headlamp GMC SIERRA 1998 User Guide
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steering, suspension, wheels, tires ana exhaust system
for damage.
Also, check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage. Night driving is more dangerous than
day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired -- by
alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
Driving at Night
Here are some tips on night driving.
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Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror
to reauce me
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can’t see as well,
you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light
up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off
the road in a safe place
and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older
these differences increase. A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light
to see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
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What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses
at night. They may cut
down
on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps.
It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside
of the glass
can build up a film caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up
far less
of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick
out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should
be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t
even aware of
it.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
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Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill
you.
You can’t see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is
in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base
of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle
that’s away from the wind. This will help
keep
CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run
the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps
the
battery (or batteries) charged. You will need a
well-charged battery
(or batteries) to restart the vehicle,
and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps.
Let the heater run for a while.
If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a
higher speed to get enough heat. Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only
when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But
do it
as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you
can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle
and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or
so until help comes.
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Headlamps
Sealed Beam Lamps
Remove the four
screws from the
headlamp retainer.
2. Pull the headlamp out and remove the retainer.
3. Unplug and remove
the headlamp.
4. Plug in the new headlamp and put it in place.
5. Install the retainer to the headlamp and tighten
the screws.
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Composite Headlamps
1. Remove the two hex head pins at the location shown.
2. Pull the headlamp lens assembly out.
3. Unplug the electrical connector.
4. Turn the bulb to the left
and remove it.
5. Put the new bulb into the lens assembly and turn it to
the right
until it is tight.
6. Plug in the electrical connector.
7. Put the headlamp lens assembly back into the
vehicle. Install and tighten the two hex head pins.
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Front Turn Signal Lamps
(Composite Headlamps)
1. Remove the four screws
and take out the
parking/turn signal
lamp assembly.
2. Squeeze the tab on the side of the lamp socket while
turning the socket
to the left.
4. Push in gently on the bulb, turn it to the left and
remove
it from the socket.
5. Put the new bulb into the socket, gently press in on
the bulb and turn it to the right until it
is tight.
6. Put the socket back into the lamp assembly and turn
it to the right until it locks.
7. Put the parkinghrn signal lamp assembly back into
the vehicle and tighten the four screws.
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Front Sidemarker Lamps (Composite Headlamps)
1. Remove the four screws
and pull out the
parkinghrn signal
lamp assembly.
2. Reach through the opening and turn the sidemarker
bulb socket to the left and remove it.
3.
4. Put a new bulb into the socket and push it in until it
5. Put the socket back into the sidemarker assembly
is
tight.
and turn it to the right to tighten it.
6. Replace the parkinghrn signal lamp assembly and
tighten the screws.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep corning loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks
air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
~ Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use
the correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
~
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, 'bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
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Headlamps Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The headlamp wiring is protected by an internal circuit
breaker. An electrical overload will cause
the lamps
to go on and off, or
in some cases to remain off. If
this happens, have your headlamp wiring checked
right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and
a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop
until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit
until the problem is fixed or goes away. The wiring circuits
in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by
a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links.
This greatly reduces the
chance
of fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have
a problem on the road and don’t have a
spare fuse, you can “borrow” one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that
you can get along without
-- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace
it as soon as you can.
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FuseKircuit Breaker
3
4
Usage
Courtesy Lamps, Cargo Lamp,
Glove Box Lamp, Dome/Reading
Lamps, Vanity Mirrors,
Power Mirrors
Instrument Cluster, DRL Relay,
Lamp Switch, Keyless Entry,
Low Coolant Module, Illuminated Entry Module,
DRAC (Diesel Engine)
Not Used
Cruise Control
Auxiliary Power Outlet
Crank
License Lamp, Parking Lamps,
Taillamps,
Roof Marker Lamps,
Tailgate Lamps, Front
Sidemarkers, Fog Lamp Relay,
Door Switch Illumination,
Fender Lamps, Headlamp Switch Illumination
FuseKircuit
Breaker
10
11
12
13
14
15
I6
17
18
19
Usage
Air Bag System
Wiper Motor, Washer Pump
A/C,
A/C Blower,
High Blower Relay
Power
Amp, Cigarette Lighter,
Door Lock Relay,
Power Lumbar Seat
4WD Indicator, Cluster, Comfort
Controls, Instrument Switches,
Radio Illumination,
Chime Module
DRL Relay,
Fog Lamp Relay
Front and Rear Turn Signals,
Back-up Lamps, BTSl Solenoid
Radio (Ignition)
4WAL/VCM, ABS. Cruise Control
Radio (Batterv)
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