engine GMC SIERRA 1996 User Guide

If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the
engine
is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly
or for
good performance.
If you have a five-speed manual transmission with low
gear (RPO MW3), the following charts show when to
shift to the
next higher gear for best fuel economy.
Acceleration Shift Speeds
VIN Code 2 to 3 3 to 4
4.3L V6 (W) 15 mph 40 mph
(24 km/h) (64 km/h)
Cruise Shift Speeds
4 to 5
SO mph
(80 km/h)
4.3L V6 (W) 15 rnph 25-40 mph 45-SO mph
(24 hdh) (40-64 kdh) (72-80 km/h)
Shift Light
SHIFT
If you have a manual
transmission, you may have
a SHIFT light. This light
will show
you when to shift
to the next higher gear for
best fuel economy.
When this light comes
on, you can shift to the next
higher gear
if weather, road and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While
you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go
on and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the
SHIFT light when you downshift.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped
with
a manual transmission, disregard the SHIFT light
when
the transfer case is in 4L.
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Locking Rear Axle (Option)
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.
Four- Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive,
you must be Familiar with its operation. Read the
part that follows before using four-wheel drive. You
should use
2-WHEEL HIGH (2H) for most normal
driving conditions.
NOTICE:
Driving in the 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
4-WHEEL LOW (4L) positions for a long
time on
dry or wet pavement could shorten
the life
of your vehicle's drivetrain.
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.
Manual Transfer Case
The transfer case shift lever is on the floor to the right of
the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
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NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle. Always check to be
sure your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what
to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
If you have a 3500 HD model, 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 foot pedal, from
20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart. In
between stops, drive the vehicle at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Trawrission
Models Only)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move,
even when you’re on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you have four-wheel
drive and your transfer case is in NEUTRAL
(N)?
your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift
lever
is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case
is in
a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index.
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
I A ‘CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel
drive with
a manual transfer case shift lever and
your transfer case is in NEUTRAL
(N), your
vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever
is in PARK (P). So be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N). And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling
it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking
pawl
in the transmission. You may find it difficult to
pull the shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called
“torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you
leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting
Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
When
you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transmission,
so you can puIl the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
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Parking Your Vehicle (Manual
Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in REVERSE (R), turn
off the engine, and
firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case
is in
a drive gear. Your vehicle could roll if it isn’t.
If you are parking
on a hill, or if you are pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Parking Over Things That Burn
f
A CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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Engine Exhaust
I
A CAUTION:
-
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
modified improperly.
blow
out any
CO; and
I
Zunning Your Engine While You’re
larked (Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the air system control off
could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard”
in the Index.)
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CAUTION:
.*. .
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on
fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is
in NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll,
even
if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the
transfer case is
in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N).
Always set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps
, See “Shifting Into to be sure your vehicle won’t move
PARK
(P)“ in the Index.
If you‘re pulling a trailer. see “Tow
the Index. ing
a Trailer“
in
Windows
Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower
manual windows.
Power 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
ACCESSORY or
RUN.
Press the rear of the switch with the power window
symbol on
it to lower the window.
Press the front of the switch with the power window
symbol on
it to raise the window.
The driver’s window also
has an express down feature
that allows the window to lower without holding the
switch. Press and hold the side
of the window switch
marked AUTO for one second to activate the express
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Fog Lam1 Underhood Reel Lamp
If you have fog lamps. use them for better vision in foggy
or misty conditions. Your parking lamps andor low-beam
headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.
The
fog lamp switch is on
the lower edge of your
instrument panel.
Press the ribbed top part
of the switch to turn the fog
lamps on. 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 headlamps. 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.
If you have an underhood reel lamp, it is located inside
the engine compartment on the rear passenger side
of
the engine compartment. You can use it as a flashlight.
To use the lamp, pull LIP on the lever beside it and pull
the lamp
out. The cord will unreel as you pull the lamp.
When you are done using
the lamp, reel the cord back
into the housing
by turning the handle.
Then,
slide the lamp into the holder. Press PUSH on the
lever to hook the lamp into the holder.
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Your vehicle includes a number of storage
compartments for storage
of often used items.
Some vehicles have storage areas
in the instrument
panel. Use these spaces for items such
as gloves or
small books.
Some models
have a storage pocket on each of the
front doors.
Some vehicles have a storage area behind the seat.
Armrest Storage Compartment
Your vehicle may have a center armrest storage
compartment
in the front bench seat.
To open it, fold down the armrest, press the latch handle
located at
the front of the armrest. Then, let the lid pop
up and swing open.
The storage compartment
has a cassettekompact disc
holder. The holder
will store up to five compact disc
cases and
up to six cassette tape cases.
The storage compartment
also has a folding writing
table
on top of the armrest lid.
To use the writing table, pull the latch at the rear of the
table and swing the writing table forward. Use it to hold
pads
of paper and a pen.
Underhood Storage Area
There is a storage compartment in the front driver's side
of the engine compartment. Lift the cover to access the
storage area.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
CHECK GAGES
SERVICE ENGINE SOON ANTI
LOCK
TRIP loo 0 0 oolol 1 APPLY TO SHIFT FROM PARK
United
States version shown, Canada similar.
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how
fast you're going, about how much fuel you have and many other things you'll need to
know to drive safely
and economically.
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