length GMC SIERRA 2008 Owner's Manual

Page 40 of 578

The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the
booster seat, state the weight and height limitations for
that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder
belt until the child passes the below t test:
Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend
at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to
the booster seat.
Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt
rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try
using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear
Safety Belt Comfort Guides” underLap-Shoulder
Belt on page 1-28for more information. If the
shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder,
then return to the booster seat.
Does the lap belt t low and snug on the hips,
touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to
the booster seat.
Can proper safety belt t be maintained for the
length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return
to the booster seat.
Q:What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:An older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can
provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should t snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs. This applies
belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. It
should never be worn over the abdomen, which
could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in
a crash.
Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-28.
According to accident statistics, children and infants are
safer when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike
other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety
belts properly.
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Page 115 of 578

Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If
it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This position lets things like
the radio and the windshield wipers operate while
the engine is off.
Lengthy operation of features such as the radio in the
ACC/ACCESSORY ignition position and the ON/RUN
position may drain the battery and prevent your vehicle
from starting. Do not operate your vehicle in the ACC/
ACCESSORY ignition position for a long period of time.
C (ON/RUN):This is the position for driving. It is the
position the ignition switch returns to after the engine
starts, and the key is released.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position with the
engine off. You may not be able to start your vehicle if
the battery is allowed to drain for an extended period
of time.
D (START):This position starts the engine.Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an
easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the
key in the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime
will sound, when you open the driver’s door. Always
remember to remove your key from the ignition and take
it with you. This will lock your ignition and transmission.
Also, always remember to lock the doors.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be
able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an
extended period of time.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Power Windows
OnStar®System (if equipped)
Sunroof (if equipped)
These features work when the key is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from
ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, the windows and sunroof
continue to work up to 10 minutes until any door
is opened. The radio continues to work for up to
10 minutes or until the driver’s door is opened.
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Page 202 of 578

Be careful not to cover the solar sensor located on the
top of the instrument panel near the windshield. This
sensor regulates air temperature based on sun load. For
more information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors”
later in this section.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
delays turning the fan on until warm air is available. The
length of delay depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Pressing the fan switch overrides this
delay and changes the fan to a selected speed.
O(On/Off):Press this button to turn off the climate
control system. Outside air still enters the vehicle, and is
directed to the oor. This direction can be changed by
pressing the mode button. Recirculation can be selected
once you have selected vent or bi-level mode. The
temperature can also be adjusted using either
temperature button. If the air delivery mode or
temperature settings are adjusted with the system off,
the display illuminates briey to show the settings
and then returns to off. Press the on/off button or the up
down arrows on the fan switch, the defrost button,
AUTO button, or the air conditioning button to turn the
system on when it is off.
Manual Operation
The air delivery mode or fan speed can be manually
adjusted.
DC(Fan):These buttons let you manually adjust the
fan speed. Press
Dto increase fan speed andC
to decrease fan speed.
Pressing either fan button while the system is off turns
the system on. Pressing either fan button while in
automatic control places the fan under manual control.
The fan setting remains displayed and the AUTO
light turns off. The air delivery mode remains under
automatic control.
HG(Mode):PressHandGto manually change the
direction of the airow in the vehicle. Repeatedly
press either button until the desired mode appears on
the display. Pressing either mode button while the
system is off changes the air delivery mode without
turning the system on. Pressing either mode button
while in automatic control places the mode under
manual control.
The air delivery mode setting is displayed and the
AUTO light turns off. The fan remains under automatic
control.
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
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Page 275 of 578

Make sure playlists have a .mp3 or .wpl extension
(other le extensions might not work).
Minimize the length of the le, folder, or playlist
names. Long le, folder, or playlist names, or a
combination of a large number of les and folders,
or playlists could cause the player to be unable
to play up to the maximum number of les, folders,
playlists, or sessions. If you wish to play a large
number of les, folders, playlists or sessions,
minimize the length of the le, folder, or playlist
name. Long names also take up more space on the
display, potentially getting cut off.
Finalize the audio disc before you burn it. Trying to
add music to an existing disc could cause the disc
not to function in the player.
Playlists can be changed by using the
Sc
(previous) andcT(next) folder buttons, thef
knob, or the©SEEK¨arrows. You can also play an
MP3 CD-R or CD-RW that was recorded using no le
folders. If a CD-R or CD-RW contains more than
the maximum of 50 folders, 15 playlists, and 512 folders
and les, the player lets you access and navigate up
to the maximum, but all items over the maximum are not
accessible.
Root Directory
The root directory of the CD-R or CD-RW is treated as
a folder. If the root directory has compressed audio
les, the directory displays as the CD label. All
les contained directly under the root directory are
accessed prior to any root directory folders. However,
playlists (Px) are always accessed before root folders
or les.
If a disc contains both uncompressed CD audio (.CDA)
and MP3 les, a folder under the root directory called
CD accesses all of the CD audio tracks on the disc.
Empty Directory or Folder
If a root directory or a folder exists somewhere in the
le structure that contains only folders/subfolders and
no compressed les directly beneath them, the
player advances to the next folder in the le structure
that contains compressed audio les. The empty
folder does not display.
No Folder
When the CD contains only compressed les, the les
are located under the root folder. The next and previous
folder function does not display on a CD that was
recorded without folders or playlists.
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Page 279 of 578

MP3/WMA Format
If you burn your own MP3/WMA disc on a personal
computer:
Make sure the MP3/WMA les are recorded on a
CD-R or CD-RW disc.
Do not mix standard audio and MP3/WMA les on
one disc.
The CD player (lower slot) is able to read and play
a maximum combination of 512 les and folders.
The DVD player (upper slot) is able to read
255 folders, 15 playlists and 40 sessions.
Create a folder structure that makes it easy to nd
songs while driving. Organize songs by albums
using one folder for each album. Each folder
or album should contain 18 songs or less.
Avoid subfolders. The system can support up to
eight subfolders deep, however, keep the total
number of folders to a minimum in order to reduce
the complexity and confusion in trying to locate
a particular folder during playback.
Make sure playlists have a .m3u, .wpl or .pls
extension as other le extensions might not work.
Minimize the length of the le, folder, or playlist
names. Long le, folder, or playlist names, or a
combination of a large number of les and folders,
or playlists could cause the player to be unable
to play up to the maximum number of les, folders,
playlists, or sessions. If you wish to play a large
number of les, folders, playlists, or sessions,
minimize the length of the le, folder, or playlist
name. Long names also take up more space on the
display, potentially getting cut off.
Finalize the audio disc before you burn it. Trying to
add music to an existing disc could cause the disc
not to function in the player.
Root Directory
The root directory of the CD-R or CD-RW is treated as a
folder. If the root directory has compressed audio les,
the directory is displayed as F1 ROOT. All les contained
directly under the root directory are accessed prior to any
root directory folders. However, playlists (Px) are always
accessed before root folders or les.
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Page 321 of 578

Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to
decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here
are some things to consider:
{CAUTION:
Driving across an incline that is too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any
doubt about the steepness of the incline, do
not drive across it. Find another route instead.
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may
be too steep to drive across. When you go
straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel
base — the distance from the front wheels to
the rear wheels — reduces the likelihood the vehicle
will tumble end over end. But when you drive
across an incline, the much more narrow track
width — the distance between the left and
right wheels — may not prevent the vehicle from
tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline
puts more weight on the downhill wheels. This
could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you
drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip
sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways,
it can hit something that will trip it — a rock, a rut,
etc. — and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock
with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels
drop into a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt
even more.
For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because
the trail goes across the incline does not mean you
have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might
have rolled over.
When driving across an incline that is not too steep, the
vehicle can hit some loose gravel and start to slide
downhill. If you feel your vehicle starting to slide
sideways, turn downhill. This should help straighten out
the vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However, a
much better way to prevent this is to get out and “walk
the course” so you know what the surface is like
before you drive it.
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Page 340 of 578

Two-Tiered Loading
Depending on the model of your pick-up, you can
create an upper load platform by positioning
two or four 2 inches (5 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm)
wooden planks across the width of the pickup box.
The planks must be inserted in the pickup box
depressions. The length of the planks must allow
for at least a 3/4 inch (2 cm) bearing surface
on each end of the plank.
When using this upper load platform, be sure the
load is securely tied down to prevent it from
shifting. The load’s center of gravity should be
positioned in a zone over the rear axle. The zone
is located in the area between the front of each
wheel well and the rear of each wheel well.
The center of gravity height must not extend above
the top of the pickup box areboard.
Any load that extends beyond the vehicle’s
taillamp area must be properly marked according
to local laws and regulations.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axle.Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need
to put a limit on how many people you carry
inside your vehicle. Be sure to weigh your vehicle
before you buy and install the new equipment.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axle.
* Equipment Maximum Weight
Ladder Rack and
Cargo750 lbs (340 kg)
Cross Toolbox and
Cargo400 lbs (181 kg)
Side Boxes and Cargo 250 lbs per side
(113 kg per side)
* The combined weight for all rail-mounted
equipment should not exceed 1,000 lbs (454 kg).
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