steering GMC C-SERIES 1999 Owners Manual

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2-12 Fast Idle System (Electronically Controlled
Caterpillar

Diesel and Gasoline Engines)
If your vehicle is equipped with an electronically
controlled diesel engine, it has both automatic and
manual fast idle capabilities.
Automatic Fast Idle System
(Caterpillar

Diesel Engine Only)
The automatic fast idle feature will engage whenever
you start your vehicle and the engine is below the preset
operating temperature. This will help decrease engine
warm
-up time.
Idle speed will then return to normal under any of the
following conditions:

The engine reaches the preset operating temperature.

The brake pedal is pressed.

The trailer brake hand lever (if equipped) is applied.

The manual transmission clutch pedal is pressed or,
the automatic transmission (if equipped) is shifted
from NEUTRAL (N) or PARK (P).

The vehicle speed exceeds approximately
10 mph (16 km/h).

When the fast idle switch is pressed a second time.Manual Fast Idle System
(Caterpillar
 Diesel and Gasoline Engines)
The manual fast idle switch
is located on the lower
portion of the instrument
panel just to the left of the
steering wheel.
This system can be used to increase your engine idle
speed whenever the following conditions are met:

The brake pedal is not pressed.

The trailer brake hand lever (if equipped) is not applied.

The vehicle speed is below approximately
10 mph (16km/h).

The manual transmission (if equipped) clutch pedal
is not pressed or, the automatic transmission
(if equipped) is in NEUTRAL (N).
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2-24 Hydraulic Brakes
If your vehicle has hydraulic brakes, it has a parking
brake lever or an electric/hydraulic parking brake. The
lever is below the instrument panel to the left of the
steering column. The electric/hydraulic parking brake
knob is to the right of the steering column.
Your vehicle may also be equipped with an automatic
transmission which has a shift lever. This lever will have
a PARK (P) position on the shift indicator. When the
PARK (P) position is selected with the shift lever, the
parking brake is automatically applied.
Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure
It is recommended that the propshaft-mounted parking
brake be burnished as part of the new vehicle break
-in.
The parking brake will work best after it has been
burnished following these instructions.
Make 10 stops, using the parking brake hand lever, from
20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart.
Between stops, drive the vehicle at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Lever Operated Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake,
pull the lever all the way up.
The PARK BRAKE light
will come on when the
parking brake is applied.
Then shift the transmission
to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
The vehicle must be stopped when applying the parking
brake, except while burnishing the parking brake linings
(see ªPropshaft Brake Burnish Procedureº in the Index).
You can easily adjust the parking brake by turning the
knob on the lever. Turning it clockwise makes the brake
grip more tightly. It will also make the lever seem harder
to pull up. Turning the knob counterclockwise makes the
parking brake apply less firmly. Adjust the parking
brake only when the lever is down (released).
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2-26
If your vehicle has this
system, you will have a
knob to the right of the
steering column.
To apply the parking brake, pull the knob toward you.
Then shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
Push the knob in to release the parking brake. The
ignition must be in RUN and the shift lever out of
PARK (P) in order to release the parking brake.
The parking brake will automatically apply if the
ignition is turned off and in PARK (P) and will also
apply (will not release) if the vehicle's battery is dead
or disconnected.The PARK BRAKE light may flash while the parking
brake is being applied or released. This is normal for
this system.
If your vehicle needs towing or the parking brake will
not release, the towing operator will need to disconnect
the propshaft before towing your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Air Brake (If Equipped)
CAUTION:
When the yellow SYSTEM PARK and the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knobs are both pushed
in, your rig will be free to move. It could strike
someone or something. When both of these knobs
are pushed in, either hold the regular brake
pedal down or, if you have it, pull out the blue
TRACTOR PARKING knob, to keep your rig
from moving.
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2-31 Power Windows (If Equipped)
If you have power windows, the controls are on each
door. The driver's door has a switch for the passenger's
window as well. Your power windows will not move
unless the ignition switch is turned to RUN.
Push the switch marked with an up arrow to raise the
window. Push the switch marked with a down arrow to
lower the window.
Horn
Sound the horn by pushing the center of the steering
wheel. If you have the optional air horn, it is controlled
by a cord that you'll find up above and to the left of the
driver. The harder you pull on the cord, the louder the
air horn will sound. The air horn works only after your
air system pressure gets up to about 60 psi (415 kPa).
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level to give your legs more room when you
enter or exit the vehicle.
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2-32
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator

Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer

Windshield Wipers

Windshield Washer

Cruise Control (If Equipped)
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2-33 Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
cluster will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don't flash
but just stay on, check the turn signal flasher and circuit
breaker. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the circuit breaker and for
burned
-out bulbs. (See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in
the Index.)
Signal-Stat Turn Signal and Hazard
Warning Flasher (If Equipped)
If you have this signal system, it is mounted beside or
behind the multifunction lever on the left side of the
steering column.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is completed, move the lever back to the
center position.
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2-39
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
or clutch takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers
find this to be too much trouble and don't use cruise
control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are different ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Push the clutch pedal, if you have a
manual transmission.

Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the ignition, your cruise control set
speed memory is erased.Trailer Brake Hand Control Valve
(Option)
If your vehicle has this feature, it is mounted on the
steering column.
This control lets you apply the trailer brakes without
applying the tractor brakes. You can apply the trailer
brakes a little or apply them all the way if you have to.
Use this control only when you're driving. Don't use it
for parking or to hold the rig on a hill.
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2-42
Let up on the accelerator before you turn on your rear
axle differential lock.
NOTICE:
Activating the rear-axle differential lock when
the rear wheels are actually spinning freely, as
they might on ice or snow, can cause you to lose
control of the vehicle. It can also damage the axle.
Turn on this control only when the wheels are not
spinning freely.
Engine Air Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this control, the handle is located on
the instrument panel just to the right of the steering
wheel. The control is activated by pulling the handle out
and turning slightly in either direction to lock it.
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2-56 Charging System Indicator Light
CAUTION:
If your vehicle has an electric/hydraulic parking
brake, do not drive if the charging system light is
on. If the battery drains too much, the parking
brake can suddenly come on and stop the vehicle.
This can cause severe injury to you and others.
The charging system light is
located in the center of the
instrument cluster just
above the odometer.
It should come on briefly when you turn on the ignition,
before the engine is running, as a check to show that it
is working.If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, have it
checked right away. You could have a loose generator
drive belt or some other problem.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. If
you must drive a short distance with the light on, turn
off your radio and other accessories.
Sustained driving with a generator failure could result in
a lack of back
-up braking if the engine quits or the
power steering pump should fail.
Voltmeter
When your engine is
running, the voltmeter gage,
at the lower left of the
instrument cluster, shows
the charging system voltage.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
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2-69 Transmission Temperature Gage
(If Equipped)
If you have an automatic
transmission and this gage,
it is to the right of the dash
mounted shift lever, just to
the right of your
floor
-mounted shift lever or
on the lower portion of the
instrument panel to the right
of the steering wheel.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in the
warning zone means you must stop driving and check
into the cause. One possible cause is a low oil level in
the transmission.
NOTICE:
If you drive when the transmission temperature
gage is in the warning zone, you can badly
damage the transmission.
Air Pressure Gage (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has air
brakes, this gage at the
center of your instrument
cluster shows the air
pressure for both your front
and rear brake systems.
If the needle on the gage indicates that the air pressure is
below 60 psi (415 kPa), the LOW AIR warning light
will come on. An alarm will also sound if this happens.
The yellow pointer shows the pressure available for the
front system, while the green pointer shows pressure for
the rear. There should be no more than 4 psi (28 kPa)
difference showing between the systems.
Don't drive until both pointers are showing at least
120 psi (830 kPa), so you'll have enough air if you need
to apply your brakes.
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