fuel GMC SIERRA 1994 User Guide

lnstument Panel
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17 1.6
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I. Side Window Defogger Vents
2. Light Controls
3. Air Vents
4. Multifunction Lever
5. Tilt Lever
6. Instrument Cluster
7. Gearshift Lever
8. Audio System
9. Comfort Control System
11
10. Glove Box
1 1. Audio System
12. Ashtray
13. Rear Window Defogger Switch
14. Air Vent Handles
15. Cargo Lamp Switch or Dome
Light Override Switch
16. Fuse Panel
17. Parking Brake Release Handle
lnstrument Cluster
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your
vehicle is running. You’ll know
how fast you’re going, about how much
fuel you have and many other things you’ll need
to know to drive safely and
economically.
Tachometer Cluster
If you have the tachometer cluster, it looks different but will tell you
everything the standard cluster does, with
the addition of displaying your
engine’s revolutions per minute (rpm).
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A CAUTION:
The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your
parking brake, and
it will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
Water in Fuel Light
The red Water in Fuel
light,
if you have one,
is located near the
middle right edge of
the instrument cluster,
just below the turn
signal and lane change
indicator.
This light will come on to warn you
if there is water in the diesel fuel
system. For more information on how this light works, see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
in the Index.
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Malfunction Indicator (Service Engine Soon) Lamp
The orange
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
A computer monitors the operation of your fuel, ignition and emission
control systems. This light should come on when the ignition
is on but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show you its working. If it does not
come
on at all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or comes on while you
are driving, the computer is indicating that you have a problem. You should
take your vehicle in for service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while
the emission controls won’t work
as well, your fuel economy
won’t be as good, and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty.
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Shift Indicator Light
The orange SHIFT
Indicator light, if you
have one,
is located
near the upper left
corner of the
instrument cluster.
This light, with the word
SHIFT and the upshift arrow, is used on some
models with manual transmissions. Depending on your particular model,
your vehicle may
not have this light. The SHIFT indicator light will help
you get the best fuel economy. See “Shift Light” or “Shift Speeds-
Vehicles Without Shift Light”
in this section for more information.
Headlight High Beam Indicator Light
light is located near
the middle left edge of
the instrument cluster.
The high beam indicator
is on whenever you use your high beam headlights.
For more details about high beams, see “Headlight High-Low Beam”
earlier
in this section.
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Gages
Fuel Gage
Standard Cluster -Gas Standard Cluster --Diesel
Tachometer Cluster -Gas Tachometer Cluster --Diesel
The fuel gage, when the ignition is on. tclls you about how much fuel you
have left
in your tank. The gage will first indicate empty before you are out
of fuel, and you should get Inore fuel as soon 11s possiblc.
Listed are four situations you may experience
with your fuel gage:
At the gas station. the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
0 It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than thc I’wI gage indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicatcd thc tank was half full. but it
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actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the
tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up.
The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn off the ignition.
None of these indicate a problem with
the fuel gage.
For information on how to
fill your fuel tank, see “Fuel - Filling Your
Tank”
in the Index.
For your fuel tank capacity, see
“Fuel --Tank Capacity” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, about
260” F ( 145” C) or more, your engine is too hot! It
means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating
your vehicle under normal operating conditions, you should pull off the
road, stop
your vehicle, and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Cooianf Can Burn You Badly!
In “Problems on the Road,” this ~nanual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
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Driving Guidelines
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-wheel Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive.
Also, see “Anti-lock Brakes”
in the Index.
If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t drive off-road
unless you’re on
a level, solid surface.
Off-road driving can be great
fun. But it does have some definite hazards.
The greatest of these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American road system
behind. Traffic lanes aren’t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are
no
road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short,
you’ve gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s
why it’s very
important that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more
enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service work done. Be sure you read
all the
information about your four-wheel drive vehicle
in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire
fully inflated? Are the fluid levels up where
they should be? What are the local laws that apply
to off-roading where
you’ll
be driving’? If you don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people
in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land‘? If
so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about how to load your
vehicle.
0 The heaviest things should be on the load floor and forward of your
rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on the off-road terrain
doesn’t toss things around.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations can be
a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or drugs. with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
Here are some tips
on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
a Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
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Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend
to
think you are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh
- such as after a day’s work - don’t plan to make too many
miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained,
it’s ready to go.
If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in Vehicle
dealerships all across
North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if
you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape‘?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean‘?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance driving‘? Are the tires all inflated
to the
recommended pressure‘?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip
a short time to avoid a major storm system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about
an easy stretch of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the
rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it
happen to you! If
it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a
second, and you could crash and be injured.
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I
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run
the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps
the battery (or batteries) charged.
You will need a well-charged battery (or
batteries) to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your
headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a higher speed to get
enough heat. Then, shut the engine off and close
the window almost all the
way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when
you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
Power Winches
If you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only use it when your
vehicle
is stationary or anchored.
When operating a power winch on your vehicle, always leave the\

transmission
in "N" (Neutral). Leaving a automatic transmission
in "P" (Park) while using a power winch may damage the
transmission.
Also, leaving an automatic or manual transmission
in gear while using a power winch may damage the
transmission.
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block the wheels to keep
your vehicle
from rolling.
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