ignition GMC SIERRA 1995 User Guide

Page 77 of 488

NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you
do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only
when your vehicle is stopped.
2. MmLwl ~I-~~CZ.SI~~~.YS~~CZ: Move your shift lever to NEUTRAL (N) and
hold the clutch pedal
to the floor while starting the engine. Your vehicle
won't start
if the clutch pedal is not all the wlay down - that's a safety
feature.
Turn your ignition key to
RUN.
Observe the GLOW PLUGS light. (This light may not come on if the
engine is hot.)
NOTICE:
If the GLOW PLUGS light stays on, it means that your vehicle
could have one
of several problems, so you should have it
serviced right away.
3. As soon as the GLOW PLUGS light goes off. IMMEDIATELY turn the
ignition key
to START. When the engine starts. let go of the key. (The
longer you wait to start after the light goes
off, the harder it will be to
start the engine.)
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage your starter motor.
4. If the engine does not start after IS seconds of cranking. turn the
ignition key to OFF. Wait one minute
for the starter to cool. then try the
same steps again.
If you're trying to start your engine after you've run out of fuel. follocv the
steps
in "Running Out of Fuel" (see "Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel
System"
in the Index).
When
YOLI~ engine is cold. let it run for a few minutes before you move your
vehicle. This lets oil pressure build
up. Your engine will sound louder when
it's cold.
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Page 79 of 488

How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends on the weather,
the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Follow this chart.
Viscosity/
Oil Grade
SAE
1 OW-30
SAE
15W-40
32°F to 0°F
(0°C to -18°C)
Not
Required
Not
Required
0°F to -10°F
(-18OC
to
-23 O C)
Two
Hours:!:
Two
Hours‘%
Below -10°F
Below -23”
C
Eight Hours’>
or Overnight
Eight Hours* or Overnight
’%The times listed are minimum times.
It will not harm either the coolant
heater or the vehicle to leave
the coolant heater plugged in longer than the
times stated.
See “Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel System’’
in the Index for
information
on what fuel to use in cold weather.
If Your Diesel Engine Won’t Start
If you‘ve run out of fuel, look at “Running Out of Fuel” (see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
in the Index).
If you‘re not out of fuel, and your engine won’t start, do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. Make sure that the GLOW PLUGS light is
out. Then IMMEDIATELY turn the ignition key to START.
If the light doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try starting your engine
again. And, see your dealer as soon as
you can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes off and you know your batteries are
charged, but your engine still won’t start, your vehicle needs service.
If the light does not come on when the engine is cold, your vehicle needs
service.
If your batteries don‘t have enough charge to start your engine, see
“Battery”
in the Index.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that you’ve changed the
oil at the proper times. If you use the wrong
oil, your engine may be harder
to start.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops, your vehicle needs service.
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Page 81 of 488

NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the cord as
it was before to keep
it away from moving engine parts. If you
don’t,
it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends on the weather, the kind of oil you have. and some other things.
Inste.ad of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact your GM
dealer in the area where you‘ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, it now features
an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument cluster. This
display must be powered anytime the shift lever is capable
of being moved
out of the
PARK (P) position. This means that if your key is in the OFF
position, but not locked, there will be a small current drain on your battery
which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you have a need
to leave your key
in the ignition in the OFF position for an extended period
for any reason,
it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
PARK (P) -This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best position to use
when you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
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Page 82 of 488

Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock. With the ignition in
the RUN position, you must fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P).
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and
push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you continue pressing the
brake pedal.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you still
cannot shift the shift lever out of
PARK (P), see ”Shifting Out of PARK (P)”
later in this section.
REVERSE (R) - Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transmission. Shift to REVERSE
(R) only
after your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand
without damaging your transmission, see
“If You‘re Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow”
in the Index.
a NEUTRAL (N) - In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with
the wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N)
only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
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Page 89 of 488

Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature. your rear axle can give you additional traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a standard axle most
of the
time. but when one
of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does, the
locking feature will allow the wheel with traction to move the vehicle.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your
right foot. Push down
the parking brake
pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on. the brake system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake:
Hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the
lever. located just
above the parking
brake pedal, marked
BRAKE RELEASE,
to release the parking
brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released, the brake system
warning light will go off.
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Page 91 of 488

I. Hold the brake
pedal down
with
your right foot
and set the
parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
- not in NEUTRAL (N)
4. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can walk away from your
vehicle
with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock system. You have to
fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P). See
“Automatic Transmission”
in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and
push the shift lever all the way up into PARK (P) as you maintain brake
application. Then, move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of PARK (P),
try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
3. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the brake-transmission shift interlock system fixed as soon as
you can.
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Page 98 of 488

Don’t pause in NEUTRAL (N) as you shift the transfer case into 4-WHEEL
LOW (4L), or your gears could clash.
Remember that driving in
&WHEEL HIGH (4H) or 4-WHEEL LOW (4L) may
reduce fuel economy.
Also, driving in four-wheel drive on dry pavement could
cause your tires
to wear faster and make your transfer case harder to shift.
Front Axle Locking Feature
The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when you shift the transfer
case. Some delay for the axle to lock or unlock is normal. If the outside
temperature is very hot, or the vehicle has been used under hard driving
conditions, there may be a slight delay for the axle to unlock.
Windows
To open your manual
windows, turn the
hand crank on each
door to raise or lower
your side door
windows.
If you have the
optional power
windows, the controls
are on each of the side
doors.
The driver’s door has a switch for the passenger windows as well.
Your power
windows will work when the ignition has been turned to ACC or RUN.
Push the rear
of the switch with the power window symbol on it to lower the
window.
Push the front of the switch with the power window symbol on
it to raise the
window.
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Page 110 of 488

To Erase Speed Memory
When you turn off' the Cruise Control or the ignition. your Cruise Control
set speed memory
is erased.
Headlamps and Vehicle Lighting
Your park/headlamp
switch is on the
driver's side of your
instrument panel.
Rotate the switch knob clockwise to the park lamp symbol to
turn on:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Clearance Lamps (if you have them)
Taillamps
License Plate L.amps
Instrument Panel Lamps
Transfer Case Shift Indicator Light (four-wheel drive vehicles)
Rotate the switch knob clockwise again to the master lighting symbol to
turn on all the lamps and lights listed above as well as the headlamps.
Rotate the switch counterclockwise to the off symbol to turn off your lamps
and lights.
Rotate the thumb wheel next to the switch knob up
to adjust instrument
panel lamps. Rotate
the thumb wheel up to the first notch to return the radio
display and gearshift indicator
LED display to full intensity when the
headlamps or parklamps are
on.
You can switch your headlamps from high to low beam by pulling on the
turn signal/high beam lever.
A circuit breaker protects your headlamps. If you have an electrical
overload, your headlamps will flicker on and off. Have your headlamp
wiring checked right away if this happens.
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Page 111 of 488

Headlamps-On Reminder
A buzzer will sound when your hedamps are turned on and your ignition
is
in OFF, LOCK or ACC. If you need to use your headlamps when the
ignition switch is
in OFF, LOCK or ACC, the buzzer can be turned off by
turning the thumb wheel next to the park/headlamp switch all the way
down.
Fog Lamps
The fog lamp switch is on the lower edge of your instrument panel.
Press the top, ribbed part
of the switch to turn the thg lamps on, and press
the bottom of the switch to
turn them off. A light will glow in the switch
when the
fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much light as your
headlalnps.
Never
use your fog lamps in the dark without turning on your headlamps.
Fog
lamps will go off whenever your high beam headlamps come on. When
the high
beams go off. the fog lamps will come on again.
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Page 112 of 488

Daytime nunning Lamps (DRL) Indicator Light
If your vehicle was
first sold. when new,
in Canada, you will
have this light on the
instrument panel.
It goes on whenever the Daytime Running Lamps are on.
When
it begins to get dark, the DRL indicator light is a reminder to turn on
your headlanlps.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpfL11
in many different
driving conditions. but they
can be especially hclpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamp system when
you need it.
The DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps come on at a
reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your high-beam headlamps will be on. The
taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won‘t be on. Your instrument panel
won’t be
lit up either.
When
it begins to get dark, your DRL indicator light is a reminder to turn
your headlamp switch on. The other lamps that come on with your
headlamps
will also come on.
When you
turn the headlamp switch off, the regular lamps will go off, and
your high-beam headlamps will change
to the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking brake. The DRL will
stay off until you release the parking brake.
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