GMC SIERRA 1996 Owners Manual

You can be burned if’ you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t
spill coolant on a hat engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or
above
the COLD mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues. there’s one more
thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix
directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before you do it.
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A CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can
blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap
-- even a little -- they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if' you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
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How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
I. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when
the cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap and upper radiator hose,
is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise
until it
first stops. (Don't press down while turning the
pressure cap.
j
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is
still some pressure left.
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3. Fill the radiator with the
proper mix, up to the
base of the filler neck. I
4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the
COLD mark.
5. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but
leave the radiator
pressure cap off.
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6. Start the engine and let it
run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose
getting
hot. Watch out
for the engine fan(s).
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
I
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the
filler neck. reinstall the pressure
cap. Be sure the
arrows
on the pressure cap line up like this.
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Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the
clutch
is engaged, the fan spins fdster 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 andor
high outside temperatures, the
fm 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
fm 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. Fake your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain
lane position, and 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
ITMY 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 tlat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change
a flat tire safely.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning
flashers.
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip
off the jack and roll over you or other
people.
You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
PARK (P) or shift a manual transmission to
FIRST (1) or REVERSE: (K).
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle,
be sure the transfer case is
in a drive
gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn off the engine.
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following
steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
2 and 4-DOOr Models
Extended Cab Models
The equipment you’ll need is behind the passenger’s seat.
Turn the wing
nut counterclockwise and remove the jack
cover, if there is one. Remove the jacking equipment.
If you have a chassis cab, refer to the information from the
body supplierhstaller for the location of your spare tire.
If you have
an underbody-mounted spare, never remove
or restow a tire from an underbody carrier while the
vehicle
is supported only by a jack.
You’ll use the jack handle and the ratchet to remove the
underbody-mounted spare tire.
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Follow these instructions to lower the spare tire:
1.
2.
3.
A. Hoist Assembly
B. Ratchet
C. Jack Handle
D. Hoist Shaft
E. Valve Stem,
Pointed Down
E Spare Tire
Ci. Retainer
H. Hoist Cable
4.
One side of the ratchet has an IJP marking. The
other side has a
DOWN marking. Assenlble the
ratchet
to the hook near the end of the jack handle
(as illustrated) with the DOWN marking facing you.
Insert the other end through the hole in the rear
bumper and into the hoist shaft.
Turn the ratchet to lower the spare tire
to the ground.
Continue to
turn the ratchet until the spare tire can be
plrlled out from under the vehicle.
When the tire has been lowered.
tilt the retainer at
the end
of the cable so it can be pulled up through
the wheel opening.
Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
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The tools you'll be using include the jack (A), the jack
handle extension
(B), the jack handle (C), the wheel
wrench
(D) and the ratchet (E).
If the flat tire is on the rear of the vehicle, you'll need
the jack handle extension
also.
Attach the jack handle (and
jack handle extension, if
needed) to the jack.
With the
IJP marking on
the ratchet facing you.
rotate the ratchet clockwise.
That will
lift the jack head
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