GMC JIMMY 1997 Owner's Manual

BAG AIR PI
GATE AJAR
ANTI -LOCK
SERVICE ENGINE SOON CHECK
GAGES
.e0 .oo .J 30 SHIFT
n
MPH
PRNDD21
111[101100
Optional Cluster
n
UNLEADED FUEL ONLY
RPM W
2-70

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kndh).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or
kilometers (used
in Canada).
Your odometer is tamper resistant.
It will show silver lines
between the numbers
if someone tries to turn it back.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then
it must be. But if
it can't, then it's set at zero, and a label must be put on
the driver's door to show the old mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odomet
The trip odometer can tell you how fir your vehicle has
been driwn since you last set the
trip odometer to zero.
To set the trip odome.ter to zero, press the button near
the readout.
Tachometer (If Equipped)
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
ner minute (rprn). Each
tachometer has
a different limit depending on the
powertrain
in your vehicle. The tachometer has three
areas: normal operating range, red warning range and
red danger range.
The normal operating range shows your engine speed
during normal driving conditions.
For example, when
the needle points
to 2, it means the engine is running at
2.000 revolutions per minute (rpm). The tachometer
needle
will vary all the time that the engine is running.
The shaded red warning range tells you that your engine
speed
is reaching its upper limits. Don't drive very long
with the tachometer
in the red warning range. If you
have
a manual transmission. shift to a higher gear as
soon as possible. If you have an automatic transmission,
lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
The solid red danger range tells you that your engine speed
is at its upper limits. Your should immediately shift
to a
higher gear, or lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
1 NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red range,
or engine damage will occur.
_. ~ 2-71

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures
will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention
to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from
injury.
Warning lights come on wl1e.n there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to
let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with
this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may
be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to
let you know when
there’s
a problem with your vehicle. When one
of the warning lights comes on and stays
on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about
it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fisten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light
will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds,
then
it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the tone nor the
light
will come on.
2-72

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light 011 the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR RAG. The system checks the
air bag's electrical system for ~~~alfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The syslem
check includes the air bag sensors. the air
bag module,
the wiring and the diagnostic module. For n~ore
information
on the air bag system. sec .'Air Rag" in
the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will ~0111e on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then thc light
should go out. This means
the system
is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays 011 after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your ail- bag
system
may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right
away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn't
co111e on then. have it fixed so it will be
re.ady
to warn you if there is a problem.
_. -
lrging System Indicator Light
II
The charging system light
will come on brietly when
you turn on the ignition,
but the engine is not
running, as
a check to
show you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on. or comes on while you are driving. you may have
a problem with the. charging system. It could indicate
that
you have problem with a generator drive belt. or
another electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light 011, be
certain to turn off
all your accessories. such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-73

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running. but the ignition is
on (in the RUN position).
this gage shows
your
battery’s state of charge in
DC volts.
VOLTS
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition
of the. charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings
in the
low warning mne may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since
the
charging system is not able to provide full power at
engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself
as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading in
either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings
in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem
in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced
as soon as possible.
2-74

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be
a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
I
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, BRAKE
(a) (@)
:;;::::$d;:n1::: if
have it fixed so it will be
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to
the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle“
in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will
also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
2-75

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system. this light
will CC)IIIC
engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
011 when you start y0LIr
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
2-76

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after
a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel econonly may not be as
good and your engine may not run
as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that
may not be
covered
by your warranty.
This light should
come on. as ;I check to show you it is
working, tvhen the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. It' the light doesn't conw on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two t1;ays:
2-77

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer. reduce the anlount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains
on steady. see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues t.o flash, when it is safe to do so.
stop the \?el?ic&~. Find a safe place to park your vehiclc.
Turn the key off,
wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine.
If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did
you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making s111-e to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can cleter~nine
if the fuel cap
has been left off
or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap
will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn
the light off,
Did you *just drive through a deep puddle of water’!
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
I1 so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with cpality fuel (see
“Fuel”
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to
r11n as e,fficiently as designed. You may
notice this
as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle
into gear, mistlring, hesitation on acceleration
or
stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected
by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use.
It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light. turn off.
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic
tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problcnls that may have developed.

Engine Oil Pressure Gage
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in kPa (kilopascals). Don't keep driving
if the oil pressure is
low. If'
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
1 NOTICE: I
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
2-79