towing CHEVROLET TRACKER 2003 2.G Owner's Manual

5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear ± not in NEUTRAL.
6. Release the regular brakes.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move,
even when you're on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow.
Always put the shift lever fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set.
If the transfer case on four-wheel-drive vehicles
is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear Ð not in
NEUTRAL.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
·start your engine,
·shift into a gear, and
·release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission ¯uid (don't over®ll),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you ®nd them quickly. 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.
4-59

Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission ¯uid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the ¯uid and ®lter every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
·In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or higher.
·In hilly or mountainous terrain.
·When doing frequent trailer towing.
·Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See
Maintenance Requirements on page 6-2.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little ¯uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the ¯uid could come out and fall on hot engine
part or exhaust system parts, starting a ®re.
Too little ¯uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission ¯uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission ¯uid level if you have been driving:
·When outside temperatures are above 90ÉF (32ÉC).
·At high speed for quite a while.
·In heavy traffic ± especially in hot weather.
·While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the ¯uid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180ÉF to 200ÉF
(82ÉC to 93ÉC).
5-23

Every 45,000 Miles (75 000 km):Automatic
Transmission Fluid Hose Inspection (or every
45 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km):Fuel Tank Cap
Gasket Replacement. Emission System Hoses
Inspection. Brake Fluid Service. Spark Plug
Replacement.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km):Automatic
Transmission Service (normal conditions).
Every 120 000 Miles (200 000 km):Evaporative
Emissions Canister and Air Suction Filter Replacement
(or every 120 months, whichever occurs ®rst). Engine
Accessory Drive Belt Replacement (or every
120 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete scheduled maintenance
on the following pages.
Long Trip/Highway De®nition
Follow this scheduled maintenanceonlyif none of
the conditions from the Short Trip/City Scheduled
Maintenance are true. Do not use this schedule if the
vehicle is used for trailer towing, driven in a dusty area
or used off paved roads. Use the Short Trip/City
schedule for these conditions.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions will cause engine oil to break down
slower.
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km):Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every 7.5 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km):Engine Air Cleaner
Filter Inspection. Automatic Transmission Service
(severe conditions only). Passenger Compartment
Air Filter Inspection (If Equipped). Propeller Shafts and
U-Joints Inspection (or every 15 months, whichever
occurs ®rst).
6-6

3,000 Miles (5 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
6,000 Miles (10 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
9,000 Miles (15 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. If necessary, replace
the ®lter. If vehicle is driven in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect ®lter at every engine oil change. See
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qChange manual transmission ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid.
6-8

qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
qChange manual transmission ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid.
qChange differential ¯uid.qReplace fuel ®lter (or every 30 months, whichever
occurs ®rst, or sooner if ®lter is clogged).
An Emission
Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qInspect propeller shafts and U-joints for looseness and
damage (or every 15 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Inspect more frequently if used off-road or for pulling a
trailer. Tighten U-joint ¯ange bolts if necessary.
33,000 Miles (55 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
36,000 Miles (60 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
39,000 Miles (65 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
6-10

42,000 Miles (70 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
45,000 Miles (75 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qInspect automatic transmission ¯uid hose (or
every 45 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. If necessary, replace
the ®lter. If vehicle is driven in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect ®lter at every engine oil change. See
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qChange manual transmission ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid.
qChange differential ¯uid.
qInspect propeller shafts and U-joints for looseness and
damage (or every 15 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Inspect more frequently if used off-road or for pulling a
trailer. Tighten U-joint ¯ange bolts if necessary.
48,000 Miles (80 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
51,000 Miles (85 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
6-11

54,000 Miles (90 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
57,000 Miles (95 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
60,000 Miles (100 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Replace passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC) or
higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qInspect engine accessory drive belts (or every
30 months, whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission
Control Service.
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
30 months, whichever occurs ®rst). SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-28for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qReplace spark plugs.An Emission Control Service.
qInspect ignition coil plug cap (or every 30 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qDrain, re®ll and bleed the brake system.
qInspect fuel tank, cap and lines for damage or leaks.
Inspect fuel cap gasket for any damage. Replace parts
as needed.
An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote ².)
6-12

75,000 Miles (125 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of these conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. If necessary, replace
the ®lter. If vehicle is driven in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect ®lter at every engine oil change. See
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qChange manual transmission ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid.qChange differential ¯uid.
qInspect propeller shafts and U-joints for looseness and
damage (or every 15 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
Inspect more frequently if used off-road or for pulling a
trailer. Tighten U-joint ¯ange bolts if necessary.
78,000 Miles (130 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
81,000 Miles (135 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
84,000 Miles (140 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment air ®lters.
qRotate tires. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
6-14

87,000 Miles (145 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
90,000 Miles (150 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 3 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qIf Equipped: Replace passenger compartment
air ®lters.
qInspect automatic transmission ¯uid hose (or every
45 months, whichever occurs ®rst).
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the ¯uid and ®lter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
qInspect engine accessory drive belts (or every
30 months, whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission
Control Service.
qInspect fuel tank, cap and lines for damage or leaks.
Inspect fuel cap gasket for any damage. Replace
parts as needed.
An Emission Control Service.
(See footnote ².)
qInspect ignition coil plug cap (or every 30 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qDrain, ¯ush and re®ll cooling system (or every
30 months, whichever occurs ®rst). SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-28for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure
cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qReplace engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
qChange manual transmission ¯uid.
qChange transfer case ¯uid.
6-15

Long Trip/Highway Scheduled
Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at 120,000 miles
(200 000 km) should be repeated at the same interval
after 120,000 miles (200 000 km) for the life of this
vehicle.
See
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-24andPart C: Periodic MaintenanceInspections on
page 6-28.
Footnotes
²The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify
the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to
the completion of the vehicle's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded.
+A good time to check your brakes is during tire
rotation. See Brake System Inspection on page 6-29.
7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 7.5 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control Service.
qRotate tires. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-60for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.(See footnote +.)
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
qChange engine oil and ®lter (or every 7.5 months,
whichever occurs ®rst).An Emission Control
Service.
qInspect engine air cleaner ®lter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-20for more information.An Emission Control Service. (See footnote ².)
qIf Equipped: Inspect passenger compartment air ®lters.
qChange automatic transmission ¯uid and ®lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
þ In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90ÉF (32ÉC)
or higher.
þ In hilly or mountainous terrain.
þ When doing frequent trailer towing.
þ Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
6-17