check transmission fluid GMC SAVANA 1996 Owners Manual

0
0
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how
to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some
of the
slowing down. Shift
to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope. Coasting
downhill in
NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
0
0
0
0
Know how tb go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or
cut across the center of
the road. Drive at speeds
that let
YOLI stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones,
a falling rocks area or winding
roads. Be ale1-f to these and take appropriate action.
4-22
ProCarManuals.com

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
fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help
you find 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.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The eight-wire harness, if you have one, is stored under
your vehicle along the rear frame crossmember.
It is
wrapped and bound with a plastic strap. The harness has
a 30-anlp battery feed and no connector, and you should
have a qualified electrical service person wire your
harness for you. 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.
The five-wire harness,
if you have one, is stored inside
the vehicle at the passenger side rear corner, behind the
jack. This should be wired by a qualified electrical
service person. It must be routed out
of your vehicle
between the rear door and the floor,
with enough of the
harness left on both sides
so that the trailer or the body
won’t pull
it.
Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness
together and tie
it neatly so it won’t be damaged.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

Automatic Transmission Fluid
7 ’ ~ n to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change
both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or
if
the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, the
fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your GM dealer
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 fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
ProCarManuals.com

Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
--- -king "ran:- ---. .ion Fluid Hot
bet the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), drive the
vehicle
in DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady for
10 minutes.
Then follow the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with
the engine off and is
used only
as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for
five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F (10°C) or
more. If it's colder than 50°F (IOOC), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during
a cold check, you 17zusr perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more accurate
reading
of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in PARK (P).
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).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
6-17
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Fluid Rear Axle
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
Add
tluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring
the level up to the HOT area for a hot
check.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint (0.5 L). DOLJ ’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by
fluid other than DEXRON-111 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under ”How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back
in all the way; then flip the handle
down to lock
the dipstick in place.
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change
it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the
bottom of the filler plug
hole,
you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Add
enough lubricant to raise
the level
to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
6-19
ProCarManuals.com

I Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule -- Gasoline Engines I
48,000 Miles (80 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Lubricate chassis components; see
footnote
## (or every 3 months, whichever
occurs first).
as needed. ‘W
17 Check axle fluid level and add fluid
DATE
SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
50,000 Miles (83 000 km)
0 Change automatic transmission fluid and
filter
if the vehicle’s GVWR is over
8600 lbs. or if the vehicle is mainly driven
under one or more of these conditions:
- In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches
90°F
(32 O C) or higher.
- In hilly or mountainous terrain.
- When doing frequent trailer towing.
- Uses such as found in taxi, police or
delivery service.
7-17
ProCarManuals.com

At Least Once a Month Automatic Transmission Check
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
“Tires”
in the Index for further details.
Cassettt -1eck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the
Index for further details.
At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all bur
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractorshnd anchoiages are
working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep
a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air
bag system
does
not need regular maintenance.) Check
the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission“
in the Index. A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified
in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate ail hood hinges, hood prop rod pivot, fuel
filler door, rear compartment hinges, latches,
locks and
any moving seat hardware. Door hinges are lubricated
for the
life of your vehicle; no additional lubrication is
required. Part D tells you what to use. More frequent
lubrication may be required when exposed to a
corrosive environment.
7-44
ProCarManuals.com

Section 9 Index
Adjustable Mast Antenna ........................ 3-29
AirBag ....................................... 1-21
Adding Equipment ............................ 1-28
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-26
How it Works ................................. 1-24
Location
.................................... 1-24
Readiness Light
......................... 1.23. 2.47
Servicing
................................... 1-27
What Makes
it Inflate .......................... 1-25
What Will You See After
it Inflates ............... 1-26
When Should
it Inflate ......................... 1-25
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-7
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-68
Air Control. Climate Control System
................. 3-3
Alignment and Balance
. Tire ...................... 6-48
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-57
Antenna. Adjustable
Mast ........................ 3-29
Antenna. Power
................................ 3-29
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-20
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-49. 4-6
Brakes ...................................... 4-5
Appearancecare
............................... 6-50
Appearance Case Materials ....................... 6-59
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-7
Ashtsays
...................................... 2-42
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-9
Transmission
Transmission Check
........................... 7-44
Transmission Fluid
............................ 6-16
Transmission Operation
........................ 2-17
Shiftin
...................................... 2-17
Transmission Park Mechanism Check
............. 7-46
Axle, Locking Rear
............................. 2-20
Axle, Rear .................................... 6-19
Battery
...................................... 6-30
Jump Starting ................................. 5-2
Replacement
. Remote Keyless Entry ............... 2-6
Warnings
................................ 5-2.5-3
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-7
Bethre Leaving on a Long Trip .................... 4-20
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-7
9-1
ProCarManuals.com

Engine ........................................ 6-8
Coolant ..................................... 6-20
Coolant Level Check
.......................... 7-43
Coolant Temperature Gage
..................... 2-54
Cooling System
.............................. 6-66
Exhaust
..................................... 2-24
Identification
........................... 6-60. 6-65
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 7-43
Overheating
................................. 5-10
Running While Parked ......................... 2-25
Starting Your
................................ 2- I4
Engine Oil
.................................... 6- 1 1
Adding ..................................... 6-11
Additives
................................... 6-13
Checking
................................... 6-11
Pressure Gage
................................ 2-52
Used
....................................... 6-14
Whentochange
.............................. 6-14
Ethanol
........................................ 6-3
Exhaust, Engine
................................ 2-24
Fabric cleaning
............................... 6-5 1
Fan Control. Climate Control System ................ 3-2
Filling
Your Tank ................................ 6-4
Filter. Air
..................................... 6-15
Finish Care
.................................... 6-56
Finish Damage
................................. 6-57
First Gear, Automatic Transmission
................ 2- 19
Flashers. Hazard Warning ......................... 5-1
Flat Tire. Changing ............................. 5-20
Fluid Capacities
................................ 6-65
Fluids and Lubricants
............................ 7-49
Foreign Countries. Fuel ........................... 6-4 French
Language Manual
11
Front Parkingnurn Signal Lamp Bulb Replacement .... 6-34
Front Storage Area
.............................. 2-41
FrontTowing
................................... 5-8
Fuel .......................................... 6-2
Canada
...................................... 6-3
.. ...........................
Filling Your Tank .............................. 6-4
Gage ....................................... 2-53
In Foreign Countries
........................... 6-4
Tankcapacity
............................... 6-67
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....................... 6-62
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-54
Engine
Oil Pressure ........................... 2-52
Fuel
....................................... 2-53
Speedometer
................................. 2-45
Voltmeter
................................... 2-55
GAWR
....................................... 4-27
Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission
............. 2-17
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-27
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-26
Guide en Franpis
11
GVWR ....................................... 4-26
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-31
Hazard Warning Flashers .......................... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-5
Headlamps .................................... 2-35
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-31
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-30
.. .................................
On Reminder ................................ 2-36
Wiring
..................................... 6-61
9-4
. .
ProCarManuals.com

Locks Cylinders
................................... 7-44
Door
........................................ 2-3
Key Lock Cylinder Service ..................... 7-44
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-3
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-4
Sliding Door Child Security
...................... 2-4
Steering Column Lock Check
.................... 7-46
Loss
of Control ................................ 4- 12
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-49
Lubrication Service. Body
........................ 7-44
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts
........... 6-65
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-5 1
Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7- 1
Long Trip/Highway Definition ................... 7-5
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-43
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-47
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............. 7-49
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-3
Short Trip/City Definition
....................... 7-4
Short Trip/City Intervals
........................ 7-4
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-58
Maintenance When Trailer Towing ................. 4-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-50
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1 - 1
Manual Mirror ................................. 2-40
Methanol
...................................... 6-3
Mirrors
....................................... 2-40
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-39 Inside
Day/Night Rearview
..................... 2-39
Manual
..................................... 2-40
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-39
Visor
Vanity ................................. 2-42
MMT
......................................... 6-3
Model Reference ................................. vi
Mountain Roads ................................ 4-21
Multifunction Lever
............................. 2-29
Neutral. Automatic Transmission
................. 2-18
New Vehicle Break-In ........................... 2-13
Nightvision
................................... 4-14
Noise Control System
............................ 6-9
Odometer
.................................... 2-45
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-45
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- IO
Oil. Engine .................................... 6-11
Overheating Engine ............................. 5- IO
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-43
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
Paint Spotting. Chemical ......................... 6-58
Park
Automatic Transmission
....................... 2-17
Shifting Into
........ ; ........................ 2-21
Shifting Out of
............................... 2-23
9-6
ProCarManuals.com