CHEVROLET KODIAK 2006 Owners Manual

Front Wheel Bearings with
Oil-Filled Hubs
Notice:If you drive your vehicle through deep
water that is higher than the front or rear axle, water
may enter the axle housing and cause the axle
lubricant to break down. This could damage
the gears inside. Avoid driving your vehicle through
deep water.
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.If your vehicle has oil-filled
hubs, occasionally check
to see if they have enough
oil. You can tell if there
is oil there by using
the circular gage on the
sight glass.
If there isn’t, clean the rubber fill plug in the center of
the glass, and then remove it. Be careful not to
allow any dirt or water to get into the oil. Add enough of
the recommended oil to bring it up to the level mark
that you’ll see on the glass.
Refer to your Maintenance Schedule for the proper oil
to use.
When you fill the hub, check the glass again after
driving a short distance. It takes a while for the oil to
flow through the system, and you may find that you have
to add a little more to fill it to the proper level. Be sure
not to overfill the hub.
5-73

Air Conditioning System
Every now and then, have your dealership check your
air conditioning system to be sure it has not lost
any cooling ability. If you think the system is not working
properly, have your GM dealer check it out as soon
as possible.
Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service,
see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional
information refer to the tire manufacturer’s booklet
included with your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 4-34.
Underinated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-75.
Overinated 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.
5-74

Ination - Tire Pressure
The GVW Rating label, which is on the driver’s door
frame, shows the correct inflation pressures for
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no
more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is not.
If your tires do not have enough air (under-ination),
you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination), you
can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Also, check the tire pressure of the spare tire
(if equipped).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Wheel Loading
Wheels are stamped with a maximum load and cold
inflation rating. Be sure you do not exceed these limits.
If you ever think you need to exceed these limits,
first contact the rim and wheel maker to get their advice.
5-75

Dual Tire Operation
When the vehicle is new, check the wheel nut tightness
on all wheels with a torque wrench after your first
100 miles (160 km) and then 1,000 miles (1 600 km)
after that. Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is
removed or serviced, repeat the 100 miles (160 km),
and then 1,000 mile (1 600 km) wheel nut tightness
check.
SeeTightening the Wheel Nuts on page 5-77for wheel
nut tightening information and proper torque values.
{CAUTION:
If you operate your vehicle with a tire that is
badly underinated, the tire can overheat. An
overheated tire can lose air suddenly or catch
re. You or others could be injured. Be sure all
tires (including the spare, if any) are properly
inated.
SeeTires on page 5-74andInation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-75for more information on proper tire inflation.
When It Is Time for New Tires
Replace your tires when the tread depth is down to
1/8 of an inch (3.2 mm) for the front tires, or 1/16 of an
inch (1.6 mm) for a rear tire. Also, you need a new
tire if:
•You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
•The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
•The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
•The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different
types — like radial and bias-belted tires — the
vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Be sure to use the same
type of tires all around.
5-76

When you replace tires, make sure they are the same
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,
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
covered under your warranty.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned at the
factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall
performance.
Proper front wheel alignment must be maintained in
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.
Tightening the Wheel Nuts
{CAUTION:
Wheel nuts that are not tight can work loose. If
all the nuts on a wheel come off, the wheel can
come off the vehicle, causing a crash. All
wheel nuts must be properly tightened. Follow
the rules in this section to be sure they are.
This section lets you know how often to check the
tightness of the wheel nuts on your vehicle and how tight
they must be.
5-77

First, use these pictures to decide what kind of wheels
you have.
Then, refer to the following steps for the wheels
you have.Hub-Piloted Wheels, 8-Hole or 10-Hole
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.
5. Oil the surfaces (B)
between the nuts (C)
and washers (A). Do
not oil the studs or the
threads of the nut. Hub-Piloted Type,
8-Hole
Hub-Piloted Type,
10-Hole
5-78

6. Tighten the nuts to 400 lb ft (542Y) if an 8-hole
stud or 480 lb ft (650Y) if a 10-hole stud, using
the following diagrams.
{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. 8-Hole
10-Hole (Front)10-Hole (Rear)
5-79

{CAUTION:
If wheel studs are damaged, they can break. If
all the studs on a wheel broke, the wheel could
come off and cause a crash. If any stud is
damaged because of a loose-running wheel, it
could be that all of the studs are damaged. To
be sure, replace all studs on the wheel. If the
stud holes in a wheel have become larger, the
wheel could collapse in operation. Replace any
wheel if its stud holes have become larger or
distorted in any way. Inspect hubs and
hub-piloted wheels for damage. Because of
loose running wheels, piloting pad damage
may occur and require replacement of the
entire hub, for proper centering of the wheels.
When replacing studs, hubs, wheel nuts or
wheels, be sure to use GM original equipment
parts.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause a crash. 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 you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off.
How Often to Check
Wheel tightness is so important you should have a
technician check nut tightness on all wheels with
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. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-5
for further information.
5-80

Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, replace
the wheel. If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
A leaking wheel could fail without warning. A
wheel designed for tubeless tires could be
leaking because it is damaged. Do not use an
inner tube or some other thing to try to stop the
leaking. Get a new wheel or the proper type.
{CAUTION:
Without the correct wheel, you may not be able
to stop properly, and you could have other
problems like a tire air-out. You could have a
collision. If you do not go to your dealer to get
a new wheel, be sure you get the correct one.
Each new wheel should match the original
wheel in load-carrying capacity, ination
pressure capacity, diameter, width, offset and
mounting conguration.
Using wheels and tires with higher load-carrying limits
than the original wheels and tires does not change
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) or the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your vehicle.
SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-34for more
information.
Notice:The wrong wheel can cause trouble in
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer
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.
5-81

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your 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.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place and turn on your
hazard warning flashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-6.
{CAUTION:
Your vehicle, when new, did not include tire
changing equipment or a place to store a tire
in the vehicle. Special tools and procedures
are required if a tire needs to be serviced. If
these tools and procedures are not used, you
or others could be injured or killed while trying
to change or service a truck tire.
5-82