check engine GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owner's Guide

Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is
located in the engine
compartment on the
passenger’s side
of the
vehicle. See
Engine
Compartment Overview
on page
5-12 for more ’
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap
- even a little - when the engine and
radiator are hot. The
vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the
FULL COLD mark.
If the LOW COOLANT LEVEL message comes on and
stays on, it means you’re low on engine coolant.
See “Low Coolant Level” under
DIC Warnings and
Messages
on page 3-53.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture
at the surge tank, but only when the
engine is cool.
I
You can I: burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant
on a hot engine.
I I
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
5-26

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check to see if coolant
is visible in the surge tank.
If coolant is visible but the
coolant level isn’t at or above the
FULL COLD mark, add
a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable waterand
DEX-COOL@ coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be
sure the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See Engine
Coolant on
page 5-24 for more information.
/;1 CAUTIC I:
Steam and scaldin, ,iquids from a hot coa ....g
system can blow out and burn you badly.
They are under pressure, and if you turn the
coolant surge tank pressure cap
- even a
little
- they can come out at high speed.
CAUTION: (Continued) Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system and coolant
surge tank pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
5-32

Power Steering Fluid
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page
5-12 for reservoir location.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
Turn the key off, let the engine compartment cool down,
wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean, then
unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then remove
the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the
FULL COLD mark.
If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring the
level up to the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see Part Dr
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6- 16.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper
fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.
5-37

Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3
brake fluid. See
Engine Compantment Overview on
page
5-12 for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level
in the reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake
fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back
up. The other reason is that fluid is
leaking out of the brake system.
If it is, you should have
your brake system fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’t
work at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak.
If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add (or
remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done
on the brake hydraulic system.
If yo, ..rave 1,- _._____ rake ---id, it ~~-1 spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
fluid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check your brake fluid. See
Part C: Periodic
Maintenance Inspections on page 6-14.
5-39

Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
flashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water.
You don’t need to add water to the ACDelco@
battery installed in your new vehicle. But
if
a battery has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If
it is low, add water
to take care of that first. If you don’t, explosive
gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get
it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
I
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
I
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive
(+) will go to
positive
(+) or a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative
(-) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or a remote
negative
(-) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Don’t connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you’ll
get a short that would damage the battery and
maybe other parts too. And don’t connect the
negative
(-) cable to the negative (-) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
5-45

Section 6 Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule ...................................... 6.2
introduction
................................................... 6.2
Your Vehicle and the Environment
.................... 6-2
Maintenance Requirements
.............................. 6-2
How This Section is Organized
......................... 6-3
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
........... 6-4
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
.................... 6-4
Scheduled Maintenance
................................... 6-5
Part
B: Owner Checks and Services ................ 6-10
At Each Fuel Fill
.......................................... 6-10
At Least Once a Month
................ ......... 6-10
At Least Twice a Year
............................... 6-11 At Least
Once a Year
................................... 6-11
Part
C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections ......... 6.14
Steering and Suspension Inspection
................ 6.14
Exhaust System inspection
............................ 6-14
Fuel System Inspection
.................................. 6.14
Engine Cooling System inspection
................... 6.14
(All-Wheel Drive) Inspection
........................ 6.15
Brake System Inspection
................................ 6.15
Part
D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .... 6-16
Part E: Maintenance Record
........................... 6.18
Transfer Case and
Front Axle
6- 1

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction
I
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LNEL AND CHANGE
AS
RECOMMENDED
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer
for details.
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can
even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper
fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase
the level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect
our environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and
recommended fluids and lubricants as prescribed in this
manual are necessary to keep your vehicle in good
working condition. Any damage caused by failure
to follow recommended maintenance may not be
covered by warranty.
6-2

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
This part contains engine oil and chassis lubrication scheduled maintenance which explains the engine oil life
system and how it indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. Lubricate chassis components with
each oil change.
Also, listed are scheduled maintenance
services which are to be performed at the mileage
intervals specified.
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good condition. But we don’t know exactly how
you’ll drive it. You may drive very short distances only
a few times a week. Or you may drive long distances in
very hot, dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in
making deliveries. Or yo may drive
it to work, to
do errands or in many other ways.
Because
of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need more
frequent checks and replacements.
So please read
the following and note how you drive.
If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer. This part tells
you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them.
When you go to your dealer for your service needs,
you’ll know that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using genuine
GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants
so use are listed in Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses
these.
All parts should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else drives the
vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Certification/Tire label. See
Loading Your Vehicle on
page 4-45.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended manner.
See
Operating Your All- Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off
Paved Roads on page 4- 16.
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page 5-5.
6-4

Scheduled Maintenance
The services shown in this schedule up to 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) should be repeated after 100,000 miles
(1 66 000 km) at the same intervals for the life of
this vehicle. The services shown at
150,000 miles
(240
000 km) and 200,000 miles (332 000 km) should
be repeated at the same intervals after 150,000 miles
(240
000 km) and 200,000 miles (332 000 km) for the life
of this vehicle.
See
Part B: Owner Checks and Services on page 6-10
and Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections on
page
6- 14.
Footnotes
t The 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
6-15.
Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication
Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the GM
Oil Life SystemTM (or every 12 months, whichever
occurs first). Reset the system.
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is
based on engine revolutions and engine temperature,
and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions,
the mileage at which an oil change will be indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message will
come on. Change your oil as soon as possible within
the next two times you stop for fuel. It is possible that,
it
you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life
system may not indicate that an
oil change is necessary
for over a year. However, your engine
oil and filter
must be changed at least once a year and at this time
the system must be reset. It
is also important to
check your oil regularly and keep
it at the proper level.
6-5

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change your oil at
3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your
last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil on
page 5-73
for information on resetting the system.
An Emission Control Service.
Lubricate chassis components with each engine oil
and filter change.
Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints, steering
linkage, transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift
linkage and parking brake cable guides. Ball joints
should not be lubricated unless their temperature is
10°F (-12°C) or higher or they could be damaged.
After the services are performed, record the date,
odometer reading and who performed the service on the
maintenance record pages in Part
E of this schedule.
7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.
page 5-62 for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.
(See footnote +.)
0 Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
0 Inspect engine air cleaner filter if you are driving in
dusty conditions. Replace filter
if necessary. An
Emission Control Service. (See footnote
t.)
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as
needed. Check constant velocity joints and axle seals
for leaking.
0 Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-62
for proper rotation pattern and additional
information.
(See footnote +.)
6-6