light GMC SAVANA 1998 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 1998, Model line: SAVANA, Model: GMC SAVANA 1998Pages: 388, PDF Size: 20.04 MB
Page 125 of 388

Electronic Road-Speed Governor
(Gasoline Engines) (Option)
This optional system automatically controls vehicle top
speed. The system controller receives
a signal from the
vehicle speed sensor and reduces power when the
vehicle speed reaches the maximum
65 mph (105 kdh)
governed speed.
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 may 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
5 5 seconds.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the tone
nor the light will come on.
2-53
ProCarManuals.com
Page 126 of 388

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 sensor, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
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.
Charging System Light
(CJ
This light should come on
briefly when you turn on the
ignition, before starting the
engine, as a check to show
you it is working.
After the engine starts, the light should
go out. If it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the alternator drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light
on, it
helps
to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
2-54
ProCarManuals.com
Page 128 of 388

Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will
come on when you set your parking brake. The light
will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system
is divided into
two
parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be
a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
United States
Canada
This light should come on 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.
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.)
A CAUTION:
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.
2-56
ProCarManuals.com
Page 129 of 388

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI -
LOCK
United States Canada
With
the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on
when you start your engine and may stay on for several
seconds. That’s normal.
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
This gage shows the engine
gage pointer moves into
the red area your engine is
coolant temperature.
If the
260 too
hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If
you have been operating your vehicle under normal
operating conditions,
you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle, and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
The “Problems on the Road’’ section of this
manual shows what
to do. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index.
2-57
ProCarManuals.com
Page 130 of 388

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine Soon Light) (Gasoline Engine)
I I Your vehicle is equipped
SERVICE
ENGINE
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
SOON control systems.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This system is called OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction. This
light should come on,
as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come
on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle.
GM or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
0 Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected
on your vehicle. GM
or qualified service center diagnosis and service may
be required.
2-58
ProCarManuals.com
Page 131 of 388

If the Light Is Flashing If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues
to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
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. 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.
2-59
ProCarManuals.com
Page 132 of 388

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, stalling 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.
Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage
shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per
square inch) when
the
engine is running. Canadian
vehicles indicate pressure
in kPa (kilopascals).
OIL -1
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature
and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or other problem causing low
oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as possible.
2-60
ProCarManuals.com
Page 133 of 388

-
UTION:
-
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You
or others could be burned.
Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
[ NOTICE:
I I
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Security Light
SECURITY
This light will come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key
to START.
The light will stay
on until the engine 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.
2-61
ProCarManuals.com
Page 134 of 388

Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
You may have this light on
the instrument panel. It will
light whenever the
DRL are
on. It is also a reminder to
turn on your headlamps
when driving at night.
Check Gages Light
CHECK
GAGES
The CHECK GAGES light
will come
on briefly when
you are starting the engine.
If the light comes on and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine
oil pressure
gages
to see if they are in the warning zones.
2-62
ProCarManuals.com
Page 142 of 388

Air Conditioning Heating
Before using your vehicle’s air conditioning, open the
windows to clear the vehicle
of hot air. This reduces the
time it takes for your vehicle to cool down. Then keep
your windows closed for the air conditioner to work at
its best.
You can use MAX
AIC with the temperature knob in the
blue area when it’s really hot outside and you need to
cool
the inside air quickly. MAX A/C lets in only a little
air from the outside.
If you first
use MAX A/C, you can then use A/C with
the temperature knob in the blue area, as soon as the
vehicle has cooled down,
so outside air will be going
through your vehicle.
If your vehicle has rear air conditioning, setting it on
LO
may enhance front A/C performance by allowing
trapped refrigerant in rear lines to circulate.
When the air conditioning,
DEFROST or BLEND is on,
you may notice a slight increase
or decrease in engine
speed, due to compressor operation. This
is normal
because the system
is designed to cycle the compressor
on and off to keep the desired temperature.
On cold days, use HEATER with the temperature knob
in the red area. Outside air will be brought in through
the floor outlets. The heater works best if you keep your
windows closed while using it.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster
to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.
Ventilation Tips
0
0
0
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow, or
any other obstruction (such
as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work
far better, reducing the
chance of fogging
the inside of your windows.
When you
enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
blower fan to
HI for a few moments before driving
off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and
moisture, and reduces the chance
of fogging the
inside
of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air
to circulate throughout your vehicle.
Your vehicle has air vents in
the center and on the sides
of your instrument panel.
3-6
ProCarManuals.com