warning GMC SAVANA 1998 Owners Manual

How to Use this Manual Safety WE-. kgs and Symbols
Many
people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle.
In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back
of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it. You
will find
a number of safety cautions in this book.
We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt
you if you were to ignore
the warning.
I
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what
to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If
you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.
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You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.” In
the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to
do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or
in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on
your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Damage Warnmgs
Also, in tlus book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on
an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BAlTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
ACID COULD
&
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e e
TURN
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols are used
on
warning and
indicator
lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING l=l
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may
see:
FUSE -%-
P
LIGHTER m
HORN )cr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2-2
2-4 2-6
2-9
2- 15
2- 16
2- 17
2- 17
2- 18
2-20 2-2
1
2-24 2-25
2-28 2-29
2-29 Keys
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
(If Equipped)
Your Doors and How They Work
Theft Passlock’
New Vehicle “Break-In’,
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
Automatic Transmission Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust 2-30
2-30
2-3 1
2-33
2-34
2-34
2-40 2-43
2-45
2-48 2-48
2-49
2-50
2-5 1
2-53 Running
Your Engine While You’re Parked
Locking Rear Axle (If Equipped)
Windows
Horn
Tilt Wheel (Option)
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
Exterior
Lamps
Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments
Cigarette LightedAshtray
Sun Visors
Instrument Panel
Instrument Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you are stuck in very
deep sand or mud or are up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position on
a hill.
Parking Br ke
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left
foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come
on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down.
Pull the handle, located just above the
parking brake pedal, marked BRAKE RELEASE to
release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
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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.
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Voltmeter
When your engine is not
on (in the
RUN position),
this gage shows your
DC volts.
I I / /I, running, but the ignition is
9 19 battery's state of charge in
VOLTS I
W
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition
of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings
in the low warning zone may occur wnen a
large number
of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for
an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power at
engine idle.
As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for
a short time with the reading in
either warning zone.
If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate
a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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