engine GMC SIERRA 1995 Owner's Guide

Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per
square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate
pressure
in kPa (kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary with engine speed,
outside temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure
zone indicate the norn~al opcrating ranse.
A reading in the low pressure zone may bc caused by a dangemusly low oil
level or other problem causing low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as
possible.
A CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your
engine can become
so hot that it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil
as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be
costly and is not covered by your warranty.
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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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fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest and can be used to
keep “unwanted odors” and/or dust from entering the vehicle. When using
the air conditioner, turn off recirculation after the vehicle reaches
a
comfortable interior temperature.
When
the right knob on the control panel is between HEAT and DEFROST,
the recirculation feature will not function.
A/C - This button, between the middle and right knobs. allows the air
coming into your vehicle
to be cooled and directed through the instrument
panel vents. This setting is useful for normal cooling
on hot days. When you
first use
A/C with the recirculation button pushed in, turn off recirculation
as soon as the vehicle reaches a comfortable interior temperature.
Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, it is equipped with an engine coolant
heater.
An engine coolant heater is optional on gas engine vehicles. If you
use the engine coolant heater before starting your engine
(in cold weather
(20” F, (-8” C), or lower) your heating system will produce warmer air
faster, to heat the passenger compartment
in cold weather.
The use
of an engine coolant heater also reduces the time it takes for the
engine to reach normal operating temperature. and shortens the time it takes
the heater
to reach full output. For more information, See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Diesel Engine Heater Output
If you idle your diesel engine for a long time when it’s cold outside, your
heater may blow out cool air. This is normal. When you increase the engine
speed, your heater should blow out warmer air.
If it doesn’t, your coolant
level may be too low. See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index to see how to
check your coolant level.
Rear Window Defogger (Option)
You can tell if your vehicle has this option by looking at the rear window. If
you see lines running across the glass, you have it. These are the wire-like
elements which heat your window.
I NOTICE:
Scraping the inside of your rear window could cut and damage
the defogger.
Your warranty would not cover this damage. And,
don’t put decals there, you might have to scrape them off.
For best results, clear the window of as much snow or ice as possible first.
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When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the blower fan to HI for
a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of
snow and moisture. and reduces the chance of fogging the inside. of
your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to
circulate throughout your vehicle.
Your vehicle has air
vents
in the center a1
on the sides of your
instrument panel. nd
You can move the vents 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 corning out of any vents that are open.
Audio Systems
Your Delco'E audio system has been designed to operate easily and give
years of listening pleasure.
But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if
you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your De1co"system can do
and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the most
out of
the advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock (Audio Systems without AUTO
TONE System)
To set the clock:
1. Press the SET button.
2. Within 5 seconds, press and hold SEEK until the correct minute
appears
on the display.
3. Press and hold 4 SEEK until the correct hour appears on the display
To display the clock with the ignition off, press the upper knob. The time
will
be displayed for a few seconds.
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Be aware that hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until
it is
too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that
seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your
hearing adapts
to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
1. Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
2. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle - like a
tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio - be
sure you can add what you want.
If you can, it’s very important
to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with th\
e operation
of your vehicle’s engine, Delcoa radio or other
systems, and even damage them. And, your vehicle’s systems
may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has
been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and
be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Player and Tapes
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly is subject to reduced sound
quality, ruining the cassette, or damaging the mechanism. Tape cassettes that
are not properly stored
in their plastic cases away from contaminants, direct
sunlight, and extreme heat may not operate properly and could cause
premature failure of the tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned with every
50 hours of use to provide
optimum performance. Your radio may display “Cln” (Clean)
to indicate
that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without re-setting the tape
clean timer. If
you notice a reduction in sound quality, regardless of when
the tape player was last cleaned, try playing a different cassette to see if the
tape or tape player is at fault. If the second cassette results in
no
improvement in sound quality, try cleaning the tape player.
Proper tape player cleaning should be done with a scrubbing action,
non-abrasive cleaning cassette. This
is a wet-type cleaning system that uses
a cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the
cleaner cassette turn.
To properly clean your tape player, follow instructions
with
the cleaning cassette. If you use this type of cleaner, the radio may
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Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of
those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you
can lose control of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception tinze and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time.
Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reuction tinze is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It
might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more
with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play
a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (1 00 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be
a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space
between your vehicle and others is important.
And,
of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the
road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry,
icy); tire tread; and the condition
of your brakes.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts - heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking
- rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do
a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with
the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate
a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better
braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t
pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If
your engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will
use
it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer
to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.
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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
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti-lock
work for you. You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some
noise, but this is normal. On vehicles
with four-wheel drive, your anti-lock
brakes work at all times
- whether you are in two-wheel drive or
four-wheel drive.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you
can steer and brake at the same time. 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 Tips
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.
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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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A CAUTION:
0
0
0
Cargo on the load floor piled higher than the seatbacks can be
thrown forward during a sudden stop.
You or your passengers
could be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be tossed about when
driving over rough terrain.
You or your passengers can be
struck by flying objects. Secure the cargo properly.
Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s center of gravity,
making it more likely to roll over. You can be seriously or
fatally injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside
the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area
as far forward and low as possible.
You’ll find other important information in this manual. See “Vehicle
Loading,” “Luggage Carrier” and “Tires”
in the Index.
Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area.
Know the terrain and plan your route. You are much less likely to get bad
surprises. Get accurate maps
of trails and terrain. Try to learn of any
blocked or closed roads.
It’s also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle. If something
happens to one of them, the other can help quickly.
Does your vehicle have a winch‘?
If so, be sure to read the winch
instructions. In
a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck. But
you’ll want to know how to use it properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It’s a good idea to practice in an area that’s safe and close to home before
you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and
different driving
skills. Here’s what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds
of signals. Your eyes, for example, need
to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet, and
body you’ll need
to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
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A CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can cause an
accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be seriously injured
or killed. As you
near the top
of a hill, slow down and stay alert.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and I
A: If this happens, there are some things you should do, and there are
some things you must not do. First, here’s what you
shoclld do:
can’t make it up the hill?
0 Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling
backwards. Also, apply the parking brake.
If your engine is still running, shift the transmission into reverse,
release the parking brake, and slowly back down the
hill in reverse.
If your engine has stopped running, you’ll need to restart it. With the
brake pedal depressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the
transmission to PARK (P) (or, shift to NEUTRAL
(N) if your vehicle
has a manual transmission) and restart the engine. Then, shift
to
reverse, release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as
straight
as possible in reverse.
0 As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand on the steering
wheel at the
12 o’clock position. This way, you’ll be able to tell if your
wheels are straight and maneuver
as you back down. It’s best that you
back down the hill with your wheels straight rather than in the left or
right direction. Turning the
wheel too far to the left or right will
increase the possibility
of a rollover.
Here are some things you
must mt do if you stall, or are about to stall,
when going
up a hill.
0 Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into NEUTRAL (N) (or
depressing the clutch,
if you have a manual transmission) to ”rev-up”
the engine and regain forward momentum. This won’t work. Your
vehicle will roll backwards very quickly and
you could go out of
control.
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