check engine GMC SIERRA 1993 Owner's Manual

Service & Appearance Care
Exhaust:
Removal of muffler andlor resonator.
Removal of exhaust pipes and exhaust pipe clamps.
Engine Oil (Except Diesel)
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you get fuel. In order to
get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle\
must be on
level ground.
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K2389
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to get back down into the
oil pan.
If you don't, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
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K2613
To Check Engine Oil: Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip lower.
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Service & Appearance Care
Engine Block Heater:
An engine block heater can be a big help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder. If your vehicle has this option, see
“Engine Block Heater” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil:
I CAUTION I
Used engine oil contains things that have caused skin cancer
laboratory animals. Don’t let used oil stay on your skin fo\
r very
I
Clean your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good han\
d
cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containin\
g
used engine oil.
Used-oil can be a real threat
to the environment. If you change your own oil,
be sure to drain all free-flowing oil from the filter before disp\
osal. Don’t ever
dispose of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used
oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of your used
oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling \
center for help.
Engine Oil (Diesel Engines)
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil level every time you get fuel. In
order
to get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle\
must
be on level ground.
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K2394
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you don’t the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
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T-
K2613
To Check Engine Oil: Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or a cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip
lower.
When to Add Oil: If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll need to
add some oil. But you must use the right kind. This part explains what kind\

of oil to use. For crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Spec\
ifications’’ in
the Index.
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the proper operating range, your engine could
be damaged. I
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K2395
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See "Scheduled Maintenance Services" in the \
Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a General Motors dealership Service Department.
If you
do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading on the dipstick.
I Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
nean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts,
itarting
a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
ransmission ftuid.
Wait at least
30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you
have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic-especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid must be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F
to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check the transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (1 0°C). If
it's colder than
50°F (lO°C), drive the vehicle in D (3rd gear) until the engine
temperature gage moves and then remains steady for ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold check is made after the vehicle
has been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine
off and is used only
as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside
temperatures are 50°F (10°C) or more.
If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), you
may have
to idle the engine longer. A hot check must follow when fluid is
added during a cold check.
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Senrr'ce & bmearance Care
To check the fluid hot or cold:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with the parking brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through each
gear range, pausing for about three seconds in each range. Then,
position the shift lever in
P (Park).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean rag or paper towel.
PO229
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out
again.
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*
Senrice & Appearance Care
Manual Transmission Huld
When to Check:
the fluid in your manual transmission doesn't require changing.
How to 'Check:
Because this operation can be a :little difficult, you may cho\
ose to have this
done at your dealership Service Department.
t A good time to have it checked is when .the engine oil is changed. However,
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow' all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading..
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Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts,
starting a fire. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transmission is cool enough for you to re\
st your fingers
on the transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:.
~ ~~ ~
1. Remove the filler plug.
K2471
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of the filler- plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure it is fully seated. If
the fluid level is low, add more fluid as described in the next steps.
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1 CAUTION
4 Adding only plain water to your cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid like alcohol, can boil before th(
)per coolant mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mix. With plain water or the wrong mix\
, your
engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use
a
50/50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze.
NOTICE
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine could overheat an\
d 1:
badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. 1
much water in the mix can freeze and xk +?e t line radiator, heater
core and other parts.
Some conditions, such as air trapped in the cooling system, can affect the
coolant level in the radiator. Check the coolant level when the engine is cold
and follow the steps under “Adding Coolant” for the prope\
r way to add
coolant.
If you have the low coolant warning system, refer to the General Motors
Service Manual or see your dealer for the proper coolant
fill procedure. (To
purchase a Service Manual, see “Service Publications’’ in the Index.) Using
the wrong
fill procedure can cause a low coolant warning indication.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, have your dealer
check your cooling system.
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to add extra inhibitors or
additives which claim to improve
the system. These can be harmful.
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NOTICE .I
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Service & Amearance Care
Adding Coolant
r
PO206
To Check Coolant: When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the level should be up
to HOT, or a little higher.
LOW
COOLANT
K2327
If this light comes on, it means you're low on engine coolant.
To Add Coolant: If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
coolant recovery tank.
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Service & Appearance Cam
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow of coolant through the r\
adiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
K2630
How To Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again and look at the fluid
level on the dipstick.
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Brake Master Cylinder
Your brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid.
K2470
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in your \
master cylinder
might go down. The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid
level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake
system.
If it is, you should have your brake system fixed, since a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or won’\
t work at all.
So, it
isn’t a good idea to “top
off” your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a leak.
If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too
much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add (or remove), \
brake fluid, as necessary only when work is done on the brake\
hydraulic
system.
CAUTION I
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the engine. The fluid
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add
. ake fhid nnlv en wn
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
- will burn if the engine is hot enough. You or others could he burned
Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to check your brake
fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance” in the index.
To Check Brake Fluid:
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid levels should be above the
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