warning light GMC SAVANA 2003 User Guide

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough
and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see reections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops“dimple”the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine.Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle.
If you can’t avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces.If you try to drive through flowing
water, as you might at a low water crossing,
your vehicle can be carried away.As little as
six inches of flowing water can carry away a
smaller vehicle.If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown.Don’t ignore
police warning signs, and otherwise be very
cautious about trying to drive through flowing
water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires on page 5-56in the Index.
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City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for
a cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You’ll save time and energy.
See the next part,“Freeway Driving.”
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washeruid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, aashlight, a red
cloth and reective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet
the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery situation.
You’ll have a lot less traction or“grip”and will need to be
very careful.
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How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transmissionfluid to use. SeePart D:
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-18.
Using a funnel, addfluid down the transmission dipstick
tube only after checking the transmissionfluid while it
is hot. (A cold check is used only as a reference.)
If thefluid 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 muchfluid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L).Don’t overfill.
Notice:We recommend you use onlyfluid labeled
DEXRON
®-III, becausefluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused byfluid other than DEXRON
®-III
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
•After addingfluid, recheck thefluid level as
described under″How to Check.″
•When the correctfluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; thenflip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle isfilled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occursfirst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
•Give freezing protection down to−34°F(−37°C).
•Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protect against rust and corrosion.
•Help keep the proper engine temperature.
•Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
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Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedalfirmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes arefirst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 6-17.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction–AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
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A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-75
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-36
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-91
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-31
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)....................3-44, 3-47, 3-51, 3-62
Air Bag
Off Light.....................................................3-28
Readiness Light..........................................3-27
Air Bag System..............................................1-63
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-75
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-71
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-69
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-74
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-69
What Will You See After an
Air Bag Inflates?......................................1-70
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-67
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-66
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-69Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
All Overseas Locations...................................... 7-5
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-46
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-26
Aluminum Wheels...........................................5-87
AM ...............................................................3-74
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-42
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-76
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-32
Appearance Care............................................5-82
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-85
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-88
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-82
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-85
Finish Damage............................................5-88
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..........5-89
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-88
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Ashtrays........................................................3-16
Audio System(s).............................................3-41
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-42
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-74
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-76
Care of Your CDs ........................................3-76
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-76
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Audio System(s) (cont.)
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-76
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-49
Radio with CD............................................3-45
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-60
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-71
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-41
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-41
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-73
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-74
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-24
Automatic Transmission Check..........................6-13
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-14
B
Backing Up....................................................4-43
Battery..........................................................5-40
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-15
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-13Brake
Parking......................................................2-26
System Inspection.......................................6-17
System Warning Light..................................3-31
Brake Adjustment............................................5-39
Brake Fluid....................................................5-37
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-39
Brake Wear...................................................5-39
Brakes..........................................................5-37
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-20
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Headlamps.................................................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-54
Taillamps....................................................5-52
Buying New Tires...........................................5-61C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada........................................................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
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Capacities......................................................5-98
Capacities and Specifications............................5-97
Carbon Monoxide...........................4-24, 4-31, 2-30
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-85
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-74
Your CD Player...........................................3-76
Your CDs ...................................................3-76
Cargo Door Relocking....................................... 2-9
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models
with an Air Bag Off Switch............................1-48
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-47
Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and
an Air Bag Off Switch, Passenger Vans and
Cab and Chassis Models..............................1-36
Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-39
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-57
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-12
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-57
Center High Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) ............................................3-14, 5-54
Center Passenger Position,
Safety Belts........................................1-23, 1-24
Chains, Tires..................................................5-65
Charging System Light....................................3-29Check
Engine Light...............................................3-33
Gages Warning Light...................................3-39
Check Engine Light.........................................3-33
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-38
Checking Coolant............................................5-24
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................... 5-9
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-75
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-88
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-42
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-52
Older Children.............................................1-33
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...................................1-56, 1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-58
Top Strap...................................................1-49
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-50
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-45
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Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-76
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-16
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-82
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-85
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-88
Weatherstrips..............................................5-85
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-86
Climate Control System...................................3-17
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......3-19
Rear Heating System...................................3-18
Compact Disc Messages.................3-48, 3-59, 3-71
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-6
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-32
Heater, Engine............................................2-23
Low Warning Light.......................................3-33
Cooling System..............................................5-28
Cruise Control.................................................. 3-9
Cruise Control Light........................................3-38
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-11
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government.............................................. 7-9
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-10
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-13
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-39
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-21
Directing the Airflow ........................................3-20
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-14
Dome Lamps .................................................3-15
Door
60/40 Swing-Out Side Door...........................2-13
Cargo Door Relocking.................................... 2-9
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
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