Lubricant Change

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Aztek and 2003 Buick Rendezvous. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Raise and support the vehicle. Clean any dirt from around the differential drain plug. Position a drain pan under drain plug. Remove the drain plug and gasket from the differential, and drain the oil. Install the drain plug and gasket to the differential. Tighten the differential drain plug to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Clean any dirt from around the differential fill plug. Remove the fill plug from the differential. Fill the differential with synthetic gear oil. See FLUID TYPE & CAPACITY . Inspect the gear oil level to ensure it is even with the bottom of the fill plug hole to no lower than 0.25" (6 mm) below the opening. Install the fill plug and gasket to the differential. Tighten the fill plug to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Lower the vehicle. Drive the vehicle in tight left and right circles after filling the differential in order to distribute the gear lubricant throughout the differential and engage the all-wheel-drive system. Raise and support the vehicle. Remove the fill plug from the differential. Inspect the gear oil level to ensure it is even with the bottom of the fill plug hole to no lower than 0.25" (6 mm) below the opening. Reinstall the fill plug and gasket to the differential and tighten the fill plug to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Lower the vehicle.