check oil CHEVROLET SSR 2003 1.G Owners Manual

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-3
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-4
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-11
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Center Console Switchbank............................3-16
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-17
Climate Controls............................................3-18
Climate Control System.................................3-18
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-23
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-24
Trip Odometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-24
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-25
Airbag Off Light............................................3-26
Charging System Light..................................3-27
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-28
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-29
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
(Automatic Transmission)
............................3-29Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-30
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-30
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-34
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-35
Security Light...............................................3-35
Cruise Control Light......................................3-35
Reduced Engine Power Light.........................3-36
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-36
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-36
Fuel Gage...................................................3-37
Auxiliary Gage Package.................................3-38
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-41
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-41
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-45
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-52
Audio System(s).............................................3-58
Setting the Time...........................................3-59
Radio with CD..............................................3-59
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-68
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-80
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-80
Radio Reception...........................................3-81
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-81
Care of the CD Player...................................3-81
Integrated Windshield Antenna........................3-81
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure
in psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine
is running. Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in
kPa (kilopascals).
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused
by a low oil level or other oil-related problems.
See your dealer for service immediately. United States
Canada
3-34

Reduced Engine Power Light
This light is displayed
when a noticeable
reduction in the vehicle’s
performance may occur.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed when
the reduced engine power light is on but acceleration
and speed may be reduced. The performance may
be reduced until the next time you drive your vehicle.
If this light stays on, see your dealer as soon as possible
for diagnosis and repair.
This light may also come on if there is a problem with the
Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) system. If this happens,
take the vehicle in for service as soon as possible.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
whenever the high-beam
headlamps are on.
Check Gages Warning Light
The Check Gages light will
come on briey when you
are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil
pressure gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-30
andOil Pressure Gage on page 3-34.
When the fuel level is low in your vehicle, the check
gages light will come on and a chime will sound. You will
also see a FUEL LEVEL LOW message on the DIC.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-45
for more information.
3-36

Fuel Information
r
(Fuel Information):Press this button to scroll
through the range, average fuel economy, instant fuel
economy and engine oil life.
Fuel Range
Press the fuel information button until RANGE appears
to display the remaining distance you can drive
without refueling. It’s based on fuel economy and the
fuel remaining in the tank. The display will show
FUEL LEVEL LOW if the fuel level is low and a chime
will sound. The check gages warning light on the
instrument panel cluster will also be illuminated.
SeeCheck Gages Warning Light on page 3-36for more
information.
The fuel economy data used to determine fuel range
is an average of recent driving conditions. As your
driving conditions change, this data is gradually updated.
Fuel range cannot be reset.
Average Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until AVG. ECON
appears in the display. Average fuel economy is how
many miles per gallon your vehicle is getting based on
current and past driving conditions.
Press and hold the select button while AVG. ECON is
displayed to reset the average fuel economy. Average
fuel economy will then be calculated starting from
that point. If the average fuel economy is not reset,
it will be continually updated each time you drive.
Instant Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until INST. ECON
appears in the display. Instant fuel economy is
how many miles per gallon your vehicle is at the
particular moment in time. The instant fuel economy
cannot be reset.
3-43

Change Trans (Transmission) Fluid
If your transmission uid in your vehicle needs to be
changed, this message will appear on the DIC.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Fluid on page 5-21
andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-5for more
information.
Check Oil Level
If the oil level in the vehicle is low this message will
appear on the DIC. Check the oil level and add oil as
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-14for more
information. Press the select button to acknowledge this
message and clear it from the DIC display.
Depress Brake
This message will be displayed on the DIC when you
try to raise or lower the convertible top without rst
pressing the brake pedal. The brake pedal must
be pressed in order to operate the convertible top.
SeeConvertible Top on page 2-37for more information.
Pressing the brake pedal will clear the message, or
you can press the select button to acknowledge
and clear the message from the DIC display.
Driver Door Ajar
This message will be displayed on the DIC when the
driver’s door was not closed completely. A chime
will sound. Stop the vehicle, check the door for
obstacles, and close the door again. Fully closing the
driver’s door will clear this message from the display, or
you can press the select button to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the DIC display.
Engine Coolant Hot Idle Engine
Notice:If your engine catches re because you
keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If the cooling system temperature becomes too hot, this
message will appear in the DIC and you will hear a
chime. Stop the vehicle and let the engine idle in
PARK (P) to allow the coolant to reach a safe
temperature. You may need to add more coolant to your
vehicle before driving again. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-24andEngine Coolant Temperature Gage
on page 3-30for more information. This message will
clear from the DIC display when the coolant temperature
drops to a safe operating temperature.
3-46

Oil Pressure Low Stop Engine
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
If the oil pressure is low in your vehicle, this message
will be displayed on the DIC. Stop the vehicle as
soon as possible and do not drive it until the cause of
the low oil pressure has been corrected. Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-14andOil Pressure Gage on
page 3-34for more information.
Passenger Door Ajar
If the passenger’s door is not fully closed, this message
will appear on the display and you will hear a chime.
Stop the vehicle, check the door for obstacles, and close
the door again. Fully closing the passenger’s door will
clear this message from the display, or you can press
the select button to acknowledge the message and
clear it from the DIC display.
Put Vehicle in Park
This message will be displayed on the DIC when
attempting to release the cargo cover when the vehicle
is not in PARK (P). The vehicle must stopped and
the transmission placed in PARK (P) to release the
cargo cover. SeeCargo Cover on page 2-32for more
information.
Reduce Speed
This message will be displayed on the DIC when trying
to raise or lower the convertible top while the vehicle
is in motion. Stop the vehicle and continue pressing the
brake pedal before trying to raise or lower the top
again. SeeConvertible Top on page 2-37for more
information. The message will clear from the display
once the vehicle is stopped, or you can press the select
button to acknowledge this message and clear it from
the DIC display.
3-48

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 inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is 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?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do
not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can
leave the road in less than a second, and you could
crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
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.
4-23

Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal asher (included
in the optional trailering package).
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
Under normal conditions, use DRIVE (D) to tow a trailer.
You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads or hilly conditions.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the transmission in PARK (P) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat
warning, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-27.
4-47

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-5for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission
uid (don’t overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt,
cooling system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual. If you’re trailering, it’s a
good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The trailer wiring is a four-wire harness assembly. The
wires are blunted and taped to the wiring harness.
The harness and wiring are stored under the vehicle on
the driver’s side. The harness has no connector and
should be wired by a qualied electrical technician. The
technician can use the following color code chart
when connecting the wiring harness to your trailer.
Black: Ground wire.
Yellow: Left turn lamps.
Dark Green: Right turn lamps.
Brown: Parking lamps.
Securely attach the harness to the trailer, then tape or
strap it to your vehicle’s frame rail. Be sure you
leave it loose enough so the wiring doesn’t bend or
break, but not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store
the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
4-49

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-14
Engine Cover...............................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Cooling System............................................5-28
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-31
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-32Brakes........................................................5-33
Battery........................................................5-36
Jump Starting...............................................5-36
Rear Axle.......................................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-42
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-43
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-43
Headlamps..................................................5-43
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-44
Taillamps.....................................................5-46
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-48
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-48
Tires..............................................................5-51
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-56
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-57
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-58
Buying New Tires.........................................5-59
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-60
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-61
Wheel Replacement......................................5-62
Tire Chains..................................................5-64
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-65
Tire Inator Kit.............................................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1