engine overheat GMC SIERRA 1500 2006 Owners Manual

Engine Coolant Heater
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required. Your vehicle may also have an internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This will prevent
operation of the engine coolant heater when the
temperature is at or above 0°F (−18 C°) as noted on
the cord.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering uid reservoir.
If you have a diesel engine, refer to diesel
supplement for location.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously injured.
Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in?
The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you will be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
2-25

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer
case is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to
roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P).
So be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear — not in NEUTRAL.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to.If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the parking brake
is rmly set before you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down.
Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from
PARK (P) without rst pulling it toward you. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into
PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To
nd out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” listed earlier in
this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-54

Traction Off Light
If you have the Traction
Assist System, this light
should come on briey
when you turn the ignition
to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, the system may
require service; have it xed so it will be there to warn
you if the system is turned off.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are driving,
there may be a problem with your Traction Assist System
and your vehicle may need service. When this light is on,
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
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 uctuate and approach the 250°F (122°C) mark. If
the gage reaches the 260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-37.
United StatesCanada
3-43

DRIVER DOOR AJAR
If the driver’s door is not fully closed, this message will
appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop
and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and
close the door again. Check to see if the message still
appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display.
ENGINE COOLANT HOT
If the cooling system temperature gets hot, this message
will appear in the DIC. Turn off the air conditioning. If the
message is still on, or if the engine coolant temperature
gage continues to rise, pull the vehicle over when it is
safe to do so. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 3-43for more information. Stop the vehicle and
let the engine idle in PARK (P) for a few minutes, or
NEUTRAL with the parking brake set for manual
transmissions, to allow the coolant to reach a safe
temperature. This message will clear when the coolant
temperature drops to safe operating temperature.
ENGINE OVERHEATED
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may occur. If an
overheat warning appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. Do not increase the engine speed above
normal idling speed. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-37for more information.
If the engine cooling system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation, this message will appear in
the DIC and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so to avoid severe
damage. This message will clear when the engine has
cooled to a safe operating temperature.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
If the fuel level is low, this message will appear on the
DIC and you will hear a chime. Refuel as soon as
possible. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. SeeLow Fuel Warning Light on page 3-51,
Fuel Gage on page 3-51, andFuel on page 5-5.
3-58

KEYFOB X BATTERY LOW
If a remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low, this
message will appear on the DIC. The battery needs to be
replaced in the transmitter. See “Battery Replacement”
underRemote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-5. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
LEFT REAR DOOR AJAR (Crew Cab)
If the driver’s side rear door is not fully closed, this
message will appear on the display and you will hear a
chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for
obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the
four DIC buttons will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
LOW COOLANT LEVEL
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode”
in the Index for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
If your vehicle has a low coolant level sensor, this
message will appear on the DIC if the engine coolant
level is low. Adding coolant to the coolant recovery
tank will clear the message. SeeCooling System on
page 5-40. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
OIL LIFE RESET
This message will appear on the display for about
10 seconds after resetting the change engine oil
message. See “Engine Oil Life System” underDIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-53andEngine Oil
(Gasoline Engine) on page 5-20for more information.
3-59

OIL PRESSURE LOW
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the engine oil
pressure is low, severe engine damage may occur.
If a low oil pressure warning appears on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. Do not drive the vehicle until the cause of
the low oil pressure is corrected. SeeEngine Oil
(Gasoline Engine) on page 5-20for more information.
If low oil pressure levels occur, this message will be
displayed on the DIC and a chime will sound. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible and do not operate it
until the cause of the low oil pressure has been corrected.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle
serviced by your GM dealer. SeeEngine Oil (Gasoline
Engine) on page 5-20.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
If the passenger’s door is not fully closed, this message
will appear on the display and you will hear a chime. Stop
and turn off the vehicle, check the door for obstacles and
close the door again. Check to see if the message still
appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
RANGE SHIFT INHIBITED
(Allison Transmission®Only)
If the transmission is unable to shift into a selected gear,
this message will appear on the DIC. The electronic shift
position indicator on the instrument panel cluster may
blink when this occurs. To make the vehicle shift to the
requested gear, you may have to shift back to PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) and re-select the desired gear.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
This message is displayed when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the engine further enters
the engine coolant protection mode.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-37for additional
information.
RIGHT REAR DOOR AJAR (Crew Cab)
If the passenger’s side rear door is not fully closed, this
message will appear on the display and you will hear a
chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for
obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of the
four DIC buttons will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
3-60

If the message is displayed immediately after starting
the vehicle or the message appears while driving,
your Supplemental Brake Assist system needs service.
See your GM dealer. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-41for additional information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
If there is a problem with the brake system, this
message will be displayed on the DIC. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service. See your GM dealer.
SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, if there is a problem with the battery
charging system, this message will appear on the DIC.
Under certain conditions, the battery warning light may
also turn on in the instrument panel cluster. SeeBattery
Warning Light on page 3-40. The battery will not be
charging at an optimal rate and the vehicle will lose the
ability to enter the fuel economy mode. The vehicle is
safe to drive, however you should have the electrical
system checked by your GM dealer. Pressing any of the
four DIC buttons will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
TIGHTEN FUEL CAP
If the vehicle’s fuel cap is not tightened properly, this
message may appear along with the check engine light
on the instrument panel. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-46. Fully reinstall the fuel cap. SeeFilling the
Tank on page 5-10. 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 and message off.
TRACTION ACTIVE
When the traction control system had detected that any
of the vehicle’s wheels are slipping, the traction control
system will activate and this message will appear on the
DIC. For more information, seeTraction Assist
System (TAS) on page 4-8.
TRANS (Transmission)
HOT IDLE ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed on
the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you can
damage the transmission. This could lead to costly
repairs that would not be covered by your warranty.
3-62

Do not drive your vehicle with overheated
transmission uid or while the transmission
temperature warning is displayed.
If the transmission uid in the vehicle gets hot, this
message will appear on the DIC along with a continuous
chime. Driving with the transmission uid temperature
high can cause damage to the vehicle. Stop the vehicle
and let it idle to allow the transmission to cool. This
message will clear and the chime will stop when the uid
temperature reaches a safe level. SeeTransmission
Temperature Gage on page 3-44.
TRANSMISSION HOT
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed on
the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you can
damage the transmission. This could lead to costly
repairs that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle with overheated
transmission uid or while the transmission
temperature warning is displayed.
If the transmission uid temperature becomes high,
this message will appear on the DIC display.When the transmission enters the protection mode,
you may notice a change in the transmission shifting
patterns. When the transmission uid temperature
returns to normal, the display will turn off and the
transmission shifting patterns will return to normal.
If the vehicle has the Tow/Haul mode, use this feature
if the transmission is operating at higher temperatures
and/or the following situations exist, which can cause
the transmission to operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Over-loading
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the auxiliary
transmission oil cooler
A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on
a frequent basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 6-4for the transmission your vehicle is
equipped with for the proper transmission maintenance
intervals. Also seeTransmission Temperature Gage on
page 3-44for more information.
3-63

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to
consider a number of things:
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low
gear. This way, engine drag can help the brakes and they
will not have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping
your vehicle under control at all times.
{CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This
could cause loss of control and a serious
accident. Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low gear to
keep vehicle speed under control.
Q:Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a hill?
A:Yes! These are important because if you ignore
them you could lose control and have a serious
accident.
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive
across. You could roll over if you do not drive
straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal pressed
down with a manual transmission. This is called
“free-wheeling.” The brakes will have to do all the
work and could overheat and fade.
4-27

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as rocking can help
you get out when you are stuck, but you must use
caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment re or other damage.
When you are stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transmission
back and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For more information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 5-89.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If you have
a four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into Four-Wheel
High. If your vehicle has the traction assist system, you
should turn it off by pressing the TAS on/off button.
Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear, or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R), spinning
the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. By
slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that
may free your vehicle. If that does not get you out
after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. Or, you
can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle has
them. If you do need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-62.
4-46