stop start GMC SIERRA 1995 Owner's Manual

less traction. It‘s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to
fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your
reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder
it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper
blades are
in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs
and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even
people walking.
It‘s wise to keep
your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your
windshield washer tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when
they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when
strips
of rubber start to separate from the inserts.
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through
some
car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try
to avoid puddles. But
if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.
A CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work well in a
quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose
control
of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash,
apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen
if the road is wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it
has little or no contact with the road.
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When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in
advance. If
you miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on
to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The
exit speed is usually posted.
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 GM dealers 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:
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Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
FueZ, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
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?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should
you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?
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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Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the traile\
r to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra wiring (included in
the optional trailering package). The green arrows
on your instrument panel
will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If
you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph
(70 kmh) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission
you should use DRIVE (3) (or, as
you need to, a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in
DRIVE (3) when towing a trailer will minimize heat build-up and extend
the life
of your transmission.
If you have a manual transmission and
you are towing a trailer, it’s better
not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need
to, a lower gear).
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When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking 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 Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re pulling a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule
for more on this. Things that are especially
important
in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system, and brake
adjustment. 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.
Trailer Lighting Systems Wiring
See “Trailer Wiring Harness” in the Index.
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Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster
to provide more air to cool the engine. In most every day
driving conditions the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully
engaged. This improves fuel economy and reduces fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside temperatures, the fan
speed increases as the clutch more fully engages.
So you may hear an
increase
in fan noise. This is normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making extra shifts.
It is merely the cooling system
functioning properly. The fan will slow down when additional cooling is not
required and the clutch partially disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the engine. It will go away
as the
fan clutch partially disengages.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot
off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly, Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your
foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and
noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if
possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
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Fuel Requirements
NOTICE:
Diesel fuel or fuel additives not recommended in this manual
could damage your fuel system and engine. Your warranty
wouldn’t cover this damage. And:
Diesel fuel that has been mixed with engine oil could damage
your engine and emission controls. Always check with your
service station operator to make sure his diesel fuel has not \
been mixed with engine oil.
If you ever run out of diesel fuel, it can be difficult to restart
your engine. “Running Out of Fuel,” later in this section, tells
you how to get it started again.
To avoid all this, try never to
let your tank get empty.
What Fuel to Use
For best results, use Number 2-D diesel fuel year-round (above and below
freezing conditionsj as oil companies blend Number
2-D fuel to address
climate differences. Number
1-D diesel fuel may be used in very cold
temperatures (when
it stays below 0°F or -18°C); however, it will produce
a power and fuel economy loss. The use of Number I-D diesel fuel in warm
or hot climates may result in stalling, poor starting when the engine is hot
and
may damage the fuel injection system.
Diesel fuel may foam when you
fill your tank. This can cause the automatic
pump nozzle to shut off, even though your tank isn’t
full. If this happens,
just wait for the foaming to stop and then continue to
fill your tank.
A CAUTION:
Heat coming from the engine may cause the fuel to expand and \
force the fuel out of your tank.
If something ignites the fuel, a
fire could start and people could be burned. To help avoid this,
fill your fuel tank only until the automatic nozzle shuts
off.
Don’t try to “top it off.”
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Hesitation or “flat” performance at high speed or during \
hard acceleration
may be an indication of premature fuel filter plugging due to dirty or
contaminated fuel. The fidter element may need to be changed
if this
happens. See your dealer for assistance.
To drain water:
1. Stop and park the vehicle in a safe place. Turn off the engine and apply
2. Remove the fuel tank cap.
the parking brake.
3. Place a
fuel-resistant container under the filter drain hose.
5.
6.
7.
8.
4. With the engine
off, open the
water drain valve
2 to 3 turns.
When standing in
front of the
vehicle, the valve
is located on the
right side of the
thermostat
housing.
Start the engine and allow it to idle until clear fuel is ob\
served.
Stop the engine and close the water drain valve.
Remove the fuel-resistant container and properly dispose of the
contaminated fuel.
To find out how to properly dispose of contaminated
diesel fuel see “What to Do with Used Oil” in the “E\
ngine Oil (Diesel
Engines)” part, later in this section.
Install the fuel tank cap.
If the WATER IN FUEL light comes on again after driving a short distance
or the engine runs rough or stalls-a large amount of water has probably
been pumped into the
fuel tank. The fuel tank should be purged.
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H
Halogen Bulbs (See "Bulb Replacement")
Hazard Warning Flashers
........................................... 5-1
Head Restraints (See "Seats")
Headlamps and Vehicle Lighting
.................................... 2-48
Replacement (See "Bulb Replacement")
High Beam Indicator Light (See "Lights")
High-Low Beam Changer
...................................... 240
Reminder .................................................... 2-49
Heater Controls .................................................. 3-1
Refrigerant Capacity ........................................... 6-85
Heater/Air Conditioning Controls ............................... 3-2 . 6-46
Highway Hypnosis (See "Driving-Highway Hypnosis")
Hitches (See "Towing-Hitches")
Hood
Checking Under: Hood Release .................................. 6-13
Horn .......................................................... 2-38
Hydraulic Clutch ................................................ 6-31
When to Check and What to Use ................................. 6-32
Howtocheck ................................................ 6-32
Hydroplaning (See "Driving in the Rain")
I
If You're Stuck in Sand . Mud. Ice . or Snow ........................... 5-39
Ignition Switch .................................................. 2-10
Intlation-Tire Prussure (See "Tires")
Instrument Cluster
............................................... 2-68
InstrumentPanel ................................................ 2-68
J
Jacking Equipment Storage ................................... 5-27 . 5-28
Jump Starting .................................................... 5-2
K
Key Lock Cylinders ......................................... 6-46.7-94
Key Release Button .............................................. 2-11
Keyless Entry System ............................................. 2-7
Keys
........................................................... 2-1
L
Labe 1 s
Lamps
Certification/Tire (See "CertificaticdTire Label")
CargdCenter High Mounted Stop Lamp
...................... 2.52, 2.83
Daytime Running Lamps ....................................... 2-50
Dome
....................................................... 2-51
Fog ........................................................ 2-49
Headlights
(See "Headlamps")
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