key GMC SIERRA 1998 Owner's Manual

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 when there
miiy 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
fasten 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.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel,
which shows AIR BAG. The system checks
the air bag’s
electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells
you if
there is an electrical problem. The system check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag module, the wiring and the
diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag
system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index,
~
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and
it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when
you are driving, your air 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 come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
AIR BAG OFF Light (Except Crew Cab)
When you turn the right front passenger’s air bag off, this
light will come
on and stay on to remind you that the air
bag has been turned off. This light will go off when you
turn the air bag back on again. See “Securing a Child
Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position”
in the Index for
more on this, including important safety information.
-
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If the warning light comes on, there co11ld be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
(a) (@)
briefly when you turn the
ignition key
to RUN. If it
doesn‘t come on then, have
it
fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there’s a problem. BRAKE
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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system,
this light will
come on when you start
ANTI -
LOCK
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
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If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there‘s a problem
with your regular brakes. See
“Brake System Warning Light” earlier
in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn‘t come on then. have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
1
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle is
working. During a majority of the operation, the gage
will read
210°F (100°C) or less. If you are pulling a
load or going up hills, it is normal for the temperature to
fluctuate and approach the
260°F (1 25 “C) mark. If the
gage reaches the
260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates that
the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
The “Problems on
the Road,” section of this manual shows
what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine
Soon Light) (Gasoline Engine)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
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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 sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine 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.
Are you low on fuel? As
your engine starts to run
out of fuel, your engine may
not run
as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing
a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the
fuel cap properly. It
will take
a few driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel”
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run
as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, st.alling
when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, 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
problems that may have developed.
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Security Light
SECURITY
This light will come on
briefly when you turn the
key to
START.
The light will stay on until the engme starts. If the light
flashes, the Passlock@ System has entered a tamper
mode. If the vehicle fails
to start, see “Passlock” in
the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays
on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
System. Your vehicle will
not be protected by Passlock,
and you should see your
GM dealer.
Up Shift Light (If Equipped)
This light is used on
some models with
manual transmissions.
The
SHIFT indicator light will help you get the best fuel
economy. See ‘(Shift Light” or ;’Shift Speeds”
in this
section for more information.
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Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol.
In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, over
17,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use
of alcohol, with more than
300,000 people injured.
Many adults
-- by some estimates, nearly half the adult
population
-- choose never to drink alcohol, so they
never drive after drinking. For persons under
2 1, it’s
against the law
in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are
good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws. The
obvious way
to solve this highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But
what
if people do? How much is “too much” if the
driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends on each person and situation,
here
is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
during drinking
consume the alcohol.
According
to the American Medical Association, a
180-lb.
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce
( 120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 - 112 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
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Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going
to a remote area. Know
the terrain and plan your route.
You are much less likely to get bad surprises. Get
accurate maps of trails and terrain. Try to learn of any
blocked or closed roads. Controlling your vehicle
is
the key to successful
off-road driving. One of the best ways
to control your
vehicle
is to control your speed. Here are some things to
keep
in mind. At higher speeds:
0 you approach things faster and you have less time to
scan the terrain for obstacles.
It’s also
a good idea to travel with at least one other
vehicle. If something happens to one of them, the other
can help quickly. you have less time to react.
0 you have more vehicle bounce when you drive
over obstacles.
Does your vehicle have a winch?
If so, be sure to read
the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be
handy
if you get stuck. But you’ll want to know how to
use
it properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It’s a good idea to practice in an area that’s safe and
close to home before you
go into the wilderness.
Off-road driving does require some new and different
driving skills. Here’s what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your
eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain
for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for
unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands,
feet and body, you’ll need
to respond to vibrations and
vehicle bounce.
0 you’ll need more distance for braking, especially
since you’re on an unpaved surface.
When you’re driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash.
So, whether you’re driving on
or
off the road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
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Hazard Warning Flashers
the way down to make you
front and rear turn signal
lamps flash
on and off.
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Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
But they won't flash
if you're braking.
I
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in,
and even if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, press the button until the fist
click
and release.
When
the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.
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Front Towing
Two- Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tow Lirnits -- 35 nzph (55 kdh), 50 miles (80 kr.n/h)
If your vehicle is two-wheel drive, use the
following directions:
I. Engage the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
4. Put an automatic or a manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
5. When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles (Manual Transfer Case)
Tow Lirnits -- 55 rnph (88 knzdh) or legtrl speed limit,
distance
is unlimited
If your vehicle is four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case, use the following directions:
1. Engage the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with
a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
4. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P), or a
manual transmission
in FIRST (1).
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