check engine light CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 2003 9.G User Guide

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts Ð heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking Ð rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-lock Brake System
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. See
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-44
.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning lights will come on
accompanied by a 10-second chime. The lights
and chime will come on each time the ignition is turned
on until the problem is repaired. See your dealer for
service.
4-7

Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down ®rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Supplemental Brake Assist System
If your vehicle has vacuum assist power brakes, it is also
equipped with a supplemental brake assist system that
supplies additional vacuum to the vacuum brake booster
if engine vacuum is reduced. Under certain conditions,
the supplemental brake assist system may run brie¯y
after starting your vehicle or when you apply and release
the brake pedal and it may continue to run even after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal. When the
supplemental brake assist system is operating, you mayhear a motor running or feel a slight vibration in the
steering wheel or brake pedal. This indicates that the
supplemental brake assist system is working to supply
additional vacuum for your vacuum assist power brakes.
This is a normal operation of your brake system and does
not require that the brake system be serviced.
Each time you start your vehicle and accelerate to 10
mph, the supplemental brake assist system will perform a
self-diagnostic check of the system and you may hear or
feel the supplemental brake assist motor run brie¯y.
While you are driving your vehicle, the supplemental
brake assist system monitors itself to ensure that it is
operating properly. If there is a problem with the
supplemental brake assist system, the SERVICE BRAKE
BOOSTER message will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-64.
If your supplemental brake assist system runs every
time you apply and release the brake pedal or you notice
that the brake pedal has suddenly become much
harder to push and the vehicle takes longer to stop, you
should have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
4-9

Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in
your ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh Ð such as after a day's
work Ð don't plan to make too many miles that ®rst
part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
you can easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll ®nd experienced and able service experts in
GM dealerships all across North America. They'll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
·Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
·Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
·Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
·Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
·Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in¯ated to the
recommended pressure?
·Weather Forecasts:What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
·Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-47

{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can not see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
4-55

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
¯ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the ACDelco
žbattery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery
has ®ller caps, be sure the right amount of
¯uid is there. If it is low, add water to take care
of that ®rst. If you do not, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery ¯uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ¯ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive (+) or a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative (-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or a remote
negative (-) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don't connect positive (+) to negative (-) or you'll
get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too. And don't connect the
negative (-) cable to the negative (-) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
5-51

Braking........................................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bucket Seats, Rear.........................................1-21
BUCKLE PASSENGER....................................3-65
BUCKLE SEATBELT.......................................3-65
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-59
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-61
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-59
Headlamps.................................................5-60
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-66
Roof Marker Lamps.....................................5-62
Side Identi®cation Marker Lamps...................5-62
Taillamps....................................................5-64
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-8
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-118
Car Washes for QUADRASTEERŸ Equipped
Vehicles.....................................................4-19
Carbon Monoxide...................4-51, 4-65, 2-14, 2-43Care of........................................................5-102
Safety Belts..............................................5-102
Your Cassette Tape Player..........................3-127
Your CD and DVD Player...........................3-129
Your CDs and DVDs..................................3-128
Cargo Cover..................................................2-64
Cargo Tie Downs............................................2-64
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-97
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-11
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-98
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-62
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block................5-112
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-39
Chains, Tires..................................................5-76
CHANGE ENGINE OIL....................................3-65
Check Engine Light.........................................3-47
CHECK OIL LEVEL.........................................3-66
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE...............................3-66
CHECK WASHER FLUID.................................3-66
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-46
Checking Coolant............................................5-31
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-18
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-88
Check...........................................................3-47
Engine Light...............................................3-47
3

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-38
Driving in Water..............................................4-39
Driving On Grades..........................................4-75
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-30
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-52
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-44
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-44
Driving Uphill..................................................4-31
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-73
Driving..........................................................4-40
At Night.....................................................4-40
City...........................................................4-45
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-46
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-49
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-42
Winter........................................................4-51
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-25
Dual Climate Control System............................3-21
DVD Player..................................................3-114
DVD ............................................................3-129
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-129
Distortion..................................................3-126
Rear Seat Entertainment System..................3-114E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-67
Electrical System...........................................5-108
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-108
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-109
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-108
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-108
Electrochromic Mirror Operation................2-46, 2-49
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs.................................3-50
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-66
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-11
Engine Hour Meter Display...............................3-38
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-21
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-5
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-11
ENGINE OVERHEATED..................................3-66
Engine..........................................................5-23
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-23
Battery.......................................................5-48
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-47
Compartment Overview................................5-14
Coolant Heater............................................2-24
6

Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-49
Hitches..........................................................4-72
HomeLink Transmitter, Programming..................2-58
HomeLink
žTransmitter....................................2-57
Hood............................................................5-12
Checking Things Under................................5-12
Release.....................................................5-12
Horn............................................................... 3-7
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank . . 5-38
How to Add Fluid............................................5-29
How to Check Lubricant...................................5-56
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-44
How to Check........................................5-26, 5-68
How to Inspect...............................................5-24
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-29
Hydroplaning..................................................4-43
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-35
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-34
If the Light is Flashing.....................................3-48
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-49
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-56If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-66
If You're Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-54
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Ignition Transmission Lock Check......................6-14
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-49
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure..................................5-68
Inspection......................................................6-17
Brake System.............................................6-17
Engine Cooling System................................6-17
Exhaust System..........................................6-16
Fuel System...............................................6-16
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-16
Steering and Suspension..............................6-16
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(Four-Wheel Drive)...................................6-17
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-17
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................5-109
Instrument Panel.............................................3-37
Cluster.......................................................3-37
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps................................................3-17
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-49
9

M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts..........5-121
Maintenance Schedule.....................................6-11
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-11
At Least Once a Month................................6-11
At Least Once a Year..................................6-13
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-12
Brake System Inspection..............................6-17
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-17
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-16
Fuel System Inspection................................6-16
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-11
Part C - Periodic MaintenanceInspections......6-16
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-18
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-20
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-5
Steering and Suspension Inspection...............6-16
Transfer Case and Front Axle (Four-Wheel
Drive) Inspection......................................6-17
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-77
Making Turns.................................................4-75Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-47
Manual Seats................................................... 1-3
Manual Windows............................................2-16
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Memory Seat.................................................2-66
Message.......................................................3-64
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-64
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) ± Customer Assistance....................... 7-5
Mirrors..........................................................2-49
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
and Temperature Display...........................2-49
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
ž,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-45
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-45
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-53
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors........................2-52
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-54
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors...................2-54
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-54
Outside Manual Mirrors................................2-51
Outside Power Camper-Type.........................2-53
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-53
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-52
Model Reference................................................ vi
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
11

Reporting Safety Defects (cont.)
Reprogramming a Single HomeLinkžButton.......2-61
Resetting Defaults...........................................2-61
Restraint System Check...................................6-12
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-88
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash.....................................................1-89
Restraint Systems...........................................1-88
Checking....................................................1-88
Replacing Parts...........................................1-89
Resynchronization............................................. 2-7
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-22
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-38
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR..............................3-69
Roadside......................................................... 7-6
Assistance Program....................................... 7-6
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out...................4-57
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-44
S
Safety Belt.....................................................3-38
Reminder Light............................................3-38
Safety Belts..................................................5-102
Care of....................................................5-102
Center Passenger Position............................1-39
Driver Position............................................1-30Safety Belts (cont.)
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-29
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.....1-28
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults......................................1-44
Rear Seat Passengers.................................1-40
Right Front Passenger Position......................1-38
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-46
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-38
Safety Belts Are for Everyone.......................1-24
Safety Chains.................................................4-72
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iii
Scanning the Terrain.......................................4-28
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-5
Seat............................................................... 1-8
Head Restraints............................................ 1-8
Seats............................................................1-12
50/50 Split Bench Seat.................................1-12
60/40 Split Bench Seat.................................. 1-9
Bench Seat................................................1-16
Bucket Seats, Rear......................................1-21
Heated Seats............................................... 1-5
Manual........................................................ 1-3
Memory.....................................................2-66
Power Lumbar.............................................. 1-5
Power Seats................................................. 1-4
Rear Seat Operation...................................... 1-9
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-6
15