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2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 249

2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Manual

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Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer" that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That's the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What's more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here are some important points: • There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you'll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police. • Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls. • Don't tow a trailer at all during the ﬁrst 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. • Then, during the ﬁrst 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. • Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don't drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers, or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on your vehicle's parts. Three important considerations have to do with weight: • the weight of the trailer, • the weight of the trailer tongue • and the total weight on your vehicle's tires. 4-39

Section	Page
2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Book TOC	1
Seats and Restraint Systems	7
Front Seats	8
Manual Seats	8
Six-Way Power Seats	9
Manual Lumbar	9
Heated Seats	10
Reclining Seatbacks	10
Head Restraints	12
Seatback Latches	12
Easy Entry Seat	13
Rear Seats	14
Split Folding Rear Seat	14
Safety Belts	16
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	16
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	21
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Driver Position	22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	28
Right Front Passenger Position	29
Rear Seat Passengers	29
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	32
Safety Belt Extender	34
Child Restraints	35
Older Children	35
Infants and Young Children	37
Child Restraint Systems	41
Where to Put the Restraint	44
Top Strap	44
Top Strap Anchor Location	46
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	46
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System (Rear)	48
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	51
Air Bag Systems	54
Where Are the Air Bags?	57
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	59
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	60
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	60
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	61
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	62
Restraint System Check	63
Checking Your Restraint Systems	63
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	64
Features and Controls	65
Keys	66
Remote Keyless Entry System	67
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	68
Doors and Locks	72
Door Locks	72
Power Door Locks	73
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	73
Lockout Protection	74
Leaving Your Vehicle	74
Trunk	74
Windows	77
Power Windows	78
Sun Visors	78
Theft-Deterrent Systems	79
Content Theft-Deterrent	79
Passlock®	80
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	81
New Vehicle Break-In	81
Ignition Positions	81
Starting Your Engine	82
Engine Coolant Heater	84
Automatic Transaxle Operation	85
Parking Brake	89
Shifting Into Park (P)	90
Shifting Out of Park (P)	92
Parking Over Things That Burn	92
Engine Exhaust	93
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	94
Mirrors	95
Manual Rearview Mirror	95
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	95
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror	96
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	96
Outside Power Mirrors	97
Outside Convex Mirror	98
Outside Heated Mirrors	98
OnStar® System	98
HomeLink® Transmitter	100
Programming the HomeLink® Transmitter	100
Storage Areas	104
Glove Box	104
Center Console Storage Area	104
Rear Storage Area	104
Convenience Net	104
Sunroof	105
Vehicle Personalization	106
Instrument Panel	115
Instrument Panel Overview	118
Hazard Warning Flashers	120
Other Warning Devices	120
Horn	121
Tilt Wheel	121
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	121
Cruise Control	125
Exterior Lamps	128
Interior Lamps	130
Accessory Power Outlets	133
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	134
Climate Controls	135
Dual Climate Control System	135
Passenger Compartment Air Filter	141
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	142
Instrument Panel Cluster	143
Speedometer and Odometer	146
Tachometer	147
Safety Belt Reminder Light	147
Air Bag Readiness Light	148
Voltmeter Gage	149
Brake System Warning Light	149
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	151
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	151
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	152
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	153
Oil Pressure Indicator Light	155
Cruise Control Light	156
Fuel Gage	157
Message Center	158
Service Traction System Warning Message	158
Traction Active Message	158
Battery Warning Message	159
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message	159
Low Oil Pressure Message	160
Low Engine Oil Level Message	160
Change Engine Oil Message	161
Low Tire Message	161
Door Ajar Warning Message	162
Trunk Ajar Warning Message	162
Security Message	163
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message	163
Low Fuel Warning Message	164
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message	164
Service Vehicle Soon Message	165
Highbeam Out Warning Message	165
Driver Information Center (DIC)	166
Trip Computer	168
Audio System(s)	169
Setting the Time	169
Radio with Cassette	170
Radio with CD	181
Radio with Cassette and CD	192
Theft-Deterrent Feature	205
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	206
Understanding Radio Reception	207
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	207
Care of Your CDs	208
Care of Your CD Player	209
Backglass Antenna	209
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System (48 Contiguous US States)	210
Vehicle Customization Settings	210
Chime Level Adjustment	210
Driving Your Vehicle	211
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	212
Defensive Driving	212
Drunken Driving	212
Control of a Vehicle	216
Braking	216
Traction Control System (TCS)	220
Steering	222
Off-Road Recovery	224
Passing	224
Loss of Control	226
Driving at Night	227
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	228
City Driving	231
Freeway Driving	232
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	233
Highway Hypnosis	234
Hill and Mountain Roads	234
Winter Driving	236
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	240
Towing	241
Towing Your Vehicle	241
Recreational Vehicle Towing	241
Loading Your Vehicle	243
Towing a Trailer	248
Service and Appearance Care	257
Service	259
Doing Your Own Service Work	259
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	260
Fuel	260
Gasoline Octane	260
Gasoline Specifications	261
California Fuel	261
Additives	262
Fuels in Foreign Countries	262
Filling Your Tank	263
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	265
Checking Things Under the Hood	266
Hood Release	266
Engine Compartment Overview	268
Engine Oil	274
Supercharger Oil	280
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	282
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	284
Engine Coolant	287
Radiator Pressure Cap	290
Engine Overheating	290
Cooling System	293
Power Steering Fluid	303
Windshield Washer Fluid	304
Brakes	306
Battery	309
Jump Starting	310
Headlamp Aiming	316
Bulb Replacement	316
Halogen Bulbs	316
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps	316
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Sidemarker Lamps	318
Back-Up Lamps	319
Replacement Bulbs	319
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	320
Tires	321
Inflation - Tire Pressure	328
Tire Pressure Monitor System	329
Tire Inspection and Rotation	331
When It Is Time for New Tires	332
Buying New Tires	332
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	333
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	335
Wheel Replacement	335
Tire Chains	336
If a Tire Goes Flat	337
Changing a Flat Tire	338
Compact Spare Tire	349
Appearance Care	350
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	350
Care of Safety Belts	353
Weatherstrips	353
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	353
Sheet Metal Damage	355
Finish Damage	355
Underbody Maintenance	356
Chemical Paint Spotting	356
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	356
Vehicle Identification	358
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	358
Service Parts Identification Label	358
Electrical System	359
Add-On Electrical Equipment	359
Headlamp Wiring	359
Windshield Wiper Fuses	359
Power Windows and Other Power Options	359
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	360
Capacities and Specifications	366
Maintenance Schedule	369
Maintenance Schedule	370
Introduction	370
Maintenance Requirements	370
Your Vehicle and the Environment	370
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	370
Scheduled Maintenance	372
Additional Required Services	374
Maintenance Footnotes	375
Owner Checks and Services	377
At Each Fuel Fill	377
At Least Once a Month	377
At Least Once a Year	378
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	380
Engine Drive Belt Routing	382
Maintenance Record	383
Customer Assistance and Information	387
Customer Assistance and Information	388
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	388
Online Owner Center	390
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	390
Customer Assistance Offices	390
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	392
Roadside Assistance Program	392
Courtesy Transportation	394
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Records	396
Reporting Safety Defects	398
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	398
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	398
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	398
Service Publications Ordering Information	399

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the

proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what

the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you

should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that

appears later in this section. But trailering is different

than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means

changes in handling, durability and fuel economy.

Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and

it has to be used properly.

That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested,

important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of

these are important for your safety and that of your

passengers. So please read this section carefully before

you pull a trailer.

Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,

wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder

against the drag of the added weight. The engine

is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and

under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more,

the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,

increasing the pulling requirements.

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer

If you do, here are some important points:

•

There are many different laws, including speed limit

restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure

your rig will be legal, not only where you live

but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for

this information can be state or provincial police.

•

Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch

dealer about sway controls.

•

Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles

(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your

engine, axle or other parts could be damaged.

•

Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you

tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)

and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your

engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at

the heavier loads.

•

Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.

Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed

for trailers, or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h),

to save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

Three important considerations have to do with weight:

•

the weight of the trailer,

•

the weight of the trailer tongue

•

and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.

4-39