the vehicle, too. specifically designed for the surfaces being cleaned.
Permanent damage may result from using cleaners on
Do not use any of these products unless this manual
surfaces for which they were not intended. Use glass
says you can. In many uses, these will damage
cleaner only on glass. Remove any accidental over-spray
the vehicle:
from other surfaces immediately. To prevent over-spray,
• Alcohol apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
• Laundry Soap Notice: If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaning
• Bleach glass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratch
the glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
• Reducing Agents defogger. When cleaning the glass on your
vehicle, use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle Many cleaners contain solvents that may become
concentrated in your vehicle’s breathing space. Before
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its best if using cleaners, read and adhere to all safety
it is cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and instructions on the label. While cleaning your vehicle’s
dirt can accumulate on your upholstery. Dirt can interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening
damage carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces. your vehicle’s doors and windows.
Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove particles
from your upholstery. It is important to keep your Dust may be removed from small buttons and knobs
upholstery from becoming and remaining heavily soiled. using a small brush with soft bristles.
Soils should be removed as quickly as possible. Your Your GM dealer has a product for cleaning your
vehicle’s interior may experience extremes of heat vehicle’s glass. Should it become necessary, you can
that could cause stains to set rapidly. also obtain a product from your GM dealer to remove
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent odors from your vehicle’s upholstery.
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home furnishings may also
transfer color to your vehicle’s interior.

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 Do not clean your vehicle using the following cleaners Fabric/Carpet
or techniques:
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
• Never use a knife or any other sharp object to frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
remove a soil from any interior surface. vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only
• Never use a stiff brush. It can cause damage to be used on floor carpet and carpeted floor mats. For
your vehicle’s interior surfaces. soils, always try to remove them first with plain water or
club soda. Before cleaning, gently remove as much
• Never apply heavy pressure or rub aggressively of the soil as possible using one of the following
with a cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure techniques:
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
• Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps. Avoid laundry paper towel until no more can be removed.
detergents or dishwashing soaps with degreasers. • For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible
Using too much soap will leave a residue that and then vacuum.
leaves streaks and attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners,
about 20 drops per gallon (3.78 L) of water is a To clean, use the following instructions:
good guide. 1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water or
club soda.
• Do not heavily saturate your upholstery
while cleaning. 2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
• Damage to your vehicle’s interior may result from 3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub
toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
the use of many organic solvents such as naptha,
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
alcohol, etc.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the
cleaning cloth remains clean.
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 Some commercial products may increase gloss on
spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial your instrument panel. The increase in gloss may
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test a cause annoying reflections in the windshield and even
small hidden area for colorfastness first. If the locally make it difficult to see through the windshield under
cleaned area gives any impression that a ring formation certain conditions.
may result, clean the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper Care of Safety Belts
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet. Keep belts clean and dry.

Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other {CAUTION:

Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary, may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
a clean soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution might not be able to provide adequate
can be used to gently remove dust and dirt. Never use protection. Clean safety belts only with mild
spot lifters or removers on plastic surfaces. Many soap and lukewarm water.
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 Weatherstrips
or wax-based products, or those containing organic
solvents to clean your vehicle’s interior because Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
they can alter the appearance by increasing the gloss in longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply silicone
a non-uniform manner. grease with a clean cloth. During very cold, damp
weather frequent application may be required. See
Part C: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-32.

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 Washing Your Vehicle Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
The paint finish on the vehicle provides beauty, depth of
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
color, gloss retention, and durability.
paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
The best way to preserve the vehicle’s finish is to from your dealer. See Vehicle Care/Appearance
keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm or Materials on page 5-86.
cold water. If your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish,
Do not wash the vehicle in the direct rays of the sun. the clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
Use a car washing soap. Do not use strong soaps basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
or chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well, non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
removing all soap residue completely. GM-approved paint finish.
cleaning products can be obtained from your dealer. See Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-86. Do polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may
not use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the paint finish on your vehicle.
surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft, Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surface salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
scratches and water spotting. droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter can damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain
the vehicle. 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
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses foreign matter.
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
Follow instructions under Washing Your Vehicle on period of years. You can help to keep the paint finish
page 5-83. looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.

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 Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep The vehicle may be equipped with either aluminum or
their luster. Washing with water is all that is usually chrome-plated wheels.
needed. However, you may use chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary. Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with mild
soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After rinsing
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid damaging thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax may then
protective trim, never use auto or chrome polish, be applied.
steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is recommended for all Notice: If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
bright metal parts. abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or cleaners
that contain acid on aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels, you could damage the surface of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades wheel(s). The repairs would not be covered by your
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield warranty. Use only GM-approved cleaners on
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, aluminum or chrome-plated wheels.
wax, sap, or other material may be on the blade The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
or windshield. surface of your vehicle. Do not use strong soaps,
Clean the outside of the windshield with a glass chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaning liquid or powder and water solution. The cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
windshield is clean if beads do not form when it is rinsed them because you could damage the surface. Do not
with water. use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades Notice: Using chrome polish on aluminum wheels
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by could damage the wheels. The repairs would not
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength be covered by your warranty. Use chrome polish on
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade chrome wheels only.
with water. Use chrome polish only on chrome-plated wheels, but
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary; avoid any painted surface of the wheel, and buff off
replace blades that look worn. immediately after application.

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 Tires Underbody Maintenance
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner. Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
Notice: Using petroleum-based tire dressing removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
products on your vehicle may damage the paint underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
finish and/or tires. When applying a tire dressing, and exhaust system even though they have corrosion
always wipe off any overspray from all painted protection.
surfaces on your vehicle.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
Sheet Metal Damage and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop Your dealer or an underbody car washing system can
applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or do this for you.
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide the Chemical Paint Spotting
corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty. Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
Finish Damage attack painted surfaces on the vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations,
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the and small, irregular dark spots etched into the
finish should be repaired right away. Bare metal paint surface.
will corrode quickly and may develop into major repair
expense. Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
touch-up materials available from your GM dealer. 12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected in your whichever occurs first.
GM dealer’s body and paint shop.

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 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description Usage (cont’d)
Polishing Cloth Interior and exterior Description Usage
Wax- Treated polishing cloth. Removes light scratches
Cleaner Wax
Tar and Road Removes tar, road oil and and protects finish.
Oil Remover asphalt. Cleans, shines and
Foaming Tire Shine
Chrome Cleaner Use on chrome or protects in one easy step,
Low Gloss
and Polish stainless steel. no wiping necessary.
White Sidewall Removes soil and black Medium foaming
Tire Cleaner marks from whitewalls. shampoo. Cleans and
Wash Wax Concentrate lightly waxes.
Vinyl Cleaner Cleans vinyl. Biodegradable and
Removes dirt, grime, phosphate free.
Glass Cleaner
smoke and fingerprints. Quickly and easily
Removes dirt and grime removes spots and stains
Chrome and Wire Wheel Spot Lifter
from chrome wheels and from carpets, vinyl and
Cleaner cloth upholstery.
wire wheel covers.
Removes dust, Odorless spray odor
fingerprints, and surface eliminator used on
Finish Enhancer Odor Eliminator
contaminants. Spray fabrics, vinyl, leather
on wipe off. and carpet.
Removes swirl marks,
fine scratches and other
Swirl Remover Polish
light surface
contamination.

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 Vehicle Identification Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) specifications and replacement parts.

Service Statement
One of these statements is on your GVW Rating label.
Here is what each one means.
TRUCK SERVICE: A vehicle made to carry property
or special equipment. It is made for uniform frame
loading. That includes using the vehicle to pull a
full trailer.
TRUCK-TRACTOR: A vehicle made to draw other
vehicles. It is made to carry part of the load of the trailer.
It is made for point frame loading, usually for a
semi-trailer (fifth-wheel).
MAX. VERT. CG: The highest allowable vertical center
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on of gravity, at the highest allowable GVWR. It is
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on measured from the level ground in inches.
the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the TRUCK-CANADA: A vehicle first sold in Canada with a
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also non-school bus application, or cab models with regular
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts production option RQ2 (truck service).
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
TRACTOR-CANADA: A cab model first sold in Canada
with regular production option RQ3 (truck-tractor
service).
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 Service Parts Identification Label Headlamp Wiring
You will find this label in a location determined by the The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker in
body manufacturer. It is very helpful if you ever need to the light switch. An electrical overload will cause the
order parts. On this label, you will find the following: lights to go on and off, or in some cases to remain off. If
• VIN this happens, have your headlamp wiring checked
right away.
• Model designation
• Paint information Windshield Wiper Fuses
• Production options and special equipment The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle. breaker inside the motor and a circuit breaker or fuse in
the fuse block. If the motor overheats, the wipers will
stop until the motor cools. If the overload is caused by
Electrical System an electrical problem, be sure to get it fixed.

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.

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 Fusible Links Fuses and Circuit Breakers
A fusible link is a short piece of wire several gauge The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
sizes smaller than the circuit it protects. It will melt in an short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers,
overload situation, opening the circuit. maxi-fuses and fusible links. This greatly reduces the
Your starter and other circuits have these fusible links. chance of a fire caused by an electrical problem. There
may be a fuse taped to the wiring harness near the
The size is printed on the insulation. If the insulation
is burned beyond recognition, consult your GM dealer hydraulic brake booster.
for the proper size. Replace a fusible link with one of the
same size and insulation type. Fusible link insulation Instrument Panel Fuse Block
is a special purpose high-temperature material.
There are two instrument panel fuse blocks located
The hydraulic brake booster motor feed circuit and behind the instrument panel on the passenger’s side of
starter circuit are protected by a fusible link. Vehicles the vehicle.
with a diesel engine have a fusible link for the intake
heater feed circuit.

Power Windows and Other

Power Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse panel protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the current
load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens. This
protects the circuit until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.

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 Be sure to replace fuses with fuses of the same rating. Do not use fuses of higher amperage than those indicated on
the fuse block.

Circuit Breaker Usage Circuit Breaker Usage

1 Stoplamps 9 Courtesy Lamps
2 Center High-Mounted Stoplamp Warning Lights, Gages and
10 Indicators
3 Parking Lamps
4 Powertrain Control Module 11 Starter
5 Auxiliary Wiring 12 Rear Axle/Four-Wheel-Drive
6 Heater/Air Conditioning Trailer Turn Signals/Hazard Warning
13 Flashers
7 Hazard Warning Flashers
14 Radio/Chime
8 Power Post
15 Daytime Running Lamps

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 Circuit Breaker Usage Fuse Usage
16 Air Bag System Blank Not Used
17 Exterior/Interior Lamps LT PARK Left-hand Parking Lamps
18 Parking Brake Blank Not Used
19 Accessory Power RT REAR Right Rear Turn Signal/Stoplamp
20 Ignition 4 TRN/STOP
21 Sidemarker Lamps LT REAR Left Rear Turn Signal/Stoplamp
TRN/STOP
22 Turn Signal/Backup Lamps
RADIO Radio
23 Transmission
Blank Not Used
24 Hydraulics/Air Brake
Blank Not Used
A Spare
Blank Not Used
B Spare
PWR WNDW Power Windows

Fuse Usage
Relay Usage
HTD/MIRR Heated Mirrors
Engine Control Unit/Power Take-Off
Blank Not Used ECU/PTO* Diesel 7.8 DURAMAX®
RT TRN TRLR Trailer Right Turn Signal C4/C5 Brake Lamps,
Blank Not Used BRK LAMP
C6/C7/C8 Tractor/Trailer Wiring
LT TRN TRLR Trailer Left Turn Signal DRL Daytime Running Lamps
Blank Not Used IGN-4 Ignition
BRK Brake Warning Lamp CHMSL Center High Mounted Stop Lamp
RT PRK Right-hand Parking Lamps MRK LTS Sidemarker and Clearance Lamps
Blank Not Used
Blank Not Used

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 Underhood Fuse Block
When a circuit goes out, the problem could be in either
the primary or secondary underhood fuse blocks.
These blocks use blade-type fuses.
Both underhood fuse blocks are located in the engine
compartment, on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
To access the fuse blocks, gently squeeze both sides of
the cover to unlatch the tabs at the top. Then, unsnap
both attachments at the bottom and remove the cover.
Be sure to replace fuses with fuses of the same
rating. Do not use fuses of higher amperage than those
indicated on the fuse block.

Primary Underhood Fuse Block

Fuse Usage
RR DEFOG Rear Defog
ENG 1 Engine 1
ENG 3 Engine 3
PCM-B Powertrain Control Module
BLANK Empty
ENG 4 Engine 4

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 Fuse Usage Relay Usage
ENG 2 Engine 2 NOTE 1 LG4 Powertrain Control Valve,
HTD FUEL Heated Fuel L18 Fuel Pump, LG5 Heated Fuel
BLANK Empty IGN B Ignition
BLANK Empty STARTER Starter
BLANK Empty HORN Horn
A/C COMP Air Conditioning Compressor IGN A Ignition
ABS 1 Anti-Lock Brake System 1 PTO/ECU* Power Take-Off/Engine Control Unit
Diesel 7.8L DURAMAX®
ABS 2 Anti-Lock Brake System 2
REVERSE Reverse
ABS 3 Anti-Lock Brake System 3
NEUTRAL Neutral Start
ENGINE Engine START
E/A PUMP Electronic/Automatic Pump
HORN Horn
L18 Fuel, LG4 Powertrain Control
NOTE 2 Valve, LG5 Electronic Control
Module
BLANK Empty
STUD A Spare
STUD B Spare

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 Fuse Usage
IGN 1 Four-Wheel Drive Module
IGN 4 Ignition 4
IGN 3 Ignition 3
BATT/HAZ Battery/Hazard Warning Flashers
HEADLAMP Headlamps
LIGHTING Interior/Exterior Lamps
HVAC Comfort Control System
NOTE C4/C5 Electric Brake,
C6/C7/C8 Brake Lamps

Secondary Underhood
Fuse Block

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 Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. See Part C: Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-32 for more information.

Capacities
Application
English Metric
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a 2.1 lbs 1.0 kg
Cooling System – C4/C5 Models
6.6L AutomaticTransmission 27.3 qt 25.8 L
6.6L Manual Transmission 27.6 qt 26.1 L
8.1L Automatic Transmission 29.8 qt 28.2 L
8.1L Manual Transmission 30.1 qt 28.5 L
Cooling System – C6/C7/C8 Automatic Transmission
7.2L Caterpillar® C7 Engine (hp 207 - 230) 31.4 qt 29.7 L
7.2L Caterpillar® C7 Engine (hp 250 - 300) 31.2 qt 29.5 L
7.8L DURAMAX® 7800 Engine (hp 200 - 215) 33.7 qt 31.9 L
7.8L DURAMAX® 7800 Engine (hp 230 - 275) 33.3 qt 31.5 L
8.1L Vortec 8100 MD Gas (hp 225 - 295) 32.5 qt 30.8 L

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 Capacities
Application
English Metric
Cooling System – C6/C7/C8 Manual Transmission
7.2L 207 - 230 hp Engine 29.3 qt 27.7 L
7.2L 207 - 230 hp Engine with A/C and Increased Cooling 33.0 qt 31.2 L
7.2L 250 - 300 hp Engine 32.8 qt 31.0 L
7.2L 250 - 300 hp Engine with A/C and Increased Cooling 33.3 qt 31.5 L
7.8L 200 - 230 hp Engine 31.6 qt 29.9 L
7.8L 200 - 230 hp Engine with A/C and Increased Cooling 35.3 qt 33.4 L
7.8L 250 - 300 hp Engine 34.9 qt 33.0 L
7.8L 250 - 300 hp Engine with A/C and Increased Cooling 35.4 qt 33.5 L
8.1L 225 - 295 hp Engine 33.3 qt 31.5 L
8.1L with A/C and Increased Cooling 34.9 qt 33.0 L
Engine Oil with Filter
6.6L DURAMAX® 6600 14.6 qt 13.8 L
®
7.2L Caterpillar C7 30.0 qt 28.4 L
7.8L* DURAMAX® 7800 23.8 qt 22.5 L
8.1L Vortec 8100 MD Gas 10.0 qt 9.4 L
Check fill level on the oil indicator after initial fill to make sure it is actually full. Oil level may vary depending on
vehicle option content.
*Additional oil is required with auxiliary oil filter systems. Make sure to add enough extra oil to fill the auxiliary oil
filter system. For vehicles equipped with the LUBERFINER 750-C, add 14 quarts (13.25 L).

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 Capacities
Application
English Metric
Fuel Capacity – C4/C5 Models
Optional* (Dual Tanks) 40 gal 151.4 L
Optional 25 gal 94.6 L
Optional 32 gal 121.1 L
Standard 40 gal 151.4 L
Optional 60 gal 227.1 L
Optional 80 gal 302.8 L
*One 25-gallon (94.6 L) tank and one 15-gallon (56.8 L) tank
Fuel Capacity – C6/C7/C8 Models
Standard 50 gal 189.2 L
Optional 35 gal 132.4 L
Optional 50 gal 189.2 L
Optional† (Dual Tanks) 70 gal 264.8 L
Optional** (Dual Tanks) 75 gal 283.8 L
Optional& (Dual Tanks) 100 gal 378.5 L
†Two 35-gallon (132.4 L) tanks
**One 25-gallon (94.6 L) tank and one 50-gallon (189.2 L) tank
&Two 50-gallon (189.2 L) tanks

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 Capacities
Application
English Metric
Front Axle (G38) and (FRX) 7.8 pt 3.7 L
Rear Axle – Single Speed
80 (GL4) 10.0 pt 4.7 L
19060D (HPL), 19060S (HPK), 21060D (HPN),
31.0 pt 14.7 L
21060S (HPP)
23090S (HPT) 40.0 pt 19.0 L
23105D (HNB), 23105S (HNA) 56.0 pt 26.5 L
26105S (HPA) 54.0 pt 25.5 L
S135 (GL8) 26.0 pt 12.3 L
S110 (HD2)* 10 pt 4.7 L
S150 (HO8) 28.0 pt 13.0 L
*For the S110 (HD2) add an additional 1.7 pt (0.8 L) lube for the hubs.
Rear Axle – Tandem
DS344 (HPI), DS404 (HPE), DS404P (HPJ) 32.0 pt 15.1 L
RSH44 (HP3) 31.0 pt 14.7 L
Rear Axle – Two-Speed
19060T (HPM), 21060T (H15) 38.0 pt 18.0 L
23082T (H25) 40.0 pt 19.0 L
26080T (GJ4) 44.0 pt 20.8 L
Transfer Case (Four-Wheel Drive) 4.0 pt 1.9 L

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 Capacities
Application
English Metric
Transmission Fluid, Automatic
3000 RDS and EVS, and 3500 RDS and EVS 52.0 pt 24.6 L
1000 HS, RDS, MH, PTS and EVS, 2200 HS, RDS, MH,
35.0 pt 13.5 L
PTS and EVS, 2500 HS and RDS, and 2400 Series
Add 2 pints (1 L) when changing spin-on or remote filter.
See the Allison® Automatic Transmission Operator’s Manual for fluid check and maintenance information.
Transmission Fluid, Manual
FS5205A, FS5205C 11.6 pt 5.5 L
FS6305A, FS6305B, 18.4 pt 8.7 L
FS5406, FSO8406 18.5 pt 8.8 L
RT6609 12.5 pt 5.9 L
RT8709B 25.1 pt 11.8 L
RT8908LL 29.1 pt 13.8 L
ZF S6-650 12.7 pt 6.0 L
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck the fluid level after filling.

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 Engine Specifications
Engine RPO Type
6.6LV8 DURAMAX® 6600 LLY Common Rail Fuel System
7.2L L6 Caterpillar® C7 LG5 HEUI Fuel System
7.8L L6 DURAMAX® 7800 LG4 Common Rail Fuel System
8.1L V8 Vortec 8100 L18 SPFI Fuel System

Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Replacement parts identified by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.

Part GM Part Number ACDelco® Part Number

Air Compressor Filter 2467368 —
Bendix Tu-Flo 550 (13.2 CFM)
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6.6L; 7.8L (C4/C5 Models) 88937527 —
6.6L; 7.8L (C6/C7/C8 Models) 88937548*** —
7.2L — P522606†
8.1L 25313349 A1518C
Engine Oil Filter
6.6L 88917036 PF2232
7.2L — 1R0739††
7.8L 94392475 —
8.1L 25324052 PF454

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 Part GM Part Number ACDelco® Part Number
Fuel Filter
6.6L 97385488 TP1298A
7.2L — 915 Primary**
7.8L 94392474 —
8.1L — GF626*
Power Steering Fluid Filter 88892858 —
Pressure Caps
6.6L; 7.8L 15075118 —
7.2L — —
8.1L 15997145 —
Secondary Fuel Filter
6.6L — —
7.2L — 1R0751††
7.8L 15098649 —
8.1L 25055052 —
Spark Plugs
6.6L — —
7.2L — —
7.8L — —
8.1L 12578277 41-983
*Optional Davco (K28) D350921 spin-on type filter located on driver’s side frame rail.
**Optional Cold Weather (KUK) Racor B6484GM spin-on type filter located on driver’s side frame rail.
***Optional air filter (GM Part No. 88937525) for C6/C7/C8 Models. Fits inside standard size filter
(GM Part No. 88937548) listed previously.
†Donaldson part number.
††CAT part number.
See the Allison Transmission® Operator’s Manual in your vehicle for external filter part numbers and information.

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 ✍ NOTES

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 Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule ......................................6-2 Scheduled Maintenance ...................................6-5
Introduction ...................................................6-2 Part B: Owner Checks and Services ................6-27
Maintenance Requirements ..............................6-2 At Each Fuel Fill ..........................................6-27
Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................6-2 At Least Twice a Year ...................................6-28
How This Section is Organized .........................6-3 At Least Once a Year ...................................6-31
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services ...........6-4 Part C: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ....6-32
Using the Maintenance Schedule ......................6-4 Part D: Maintenance Record ..........................6-34
Scheduled Maintenance Supplements ................6-5

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 Maintenance Schedule Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
Introduction recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in this
manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and working condition. Any damage caused by failure
change as recommended. to follow scheduled maintenance may not be
covered by warranty.

Your Vehicle and the Environment

Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your the level of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
for details. condition, be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.

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 How This Section is Organized “Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked and when. It also explains what
This maintenance schedule is divided into four parts: you can easily do to keep your vehicle in good condition.
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” explains “Part C: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
what to have done and how often. Some of these lists some recommended products necessary to help
services can be complex, so unless you are technically keep your vehicle properly maintained. These products,
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you or their equivalents, should be used whether you do
should let your GM dealer’s service department do the work yourself or have it done.
these jobs. “Part D: Maintenance Record” is a place for you to
Your GM dealer has GM-trained and supported record and keep track of the maintenance performed on
service people that will perform the work using your vehicle. Keep your maintenance receipts. They
genuine GM parts. may be needed to qualify your vehicle for warranty
repairs.

{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,
have a qualified technician do the work.

If you want to purchase service information, see Service

Publications Ordering Information on page 7-8.

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 Part A: Scheduled Maintenance This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when to schedule them.
Services When you go to your dealer for your service needs, you
In this part are scheduled maintenance services which will know that GM-trained and supported service
are to be performed at the mileage intervals specified. people will perform the work using genuine GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Using the Maintenance Schedule Part C. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these. All parts should be replaced and all necessary
We at General Motors want to help keep your vehicle in repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
good working condition. But we do not know exactly vehicle.
how you will drive it. You may drive very short distances This schedule is for vehicles that:
only a few times a week. Or you may drive long
distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather. You • carry passengers and cargo within recommended
may use your vehicle in making deliveries or in limits. You will find limits on your vehicle’s GVW
many other ways. Rating label. See Loading Your Vehicle on
page 4-32.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need more • are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
frequent checks and replacements. So please read driving limits.
the following and note how you drive. If you have any • use the recommended fuel. See What Fuel to Use
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
on page 5-8.
see your dealer.

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 Scheduled Maintenance Gasoline engine vehicles and some DURAMAX® diesel
engine vehicles have a computer that lets you know
Supplements when to change your engine oil. This is not based
on mileage, but on engine operation and engine
If your vehicle has a Caterpillar® diesel engine, your temperature. When the computer has calculated that the
owner’s manual is supplemented by the Caterpillar® oil needs changing, the Engine Oil Life System will
Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance Manual. If your indicate that a change is necessary. See Engine Oil Life
vehicle has an Allison transmission, your owner’s System (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-29 or Engine Oil
manual is supplemented by an Allison Life System (DURAMAX® Diesel) on page 5-31 or
Transmission® Operator’s Manual. Always refer to these Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine) on
manuals for related maintenance services. page 5-32.
The “Footnotes” at the end of this Maintenance
Scheduled Maintenance Schedule further explain maintenance services.
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles See Service Publications Ordering Information on
(166 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles page 7-8.
(166 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown after 100,000 miles 100 Miles (160 km)
(166 000 km) should be repeated at the same miles (km) ❑ Wheel stud nut service. (36)
after those intervals for the life of this vehicle.
1,000 Miles (1 600 km)
❑ Wheel stud nut service. (36)
❑ Rear axle air shift motor service. (10)

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 7,500 Miles (12 000 km) 12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
occurs first). (1) (5) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
whichever occurs first). (11) engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (6) (36) 15,000 Miles (24 000 km)
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
occurs first). (21) engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever “Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8)
occurs first). (32) ❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) 12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation,
whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever ❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
occurs first). Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are
changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX®
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9)
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
linkage. ❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
whichever occurs first). (11)
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34)

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 ❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (1) (5) occurs first). (21)
❑ Gasoline Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If ❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is driven in occurs first). (32)
dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter at every engine oil ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every
change. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
for more information.
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is occurs first).
driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change
indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information. or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
linkage.
❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every
750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first). ❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34)
❑ Steering system service. (12)
❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan
❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13) service. (3) (19)
❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15) ❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20)
❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer
occurs first). (2) (3) (16) service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours,
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) whichever occurs first).
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (6) (36)

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 22,500 Miles (36 000 km) ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (21)
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See ❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) occurs first). (32)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every
occurs first). (1) (5) 500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, ❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
whichever occurs first). (11) leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
occurs first).
❑ Inspect door hinge pins and bushings and replace as
necessary. ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
❑ Cooling system service. Clean the cooling system filter linkage.
cap with clean water, clean the core, pressure test the
cap and the system for proper pressure capability, and ❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
inspect condition of cooling and heater hoses and whichever occurs first). (34)
clamps. Replace hoses if cracked, swollen, or ❑ Air brake system valve service (or every 3 months, or
damaged. every 900 hours, whichever occurs first). (37)
❑ Wheel bearing (grease type) service (or every ❑ Air intake system service (or every 24 months,
24 months, whichever occurs first, and whenever whichever occurs first). (3) (4) (23)
hubs are removed). (22) (36) ❑ Evaporative Control System service, if equipped, (or
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) every 24 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (24) †
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Rear axle air shift motor service. (10)
occurs first). (6) (36)

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 24,000 Miles (40 000 km) ❑ Gasoline Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If
®
necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is driven in
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX Diesel Without Engine Oil Life dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter at every engine oil
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or change. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33
every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine for more information.
operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is
Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change
engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air
and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information.
Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every
30,000 Miles (48 000 km) 750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first).
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If ❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See whichever occurs first). (11)
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) ❑ Replace fuel filter(s) (or every 12 months, whichever
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life occurs first). (2)
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every ❑ Steering system service. (12)
12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation, ❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13)
whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever
Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are
occurs first). (2) (3) (16)
changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX®
Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9) ❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever ❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (1) (5) occurs first). (6) (36)
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (21)

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 ❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever 36,000 Miles (55 000 km)
occurs first). (32)
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
occurs first). Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months, engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
linkage. Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34) 37,500 Miles (60 000 km)
❑ C600, C700, and C800 Gasoline Engines Only: ❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
Engine drive belts service (or every 12 months, engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See
whichever occurs first.) (17) “Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8)
❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan ❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
service. (3) (19) occurs first). (1) (5)
❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20) ❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
whichever occurs first). (11)
❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer
service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours, ❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
whichever occurs first). ❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (6) (36)

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 ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). (21) occurs first). (1) (5)
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Gasoline Engine: Replace engine air cleaner filter.
occurs first). (32) See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every information.
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) ❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change
occurs first). indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information.
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate ❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every
linkage. 750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first).
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months, ❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
whichever occurs first). (34) whichever occurs first). (11)
❑ Cooling system service. Clean the cooling system filler
45,000 Miles (72 000 km) cap with clean water, clean the core, pressure test the
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If cap and the system for proper pressure capability, and
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See inspect condition of cooling and heater hoses and
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) clamps. Replace hoses if cracked, swollen, or
damaged.
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every ❑ Wheel bearing (grease type) service (or every
12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation, 24 months, whichever occurs first, and whenever hubs
whichever occurs first). (2) are removed.) (22) (36)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System ❑ Inspect door hinge pins and bushings and replace as
Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are necessary.
changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX® ❑ Steering system service. (12)
Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9)

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 ❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13) ❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20)
❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15) ❑ Rear axle air shift motor service. (10)
❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Air intake system service (or every 24 months,
occurs first). (2) (3) (16) whichever occurs first). (3) (4) (23)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) ❑ Evaporative Control System service, if equipped, (or
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever every 24 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (24) †
occurs first). (6) (36) ❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours,
occurs first). (21) whichever occurs first).
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever 48,000 Miles (75 000 km)
occurs first). (32)
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
occurs first). Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months, engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
linkage. Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34) 50,000 Miles (80 000 km)
❑ Air brake system valve service (or every 3 months, or ❑ Inspect air compressor discharge port (or every
every 900 hours, whichever occurs first). (37) 6 months or every 1,800 hours, whichever
occurs first.)
❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan
service. (3) (19)

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 52,500 Miles (84 000 km) 60,000 Miles (96 000 km)
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If ❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) “Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever ❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
occurs first). (1) (5) System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, 12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation,
whichever occurs first). (11) whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Engine Only: Adjust valve lash (or Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are
every 12 months, or every 2,625 hours of engine changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX®
operation, whichever occurs first). (18) Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9)
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (6) (36) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
12 months, or every 600 hours of engine operation,
occurs first). (21)
whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (32) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
(DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
occurs first). ❑ Gasoline Engine Only (Vehicles with GVW greater
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months, than 16,000 lbs): Spark plug service. (2) (25)
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate ❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
linkage. occurs first). (1) (5)
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34)

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 ❑ Gasoline Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If ❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is driven in occurs first). (6) (36)
dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter at every engine oil ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
change. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 occurs first). (21)
for more information.
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change occurs first). (32)
indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is
driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every
indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air 500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information. ❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first). occurs first).
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs first). (11) or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
linkage.
❑ Replace fuel filter(s) (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). (2) ❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
whichever occurs first). (34)
❑ Inspect door hinge pins and bushings and replace as
necessary. ❑ C600, C700, and C800 Gasoline Engines Only:
Engine drive belts service (or every 12 months,
❑ Steering system service. (12) whichever occurs first). (17)
❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13) ❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan
❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15) service. (3) (19)
❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever ❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20)
occurs first). (2) (3) (16) ❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours,
whichever occurs first).

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 67,500 Miles (108 000 km) ❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If occurs first).
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever linkage.
occurs first). (1) (5)
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, whichever occurs first). (34)
whichever occurs first). (11)
❑ Air brake system valve service (or every 3 months, or
❑ Cooling system service. Clean the cooling system filler every 900 hours, whichever occurs first). (37)
cap with clean water, clean the core, pressure test the
cap and the system for proper pressure capability, and ❑ Rear axle air shift motor service. (10)
inspect condition of cooling and heater hoses and ❑ Air intake system service (or every 24 months,
clamps. Replace hoses if cracked, swollen, or whichever occurs first). (3) (4) (23)
damaged. ❑ Evaporative Control System service, if equipped, (or
❑ Wheel bearing (grease type) service (or every every 24 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (24) †
24 months, whichever occurs first, and whenever
hubs are removed). (22) (36) 72,000 Miles (115 000 km)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
occurs first). (6) (36) every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (21) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
occurs first). (32) and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)

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 75,000 Miles (120 000 km) ❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every
750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first).
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See ❑ Steering system service. (12)
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) ❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life ❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15)
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every ❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever
12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation, occurs first). (2) (3) (16)
whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are
occurs first). (6) (36)
changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX®
Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9) ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (21)
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
whichever occurs first). (11) ❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (32)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first). (1) (5) ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
❑ Gasoline Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If
necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is driven in ❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter at every engine oil leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
change. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 occurs first).
for more information. ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is linkage.
driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change ❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air whichever occurs first). (34)
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information. ❑ Fuel tank, fuel cap and fuel lines service (or every
72 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (26) †

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 ❑ EGR system inspection (if equipped) (or every ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every
72 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (27) 500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan ❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for
service. (3) (19) leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever
❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20) occurs first).
❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer ❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months,
service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours, or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate
whichever occurs first). linkage.
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months,
82,500 Miles (132 000 km) whichever occurs first).(34)
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If ❑ Wheel bearings service — Eaton® axle, oil-filled, (or
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See every 24 months, whichever occurs first). (22) (36)
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
84,000 Miles (140 000 km)
occurs first). (1) (5) ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months, System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
whichever occurs first).(11) every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
occurs first). (6) (36) engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
occurs first). (21) Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (32)

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 90,000 Miles (144 000 km) ❑ Cooling system service. Clean the cooling system filler
cap with clean water, clean the core, pressure test the
❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If cap and the system for proper pressure capability, and
engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See inspect condition of cooling and heater hoses and
“Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8) clamps. Replace hoses if cracked, swollen, or
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life damaged.
System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or every ❑ Wheel bearing (grease type) service (or every
12 months, or every 750 hours of engine operation, 24 months, whichever occurs first, and whenever
whichever occurs first). (2) hubs are removed). (22) (36)
❑ 6.6L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System ❑ Replace fuel filter(s) (or every 12 months, whichever
Only: Check oil life system. If engine oil and filter are occurs first). (2)
changed, reset system. See “Engine Oil (DURAMAX®
Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (9) ❑ Steering system service. (12)
❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever ❑ Front and rear suspension service. (13)
occurs first). (1) (5) ❑ Spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts service. (15)
❑ Gasoline Engine: Replace engine air cleaner filter. ❑ Exhaust system service (or every 6 months, whichever
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more occurs first). (2) (3) (16)
information. ❑ Inspect door hinge pins and bushings and replace as
❑ Diesel Engine: Inspect engine air cleaner filter change necessary.
indicator. If necessary, replace the filter. If vehicle is ❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
driven in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect filter change
❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
indicator at every engine oil change. See Engine Air
occurs first). (6) (36)
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-33 for more information.
❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
❑ DURAMAX® Diesel Only: Replace fuel filter (or every
occurs first). (21)
750 hours of engine operation, whichever occurs first).
❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
occurs first). (32)
whichever occurs first).(11)

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 ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every 96,000 Miles (152 000 km)
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33)
❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel Without Engine Oil Life
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for System Only: Change engine oil and filter (or
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever every 12 months, or every 600 hours of engine
occurs first). operation, whichever occurs first). (2)
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months, ❑ 7.8L DURAMAX® Diesel With Engine Oil Life System
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate Only: Check oil life system (or every 600 hours of
linkage. engine operation, whichever occurs first). If engine oil
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months, and filter are changed, reset system. See “Engine
whichever occurs first).(34) Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel)” in the Index. (2) (7)
❑ Air brake system valve service (or every 3 months, or
every 900 hours, whichever occurs first). (37) 97,500 Miles (156 000 km)
❑ C600, C700, and C800 Gasoline Engines Only: ❑ Gasoline Engine Only: Check engine oil life system. If
Engine drive belts service (or every 12 months, engine oil and filter are changed, reset system. See
whichever occurs first). (17) “Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)” in the Index. (2) (8)
❑ Thermostatically controlled engine cooling fan ❑ Check fluid levels (or every 3 months, whichever
service. (3) (19) occurs first). (1) (5)
❑ Shields and underhood insulation service. (3) (4) (20) ❑ Chassis lubrication service (or every 6 months,
whichever occurs first).(11)
❑ Rear axle air shift motor service. (10)
❑ Wheels and tires service. (14)
❑ Air intake system service (or every 24 months,
whichever occurs first).(3) (4) (23) ❑ Hydraulic brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (6) (36)
❑ Evaporative Control System service, if equipped, (or
every 24 months, whichever occurs first). (2) (24) † ❑ Parking brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
occurs first). (21)
❑ Air compressor dry element pleated paper air strainer
service (or every 2 months or every 800 hours, ❑ Air brake service (or every 6 months, whichever
whichever occurs first). occurs first). (32)

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 ❑ Air brake automatic slack adjuster service (or every ❑ Exhaust brake service, if equipped. Check for
500 hours, whichever occurs first). (33) excessive spindle free play and smooth operation.
❑ Check air brake relay valve operation and check for Lubricate ball joint cap.
leaks (or every month, or every 300 hours, whichever ❑ Inspect air compressor discharge port (or every
occurs first). 6 months or every 1,800 hours, whichever
❑ Clean air brake application valve (or every 3 months, occurs first).
or every 300 hours, whichever occurs first). Lubricate ❑ Manual transmission (ZF 6-speed only) fluid
linkage. replacement (or every 48 months, whichever
❑ Air brake chamber service (or every 2 months, occurs first).
whichever occurs first).(34) ❑ Trailer brake hand control valve service (or every
12 months, or every 3,600 hours, whichever
100,000 Miles (160 000 km) occurs first). (35)
❑ Diesel Only: Inspect engine drive belt; replace as
necessary.
120,000 Miles (192 000 km)
❑ Gasoline Engine Only (Vehicles with GVW of ❑ C600, C700, and C800 Gasoline Engines Only:
16,000 lbs or less): Spark plug service. (2) (25) Replace engine drive belts.
❑ Change power steering fluid (or every 36 months, ❑ C400 and C500 Gasoline Engines Only: Engine drive
whichever occurs first).(12) belts service (or every 12 months, whichever occurs
first). (17)
❑ Replace power steering reservoir filter element (or
every 24 months, whichever occurs first). 150,000 Miles (240 000 km)
❑ Except four-wheel drive: Front axle service. (31) ❑ Cooling system service (or every 60 months since
❑ Four-wheel drive only: Front axle service. (30) last service, whichever occurs first). (2) (29)
❑ Four-wheel drive only: Transfer case service. (30) ❑ Diesel Engine Only: Inspect engine drive belt;
❑ Rear axle service — Eaton®, Rockwell®, Spicer® replace as necessary.
axles (or every 12 months, whichever occurs
first). (30)

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 200,000 Miles (320 000 km) Footnotes
❑ Remove, disassemble, clean, and inspect the air † = The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
brake trailer supply valve (or every 2 years, or California Air Resources Board has determined that the
every 7,200 hours, whichever occurs first). failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
❑ Diesel Engine Only: Inspect engine drive belt; the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
replace as necessary. the completion of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
250,000 Miles (400 000 km) performed at the indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.
❑ Four-wheel drive only: Front axle service. (30)
❑ Four-wheel drive only: Transfer case service. (30) (1) = If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®, your
GM owner manual is supplemented by an Allison
❑ Rear axle service — Eaton®, Rockwell®, Spicer® Transmission® Operator’s Manual. Always refer to these
axles (or every 36 months, whichever occurs manuals for related maintenance services.
first). (30)
❑ Manual transmission (except ZF 6-speed) fluid (2) = An Emission Control Service.
replacement (or every 60 months, whichever (3) = A Noise Emission Control Device.
occurs first).
(4) = Applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.
300,000 Miles (480 000 km) (5) = Check fluid level in brake master cylinder,
❑ Remove, disassemble, clean, and inspect the air power steering pump, axle, transmission and hydraulic
brake air dryer (or every 3 years, or 10,800 hours, spring parking brake pump (if equipped). A low fluid
whichever occurs first). Replace desiccant. level in the brake master cylinder can indicate
worn brake linings and should be checked accordingly.

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 (6) = Inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hook-up, Under severe conditions, the indicator may come on
binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc before 3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your gasoline
brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition. engine vehicle more than 7,500 miles (12 000 km) or
Inspect caliper assemblies. Check brake pedal for 12 months without an oil and filter change.
excessive free play or travel (or every 6 months, Remember to reset the Engine Oil Life System
whichever occurs first) and have serviced if needed. whenever the oil is changed. For more information, see
Check brakes more often if driving habits and conditions Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-29
result in frequent braking. or Engine Oil Life System (DURAMAX® Diesel) on
(7) = This vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System. This page 5-31 or Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Diesel
system will show you when to change the engine oil and Engine) on page 5-32.
filter — usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
(9) = This vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System. This
12,000 miles (20 000 km) since your last oil change.
system will show you when to change the engine oil and
Under severe conditions, the indicator may come on
filter — usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
before 3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your
15,000 miles (24 000 km) since your last oil change.
7.8L diesel engine vehicle more than 12,000 miles
Under severe conditions, the indicator may come on
(20 000 km), or 12 months, or 600 engine hours, without
before 3,000 miles (5 000 km). Never drive your
an oil and filter change.
6.6L diesel engine vehicle more than 15,000 miles
Remember to reset the Engine Oil Life System (24 000 km), or 12 months, or 750 engine hours, without
whenever the oil is changed. For more information, see an oil and filter change.
Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-29
Remember to reset the Engine Oil Life System
or Engine Oil Life System (DURAMAX® Diesel) on
whenever the oil is changed. For more information, see
page 5-31 or Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-29
Engine) on page 5-32. or Engine Oil Life System (DURAMAX® Diesel) on
(8) = This vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System. This page 5-31 or Engine Oil Life System (Caterpillar® Diesel
system will show you when to change the engine oil Engine) on page 5-32.
and filter — usually between 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and
7,500 miles (12 000 km) since your last oil change.

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 (10) = Inspect rear axle air shift motor for fluid leaks. (12) = Check steering system:
Remove plug to check fluid level. Inspect air lines and • Look for damaged, loose, or missing parts. Inspect
hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, etc. Inspect at
the steering linkage relay rod and tie rod ends for
1,000 miles (1 600 km) and 22,500 miles (36 000 km)
looseness or lack of lubricant. Also look for
and then every 22,500 miles (36 000 km) thereafter.
parts showing signs of wear or lack of lubrication.
(11) = Chassis Lubrication Service: Lubricate all grease Replace parts as needed. Also check steering gear
fittings in front suspension, front axle, and steering mounting bolts, pitman arm nut, gear housing
linkage. DO NOT lubricate kingpin bushings with upper cover and side cover attaching bolts, steering
air pressure equipment; instead, use a hand grease gun column mounting bolts and cardan joint clamp
to ensure complete purge and eliminate sealer cap bolts; tighten if necessary. See the service manual.
distortion. Front axle tie rod ends, both upper and lower
kingpin fittings, and both steering linkage relay rod
• Inspect power steering hoses, tubes, and fittings for
ends should be greased with the vehicle loaded on the leaks. Hoses and lines must not be twisted, kinked,
ground and wheels turned straight ahead, NOT with or tightly bent. Make sure clips, clamps, supporting
the vehicle on a hoist. Apply kingpin bushing lubricant to tubes, and hoses are in place and properly
both upper and lower kingpin grease fittings until new secured.
lubricant purges from between the upper shim pack and • Check steering gear for leakage around pitman
thrust bearing. Lubricate transmission and shift shaft and housing. If leakage is evident (lubricant
linkage, hood latches and hood hinges, parking brake oozing out, not just oily film), leak should be
lever pivot, clevis pins and linkage, disc brake caliper corrected immediately.
rails, clutch linkage and release bearing (if equipped),
(13) = Check front and rear suspension. Look for
bearing pads, propshaft universal joints, brake camshaft
damaged, loose, or missing parts or parts showing signs
bracket, slack adjusters, pedal shaft, clutch cross
of wear or lack of lubrication. Replace parts as
shaft, clutch pedal springs, and clutch cable bushing at
needed.
transmission. Lubricate suspension, axle, and steering
linkage more often when operating under dusty or
muddy conditions and in excessive off-road use.
Frequently power-washed vehicles will require more
frequent lubrication.

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 (14) = Adjust tire pressures as indicated on the Gross (19) = With the engine off and below normal operating
Vehicle Weight (GVW) Rating label for optimum tire life. temperature, check to see that the thermostatically
See Tires on page 5-70 for further details. Check controlled engine cooling fan can be rotated by hand on
tires for excessive or abnormal wear or damage. Also viscous-operated drives. Replace as needed.
check for damaged wheels. Replace wheels and/or tires (20) = Check shields and underhood insulation for
as needed. damage or looseness. Adjust or replace as needed.
(15) = Check spring-to-axle U-bolts and shackle bolts (21) = Inspect parking brake drum and linings for wear
for proper torque. See the service manual for torque or cracks and check linkage and adjustment.
sequence and specifications. When parts are replaced,
the torque must be checked and adjusted more often (22) = Wheel bearing service:
during the first 6,000 miles (10 000 km). Check torque at • Grease type — Clean, inspect, and lubricate with
500 miles (800 km) and 2,000 miles (3 000 km) after the proper wheel bearing grease at designated
first use of parts. intervals or when hubs are removed. See Part C:
(16) = Check complete exhaust system and cab areas Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
near the exhaust system for broken, damaged, • Oil-filled type — Some wheel bearings are
missing, or out-of-position parts. Also inspect for open
lubricated by rear axle lubricant. When you have
seams, holes, loose connections, or other conditions
oil-filled hubs, use lubricant identical to that used in
which could let exhaust fumes seep into the driver
your rear axle. Lubricant change intervals are
compartment. Needed repairs should be made at once.
the same for front and rear axles. However, you
To help maintain system integrity, replace exhaust
must maintain the proper oil level between change
pipes whenever a new muffler is put on.
intervals. See Front Wheel Bearings with Oil-Filled
(17) = Check all gasoline engine drive belts for cracks, Hubs on page 5-69 and Part C: Recommended
fraying, and wear. Replace as needed. Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
(18) = Adjust valve lash. Incorrect valve clearance (23) = Check the air intake system installation to see
will result in increased engine noise and reduced engine that gaskets are seated properly and all hose
output. connections, fasteners, and other components are tight.
Tighten connections and fasteners or replace parts
as required.

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 (24) = Evaporative Control System Service, if equipped: neck. Pressure test cooling system and pressure cap. For
Check all fuel and vapor lines and hoses for proper Caterpillar® diesel engines, always refer to the
connections and correct routing (or every 24 months, Caterpillar® Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
whichever occurs first). Replace parts as needed. Manual for coolant recommendations and change
(25) = Replace spark plugs. Inspect wires for damage. intervals.
Check the wire boot and boot heat shield fit at spark (30) = Change the lubricant. See Part C: Recommended
plugs and coil. Replace parts as needed. Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-32.
(26) = Check the fuel tank, fuel cap and fuel lines for (31) = Front axle service: Re-pack upper kingpin
damage which could cause leakage. Inspect fuel cap for roller bearing.
correct sealing ability and any indications of damage.
(32) = Air brake service:
Check fuel cap gasket for even filler neck imprint.
Replace parts as needed. • Inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hook-up,
binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect drum
(27) = Check Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system
brake linings for wear or cracks. Inspect other brake
as described in the service manual. See Service
parts at each wheel, including drums and wheel
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-8.
speed sensor wiring. Check brake pedal for
(28) = Inspect Electronic Vacuum Regulator Valve excessive free play or travel (or every 6 months,
(EVRV) filter for excessive contamination or plugging. If whichever occurs first) and have serviced if needed.
needed, clean filter with solution of soap and water, Check brakes more often if driving habits and
let dry and install. conditions result in frequent braking. Replace air
(29) = Drain, flush, and refill cooling system. This dryer cartridge only if excessive oil or moisture
service can be complex; you should have your dealer is present. A small amount of oil in the system is
perform this service. See Part C: Recommended Fluids normal and should not be considered as a reason to
and Lubricants on page 6-32 for what to use. Inspect replace the cartridge.
hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap, and

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 • Test air lines for leaks; tighten as needed. Replace (33) = Clean and lubricate air brake automatic slack
compressor filter. adjuster. Check pushrod travel and auto adjustment
operation. Have serviced if needed.
• Inspect air parking brake chamber for leaks and
damage. Inspect lines and hoses for leaks, (34) = Air brake chamber service: Check operation,
cracks, chafing, etc. Also check all attachments for mounting clamps, and air lines and check for leaks.
tightness, wear, or damage. Note: The spring (35) = Trailer brake hand control valve service: Check
brake section of the rear brake diaphragms are operation; lubricate cam and follower.
non-serviceable.
(36) = Tighten the wheel stud nuts to the specified
• Replace the air compressor filter element, mounted torque values at 100 miles (160 km). Thereafter, tighten
on the air compressor. For remote air compressor them 1,000 miles (1 600 km) after each time the
intake service, refer to engine air cleaner filter wheel is removed. See Tightening the Wheel Nuts on
replacement. page 5-73.
• Remove, disassemble, clean, and inspect the safety (37) = Inspect and clean any accumulated dirt, gravel,
valve, standard brake chambers, quick release or other foreign objects from the valves and valve boots
valves, quick release/double check valve as needed. Using light oil, lubricate brake pedal to
combinations, parking brake control valve, double brake application valve linkage components. Check any
check valves, pressure protection valves, and rubber boots for cracks, holes, or deterioration and
alcohol injector (if equipped). replace if necessary.
• Remove, disassemble, and clean the application
valve; replace parts showing wear.
• Remove, disassemble, clean, and inspect the
spring brake control valve; replace rubber parts.

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 Part B: Owner Checks and Services Engine Oil Level Check
Listed in this part are owner checks and services Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
which should be performed at the intervals specified to necessary. See Engine Oil (Caterpillar® Diesel Engine)
help ensure the safety, dependability and emission on page 5-22 or Engine Oil (DURAMAX® Diesel) on
control performance of your vehicle. page 5-22 or Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-26
for further details.
For your safety and that of others, any of the
safety-related components that may have been Engine Coolant Level Check
damaged in an accident should be checked and any
needed repairs made before operating the vehicle. Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture if necessary. See Engine Coolant
At the minimum, these routine checks should be made (Gas and DURAMAX® Engines) on page 5-36 or Engine
every 6 months or 6,000 miles (10 000 km), whichever Coolant (Caterpillar® Diesel Engines) on page 5-38
occurs first. Whenever repairs are needed, have for further details.
them completed before operating the vehicle.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
At Each Fuel Fill Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield
It is important for you or a service station attendant to washer tank and add the proper fluid if necessary.
perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill. See Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-46 for
further details.

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 Tire Inflation Check Weatherstrip Lubrication
Check tire inflation cold. Make sure tires are inflated to Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
the pressures specified on the GVW Rating label. longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32 and Tires on silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
page 5-70 for further details. damp weather more frequent application may be
required. Part C tells you what to use.
At Least Twice a Year Body Lubrication Service
Restraint System Check Lubricate all exposed surfaces such as door checks,
door lock bolts, lock strike plates, door hinge bushings,
Make sure the safety belt reminder light (if equipped) latches, and dovetail bumper wedges. Where oil
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and holes are provided, a dripless oil can be used. The seat
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other adjusters, seat track, door weatherstrips, and rubber
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you cap bumpers should also be lubricated. Part C tells you
see anything that might keep a safety belt system from what to use. More frequent lubrication may be required
doing its job, have it repaired. Have any torn or when exposed to a corrosive environment.
frayed safety belts replaced.
Parking Brake Check
Wiper Blade Check
Park on a fairly steep hill and hold the vehicle with the
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace parking brake only. This checks holding ability.
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield. Also see
Windshield and Wiper Blades on page 5-84.

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 Starter Switch Check Automatic Transmission Shift
Indicator Check
{CAUTION: Check that the indicator points to the gear chosen.
Steering Check
When you are doing this inspection, the
Be alert for any changes in steering action, abnormal
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle front tire wear or steering wheel position. An inspection
moves, you or others could be injured. or service is needed when the steering wheel is
harder to turn or has too much free play, or if there are
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room strange sounds when turning or parking.
around the vehicle. Brake System Check
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the
regular brakes. Be alert to illumination of the low air warning lamp or for
the tone alarm, or changes in braking action, such as
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to repeated pulling to one side, unusual sounds when
turn off the engine immediately if it starts. braking or increased brake pedal travel. Make sure air
3. On automatic transmission vehicles, try to start the brake system reservoirs are drained daily with full
engine in each gear. The starter should work only system air pressure, and check system for leaks. Any of
in PARK (P), if equipped, or NEUTRAL (N). If these conditions could indicate the need for brake
the starter works in any other position, your vehicle system inspection and/or service.
needs service. On manual transmission vehicles,
the starter should work only when the clutch pedal is
all the way down.

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 Engine Cooling System Service Mirrors and Sun Visors Check
Inspect the hoses and have them replaced if they are Check that friction joints hold mirrors and sun visors
cracked, swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes, in place.
fittings, and clamps; replace as needed. Clean
the outside of the radiator and air conditioning Seat Adjuster Check
condenser. To help ensure proper operation, a pressure
When adjusting a manual seat, be sure seat adjusters
test of the cooling system and pressure cap is
latch by attempting to move the seat after latching.
recommended at least once a year.

Exhaust System Check Lamps Check

Check panel lighting, warning lights, indicator lights, and
Be alert for any changes in the sound of the exhaust interior lamps. On the outside, check: license plate
system or any smell of fumes. These are signs the lamps, sidemarker lamps, reflectors or lights on outside
system may be leaking. Have it checked and/or repaired mirrors, headlamps, parking lamps, identification and
at once. Refer to Engine Exhaust on page 2-43 and clearance lamps, taillamps, brake lamps, turn signals,
Running the Engine While Parked on page 2-44. backup lamps, and hazard warning flashers. Have
Windshield Wipers and Washers Check headlamp aim checked at once if beams seem
improperly aimed.
Check operation and condition of the wiper blades.
Check the flow of the washer spray. Glass, Mirrors, Lamps and/or
Defroster Check Reflectors Condition Check
Look for broken, scratched, dirty, or damaged glass,
Move the control to the defrost symbol and the fan to HI mirrors, lamps, or reflectors that could reduce the view
or the high symbol. Then check the airflow from the or visibility or cause injury. Replace, clean or repair
ducts at the inside base of the windshield. promptly.

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 Door Latches Check Engine Cover Check
Check that doors close, latch, and lock tightly. Check for Check that the cab’s engine cover and seal (if equipped)
broken, damaged, or missing parts that might prevent are not torn or damaged. Be sure that the cover is
tight latching. clamped down firmly to the floor.
Hood Latches Check
At Least Once a Year
Check that the hood closes firmly. Check for broken,
damaged, loose, or missing parts that might prevent Key Lock Cylinders Service
tight latching. Make sure the secondary latch (if
equipped) keeps the hood from opening all the way Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
when the primary latch is released. specified in Part C.

Fluid Leaks Check Underbody Flushing Service

Check for fuel, coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks by At least every spring, use plain water to flush any
looking at the surface beneath the vehicle after it has corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
been parked for awhile. clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
Underbody Inspection
Tractor Protection (Breakaway)
Corrosive materials used for ice, snow removal, and
dust control can collect on the underbody. If these Valve Check
materials are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) On air brake models, remove, disassemble, clean and
can occur on underbody parts such as fuel lines, inspect the tractor protection (breakaway) valve.
frame, floor pan, and exhaust system. At least every
spring, flush these materials from the underbody
with plain water. Take care to clean well any areas
where mud and other debris can collect. Sediment
packed in closed areas of the frame should be loosened
before being flushed.

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 Part C: Recommended Fluids and Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Lubricants Engine Coolant See the Caterpillar® Operation &
(Caterpillar® Maintenance Manual for engine
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part Diesel Engine) coolant recommendations.
number, or specification may be obtained from Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
your dealer. (Gasoline water and use only DEX-COOL®
Engine & Coolant. See “Engine Coolant” in
Usage Fluid/Lubricant DURAMAX® the Index.
Engine oil which meets GM Diesel)
Standard GM6094M and displays Hydraulic Brake Delco® Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
the American Petroleum Institute System equivalent DOT-3 brake fluid.
Engine Oil Certified for Gasoline Engines Windshield
starburst symbol. GM Goodwrench® Washer Solvent GM Optikleen® Washer Solvent.
(Gasoline oil meets all the requirements for
Engine) your vehicle. To determine the Clutch Bearing Clutch Bearing Lubricant
(GM Part No. 12378484 or
proper viscosity for your vehicle’s Lubricant
engine, see “Engine Oil” in equivalent NLGI #3 consistency).
the Index.
Exhaust Brake High-Temperature Grease
Engine oil with the letters CI-4 or Ball Joint Cap Canada 903037) or1051344,
(GM Part No. U.S.
NLGI #3
in
CH-4 is best for your vehicle. The Lubricant
CI-4 or CH-4 designation may consistency.
appear either alone or in DEXRON®-III Automatic
Engine Oil combination with other API Power Steering Transmission Fluid. Look for
(DURAMAX® designations, such as API CI-4/SL. System “Approved for the H-Specification”
Diesel Engine) These letters show American on the label.
Petroleum Institute levels of quality.
To determine the preferred viscosity Manual
for your vehicle’s diesel engine, see Transmission Synthetic
(GM Part
Manual Transmission Fluid
No. U.S. 12345724, in
“Engine Oil” in the Index. (Except ZF Canada 10953510).
6-Speed)
Engine Oil See the Caterpillar® Operation &
(Caterpillar® Maintenance Manual for engine oil
Diesel Engine) recommendations.

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 Usage Fluid/Lubricant Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Synthetic Transmission Fluid Front Axle SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle
Manual approved to Allison Transmission® (Four-Wheel Lubricant for Medium Duty Trucks
Transmission specification TES-295 Drive) (GM Part No. U.S. 89021675, in
(ZF 6-Speed) (GM Part No. U.S. 12378515, in Canada 10953512).
Canada 88900701). SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle
Automatic See the Allison Transmission® Rear Axle and Lubricant for Medium Duty Trucks
Transmission Operator’s Manual for correct
transmission fluid.
Rear Hubs (GM Part No. U.S. 89021675, in
Canada 10953512).
Key Lock Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube Rear Axle Shift Refrigerant Oil
Cylinders (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in (GM Part No. U.S. 5416939, in
Motor Lubricant Canada 10953496).
Canada 10953474).
Chassis Lubricant Wheel bearing lubricant meeting
Chassis (GM Part No. U.S. 12377985, in Propshafts and requirements of NLGI #2,
Lubrication Canada 88901242) or lubricant Splines Category GC or GC-LB
meeting requirements of NLGI #2, (GM Part No. U.S. 1051344, in
Category LB or GC-LB. Canada 993037).
Front Wheel Wheel bearing lubricant meeting Cab — Door Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
Bearings requirements of NLGI #2, Hinges and (GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
(Except Oil Category GC or GC-LB Latches Canada 10953474).
(GM Part No. U.S. 1051344, in
Filled Hubs) Canada 993037). Weatherstrip Dielectric Silicone Grease
(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, in
SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Conditioning Canada 992887).
Front Wheel
Bearings with Lubricant for Medium Duty Trucks Synthetic Grease with
Oil Filled Hubs (GM Part No. U.S. 89021675, in
Canada 10953512).
Weatherstrip Teflon, Superlube
Squeaks (GM Part No. U.S. 12371287, in
®
Transfer Case DEXRON
Transmission
-III Automatic
Fluid. Look for
Canada 10953437).
(Four-Wheel “Approved for the H-Specification”
Drive) on the label.

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 Part D: Maintenance Record
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service and
any additional information from “Owner Checks and Services” on the following record pages. Also, you should retain
all maintenance receipts.

Date Miles/km Or Serviced By Maintenance Record

Hours

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 Date Miles/km Or Serviced By Maintenance Record
Hours

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 Date Miles/km Or Serviced By Maintenance Record
Hours

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 Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information
Customer Assistance and Information ...............7-2 Reporting Safety Defects ..................................7-7
Customer Satisfaction Procedure ......................7-2 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Online Owner Center ......................................7-3 Government ...............................................7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Telephone (TTY) Users ................................7-4 Government ...............................................7-7
Customer Assistance Offices ............................7-4 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors .......7-8
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ................7-5 Service Publications Ordering Information ...........7-8
Roadside Assistance Program ..........................7-5
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders ..........................................7-6

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 Customer Assistance and We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order to
give your inquiry prompt attention. Please have the
Information following information available to give the Customer
Assistance Representative:

Customer Satisfaction Procedure • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). This is available

from the vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to top left of the instrument panel and visible through
your dealer and to Chevrolet. Normally, any concerns the windshield.
with the sales transaction or the operation of your • Dealership name and location.
vehicle will be resolved by your dealer’s sales or service
departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best • Vehicle delivery date and present
intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can mileage (kilometers).
occur. If your concern has not been resolved to your When contacting Chevrolet, please remember that your
satisfaction, the following steps should be taken: concern will likely be resolved at a dealer’s facility.
STEP ONE: Discuss your concern with a member of That is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you
dealership management. Normally, concerns can have a concern.
be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has STEP THREE: Both General Motors and your dealer
already been reviewed with the sales, service or parts are committed to making sure you are completely
manager, contact the owner of the dealership or satisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continue
the general manager. to remain unsatisfied after following the procedure
STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of dealership outlined in Steps One and Two, you should file with the
management, it appears your concern cannot be BBB Auto Line Program to enforce any additional
resolved by the dealership without further help, contact rights you may have. Canadian owners refer to your
the GM Medium Duty Truck Customer Assistance Center Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for
at 1-800-862-4389. In Canada, contact GM of Canada information on the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration
Customer Communication Centre in Oshawa by calling Plan (CAMVAP).
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 Online Owner Center
administered by the Council of Better Business
Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle The Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownership
repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle needs. Specific vehicle information can be found in
Limited Warranty. Although you may be required to one place.
resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to
The Online Owner Center allows you to:
filing a court action, use of the program is free of
charge and your case will generally be heard within • Get e-mail service reminders.
40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given in • Access information about your specific vehicle,
your case, you may reject it and proceed with any other
including tips and videos and an electronic
venue for relief available to you.
version of this owner’s manual (United States only).
You may contact the BBB Auto Line Program using the • Keep track of your vehicle’s service history and
toll-free telephone number or write them at the maintenance schedule.
following address:
• Find GM dealers for service nationwide.
BBB Auto Line Program
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. • Receive special promotions and privileges only
4200 Wilson Boulevard available to members (United States only).
Suite 800
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
This program is available in all 50 states and the District www.gmcanada.com (Canada).
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.

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 Customer Assistance for Text From U.S. Virgin Islands:
1-800-496-9994
Telephone (TTY) Users Fax Number: 313-381-0022
To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or Canada — Customer Assistance
speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),
Chevrolet has TTY equipment available at its Customer General Motors of Canada Limited
Assistance Center. Any TTY user can communicate Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
with Chevrolet by dialing: 1-800-833-CHEV (2438). 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
(TTY users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830.) Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
1-800-263-3777 (English)
1-800-263-7854 (French)
Customer Assistance Offices 1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs)
Chevrolet encourages customers to call the toll-free Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800
number for assistance. If a U.S. customer wishes to write
to Chevrolet, the letter should be addressed to the GM Overseas — Customer Assistance
Medium Duty Truck Customer Assistance Center. Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit.
United States — Customer Assistance Mexico, Central America and
GM Medium Duty Truck Customer Assistance
Center Caribbean Islands/Countries
P.O. Box 44947 (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Detroit, MI 48244
Islands) — Customer Assistance
1-800-TO-CHEVY (862-4389)
1-800-833-2438 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs)) General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
Fax Number: 313-381-0022 Customer Assistance Center
Paseo de la Reforma # 2740
From Puerto Rico: Col. Lomas de Bezares
1-800-496-9992 (English) C.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F.
1-800-496-9993 (Spanish) 01-800-508-0000
Fax Number: 313-381-0022 Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800

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 GM Mobility Reimbursement Roadside Assistance Program
Program GM Medium Duty Truck’s Roadside Assistance
provides stranded owners with towing service for
disabled vehicles.
This service combines the efforts of trained telephone
representatives with a network of GM Medium Duty
Truck’s dealer services.
Just dial GM Medium Duty Truck Roadside Assistance
at 1-800-862-4389 to reach a qualified representative
who can assist you in a repair or arrange a tow. Other
This program, available to qualified applicants, can recommended services can also be arranged for
reimburse you up to $1,000 of the cost of eligible situations such as retrieving locked in keys, changing a
aftermarket adaptive equipment required for your vehicle, tire, or delivering gasoline, at a charge to the customer.
such as hand controls or a wheelchair/scooter lift. We also provide dealer information at no charge,
The offer is available for a very limited period of time such as location of the nearest authorized medium duty
from the date of vehicle purchase/lease. For more GM Truck dealer and their hours of operation.
details, or to determine your vehicle’s eligibility, visit Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day,
gmmobility.com or call the GM Mobility Assistance 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Should you have any
Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text telephone (TTY) users, questions about Roadside Assistance, call the GM
call 1-800-833-9935. Medium Duty Truck Roadside Assistance Center
GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call or contact your dealer.
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. TTY users
call 1-800-263-3830.

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 Canadian Roadside Assistance In a crash event, computer systems, such as the Airbag
Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) in your vehicle
In Canada, Medium Duty trucks are not eligible for may record information about the condition of the vehicle
Roadside Assistance services. However, and how it was operated, such as data related to
owners/operators who contact Roadside Assistance by engine speed, brake application, throttle position, vehicle
calling 1-800-268-6800 may have a tow arranged speed, safety belt usage, airbag readiness, airbag
for them at the owner/operator expense. performance, and the severity of a collision. If your
If a Medium Duty truck is towed to a General Motors vehicle is equipped with Quadrasteer, steering
dealership and the towing was necessary due to failure performance, including yaw rate, steering wheel angle,
of a warranted part, the dealer will accept the towing and lateral acceleration, is also recorded. This
charges and submit them as part of the warranty claim. information has been used to improve vehicle crash
performance and may be used to improve crash
performance of future vehicles and driving safety. Unlike
Vehicle Data Collection and Event the data recorders on many airplanes, these on-board
Data Recorders systems do not record sounds, such as conversation of
vehicle occupants.
Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a
To read this information, special equipment is needed
number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor
and access to the vehicle or the device that stores
and control several aspects of the vehicle’s performance.
the data is required. GM will not access information
Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers to monitor
about a crash event or share it with others other than:
emission control components to optimize fuel economy,
to monitor conditions for airbag deployment and, if so • with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,
driver control the vehicle in difficult driving situations. • in response to an official request of police or similar
Some information may be stored during regular
government office,
operations to facilitate repair of detected malfunctions;
other information is stored only in a crash event by • as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the
computer systems, such as those commonly called event discovery process, or
data recorders (EDR). • as required by law.

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 In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may: If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
• use the data for GM research needs, investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
• make it available for research where appropriate campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in
confidentiality is to be maintained and need is individual problems between you, your dealer, or
shown, or General Motors.
• share summary data which is not tied to a specific To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety
vehicle with non-GM organizations for research Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in
purposes. the Washington, D.C. area) or write to:
Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation
the special equipment that can read the information Washington, D.C. 20590
if they have access to the vehicle or the device You can also obtain other information about motor
that stores the data. vehicle safety from the hotline.

Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the

Canadian Government
Reporting Safety Defects to the
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
United States Government has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could Motors of Canada Limited. You may call them at
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying Transport Canada
General Motors. Place de Ville Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5

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 Reporting Safety Defects to General Service Publications Ordering
Motors Information
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in Service Manuals
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-862-4389, or write: Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
GM Medium Duty Truck information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
Customer Assistance Center brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
P.O. Box 44947
Detroit, MI 48244
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
Case Unit Repair Manual
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: This manual provides information on unit repair
General Motors of Canada Limited service procedures, adjustments, and specifications for
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 GM transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

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 Service Bulletins Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Bulletins give technical service information Service Publications are available for current and
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE Eastern Time
(1-800-463-7483). For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
Owner’s Information World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Owner publications are written specifically for owners Or you can write to:
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include Helm, Incorporated
the Maintenance Schedule for all models. P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
Warranty Booklet.
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only. quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 checks payable in U.S. funds.

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 ✍ NOTES

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 A Airbag System (cont.)
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .................... 1-53
Accessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-19 Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-52
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment ......... 4-34 AM-FM Radio ................................................. 3-45
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Antenna, Fixed Mast ....................................... 3-59
Vehicle ....................................................... 1-59 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................... 4-6
Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6 Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light .............. 3-34
Add-On Electrical Equipment ............................ 5-88 Anti-Lock Brakes, Trailer System
Air Brake ....................................................... 2-40 Warning Light ............................................. 3-34
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-33 Appearance Care ............................................ 5-79
Air Conditioning .............................................. 3-20 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels .............. 5-84
Air Conditioning System ................................... 5-70 Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-82
Air Pressure Gage .......................................... 3-44 Chemical Paint Spotting ............................... 5-85
Air Shift Control .............................................. 2-27 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................... 5-83
Air Suspension ............................................... 2-42 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle ................ 5-80
Air Suspension Seats ........................................ 1-6 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-81
Airbag Finish Care ................................................. 5-83
Off Light ..................................................... 3-28 Finish Damage ............................................ 5-85
Readiness Light .......................................... 3-27 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) ...... 7-6 Surfaces ................................................. 5-82
Airbag System ................................................ 1-48 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 5-85
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Tires .......................................................... 5-85
Vehicle ................................................... 1-59 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-85
Airbag Off Switch ........................................ 1-56 Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ................ 5-86
How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-54 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-83
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-59 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-82
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? ...................... 1-54 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-84
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .... 1-54 Ashtrays ........................................................ 3-20

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 Audio System(s) .............................................
AM-FM Radio .............................................
3-44
3-45 B
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-58 Battery .......................................................... 5-55
Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-59 Bench Seat, Split ............................................. 1-6
Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-59 Brake
Chime Level Adjustment ............................... 3-59 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 4-6
Fixed Mast Antenna ..................................... 3-59 Diesel Engine Exhaust ................................. 2-25
Radio with Cassette ..................................... 3-48 Emergencies ................................................ 4-8
Radio with CD ............................................ 3-53 Exhaust Indicator Light ................................. 3-40
Setting the Time .......................................... 3-45 Hydraulic Systems ......................................... 4-6
Theft-Deterrent Feature ................................ 3-57 System Warning Light .................................. 3-31
Understanding Radio Reception ..................... 3-57 Trailer Hand Control Valve .............................. 4-8
Automatic Ether Injection System ...................... 5-68 Brakes .......................................................... 5-47
Automatic Transmission Air ............................................................. 2-40
Fluid .......................................................... 5-34 Hydraulic .................................................... 2-38
Operation ................................................... 2-28 Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure ................ 2-39
Axle, Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Braking ........................................................... 4-5
Shift Control ............................................... 2-26 Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-11
Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-65

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 C Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab) or
Capacities and Specifications ............................ 5-95 Center Front Position ................................ 1-42
Carbon Monoxide ................................... 2-43, 4-26 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Care of Front Seat Position ................................... 1-44
Safety Belts ................................................ 5-82 Top Strap ................................................... 1-39
Your Cassette Tape Player ............................ 3-58 Where to Put the Restraint ................... 1-36, 1-38
Your CD Player ........................................... 3-59 Chime Level Adjustment .................................. 3-59
Your CDs ................................................... 3-59 Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-20
Center Console Storage Area ........................... 2-47 Cleaning
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts ............. 1-22 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels .............. 5-84
Charging System Light .................................... 3-30 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 5-83
Check Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-81
Engine Light ............................................... 3-36 Finish Care ................................................. 5-83
Gages Warning Light ................................... 3-42 Inside of Your Vehicle .................................. 5-80
Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-20 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-85 Plastic Surfaces ....................................... 5-82
Child Restraints Tires .......................................................... 5-85
Child Restraint Systems ............................... 1-33 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-85
Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-30 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-83
Older Children ............................................. 1-27 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-82
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-84
Outside Seat Position ............................... 1-40

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 Climate Control System ................................... 3-20
Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-23 D
Rear Heating System ................................... 3-24 Daytime Running Lamps .................................. 3-15
Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-5 Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light ............. 3-41
Coolant Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2
Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-35 Diesel Engine
Heater, Engine ............................................ 2-24 Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown ........... 2-18
Low Warning Light ....................................... 3-35 Exhaust Brake ............................................ 2-25
Surge Tank Pressure Cap ............................. 5-38 Exhaust Restrictor ....................................... 2-21
Cooling System .............................................. 5-40 Fuel ............................................................ 5-7
Cruise Control ................................................ 3-10 High Idle System ......................................... 2-19
Customer Assistance Information Starting ...................................................... 2-14
Customer Assistance for Text Differential Lock Control, Rear Axle ..................... 4-9
Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-4 Differential Lock Indicator Light ......................... 3-40
Customer Assistance Offices ........................... 7-4 Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2 Dome Lamps ................................................. 3-16
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ............... 7-5 Door
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ...... 7-8 Locks .......................................................... 2-6
Reporting Safety Defects to the Power Door Locks ......................................... 2-7
Canadian Government ................................ 7-7 Driver
Reporting Safety Defects to the Position, Safety Belt ..................................... 1-14
United States Government .......................... 7-7 Driving
Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-5 At Night ..................................................... 4-16
Service Publications Ordering Information ......... 7-8 City ........................................................... 4-21
Defensive ..................................................... 4-2

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 Driving (cont.) Engine (cont.)
Drunken ....................................................... 4-2 Checks Before Operating .............................. 2-22
Freeway ..................................................... 4-22 Coolant .............................................. 5-36, 5-38
Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-24 Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-18 Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-35
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out ................. 4-30 Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake ........................ 2-25
Tow Hooks ................................................. 4-31 Exhaust ..................................................... 2-43
Winter ........................................................ 4-26 Exhaust Restrictor ....................................... 2-21
Dual Tire Operation ......................................... 5-72 Fan Noise .................................................. 5-45
High Idle System ......................................... 2-19
Oil ..................................................... 5-22, 5-26
E Oil Life System ........................... 5-29, 5-31, 5-32
Overheating ................................................ 5-38
Electrical System
Overspeed Warning Light .............................. 3-39
Add-On Equipment ...................................... 5-88
Reduced Power Light ................................... 3-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-89
Shutdown Warning Light ............................... 3-39
Fusible Links .............................................. 5-89
Speed Limiter ............................................. 3-26
Headlamp Wiring ......................................... 5-88
Starter Over-Crank Protection ........................ 2-12
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-89
Starting Your Diesel ..................................... 2-14
Power Windows and Other Power Options ...... 5-89
Starting Your Gasoline .................................. 2-12
Underhood Fuse Block ................................. 5-92
Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-17
Windshield Wiper Fuses ............................... 5-88
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................. 7-6
Engine
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light ........................... 3-40
Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-33
Exhaust Restrictor ........................................... 2-21
Alarm and Automatic Shutdown ..................... 2-18
Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-26
Battery ....................................................... 5-55
Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-14
Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-38
Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-36

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 F Fuel (cont.)
Fuels in Foreign Countries ............................ 5-17
Filter Gage ......................................................... 3-42
Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-33 Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-6
Filter Minder Gage .......................................... 3-43 Gasoline Specifications .................................. 5-6
Finish Damage ............................................... 5-85 Primary Filter and Water Separator ................ 5-67
Fixed Mast Antenna ........................................ 3-59 Running Out of Fuel .................................... 5-15
Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-78 Secondary Filter and Water
Fluid Separator/Heater ...................................... 5-68
Automatic Transmission ................................ 5-34 Very Cold Weather Operation ........................ 5-10
Manual Transmission .................................... 5-35 Water in Fuel .............................................. 5-10
Power Steering ........................................... 5-45 Water in Warning Light ................................. 3-43
Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-46 What Fuel to Use .......................................... 5-8
Four-Wheel Drive .................................... 2-33, 5-62 Fuses
Front Axle ...................................................... 5-63 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-89
Front Wheel Bearings with Oil-Filled Hubs .......... 5-69 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-89
Fuel ............................................................... 5-6 Underhood Fuse Block ................................. 5-92
Additives ...................................................... 5-6 Windshield Wiper ......................................... 5-88
Diesel Engine Fuel ........................................ 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... 5-19
Filling Your Tank .......................................... 5-18
Filter .......................................................... 5-66
Filter Replacement ....................................... 5-16

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 G Heater ........................................................... 3-20
High Idle System ............................................ 2-19
Gage Highbeam On Light ......................................... 3-41
Air Pressure ............................................... 3-44 Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-23
Check Gages Warning Light .......................... 3-42 Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-24
Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-35 Hood
Filter Minder ............................................... 3-43 Checking Things Under ................................ 5-20
Fuel .......................................................... 3-42 Latches ...................................................... 5-20
Hourmeter .................................................. 3-44 Horn ............................................................... 3-6
Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-37 Hourmeter Gage ............................................. 3-44
Speedometer .............................................. 3-26 How to Use This Manual ...................................... ii
Tachometer ................................................. 3-26 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-14
Transmission Temperature ............................. 3-39 Hydraulic Brake Systems ................................... 4-6
Voltmeter Gage ........................................... 3-30 Hydraulic Brakes ............................................. 2-38
Gasoline
Octane ........................................................ 5-6
Specifications ............................................... 5-6
Gasoline Engine, Starting ................................. 2-12
I
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-5 Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-12
Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-30
Inflation -- Tire Pressure .................................. 5-71
H Instrument Panel
Overview ..................................................... 3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Switchbank ................................................. 3-18
Headlamp Wiring ............................................ 5-88 Instrument Panel (I/P)
Headlamps Brightness .................................................. 3-16
Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-65 Cluster ....................................................... 3-25
Daytime Running Lamps ............................... 3-15
High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-8
On Reminder .............................................. 3-15

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 J Light (cont.)
Engine Overspeed Warning ........................... 3-39
Jump Starting ................................................. 5-56 Engine Shutdown Warning ............................ 3-39
Exhaust Brake Indicator ................................ 3-40
Highbeam On ............................................. 3-41
K Low Coolant Warning ................................... 3-35
Low Oil Level ............................................. 3-38
Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-3
Keys ............................................................... 2-2 Low Washer Fluid Warning ........................... 3-42
Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-36
Range Inhibit Warning Indicator ..................... 3-31
L Reduced Engine Power ................................ 3-41
Safety Belt Reminder ................................... 3-27
Lamps Safety Belt Reminder Tone ........................... 3-27
Dome ........................................................ 3-16 Service Transmission Warning ....................... 3-31
Exterior ...................................................... 3-14 Trailer Anti-Lock Brake System Warning .......... 3-34
Marker ....................................................... 3-16 Wait to Start Indicator .................................. 3-36
Reading ..................................................... 3-17 Water in Fuel Warning ................................. 3-43
Light Lighting
Airbag Off .................................................. 3-28 Entry ......................................................... 3-17
Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-27 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-32
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ................... 3-34 Locks
Brake System Warning ................................. 3-31 Door ........................................................... 2-6
Change Engine Oil ...................................... 3-38 Power Door .................................................. 2-7
Charging System ......................................... 3-30 Loss of Control ............................................... 4-15
Check Gages Warning ................................. 3-42 Low Coolant Warning Light .............................. 3-35
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator .................. 3-41 Low Washer Fluid Warning Light ....................... 3-42
Differential Lock Indicator .............................. 3-40

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 M Mirrors (cont.)
Outside Manual Mirrors ................................ 2-45
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts .......... 5-100 Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-45
Maintenance Schedule MyGMLink.com ................................................ 7-3
At Each Fuel Fill ......................................... 6-27
At Least Once a Year .................................. 6-31
At Least Twice a Year .................................. 6-28
How This Section is Organized ....................... 6-3
N
Introduction .................................................. 6-2 New Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-11
Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2 Noise Control System, Tampering ...................... 5-64
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services ......... 6-4 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ........... 5-100
Part B - Owner Checks and Services ............. 6-27
Part C - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants ............................................... 6-32 O
Part D - Maintenance Record ........................ 6-34 Odometer ...................................................... 3-26
Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-5 Odometer, Trip ............................................... 3-26
Scheduled Maintenance Supplements ............... 6-5 Off-Road Recovery .......................................... 4-13
Using .......................................................... 6-4 Oil
Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2 Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-38
Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-36 Engine ............................................... 5-22, 5-26
Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2 Low Oil Level Light ...................................... 3-38
Manual Transmission Pressure Gage ............................................ 3-37
Fluid .......................................................... 5-35 Oil, Engine Oil Life System .............. 5-29, 5-31, 5-32
Operation ................................................... 2-29 Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-27
Manual Windows .............................................. 2-8 Online Owner Center ........................................ 7-3
Marker Lamps ................................................ 3-16 Other Service Items
Mirrors Air Conditioning System ............................... 5-70
Manual Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-45 Automatic Ether Injection System ................... 5-68
Outside Convex Mirrors ................................ 2-46 Front Wheel Bearings with Oil-Filled Hubs ....... 5-69
Outside Heated Mirrors ................................ 2-46 Fuel Filter ................................................... 5-66

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 Other Service Items (cont.) Power
Primary Fuel Filter and Water Separator ......... 5-67 Accessory Outlets ........................................ 3-19
Secondary Fuel Filter and Water Separator/ Door Locks .................................................. 2-7
Heater .................................................... 5-68 Electrical System ......................................... 5-89
Other Warning Devices ...................................... 3-6 Reduced Engine Light .................................. 3-41
Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-23 Steering Fluid ............................................. 5-45
Outside Windows ...................................................... 2-9
Convex Mirrors ............................................ 2-46 Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure ................... 2-39
Heated Mirrors ............................................ 2-46
Manual Mirrors ............................................ 2-45
Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-45
Overspeed Warning Light ................................. 3-39
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......... 1-13
Owners, Canadian ............................................... ii

P R
Radios .......................................................... 3-44
Parking ......................................................... 2-38
AM-FM Radio ............................................. 3-45
Air Brake .................................................... 2-40
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-58
Hydraulic Brakes ......................................... 2-38
Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-59
Over Things That Burn ................................. 2-43
Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-59
Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure ................ 2-39
Radio with Cassette ..................................... 3-48
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services ............ 6-4
Radio with CD ............................................ 3-53
Part B - Owner Checks and Services ................ 6-27
Setting the Time .......................................... 3-45
Part C - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .... 6-32
Theft-Deterrent ............................................ 3-57
Part D - Maintenance Record ........................... 6-34
Understanding Reception .............................. 3-57
Passing ......................................................... 4-13
Range Inhibit Warning Indicator ........................ 3-31

10

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 Reading Lamps .............................................. 3-17
Rear Axle ...................................................... 5-60 S
Differential Lock Control ................................. 4-9 Safety Belt
Shift Motor ................................................. 5-62 Reminder Light ............................................ 3-27
Two-Speed Electric Shift Control .................... 2-26 Reminder Tone ............................................ 3-27
Rear Heating System ...................................... 3-24 Safety Belts
Rear Seat Operation ......................................... 1-8 Care of ...................................................... 5-82
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .................. 1-24 Center Passenger Position ............................ 1-22
Rearview Mirrors ............................................. 2-45 Driver Position ............................................ 1-14
Reclining Seatbacks .......................................... 1-4 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................ 1-14
Reduced Engine Power Light ............................ 3-41 Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ..... 1-13
Remote Keyless Entry System ............................ 2-3 Rear Seat Passengers ................................. 1-24
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation ............ 2-4 Right Front Passenger Position ...................... 1-22
Reporting Safety Defects Safety Belt Extender .................................... 1-26
Canadian Government ................................... 7-7 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ................. 1-22
General Motors ............................................. 7-8 Safety Belts Are for Everyone ......................... 1-9
United States Government .............................. 7-7 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................ 1-21
Restraint System Check Safety Warnings and Symbols .............................. iii
Checking the Restraint Systems .................... 1-60 Scheduled Maintenance ..................................... 6-5
Replacing Restraint System Parts Scheduled Maintenance Supplements .................. 6-5
After a Crash .......................................... 1-60 Seats
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts ...... 1-22 Air Suspension Seats .................................... 1-6
Roadside Manual ........................................................ 1-2
Assistance Program ....................................... 7-5 Rear Seat Operation ...................................... 1-8
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .................... 4-30 Reclining Seatbacks ...................................... 1-4
Running Out of Fuel ........................................ 5-15 Split Bench Seat ........................................... 1-6
Running the Engine While Parked ..................... 2-44

11

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 Securing a Child Restraint Storage Areas ................................................ 2-47
Center Rear Seat Position (Crew Cab) or Center Console Storage Area ........................ 2-47
Center Front Position ................................ 1-42 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ...................... 4-30
Rear Outside Seat Position ........................... 1-40 Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-10
Right Front Seat Position .............................. 1-44 Suspension, Air .............................................. 2-42
Service ........................................................... 5-3 Switchbanks, Instrument Panel .......................... 3-18
Doing Your Own Work ................................... 5-4
Engine Soon Light ....................................... 3-36
Publications Ordering Information ..................... 7-8
Transmission Warning Light .......................... 3-31
T
Tachometer .................................................... 3-26
Two Safety Cautions about Engine Fan
Theft-Deterrent, Radio ..................................... 3-57
Breakage .................................................. 5-5
Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-7
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............. 1-59
Tires ............................................................. 5-70
Setting the Time ............................................. 3-45
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-85
Cleaning ................................................. 5-84
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................... 1-21
Cleaning .................................................... 5-85
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .......................... 3-8
Dual Tire Operation ..................................... 5-72
Sliding Rear Windows ..................................... 2-10
If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-78
Snow Plow .................................................... 4-34
Inflation -- Tire Pressure ............................... 5-71
Specifications, Capacities ................................. 5-95
Tightening the Wheel Nuts ............................ 5-73
Speedometer .................................................. 3-26
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-73
Split Bench Seat .............................................. 1-6
Wheel Loading ............................................ 5-71
Starting Your Diesel Engine .............................. 2-14
Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-77
Starting Your Gasoline Engine .......................... 2-12
When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-72
Steering ........................................................ 4-11
Top Strap ...................................................... 1-39
Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-7
Tow Hooks ..................................................... 4-31

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 Towing
Power Take-Off (PTO) .................................. 4-38 U
Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-35 Understanding Radio Reception ........................ 3-57
Traction
Control System (TCS) .................................. 4-10
Trailer
Connections ................................................ 4-37
V
Vehicle
Trailer Brake Hand Control Valve ........................ 4-8 Control ........................................................ 4-5
Transmission Damage Warnings ........................................... iv
Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-34 Loading ...................................................... 4-32
Fluid, Manual .............................................. 5-35 Symbols ......................................................... iv
Service Warning Light .................................. 3-31 Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Temperature Gage ....................................... 3-39 Recorders .................................................... 7-6
Transmission Operation, Automatic .................... 2-28 Vehicle Identification
Transmission Operation, Manual ........................ 2-29 Number (VIN) ............................................. 5-87
Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-26 Service Parts Identification Label ................... 5-88
Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-8 Service Statement ....................................... 5-87
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-7 Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-23
Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control ......... 2-26 Visors ........................................................... 2-10
Voltmeter Gage .............................................. 3-30

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 W Where to Put the Restraint ....................... 1-36, 1-38
Windows ......................................................... 2-8
Wait to Start Indicator ...................................... 3-36 Manual ........................................................ 2-8
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-24 Power ......................................................... 2-9
Warnings Sliding Rear ................................................ 2-10
Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Windshield
Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-6 Wiper Blades, Cleaning ................................ 5-84
Safety and Symbols ......................................... iii Windshield Washer ......................................... 3-10
Vehicle Damage .............................................. iv Fluid .......................................................... 5-46
Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light ...................... 3-42 Windshield Wiper
Water Blade Replacement ...................................... 5-65
Fuel .......................................................... 5-10 Fuses ........................................................ 5-88
Water in Fuel Warning Light ............................. 3-43 Windshield Wipers ......................................... 3-9
What Fuel to Use ............................................. 5-8 Winter Driving ................................................ 4-26
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-73
Front Bearings with Oil-Filled Hubs ................ 5-69
Loading ...................................................... 5-71
Y
Replacement ............................................... 5-77 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2
Tightening the Wheel Nuts ............................ 5-73

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