warning GMC SIERRA 1995 User Guide

Glow Plugs Light
GLO
PLUGS
If you have a diesel engine, it has a special starting system. An orange
instrument panel Glow Plugs light shows that the system is functioning
properly and tells you when the engine is ready to be started. For more
details, see “Starting
Your Diesel Engine’’ in the Index.
Low Coolant Warning Light
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Charging System Warning Light
The red Charging System Warning light 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
charging system. It could indicate a problem with the alternator drive belt,
or
some other charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance
with this light on, it helps to turn off all
your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator (Service Engine Soon) Lamp
I
A computer monitors the operation of your fuel, ignition and emission
control systems. This orange light should come on when
the ignition is on
but the engine is not running. as a check
to show you it’s 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.
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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.
Check Gages Light
This orange light will come on briefly when you are starting the engine. If
the light comes on and stays on while you are driving, it could indicate a
problem with your vehicle.
It could be a problem with your oil pressure.
coolant temperature, or some other problem. Check your various gages
to
see if they are in the warning zones. If they are, have your vehicle serviced
right away.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Indicator Light
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Voltmeter
When your engine is not running. but the ignition is in the RUN position.
this
gage shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the condition
of the charging
system. Readings between the low and high wat-ning
zones indicate the
normal operating range.
Readings
in the low warning zone may occur when a large number of
electrical accessories are operating in the vehicle and the engine is left at an
idle for an extended period. This condilion is normal since the charging
system is
not able to provide full power at engine idlc. As engine speeds are
increased, this condition should correct itself
;IS higher engine speeds allow
the charging system
to create nwximum power.
You can only drive For a short time with the reading in either warning zone.
If you must drive, turn off all unnecessary accessories.
Readings
in either warning zone indicate a possible problcm in the electrical
system. Have the vehicle serviced
as soon as possible.
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Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
0 Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
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 when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have 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 steer and 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 possible.
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 easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way you want the vehicle
to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for
a
second skid if it occurs.
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
limited.
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 slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle
is skidding.
Learn
to recognize warning clues - such as enough water, ice or packed
snow
on the road to make a “mirrored surface” - and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking
skid.
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0 0 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat
a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways. expressways,
turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their
own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and
keep to the right. Drive at
the same speed most of the other drivers are
driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks
a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance there is usually
a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have
a clear view of the freeway
as you drive along the entrance ramp, you
should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where
you expect to blend
with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your
shoulder as often
as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the
prevailing rate
if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors.
Then use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make
sure there
isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow
a reasonable
following distance. Expect
to move slightly slower at night.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant mix is correct.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel,
a flashlight,
a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old
carpet or a couple
of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have
good traction.
However, if there is snow
or ice between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction
or “grip” and
will need to be very careful.
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When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you turn your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, your vehicle
may show signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission
in PARK (Pj (or the manual transmission
out
of gear and the parking brake applied) for a few minutes before turning
the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into PARK (P) yet, or in gear
for a manual transmission.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
Re-apply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and then
shift
to PARK (P), or REVERSE (Rj for a manual transmission.
If you have
a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear-not in NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the regular brakes.
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is
not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can rofl.
If you have Ieft the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, even when you’re on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your
shift lever is in
PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear
- not in NEUTRAL (N).
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Problems on the Road
Section
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know
you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
But they won’t flash if you’re braking.
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Push the button at the
top of the steering
column all the way
down to make
your
front and rear turn
signals flash on and
off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what position your key is in,
and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, push the button until the first click and release.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can use them to warn others. Set one up
at the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may want to use another
vehicle and some jumper cables
to start your vehicle. But please follow the
steps below to do it safely.
A CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all of these things
can hurt you.
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