GMC SIERRA 1995 Owners Manual

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory
to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels aligned again.
However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or
the other,
the alignment may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be
rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted or corroded. If
wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts
should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
GM dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying capacity, diameter,
width, offset, and be mounted the same way as the one
it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with new
GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
vehicle.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the braking
and handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose air and make
you lose control, You could have a collision in which
you or
others could be injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with bearing life,
brake cooling, speedometer/odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
6-65
ProCarManuals.com

Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is replaced on a dual wheel
setup, check the wheel nut torque after 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles ( 160,
1 600 and 10 000 km) of driving. For proper torque, see “Wheel Nut
Torque” in the Index.
Used Replacement Wheels
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous. You can’t
know
how it’s been used or how many miles it’s been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to replace
a wheel use a new GM original equipment wheel.
7
c
‘ire Chains
NOTICE:
If your vehicle has dual wheels or LT265/75R16 size tires, don’t
use tire chains; they can damage your vehicle.
If you don’t have dual wheels or if you have a tire size other
than
LT26975R16, use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the tires of the rear axle.
Don’t use chains on the tires
of the front axle.
Tighten them
as tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the contact continues, slow down
until it stops. Driving too fast
or spinning the wheels with chains
on
will damage your vehicle.
6-66
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if you strike a match
or get them on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your vehicle, be sure to
follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
’0 Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
- some more than others - and they can all
damage your vehicle,
too.
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can. In many uses, these
will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
6-67
ProCarManuals.com

0
e
0
0
0
0
C/eaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl or
leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your
GM dealer has two CM cleaners, a solvent-type spot lifter and a
foam-type powdered cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very
well. Do
not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can - before they set.
0 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area often. A soft
brush may be used
if stains are stubborn.
0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area only. If you use
them, don‘t saturate the stained area.
0 If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire area immediately or
it will set.
Using Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt.
Always clean
a whole trim panel or section. Mask surrounding trim
along stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the directions on the
container label.
Use suds
only and apply with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t
rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section, use a sponge to remove the
suds.
Rinse the
section with a clean, wet sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with a slightly damp paper towel or cloth.
Then dry
it immediately with a blow dryer or a heat lamp.
NOTICE:
Be careful. A blow dryer may scorch the fabric.
~~ ~
0 Wipe with a clean cloth.
6-68
ProCarManuals.com

Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type cleaner at all. Some spots and
stains will clean
off better with just water and mild soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with a clean, dull knife
or scraper. Use very little cleaner, light pressure and clean cloths
(preferably cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at the outside of the
stain, “feathering” toward the center. Keep changing to
a clean section
of the cloth.
When you clean a stain from fabric, immediately dry the area with a
blow dryer to help prevent a cleaning ring. (See the previous NOTICE.)
Fabric Protection
Your vehicle has upholstery and carpet that has been treated with
Scotchgard TM Fabric Protector, a 3M product. Scotchgard TN protects fabrics
by repelling oil and water, which are the carriers of most stains. Even with
this protection, you still need to clean your upholstery and carpet often to
keep
it looking new.
Further information
on cleaning is available by calling 1-800-433-3296 (in
Minnesota, 1-800-642-6 167).
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe polish, coffee with
cream, chewing gum, cosmetic creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and
asphalt can be removed as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain.
Follow the solvent-type instructions described earlier.
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if left on a vehicle
seat fabric. They should be removed as soon
as possible. Be careful,
because the cleaner will dissolve them and may cause them to spread.
Non-Greasy Stains
Stains caused by catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft
drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can be removed as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the soiled area with cool
water.
If a stain remains. follow the foam-type instructions described earlier.
6-69
ProCarManuals.com

If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treat the area with a
waterhaking soda solution:
I teaspoon (5 ml> of baking soda to 1 cup
(250 ml) of lukewarm water.
If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili sauce and unknown
stains can be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with cool water and allow
to dry.
0 If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You may have to do it
more than once.
0 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you don’t get them
off quickly. Use
a clean cloth and GM vinyMeather cleaner.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use GM vinylheather cleaner.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive cleaners, furniture
polish or shoe polish on leather.
0 Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt is allowed to work
into finish,
it can harm the leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument
panel. Sprays containing silicones
or waxes may cause annoying reflections
in the windshield and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
6-70
ProCarManuals.com

Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
A CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it may severely
weaken them. In a crash they might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean safety belts only with mild soap and\

lukewarm water.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM Part No. 1050427)
or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and
dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners
on glass, because they may cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals on the inside rear window, since they may have to be
scraped off later. If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside
of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged. Any temporary
license should not be attached across the defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and
Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield washer, or if the
wiper blade chatters when running, wax or other material may be on the
blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@ (GM
Part No. 105001 1). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form when
you rinse it with water.
Clean
the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked
on a regular basis and replaced when worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last longer, seal better, and
not stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every
six months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent application may
be required. (See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
6-71
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth of color, gloss
retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep it clean by washing
it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle
in the direct rays of the sun. Don’t use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild
detergent) soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or that
contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly
and
not allowed to dry on the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish
with a soft, clean chamois
or a 100% cotton towel to avoid surface scratches
and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by hand may be
necessary
to remove residue from the paint finish. You can get GM
approved cleaning products from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and
Materials” in the Index.)
Your
GM manufactured vehicle may have a ‘‘base~~at/~learcoat” paint
finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored basecoat.
Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for a
basecoatklearcoat paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a
basecoatlclearcoat paint finish may dull the finish
or leave swirl
marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting
agents, road oil and tar, tree
sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial
chimneys, etc. can damage your vehicle’s
finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use
non-abrasive cleaners that are
marked safe for painted surfaces to remove
foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject
to aging, weather and chemical fallout
that can take their
toll over a period of years. You can help to keep the paint
finish looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered whenever
possible.
6-72
ProCarManuals.com

Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep their luster. Washing
with water is all that is usually needed. However, you may use
GM Chrome
Polish on chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim.
To avoid damaging protective trim,
never use auto or chrome polish, steam or caustic soap to clean aluminum.
A coating of wax, rubbed to high polish, is recommended for all bright
metal parts.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar to the painted
surface of your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps, chemicals, chrome polish,
abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning brushes
on them because you could
damage this coating. After rinsing thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
I NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t use an automatic car wash
that has hard silicon carbide cleaning brushes. These brushes can take the protective coating
off your aluminum wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always take care to wipe off any overspray or
splash from painted surfaces. Petroleum-based products may damage the
paint finish.
Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replacement,
make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to the parts
repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree
sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, and other foreign \
matter can damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces.
Use cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign
matter.
6.- 73
ProCarManuals.com

Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be repaired
right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop into
a major
repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up materials available
from your dealer or other service outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can
be corrected in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on
the underbody. If these are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can
occur
on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from
the underbody with plain
water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect. Dirt packed
in closed areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Your
dealer or
an underbody vehicle washing system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a chemical fallout.
Airborne pollutants can fall upon and attack painted surfaces on your
vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect
in the paint job causes this, GM will repair, at no charge
to
the owner, the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition
within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase, whichever
comes first.
This applies only to materials manufactured and sold by General Motors.
Bodies, body conversions or equipment not made or sold by General Motors
are not covered.
6-74
ProCarManuals.com