GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Premium Service for Your GM Vehicle

Your new General Motors vehicle was built to the highest quality standards to ensure reliability, durability and efficient operation year after year. The quality and integrity of your new General Motors vehicle can best be maintained with GM Service and Genuine GM Parts™.

General Motors of Canada Limited strongly recommends having all your maintenance and service performed by an authorized General Motors dealership because at your General Motors Servicing Dealership, you can be certain that you will receive the highest level of service and care available for your General Motors vehicle. GM technicians have been specially trained to maintain and repair your General Motors vehicle. General Motors of Canada trains, educates and tests every technician to ensure they meet the highest industry standards for vehicle repair and service. In addition, your GM dealer has special tools, equipment, computer software and complete access to product updates applicable to your vehicle to ensure fast and accurate diagnostics.

This level of service is only available at an authorized General Motors Dealership.

Replacement Parts

General Motors recommends using ONLY General Motors Original Equipment Manufactured replacement parts. They are specifically designed to fit your vehicle and are manufactured to the highest quality standards to ensure that your vehicle continues to perform at its peak.

Your General Motors dealer usually stocks the parts to meet your vehicles service needs in its parts department. If not, your GM dealer can quickly access the General Motors of Canada Parts Warehouse electronic database to order and promptly obtain the part required for your vehicle.

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 follow our service recommendations.

Maintenance Requirements

Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections and recommended fluids and lubricants are necessary to keep your vehicle in good working condition. Damage caused by failure to follow the recommended Maintenance Schedule intervals including maintenance and/or failure to use or maintain fluids, fuel, lubricants, or refrigerants recommended in the Owner Manual and/or this booklet is not covered by warranty.

General Motors of Canada Limited recommends that all vehicle maintenance records be documented, including the date and kilometres at time of service as well as service performed and/or part(s) installed. We have included a maintenance logbook for your convenience in this section of your booklet. Should your original vehicle maintenance records be lost or misplaced, your General Motors dealer keeps service records of all work done on your vehicle at the dealer's service department.

Using Your Maintenance Schedule

We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle in good working condition. But we don't know exactly how you drive. You may drive very short distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather. You may use your vehicle in making deliveries or towing a trailer. Trailer towing adds extra strain to many of the vehicles components. This may require additional maintenance. Please consult with your dealer and/or refer to the Vehicle's Owner Manual. Or you 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 maintenance requirements and determine the appropriate schedule for your vehicle and driving habits. If you have any questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition, see your General Motors of Canada Limited dealer, contact us at 1-800-GM-DRIVE or gmcanada.com.

Regardless of your driving habits and operating conditions, to keep your vehicle in good working order and to protect the environment as well as to ensure the safety of you and your occupants, every GM vehicle requires the following three service categories:

  1. Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled Maintenance
  2. Routine Checks, Inspections and Services
  3. Kilometre Driven Maintenance Services

The service requirements in this booklet are 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" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual.
    • Are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal driving limits.
    • Are driven off-road in the recommended manner. See "Off-Road Driving" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual.
    • Use the recommended fuel. See "Fuel" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual.
    • Have Gasoline Engines. For Diesel Equipped Vehicles, see the DURAMAX® Diesel Supplement.

Category 1: Engine Oil and Chassis Lubrication Scheduled Maintenance

Your vehicle may have a computer system that lets you know when to change the engine oil and filter. The following chart lists the General Motors of Canada Limited Vehicles NOT equipped with the Engine Oil Life System.

2009 Models NOT equipped with the Engine Oil Life System

Name plate

Models

Chevrolet

Aveo

Pontiac

Solstice (w/o DIC), Vibe and Wave

The Engine Oil Life System is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on kilometres driven. Based on driving conditions, the kilometres at which an oil change will be indicated can vary considerably. For the Engine Oil Life System to work properly, you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.

When the change engine oil message comes on, it means that service is required for your vehicle. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible, within the next 1 000 kilometres. It is possible that, if you are driving under the best conditions, the Engine Oil Life System may not indicate that vehicle service 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. Your General Motors dealer has GM-trained service technicians who will perform this work using genuine GM parts and reset the system.

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change your oil at 5 000 kilometres since your last service. Remember to reset the Engine Oil Life System whenever the oil is changed. See "Engine Oil Life System" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for information on resetting the system.

Lubricate chassis components, if required, with each engine oil and filter change. Lubricate the front suspension, ball joints, steering linkage, transmission 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.

Vehicles used under severe commercial operating conditions require lubrication on a regular basis every 5 000 kilometres.

If Your Vehicle is Not Equipped with the Engine Oil Life System

You will need to decide which of the following two schedules is right for your vehicle. Here is how to decide which schedule to follow:

Short Trip/City

Recommended Oil Change Interval for Vehicles without the Engine Oil Life System (including the Pontiac Vibe).

Follow the Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance if any one of these conditions is true for your vehicle:

    • Most trips are less than 8 kilometres. This is particularly important when outside temperatures are below freezing.
    • Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent driving in stop-and-go traffic).
    • You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of your vehicle. With some models, you should never tow a trailer. See "Towing a Trailer" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for additional information.
    • If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi or other commercial application.
    • Driven in a dusty area
    • Used on unpaved roads

Change Engine Oil and Filter Every 5 000 kilometres/8 000 kilometres for the Pontiac Vibe and Solstice (w/o DIC) (or 3 months, whichever occurs first).

One of the reasons you should follow this schedule if you operate your vehicle under any of these conditions and your vehicle is not equipped with the Engine Oil Life System is that these conditions cause engine oil to break down more quickly.

Long Trip/Highway

Recommended Oil Change Interval for Vehicles Without the Engine Oil Life System (except the Pontiac Vibe and Solstice (w/o DIC)).

Follow this scheduled maintenance ONLY if none of the conditions from the Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance are true.

Change Engine Oil and Filter Every 12 500 kilometres: (or every 12 months, whichever occurs first).

Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under highway conditions will cause engine oil to break down more slowly.

Category 2: Routine Checks, Inspections and Services

To help ensure the safety, dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle the following checks and services are required at the interval indicated below.

At Each Fuel Fill

It is important to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.

    • Engine Oil Level Check -- Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See "Engine Oil" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for further details.

       Notice: It is important to check the engine oil regularly and to keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep the engine oil at the proper level can cause damage to the engine that will not be covered by the warranty.

    • Engine Coolant Level Check -- Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL® coolant mixture if necessary. See "Engine Coolant" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for further details.
    • Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check -- Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if necessary. See "Windshield Washer Fluid" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for further details.

Monthly

You are to perform these checks and services.

    • Tire Inflation Check -- Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. Don't forget to check your spare tire. See "Tires" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for further details.
    • Tire Wear Inspection -- Tire rotation may be required for high mileage highway drivers prior to the Engine Oil Life System service notification. Check the tires for wear and, if necessary, rotate the tires.

Semi-Annual Checks, Inspections and Services

You or your General Motors Dealership should perform the following checks and services every 6 months. Contact your General Motors Servicing Dealer for appointment and pricing.

Anniversary Months:__________for Semi-Annual

Service/Check/Inspection Required

Semi-Annual

Service/Check/Inspection Required

Semi-Annual

Restraint System Check

·

Steering and Suspension System Inspection

·

Throttle System Inspection

·

Lubrication Service

·

Automatic/Manual Transmission/Transaxle Check

·

Starter Switch Check

·

Engine Air Cleaner Filter Inspection

·

Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Shift Lock Control System Check

·

Wiper Blade Check

·

Parking Brake and Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Park (P) Mechanism Check

·

Engine Cooling System Inspection

·

Ignition Transmission/Transaxle Lock Check

·

Brake and Tire Inspection (including Tire Rotation Service and Spare Tire Check)

·

  

Category 3: Kilometre Driven Vehicle Maintenance Schedule

Refer to the Maintenance Schedule in your Vehicle's Owner Manual.

For Your Information

The following explanations are to help you understand the maintenance services your General Motors dealer will perform. Your General Motors vehicle is equipped with industry leading technological innovations that have been designed to make sure you will have years of safe, efficient and trouble free driving. Therefore, you'll want only the best people servicing your GM vehicle, the GM trained and equipped technician.

Engine Oil and Filter

Change your engine oil and filter as follows:

    • Vehicles equipped with the Engine Oil Life System. A light or message on the instrument panel indicates when the oil is to be changed or every 12 months, whichever occurs first. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible within the next 1 000 kilometres.
    • Vehicles not equipped with the Engine Oil Life System. See "Selecting the Right Schedule" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for more information.

Use only GF4 (U.S. -- SM) engine oil, such as GM Engine Oil, which has improved oxidation resistance (i.e., the oil won't thicken as rapidly), improved deposit protection, better wear protections and better low temperature performance over the life of the oil. To ensure your vehicle does in fact get the GF4 engine oil, this service should be performed at a General Motors dealership. For recommended viscosity grade level, see "What Kind of Engine Oil to Use" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for more information.

Tire Rotation

To prolong tire life, rotate tires every 10 000 kilometres. Considering that the average Canadian drives approximately 21 000 kilometres per year, a tire rotation service should be performed twice per year when your vehicle is at your General Motors dealer for the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services visit. See "Tire Inspection and Rotation" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for proper rotation pattern and additional information. All General Motors of Canada Limited dealers have been issued special tools to properly torque the wheel nuts to factory specifications. To ensure wheel nuts are torqued properly and avoid damage to the wheel assembly and your braking system, a qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. A tire rotation service is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Drive Belts

Your General Motors vehicle is equipped with an engine accessory drive belt that has a wear indicator to advise you when to have the belt replaced. When the wear indicator shows that it is time to replace the belt, a qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service.

Engine Coolant

Drain and refill the cooling system at the interval specified in the Kilometre Driven Vehicle Maintenance Schedule. See "Engine Coolant" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for additional information. Use only General Motors DEX-COOL® (orange-colour) engine coolant if your vehicle requires long-life (60 months or 240 000 kilometres) coolant. If a top up is required, add ONLY DEX-COOL® (orange-colour) engine coolant and clean tap water in a 50/50 mixture. Using regular antifreeze (green-colour) will reduce the 60-month change interval to 24 months or 50 000 kilometres. If regular antifreeze (green-colour) were introduced to the cooling system, a qualified General Motors dealer's technician has a procedure to return your cooling system back to the original long-life properties, if performed immediately. Therefore to save money and protect the integrity of the cooling system, as well as protect your vehicles warranty coverage, a qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. An engine cooling system inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Exhaust Pipes and Mountings

Visually inspect the exhaust pipes, muffler and hangers for cracks, deterioration or damage every 6 months. See "Engine Exhaust" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for additional information. Start the engine and listen carefully for any exhaust leakage. If a problem is detected, connectors may need tightening or parts replaced. Therefore, tighten connections or replace parts as necessary. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. An exhaust system inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

Inspect air cleaner/filter element as scheduled and replace as indicated in the Scheduled Maintenance of your Vehicle Owner Manual. Replace more often if you drive in dusty conditions or off road conditions. Some General Motors vehicles have an indicator located on the air cleaner in the engine compartment that lets you know when the air cleaner filter is dirty and needs to be changed. See "Engine Air Cleaner/Filter" or "Air Cleaner" in the Vehicle's Owner Manual for additional information. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. An engine air cleaner/filter inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Spark Plugs

Your GM vehicle may be equipped with long-life platinum/iridium spark plugs that have been designed to last up to 160 000 kilometres (192 000 kilometres for Vibe). However, various fuel additives used by the Canadian petroleum industry may shorten the life span. Long-life platinum/iridium spark plugs should never be taken out and cleaned. Always install new plugs of the same type as originally equipped. See "Spark Plug" in the vehicle's Owner Manual for additional information. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service.

Brake Linings and Drums, Pads and Discs

Every 6 months, inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition. Inspect other brake parts, including calipers, parking brake, etc. Check parking brake adjustment. You may need to have your brakes inspected more often if your driving habits or conditions result in frequent braking. With many General Motors vehicles having an advanced electronic braking system (ABS), a qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform brake service. A brake system inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Steering and Suspension

Every 6 months, inspect the front and rear suspension and steering system for damage, loose or missing parts or signs of wear. Lubricate as indicated in the Vehicle Maintenance Schedule. Vehicles used under severe commercial operating conditions require lubrication on a regular basis every 5 000 kilometres. Check all dust covers for deterioration or damage. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. A steering, suspension and front drive axle boot and seal inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

When to Change -- Automatic Transmission Fluid

General Motors transmissions have been designed for durability, dependability and reliability. They can either be sealed or conventional, but when the vehicle is operated in severe conditions as described below, the transmission fluid has to be changed more frequently. Change automatic transmission fluid and filter using the severe service interval in the Scheduled Maintenance of your Vehicle Owner Manual 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 you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions, and have a transmission with a dipstick, change the fluid and filter following the normal service interval in the Scheduled Maintenance of your Vehicle Owner Manual. If you have a sealed-for-life transmission the fluid and filter do not require changing. To ensure the transmission fluid and filter maintenance is performed correctly and that GM Approved Automatic Transmission Fluid is used, a qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service. An automatic/manual transmission/transaxle inspection is included in the Semi-Annual Check, Inspections and Services outlined in the vehicle maintenance section of this booklet.

Passenger Compartment Air Filter

Replace passenger compartment air filter, if equipped, as indicated in the Scheduled Maintenance of your Vehicle Owner Manual, or more frequently if operating in a dusty environment. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform this service.

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance

The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance. Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced. A qualified General Motors dealer's technician should perform these services.

OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Please be sure to properly operate, care for and maintain your GM vehicle as outlined in the Vehicle's Owner Manual and this Warranty Booklet. It is your responsibility to maintain your service records as it may be necessary for warranty reasons to show that the required maintenance on your vehicle has been performed. After you have had the required services performed, record the date, odometer reading and who performed the service in the following record pages. An area to record your maintenance visits is also found in your Owner Manual. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts in the glove box literature portfolio.

Oil Change Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Oil Change Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Oil Change Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Semi-Annual Check, Inspections, & Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Semi-Annual Check, Inspections, & Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Semi-Annual Check, Inspections, & Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Additional Required Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Additional Required Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1

Additional Required Service Records


Object Number: 1407533  Size: C1