octane CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 2009 1.G Owners Manual

Light On Steady:An emission
control system malfunction has been
detected on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction
might be corrected by checking the
following items:
Make sure the fuel cap is fully
installed. SeeFilling the Tank
on page 5-7. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition is
usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle
with quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 5-5.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer can
check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical
or electrical problems that might
have developed.
Instrument Panel 3-41

Service and
Appearance Care
ServiceService................................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.......................5-3
California Proposition 65
Warning.............................5-4
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements........5-4
Doing Your Own
Service Work......................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle...........5-4
FuelFuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane...................5-5
Gasoline Specications..........5-5
California Fuel......................5-5
Additives..............................5-5
Fuels in Foreign Countries......5-6
Filling the Tank.....................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container...........................5-8
Checking Things Under
the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood............................5-9
Hood Release.......................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview..........................5-10
Engine Oil..........................5-11
Engine Oil Life System.........5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-16
Cooling System...................5-17
Engine Coolant...................5-17
Engine Overheating.............5-22
Overheated
Engine Protection
Operating Mode.................5-23
Power Steering Fluid............5-24
Windshield Washer Fluid......5-24
Brakes...............................5-25
Battery...............................5-28
Jump Starting.....................5-29
Headlamp AimingHeadlamp Aiming................5-33
Bulb ReplacementBulb Replacement...............5-33
Halogen Bulbs....................5-33
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps.............5-33
Replacement Bulbs..............5-34
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement.....................5-35
TiresTires..................................5-36
Tire Sidewall Labeling..........5-37
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.........................5-39
Ination - Tire Pressure........5-42
Tire Pressure Monitor
System.............................5-43
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation..........................5-45
Tire Inspection and
Rotation............................5-48
When It Is Time for New
Tires................................5-50
Buying New Tires................5-50
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
If the octane rating is less than 87,
you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly
referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specication D 4814
in the United States or CAN/
CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives on
page 5-5for additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certied to meet
California Emissions Standards,
it is designed to operate on fuels
that meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control
system performance might be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehiclemight fail a smog-check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-39. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer/retailer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now required
to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits
from forming, allowing the emission
control system to work properly.
In most cases, you should not have
to add anything to the fuel. However,
some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required
to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and
intake valves clean, or if the vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Service and Appearance Care 5-5

For customers who do not use TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly,
one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change,
can help clean deposits from fuel
injectors and intake valves. GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has
additives that will help correct and
prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might
be available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.Notice:This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under
the vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control
system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might turn
on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer/retailer for service.Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If you plan on driving in another
country outside the United States or
Canada, the proper fuel might be
hard to nd. Never use leaded
gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text
on fuel. Costly repairs caused
by use of improper fuel would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask
an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in
the country where you will be
driving.
5-6 Service and Appearance Care

Improper uid levels or the wrong tire
ination can increase the level of
emissions from the vehicle. To help
protect the environment, and to keep
the vehicle in good condition, be sure
to maintain the vehicle properly.
Using the Maintenance
Schedule
We want to help keep this vehicle in
good working condition. But we do
not know exactly how you will drive it.
You might drive very short distances
only a few times a week. Or you
might drive long distances all the
time in very hot, dusty weather.
You might use the vehicle in making
deliveries. Or you might drive it to
work, to do errands, or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different
ways people use their vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. You might
need more frequent checks and
replacements. So please read the
following and note how you drive.If you have any questions on how to
keep the vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer/retailer.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-16.
are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
use the recommended fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5.
The services inScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-3should
be performed when indicated.
SeeAdditional Required Services
on page 6-6andMaintenance
Footnotes on page 6-7for further
information.
{CAUTION
Performing maintenance work on
a vehicle can be dangerous. In
trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured. Do your own
maintenance work only if you
have the required know-how and
the proper tools and equipment
for the job. If you have any doubt,
see your dealer/retailer to have a
qualied technician do the work.
SeeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 5-4.
Some maintenance services can
be complex. So, unless you are
technically qualied and have the
necessary equipment, have your
dealer/retailer do these jobs.
When you go to your dealer/retailer
for service, trained and supported
service technicians will perform
the work using genuine parts.
6-2 Maintenance Schedule

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner............5-15
Finish Damage....................5-84
Flashers, Hazard Warning....... 3-5
Flash-to-Pass........................ 3-7
Flat Tire..............................5-56
Flat Tire, Changing...............5-65
Flat Tire, Storing..................5-74
Floor Mats..........................2-54
Fluid
Automatic Transmission.....5-16
Power Steering.................5-24
Windshield Washer...........5-24
Fog Lamp
Fog ................................3-13
Fuel..................................... 5-5
Additives........................... 5-5
California Fuel................... 5-5
Economy Driving................ 4-1
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container....................... 5-8
Filling the Tank.................. 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 5-6
Gage ..............................3-43
Gasoline Octane................ 5-5
Gasoline Specications........ 5-5Fuses
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers......................5-86
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block...........................5-86
Underhood Fuse Block......5-88
Windshield Wiper..............5-86
G
Gage
Speedometer...................3-32
Tachometer......................3-32
Voltmeter Gage................3-35
Gages
Engine Coolant
Temperature.................3-38
Fuel................................3-43
Garage Door Opener............2-47
Gasoline
Octane............................. 5-5
Specications..................... 5-5
Glove Box...........................2-52
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program............................ 7-6
H
Halogen Bulbs.....................5-33
Hazard Warning Flashers........ 3-5
Head Restraints..................... 1-2
Headlamp
Aiming ............................5-33
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.............5-33
Daytime Running Lamps/
Automatic Headlamp
System........................3-12
Delayed..........................3-12
Exterior Lamps.................3-11
Flash-to-Pass..................... 3-7
High/Low Beam Changer..... 3-7
Heated Seats........................ 1-5
Heater................................3-19
Engine Coolant.................2-23
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat.... 1-3
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring.............................5-85
Highbeam On Light..............3-43
Highway Hypnosis................4-13
Hill and Mountain Roads.......4-13
INDEX i-5