check engine GMC SIERRA 1993 User Guide

Your Driving and the Road
drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important to
check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down long or steep
downgrade.
If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to
45 mph (70
kmlh) or less to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
IT you have an automatic transmission, you should use D (or, as you need to,
a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle i\
n
D when towing
a trailer will minimize heat buildup and extend the life of your transmission.
Or, if you have a manual transmission with fifth gear and you are towing a
trailer, it’s better not to use fifth gear. Just drive in fourth gear
(or, as you
need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, \
on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can\
be injured
and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into P (Park) yet, or into gear
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
for a manual transmission.
3. When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and \
then
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a
6. Release the regular brakes.
shift
to
P (Park), or R (Reverse) for a manual transmission.
drive gear-not in
N (Neutral).
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CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenl\
y.
You
or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move,
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in N (Neutral),
your vehicle will be free to
roll, even if your shift lever is in P (Park).
So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear-not in N (Neutral).
If you are parking on a hill, or if you’re pulling a trailer, also see
“Parking On Hills” in the Index.
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parklng on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer To wing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that are esp\
ecially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system, and brake ad\
justment. Each
of these is covered in this manual, and the Index will help \
you find them
quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections before
you start your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
mailer Wiring Harness
See “Trailer Wiring Harness’’ in the Index.
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.
To turn off the flasher, pull out on the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road
about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may want to use another
vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the
steps- below
to do it safely.
CAUTION
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because: I
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode c te. ..
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
n hurt you. I
If you don’t follow these ’ !ps exactly, some or all of tt- --e things
-I
To Jump Start Your Vehicle ’
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative ground, bot
I vehicles can be damaged.
- -
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with two batteries (or more), you
should know before you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
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IA
Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been blinded. Use
a flashiight if you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You-don? need
to adb
water to the Delco Freedom* battery (or batteries) instailed in every
new
GM vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid
is there. If it is low, add water to take care of that
first.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be present. .hr~ic;. -- ,
Battery fluid conbins acid that can burn you. Don’t. get it. on you.
. you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin, ftush the placl
~~~~-,~~~~.~-:~~.~.~. -2-
.with water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or missing insulation. If
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some things you should\
know.
Positive
(t) will go to positive (t) and negative (-) will go to negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don’t connect (t) to (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too\
.
I
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your
hands away from moving parts once the engines are running.
6. Connect the red positive (t) cable to the positive (t) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote positive
(t) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
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The coolant level should be at or above the COLD mark. If it isn’t, you may
have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine parts, can be very\
hot.
-, Don’t touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine
if there is a leak. If you run the engine, it cou
lose all coolant. That could cause an engine fire, and you could be
burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
I I
NOTICE
Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn’t covered by
I your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric engine fan (if you
have one) is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
Start the engine again to see
if the regular fan runs when the engine does.
If it doesn’t, your vehicle needs service. Turn off the engine.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at or above
COLD, add a 50hO mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper
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Service & Appearance Care
.....
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle . This Section
begins with service and fuel information. and then it shows how to check
important fluid and lubricant levels
. There is also technical information about
your vehicle. and a section devoted to its appearance care
.
Service ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-3
Fuel (Gasoline Engines)
........................................................................\
............... 6-4
Diesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel System
...................................................... 6-6
Checking Things Under the Hood
..................................................................... 6-17
Hood Release
........................................................................\
.......................... 6-18
Cleaning Your Diesel Engine
........................................................................\
.. 6-19
Noise Control System
........................................................................\
............. 6-19
Engine Oil (Except Diesel)
........................................................................\
..... 6.20
Engine Oil (Diesel Engines)
........................................................................\
... 6-26
Air Cleaner
........................................................................\
............................... 6-31
Automatic Transmission Fluid
........................................................................\
. 6-33
Manual Transmission Fluid
........................................................................\
..... 6-36
Hydraulic Clutch
........................................................................\
....................... 6-37
Transfer Case
........................................................................\
.......................... 6-39
Front Axle ........................................................................\
................................. 6-40
Rear Axle
........................................................................\
................................. 6-41
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Service & Appearance Care
Diesel Fuel Requirements
and Fuel System
Some states and provinces have restrictions on the purchase of diesel fuel
for light-duty vehicles and require you
to buy permits or pay special taxes.
Some of these restrictions apply only
to residents, and others apply to both
residents and visitors. These restrictions can change.
To learn the current
restrictions in any state or province, contact your auto club, \
the police or
other officials.
Fuel Requirements
1 NOTICE
Diesel fuel or fuel additives not recommended in this manual could
damage your fuel system and engine. Your warranty wouldn’t cover thi
damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil could damage your
engine and emission controls.
Always check with your service station
his
diesel fuel, it can be difficult to restart your
engine. “Running Out of Fuel,” later
in this section, tells you how to
get
it started again. To avoid all this, try never to let. your tank get
What Fuel to Use:
You can use either Number I-D or Number 2-D diesel fuel, but you’ll get
better fuel economy using
2-D.
Diesel fuel may foam when you fill your tank. This can cause the automatic
pump nozzle
to shut off, even though your tank isn’t full. If this happens, just
wait for the foaming to stop and then continue to fill your tank.
1 CAUTION
- Heat coming from the engine may cause the fuel to expand and force
the fuel out of your tank. If something ignites the fuel, a \
fire could start
and people could be burned.
To help avoid this, fill your fuel tank only
until the automatic nozzle shuts
off. Don’t try to “top if off .” I
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Service & Appearance Care
This light also should come on when you start your engine, as\
a check. If it
doesn’t, have it fixed
so it will be there to let you know if you ever do get
water in your fuel.
If the light comes on at any other time, use this chart.
“WATER IN FUE
PROBLEM
Light comes on intermittently.
1) Temperatures above freezing.
Light stays on
2) Temperatures below freezing.
3) Immediately after refueling -
Large amounts of water
probably pumped into the
tank.
.” LIGHT CHART
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Drain water from fuel filter.
Drain fuel filter immediately.
If nc
water is drained and light stays on
-
replace fuel filter.
Drain fuel filter immediately.
If no
water can be drained
- water may be
frozen. Open air bleed
to check for
fuel pressure.
If no fuel pressure
replace filter.
Fuel tank purging required. See your
dealer for assistance.
1
iesitation or “flat” performance at high speed or hard acceleration may be an
ndication of premature fuel filter plugging due to dirty
or contaminated fuel.
The filter element may need
to be changed if this happens. See your dealer
or assistance.
f you drive when this warning light is on, you can damage your fuel I
njection system and your engine. If the light comes on right after you
efuel,
it means water was pumped into your fuel tank. Turn off your
mgine immediately. Then, have the water drained at once.
I
To drain water:
1. Remove the fuel tank cap.
2. Connect a hose going from the water drain valve to a fuel-resistant
container.
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6. Open the air bleed valve.
7. Turn your ignition key to Run for 10 to 15 seconds. Wait one minute for
the starter to cool. Do this until you can see clear fuel coming from the
air bleed valve.
8. Close the air bleed valve and replace the fuel tank cap.
9. Start your engine and let it idle for five minutes. Be sure to check your
fuel filter for leaks.
Fuel Filter Replacement (62 Diesel Engines)
If you want to change the fuel filter yourself, here's how to do it:
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K2667
Drain fuel from the filter by opening the air bleed valve and\
the water drain
valve. This prevents the fuel from spilling as you replace the\
filter. Drain the
fuel into a fuel-resistant container and dispose of it properly.
CAUTION I
A
Diesel fuel is flammable. It could start a fire if something ignites it,
and you could be burned. Don't let it get on
hot engine parts, and
keep matches
or other ignition sources away.
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6. Close the water drain valve and connect a hose going from the air bleed\

valve port
to a fuel-resistant container. The inside diameter of the hose
should be one-eighth of an inch.
for the starter to cool.
Do this until you can see clear fuel coming from
the air bleed valve.
7. Turn your ignition key to Start for 10 to 15 seconds. Wait one minute
8. Close the air bleed valve and replace the fuel tank cap.
9. Start your engine and let it idle for five minutes. Be sure to check your
fuel filter for leaks.
Fuels in Foreign Countries (Gasoline Engines)
If you plan on driving in another country outside the US. or Canada,
unleaded fuel may be hard to find.
Do not use leaded gasoline. If you use
even one tank full, your emission controls won’t work well \
or at all. With
continuous use, spark plugs can get fouled, the exhaust system \
can corrode,
and your engine oil can deteriorate quickly. Your vehicle’s three-way catalytic
converter and oxygen sensor will be damaged.
All of that means costly
repairs that wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for advice. Just tell us where
you’re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors of Canada Ltd.
International Export Sales
Post Office Box
828
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7N1, Canada
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