steering wheel GMC SIERRA 1994 Owners Manual

With the tailgate at a slight upward
angle, pull back
on the tailgate at
the right edge and
then move the
tailgate to the
right,
to release
the
left edge.
Reverse the above procedure to re-install. Make sure the tailgate is secure.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your
vehicle has a number of
theft deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can
help.
Key in the Ignition
If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an easy target
for joy riders or professional thieves
- so don’t do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door, you’ll hear a tone
reminding
you to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you.
Always
do this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission, taking your
key out also
locks your transmission. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight. Put them in a storage area, or take them
with you.
2-9
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Switch
Use your square key to start your vehicle. The square key lets you turn the
ignition switch to
five different positions:
I 2
5
Q
3
1. OFF
2. RUN
3. START
4. ACC
5. LOCK
ACC (Accessory): ACC lets you use things like the radio and the
windshield wipers when the engine
is off. To get into ACC, push in the key
and turn
it toward you. Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it
was before you inserted the key.
LOCK: This position locks your ignition, steering wheel and transmission.
It's
a theft deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove your key when
the ignition is turned to
LOCK.
OFF: This position lets you turn off the engine but still turn the steering
wheel. Use
OFF if you must have your vehicle in motion while the engine
is
off (for example, if your vehicle is being pushed).
RUN: This is the position for driving.
START This starts your engine.
2-11
ProCarManuals.com

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in “Lock” and you can’t turn it, be sure
it is all the
way in. If it is, then turn the steering wheel left and
right while you turn the key
hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your vehicle needs
service.
Key Release Lever
The ignition key
cannot be removed
from the ignition of
manual transmission
vehicles unless the
key release lever is
used.
To Remove the Key
On manual transmission vehicles, turn the key to the LOCK position while
pressing the key release lever down (see the caution earlier \
in
this section
about the key release lever). Keeping your finger on the leve\
r, pull the key
straight out.
On automatic transmission vehicles, turn the key to
LOCK and pull it
straight out.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel Engine” in the Index.
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number for your engine. You will
find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number” in the Index.) Follow the proper step\
s to start the
engine.
2-12
-.. ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Into “P” (Park) (Automatic
Transmission Models Only)
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake
pedal down
with
your right foot
and set the
parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into “P” (Park) position like this:
0 Pull the lever toward you.
0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear
- not in “N” (Neutral)
4. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
2-30
ProCarManuals.com

Horn
To sound the horn,
press the pad
in the
center of the steering
wheel. The pad has a
horn symbol on it.
Tilt Wheel (Option)
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you
drive.
You can raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room when you
exit and enter the vehicle.
To adjust the tilt steering wheel:
While holding the
steering wheel,
pull
the lever
toward you.
Move the steering
wheel
to a
comfortable level, then release
the lever
to lock
the wheel
in
place.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com

Air Vents
If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, there are air vents be\
low the
instrument panel.
- Use the handles below
your steering wheel,
with the vent symbols
on them, to open and
close the vents.
If your vehicle has air
conditioning, you will
find air vents in the center and on the sides
of your instrument
panel.
You can move the vents grilles from side to side or up and down to direct
the flow of air,
or close the vents altogether.
When you close a vent, it will increase the flow of air coming out of any
vents that are open.
3-3
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
Section
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in
varying weather conditions . We’ve also included many other useful tips on
driving .
Defensive Driving .......................................... 4-2
DrunkenDriving
........................................... 4-2
Control of
a Vehicle
Braking
................................................ 4-5
Steering
................................................ 4-8
Steering Tips
............................................ 4-8
Passing
............................................... 4-10
Lossofcontrol
......................................... 4-11
Off-Road Driving With Your Four-wheel Drive Vehicle
.......... 4-13
DrivingatNight
........................................... 4-24
Driving
in the Rain ........................................ 4-26
CityDriving
.............................................. 4-28
Freeway Driving
.......................................... 4-29
Hill and Mountain Roads ....................... ......... 4-31
WinterDriving
............................................ 4-33
Power Winches
........................................... 4-36
PowerTake-Off
........................................... 4-37
TowingaTrailer
........................................... 4-38
4-1
ProCarManuals.com

I- .,
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on rear wheel speed
and controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need to get your foot up
to 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.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard
braking.
You have the rear-wheel anti-lock braking system.
Your front wheels can
stop rolling
when you brake very hard. Once they do, the vehicle can't
respond
to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it
was headed when the front wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the
road, into the very thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.
4-7
ProCarManuals.com

So, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you maximum
braking while maintaining steering control. You do this by pushing on the
brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure. When you do,
it will help
maintain steering control. In many emergencies, steering can help
you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is
not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering lips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen
on curves. Here’s
why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of
physics when driving on curves. The traction
of the tires against the road
surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels.
If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in
the same direction. If you‘ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll
understand this.
The traction you can get
in a curve depends on the condition of your tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve
is banked, and your
speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through
a sharp curve. Then you suddenly apply
the brakes. Both control systems
- steering and braking - have to do their
work where the tires meet the road. Adding the hard braking can demand
too much at those places.
You can lose control.
The same thing can happen
if you’re steering through a sharp curve and you
suddenly accelerate. Those
two control systems - steering and acceleration
- can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you
lose control.
What should you do
if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want
it to go, and slow
down.
Speed
limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of
course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to
go slower.
4-8
ProCarManuals.com

If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you
enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try
to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate
until you are out of the curve.
and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For
example,
you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car
suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from 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; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your Vehicle can perform very well
in emergen.cies 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 you
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 quicltly, and just
as quickly
straighten
the wheel once you have avoided the object.
p-:. : . .. , ... 1
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason
to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
4-9
ProCarManuals.com