change time GMC SIERRA 1993 Owners Manual

Important Notes to Owners and Drivers
. . . .About This Manual: Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it
will be there
if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the
vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We
reserve the right to make changes in the product after that t\
ime without
further notice. For vehicles first
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General
Motors
of Canada Limited” For GMC Truck Division whenever it appears in
this manual.
. . . .For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:
Aux proprietaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce
guide en francais chez votre concessionaire ou au DGN Marketing\
Services Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7.
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC and SlERRA are registered
trademarks
of General Motors Corporation.
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2. Don’t push the accelerator pedal before starting your engine.\
In some
other vehicles you might need to do this, but because of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm.
3. Turn your ignition key to Start. When the engine starts, let go of the
Holding your key in
Start for longer than 15 seconds at a time will caus
your battery to be drained much sooner. And the :essive heal
m
damage your starter motor.
4.
5.
If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in Start. If it doesn’t start in
three seconds, push the accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down for
12 more seconds, or until it starts.
If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops), \
it could be
flooded with too much gasoline. Try this:
Wait
15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down. Then push your
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. Hold it there. Then, hold the
key in
Start for no more than ten seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
If the engine still doesn’t start, wait another 15 seconds and do it all again.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator ped\
al.
Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle.
If you
add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way \
the fuel
injection system operates. Before adding electrical equipment, ch\
eck with
-w dealer. If you don’t, your engine might not perform properly
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see the part of th\
is Manua
that tells how to do
it wit‘--.Jt damaging your ?hide. See “Tc ‘ng Yo
Vehicle’’ in the lnde
To Start Your 5.7 Liter (Code K) engine
or 7.4 Liter (Code N) engine:
1. Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety feature.
To restart when you’re
already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
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. If the light. doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try staiting your engine
again. And, see your dealer
as soon as you- can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes out and you know your batte\
ries are
charged, but your engine still won’t start, your vehicle nee\
ds service.
If your batteries don’t have enough .charge to start ,your engine, see “Battery”
in the Index.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that you’ve changed the
oil
at the proper times. If you use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder
to start.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops, your vehicle needs service.
NOTICE
Don’t use starting “aids” such as ether or gasoline, in the m~v intakc They
could damage your engine.
..- - .- * K2214
In very cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or colder, if you have an engine block
heater, it can help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up.
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Features & Controls
beam lights with fog lamps at all times, or that headlights b\
e turned on
whenever you must use your windshield wipers.
In addition, most jurisdictions
prohibit driving solely with parking lights, especially at dawn \
or dusk. It is
recommended that you check with your own state or provincial h\
ighway
authority for applicable lighting regulations.
Headight High-Low Beam
- K2242
To change the headlights from low beam to high or high to low, \
pull the turn
signal lever all the way toward you. Then release
it. When the high beams
are on, this blue light
on the instrument panel also will be on.
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Pavement Markings
NO PASSING ZONE
AM40201 6
Pavement markings add to traffic signs and signals. They give information to
drivers without taking attention from the roadway. A solid yellow line on your
side
of the road or lane means “don’t cross.”
Your Own Signals
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not only more polite, it’s safer to let other
drivers know what you are doing. And in some places the law requires driver
signals.
Turn and lane change signals: Always signal when you plan to turn or
change lanes.
If necessary, you can use hand signals out the window: Left arm \
straight out
for a left turn, down for
slow or about-to-stop, and up for a right turn.
Slowing down: If time allows, tap the brake pedal once or twice in advance
of slowing or stopping. This warns the driver behind you.
Disabled: Your four-way flashers signal that your vehicle is disabled or is a
hazard. See “Hazard Warning Flasher” in the Index.
Traffic Officer
The traffic police officer is also a source of important informaaon. The officer’s
signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights or other sig\
ns say.
The next part discusses some of the road conditions you may e\
ncounter.
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AM41 501 6
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on rear wheel spee\
d
and controls braking pressure accordingly.
CAUTION I
A
Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to I
the brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you,
you won’t have time
to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock:
Use rear wheel anti-lock like regular brakes. You may feel the brakes vibrate,
or you may notice some noise outside your vehicle, but this is normal. Let
anti-lock work for you, but remember: Your front wheels can still stop rolling.
If that happens, release enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels
rolling again
so that you can steer.
With the four-wheel drive option you won’t have anti-lock braking when you
shift into four-wheel drive. But you will have regular braking. When you shift
back into two-wheel drive, you will have anti-lock again.
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Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a
potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies t\
he same lane
as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the
passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents-the head-on
collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
e
e
e
e
e
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides, and to crossroads for
situations that might affect your passing patterns.
If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better t\
ime.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you \
can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your
pass.
A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side
of the lane or a double solid line, even
if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
If you suspect that the driver of the vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware
of your presence, tap the horn a couple of times before passing.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re
awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely r\
educes your
area of vision, especially
if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you
won’t have adequate space
if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start
to accelerate
but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move
so
you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other
lane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that
more than makes up for the distance you would lose by droppin\
g back.
And
if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need
only slow down and drop back again and wait for another oppor\
tunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But
take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass
the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the
blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your \
left lane
change signal before moving out of the right lane
to pass. When you
are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move \
back into
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Your Driving and the Road
the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is c\
onvex. The
vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you \
than
it
really is).
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
brake lights are not flashing, it may be slowing down
or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease a little
to the right.
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens whe\
n the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t ha\
ve enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steel+-, arid constantly seek an
escape route
or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care suited
to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possib\
le.
The three types
of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering
or cornering
skid, too much speed
or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle\
causes the
driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by ea\
sing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow-
or ice-covered road), ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start to sl\
ide. Quickly steer
the way you want the vehicle
to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle
will straighten out. As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material
is on the road.
For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limit\
ed.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking (including engine braking by shifting
to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slid\
e. You
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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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Your Driving and the Road
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s more \
discussion of
Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction quickly? these subjects later.)
When you drive over obstacles
or rough terrain, keep a firm grip on the
steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or other surface features can jerk the wheel
out of your hands
if you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, your whe\
els can leave
the ground.
If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you can’t contro\
l
the vehicle as well
or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s especially \
important
to avoid
sudden acceleration, sudden turns,
or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of alertness from driving on
paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted spee\
d limits
or
signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment about what is safe
and what isn’t.
* Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this is I
1 certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special
alertness and driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions and jud\
gment
can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have
a serious-or even fatal-accident
if you drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking. (See “Drunken Driving”
in the
Index.)
Driving On Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely on
hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can
and can’t do. There are some hills that simply can’t be \
driven, no matter how
well built the vehicle.
A, Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them,
- IOU will stall. If you drive down them, you can’t control your speed. If
you drive across them, you will roll over. You could be seriously
injured or killed.
If you have any doubt about the steepness, don’t
drive the hill.
I I
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