towing GMC SAVANA 2004 Owner's Guide

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 overll),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, 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.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The optional heavy-duty trailer wiring package includes
a seven-wire harness assembly at the rear of the
vehicle and a four-wire harness assembly under the left
hand side of the instrument panel. The seven-wire
harness assembly is taped together and located in a
frame pocket at the driver side rear left corner of
the frame. The seven-wire harness includes a 30-amp
feed wire. Both harnesses come without connectors 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
and trailer brake controller.Seven-Wire Harness
Light Green: Back-up lamps
Brown: Parking lamps
Yellow: Left stoplamp and turn signal
Dark Green: Right stoplamp and turn signal
Dark Blue: Use for electric trailer brakes
Orange: Trailer accessory
White (heavy gage): Ground wire
Four-Wire Harness (Trailer Brake Controller)
Black: Ground
Red/White Stripe: Fused Battery
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Feed
Light Blue: Fused Stop/CHMSL
4-50

2. Lift the lter out of the engine air cleaner/lter
housing. Care should be taken to dislodge as
little dirt as possible.
3. Clean the engine air cleaner/lter housing.
4. Install the new engine air cleaner/lter into the
engine air cleaner/lter housing. Make sure that
it ts properly into the housing.
5. Reinstall the cover and fasten the retaining clips.
{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps to
stop ame if the engine backres. If it is not
there and the engine backres, you could
be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre can
cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/lter in place when you
are driving.
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 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:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
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,
change the uid and lter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
5-19

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” inTowing a
Trailer on page 4-37.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL(N)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL(N) and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, and you have not stopped, pull
over, stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while
you’re parked. If you still have the warning,turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-27

Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully engaged. This improves fuel economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer
towing and/or high outside temperatures, the fan
speed increases as the clutch more fully engages. So
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is
normal and should not be mistaken as the transmission
slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan will slow down
when additional cooling is not required and the clutch
partially disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the
engine. It will go away as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering uid reservoir is located in the
engine compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
5-35

(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages
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
coverings, and have them repaired or replaced. (The air
bag system does not need regular maintenance.)
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood hinges, hood
prop rod pivot, hood latch assembly, secondary
latch, pivots, spring anchor, release pawl, rear
compartment hinges, latches, locks, fuel door hinge and
any moving seat hardware. More frequent lubrication
may be required when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them last longer, seal
better and not stick or squeak.
(g)Vehicles with GVWR above 10,000 lbs. only: Inspect
shields for damage or looseness. Adjust or replace
as required. This is a Noise Emission Control Service.
Applicable only to vehicles sold in the United States.
(h)Change automatic transmission uid and lter 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°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, ush and rell cooling system. See Engine
Coolant on page 5-19for what to use. Inspect hoses.
Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and ller neck.
Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.
(j)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
(k)Clean and repack the front wheel bearings (or at
each brake relining, whichever occurs rst).
(l)Inspect system. Check all fuel and vapor lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, routing and condition. Check
that the purge valve works properly (if equipped).
Replace as needed.
(m)Check system for interference or binding and for
damaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.
Replace any components that have high effort or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator or cruise
control cables.
6-8

Light (cont.)
Brake System Warning.................................3-32
Change Engine Oil......................................3-38
Charging System.........................................3-30
Check Gages Warning.................................3-41
Cruise Control.............................................3-39
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator..................3-40
Low Coolant Warning...................................3-34
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-35
Reduced Engine Power................................3-40
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-27
Security.....................................................3-39
Stabilitrak
®Indicator.....................................3-33
Stabilitrak®Not Ready..................................3-33
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................3-40
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-31
Locking Rear Axle............................................ 4-9
Lockout Protection..........................................2-11
Locks
Cargo Door Relocking.................................... 2-9
Door........................................................... 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Lockout Protection.......................................2-11
Power Door.................................................. 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Loss of Control...............................................4-15
Low Coolant Warning Light..............................3-34
M
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
At the First 100, 1,000 and 6,000 Miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000km)......................... 6-9
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-16
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-14
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using Your................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-50
Making Turns.................................................4-48
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-35
Manual Seats................................................... 1-3
Manual Windows............................................2-17
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands)....................................... 7-5
8

Payload.........................................................4-37
Plan Ahead When Possible................................ 7-7
Playing a Cassette Tape..................................3-56
Playing a CD.................................3-48, 3-58, 3-66
Playing a Specic Loaded CD..........................3-67
Playing the Radio...................3-43, 3-46, 3-50, 3-61
Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-18
Door Locks.................................................. 2-9
Reduced Engine Light..................................3-40
Seat............................................................ 1-4
Steering Fluid.............................................5-35
Windows....................................................2-17
Power Steering...............................................4-11
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
R
Radiator Pressure Cap....................................5-25
Radio Data System (RDS).......................3-53, 3-63
Radio Messages.............................3-45, 3-48, 3-56
Radios..........................................................3-42
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-43
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-72
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-74
Care of Your CDs........................................3-74Radios (cont.)
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-50
Radio with CD............................................3-46
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-61
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-43
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-43
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-72
Understanding Reception..............................3-72
RDS Messages......................................3-55, 3-65
Reading Lamps..............................................3-17
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.........3-22
Rear Axle......................................................5-48
Locking........................................................ 4-9
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-10
Rear Doors....................................................2-15
Rear Heating System......................................3-22
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-29
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-6
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions.............1-26
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-26
Rear Window Defogger....................................3-21
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-32
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-31
Reduced Engine Power Light............................3-40
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
10

Tires.............................................................5-57
Buying New Tires........................................5-70
Chains.......................................................5-73
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-75
Dual Tire Operation.....................................5-66
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-74
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-65
Inspection and Rotation................................5-67
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-72
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-69
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-23
Top Strap......................................................1-49
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-50
Torque Lock...................................................2-29
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-45
Tow/Haul Mode...............................................4-38
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-40
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-37
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Stabilitrak
®System........................................ 4-9
Traction Control Operation................................4-10
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-46
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................4-50
Transfer Case................................................5-47Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-19
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-24
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-12
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Trip Odometer................................................3-26
Turn and Lane Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-48
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-72
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-71
United States................................................... 7-4
Using Cleaner on Fabric..................................5-93
Using Song List Mode.....................................3-70
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-31
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Records............................................... 7-9
13