belt GMC SIERRA 1993 Workshop Manual

Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the \
belts were
stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe cras\
h, then you need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean
you will have to have safety belt parts like the retractor replaced or
anchorage locations repaired-even
if the belt wasn’t being used at the time
of the collision.
Q: What’s wrong with this?
I
APl25004
A: The belt is torn.
CAUTION
A
Torn or frayed belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip
apart under impact forces.
If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one
right away.
aefore replacing any safety belt, see your dealer for the corr\
ect part number.
You’ll need the model year and model number for your vehicle. The model
year is on your title and registration. And you can find the model nu\
mber on
the certificationhire label on the rear edge
of the driver’s door.
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Seats & Safety Belts
..
A
A
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The model number on the replacement belt must be listed on the safety belt
you want
to replace.
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Features & Controls
Door Locks
Unlocked doors can be dangerous. g&sr'!G,, *- -.&&e;
$%$out. &z;;: When a door is locked, th Inside handle l't OD( it.
13+AFyOutsi' s can easily e-L-!r thro I an unlocKed aoor wnen you slow
e&%or stop your vehicle.
ssengers-especially children-can easily open the
doors and
fa1 *
.. L. _I.." L . 7..
y'?,. Lt;-
:;S? -*
,- . .,$'.> x, .dL& -? ;:+ Y? -- This may not be so obvious: You increase the chance of being
thrown out
of the vehicle in a crash if the doors aren't locked. Wear
safety belts properly, lock your
doors, and vou will be far better off
whenever vou drive vour vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle:
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Features & Controls
“Engine Coolant’’ in the Index and have your vehicle s\
erviced as soon as
you can.
Charging System Light
K2328
The red charging system light is located at the upper right hand corner of
your instrument cluster. It 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 elect\
rical charging system. It could indicate that you have a loose alternator drive belt, or\
that
you have some other electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.
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Your Driving and the Road
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defens\
ively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up,
(See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)
Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On\
city streets, rural
roads, or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.’’
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be carel\
ess and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Expect children to dash out from behind parked cars, often fol\
lowed by other
children. Expect occupants in parked cars to open doors into traffic. Watch for
movement
in parked cars-someone may be about to open a door,
Expect other drivers to run stop signs when you are on a through street, Be
ready to brake
if necessary as you go through intersections. You may not
have to use the brake, but
if you do, you will be ready,
If you’re driving through a shopping center parking lot where there are
well-marked lanes, directional arrows, and designated parking are\
as, expect
some drivers to ignore all these markings and dash straight to\
ward one part
of the lot.
Pedestrians can be careless. Watch for them. In general, you must give way
to pedestrians even
if you know you have the right of way.
Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are
common. Allow enough following distance.
It’s the best defensive driving
maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in
front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.
Here’s a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most dangerous
time for driving in the
US. is very early on Sunday morning. In fact, GM
Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous times for
driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday. The most
dangerous time is Sunday
3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time is Sunday from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday at 3 a.m. isn’t
just a little more dangerous than it
is at 10 a.m. It’s about 134 times more
dangerous.
That leads to the next part.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than braki\
ng. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in yo\
ur lane, or a
car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out fro\
m between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by
braking-if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can't; ther\
e isn't room.
That's the time for evasive action-steering around the problem. \
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First \
apply your
brakes, but not enough to lock your front wheels. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right depending on the space available\
.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If yo\
u
are holding the steering wheel at the recommended
9 and 3 o'clock positions,
you can turn
it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly \
straighten the
wheel once you have avoided the object. You must then be prep\
ared to steer
back to your original lane and then brake to a controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for an un\
prepared driver.
This is one of the reasons driving experts recommend that you use your
safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel.
K2218
The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is \
a good reason
to practice defensive driving at
all times.
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Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. -Your eyes, for example, meed
to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your .ears need
to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet, and
body you’ll need to respond
to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
Controlling your vehicle is the key
to successful off-road driving. One of the
best ways
to control your vehicle is to control your speed. Here .are some
things
to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
e you approach things fastar and you have less time to scan the terrain
for obstacles.
you have less time
to react. ‘I , ’C _. ’.
you have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles.
you’ll need more distance for braking, especially since you’\
re on an unpaved surface.
CAUTION
When you’re driving off road, bouncing and quick changes in
direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you
to lose control and crash. So, whether you’re driving on or off the
road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. You need
to be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Here are some
things
to consider.
Surface Conditions
Off-roading can ta.ke you. over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks,\
grass, sand, mud, snow or ice. Each of these sutfaces affects the steering, acceleration,
and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind of
. surface you are on, you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel\
spinning,
delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer braking distances\
.
Surface Obstacles
Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or
bump can startle you if you’re not prepared for them. Often these obstacles
are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of the terrain
itself. -.Here are some things
to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
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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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Other Maintenance Items
Front Suspension and Steering Linkage
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often to lubricate the fittings. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index for the proper lubricant to
use.
Front Wheel Bearings
Your vehicle has front wheel bearings that must be cleaned and repa\
cked.
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often this must be done.
Front Shock Absorbers
The front shock absorbers of your vehicle do many things. They help the
vehicle ride smoothly and also control the travel
of the suspension system.
When the shock absorbers are serviced, any replacement shock absorber\
s
must be the same as the original equipment shock absorbers in both
extended length and strength.
1 NOTICE
If you use shock absomers that are nor me same as the original shock
I absorbers, the shock absorbers or suspension system could be da\
maged.
Wheel Nut Torque
For vehicles with dual wheels, when the vehicle, wheel or fast\
eners are new,
have the torque set at the first
100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1600 and
9600 km). Use the torque specified in the appropriate Specification \
Chart later
in this section.
Single Belt Accessory Drive
If your new vehicle uses a serpentine belt, it is lighter, and more durable
than systems with several belts.
The belt runs over or around the pulleys
on the engine. A tensioner is used
to keep the belt tight at all times. The tensioner also makes replacing the
belt easier.
If you need to replace the belt, be sure to get the correct
replacement belt. Your dealership
or parts supplier can help you with this.
The Accessory Drive Belt Routing label on your vehicle will sh\
ow you how to
route the belt your vehicle uses.
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r CAUTION I
If you operate your vehicle with a tire that is badly underinflated, the
tire can overheat. An overheated tire can lose air suddenly or catcl.
fire. You or others could be injured. Be sure all tires (including the
spare,
if any) are properly inflated.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at the Certificationflire
label. The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a Tire
Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec) number on each tire’s sidewall.
When you get new tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec num\
ber. That
way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed to give proper
endurance, handling, speed rating, traction, ride and other thin\
gs during
normal service on your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread design,
the TPC number will be followed by a
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec number,
make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and construction
type (bias, bias-belted
or radial) as your original tires.
1 CAUTION
* Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. If you mix
vehicle may not handle properly, and you could have a crash. Be
- ) tires of different sizes or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the
I sure to use the same size and type tires on all wheels. I
Uniform Tire Qua/ity Grading
The following information relates to the system developed by the United
States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which grade\
s tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies o\
nly to
vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified governmen\
t test
course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance
of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to var\
iations in
driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and
climate.
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