tow CHEVROLET AVEO 2007 1.G Owner's Manual

Here are some important things to consider before
you do recreational vehicle towing:
•What is the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s recommendations.
•How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
•Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
•Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as
you would prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, you will want to make sure your vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving
on a Long Trip on page 240.
Dinghy Towing
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground.
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must
be towed, you should use a dolly. See “Dolly
Towing” that follows for more information.
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Dolly Towing
Notice:Towing your vehicle from the rear
with the front wheels on the ground could
cause transaxle damage. Do not tow the
vehicle from the rear with the front wheels on
the road.
Your vehicle can be towed using a dolly. To tow
your vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or a
manual transaxle in NEUTRAL (N).3. Set the parking brake and remove the key.
4. For an automatic transaxle, insert the key into
the shift-lock release slot. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) on page 120.
5. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
6. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position.
7. Release the parking brake.
Towing a Trailer
Do not use your vehicle to tow a trailer. The
vehicle is not designed or intended for such a use.
Towing a trailer can adversely affect handling,
durability and fuel economy.
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Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 276
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down
and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN (minimum) mark on the
dipstick, you need to add at least one quart/liter
of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil
crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 368.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above
the upper mark that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 276
for the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating range. Push the
dipstick all the way back in when you are through.
278

Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare your vehicle as follows:
1. Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift
lever in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the
shift lever through each gear range, pausing
for about three seconds in each range.
Then, position the shift lever in PARK (P).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three to
five minutes.Then, without shutting off the engine, follow
these steps:
The automatic transaxle dipstick is located toward
the front of the engine compartment, near the
power steering fluid reservoir. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 276for more
information on location.
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
rag or paper towel.
2. Push the dipstick back in all the way, wait
three seconds and then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, fluid should
be between MIN and MAX mark of the hot
area of the dipstick.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range,
push the dipstick back in all the way.
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4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off,
start 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 than the Maximum mark, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant
surge tank until the level reaches the mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
See your dealer, if necessary.Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is located toward
the front of the engine compartment on the driver’s
side of the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 276for reservoir location.
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in
the system or you hear an unusual noise. A
fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
297

License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs, do the following:
1. Remove the two screws holding each of the
license plate lamps.
2. Turn and pull the license plate lamp toward
you through the opening.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and
pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
4. Install the new bulb.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the
license plate lamp.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-Up 94535571
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)94535587
Headlamps 94535548
Front Parking/Turn
Signal (Hatchback)94535574
Front Parking/Turn
Signal (Sedan)94535574
Side Turn Signal (Hatchback) 94535587
Side Turn Signal (Sedan) 94535587
Stoplamp/Taillamps 94535574
Turn Signal Lamps 94535572
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact
your dealer/retailer.
317

When rotating your tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact spare tire in the
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear inflation pressures as shown on the
tire and loading information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 249for an example of
the tire and loading information label and where it
is located on your vehicle. Make certain that all
wheel nuts are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
Torque” underCapacities and Specifications on
page 368.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust or dirt
off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 336.
328

Tire Chains
Notice:Use tire chains only where legal and
only when you must. Use only SAE Class “S”
type chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the front tires and tighten
them as tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can
hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop
and retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will damage
your vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane.A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
335

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts
to which it is fastened, can make the
wheel nuts become loose after time. The
wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from the places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, a cloth or a paper towel can
be used to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to
get all the rust or dirt off.12. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces and
spare wheel.
13. Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.
342

14. Install the wheel nuts with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut
by hand clockwise until the wheel is held
against the hub.
15. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel
wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack
completely.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel
to come loose and even come off. This
could lead to an accident. Be sure to
use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new
GM original equipment wheel nuts. Stop
somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to
the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 368
for wheel nut torque specication.Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 368for
the wheel nut torque specication.
16. Tighten the wheel
nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence,
as shown.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your
vehicle’s compact spare. If you try to put a
wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
343