steering wheel GMC SIERRA 1996 Owner's Manual

Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help
you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing
a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before
you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowlv and.
if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer 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.
4-56
-
ProCarManuals.com

/A CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
0
0
e
0
0
0
0
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
being towed.
Never tow faster than safe
or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always use separate safety chains on each
side when towing a vehicle.
For pickups (except cab chassis models),
use T-hooks on front of vehicle, J-hooks
on rear.
For cab chassis models, use J-hooks on
front and rear of vehicle.
I A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle.
When your vehicle
is being towed, have the ignition
key in the OFF position. The steering wheel should be
clamped in a straight-ahead position,
with a clamping
device designed
for towing service. Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transmission
and transfer case,
if you have one, should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the drive wheels
unless
you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later
in this section or your transmission will
be damaged.
If these limitations must be exceeded, then
the drive wheels have to be supported on
a dolly.
5-8
ProCarManuals.com

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.
5-20
ProCarManuals.com

Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First. turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE
(R) and a forward gear (or
with a manual transmission, between FIRST (1) or
SECOND (2) and REVERSE(R)), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while
you
shift. and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is
in gear. If that doesn't get you
out after a few tries. you nlay need to be towed out. Or,
you
can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle has
them.
If you do need.to be towed out, see "Towing Your
Vehicle" in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
ProCarManuals.com

Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission ............. 2- 13
Gear Positions. Manual Transmission .......... 2- 17. 2- 18
GloveBox .................................... 2-46
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-42
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
...................... 4-42
Guide en FranCais
11 .. .................................
GVWR ....................................... 4-42
Halogen Bulbs
................................ 6-37
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5- 1
Headlamps .................................... 2-39
Bulb Replacement
....................... 6.38. 6.39
High/Low Beam Changer
...................... 2-34
OnReminder
................................ 2-39
Wiring
..................................... 6-68
Head Restraints
................................. 1-5
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-3
Heating
........................................ 3-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-34
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-36
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-54
Hood
Checking Things Under ......................... 6-6
Release
...................................... 6-7
Horn
......................................... 2-32
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
........................... 6-23
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-32 Ignition
Positions
............................... 2-9
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-42
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-49
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-43
Inspections
.................................... 7-46
Brakesystem
................................ 7-47
Drive Axle
.................................. 7-47
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-46
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-46
Steering
.................................... 7-46
Suspension
.................................. 7-46
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-46
Transfer Case (Four-wheel Drive)
............... 7-47
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-54
Cleaning
.................................... 6-61
Cluster
..................................... 2-56
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-69
Intensity Control
............................. 2-42
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-42
.................................... J ack. Tire 5-22
Jump Starting
................................... 5-2
Key
Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-43
Key Release Button ............................. 2- IO
Keyless Entry System ............................ 2-5
Keys .......................................... 2-1
9'
ProCarManuals.com

Seatback. Latches ................................ 1-5
Seatbacks. Reclining
............................. 1-3
Seats EasyEntry
................................... 1-6
ManualFront ................................. 1-1
Power Driver’s
................................ 1-2
Power Lumbar Control
.......................... 1-2
Rear
.................................... 1-7. 1-8
Seatcontrols
................................. 1-1
Securing a Child Restraint
. ..... 1-39. 1-41 1-44. 1-46
Service
......................................... 6-1
Bulletips, Ordering .............................. 8-9
EngineSoonLight
............................ 2-63
Manuals, Ordering
............................. 8-9
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-67
Publications, Ordering
.......................... 8-9
Work, Doing Your Own
......................... 6- 1
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6-1
Service and Owner Publications
.................... 8-9
Service Publications
.............................. 8-9
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........... 1-26
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-64
Shift Lever
.......................... 2-13,2-17, 2-18
Shift Light
............................... 2-20, 2-66
Shift Speeds
.................................... 2-19
Shifting Into Park
(P) ............................ 2-26
Shifting, Manual Transmission
............... 2- 17, 2- 18
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1-15
Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
............... 6-43
Signaling Turns
................................ 2-34
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 . 1 .
SIR .......................................... 1-21 Skidding
....................................... 4-12
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-23
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-74
Specifications. Engine
........................... 6-74
Speedometer
................................... 2-57
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-60
Starter Switch Check
............................ 7-44
Starting Your Engine
............................ 2-11
Steam
........................................ 5-10
Steering
....................................... 4-8
Column Lock Check
.......................... 7-45
In Emergencies
................................. 4-9
Power
....................................... 4-8
Tips
......................................... 4-8
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-33
Step-Bumper Pad
............................... 4-62
StorageAreas
.................................. 2-46
Storage. Overhead
.............................. 2-48
Storage. Underhood
............................. 2-51
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-37
Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
.................. 5-32
Sunglasses Storage
.............................. 2-48
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-53
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-21
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
Tachometer .................................. 2-57
Tailgate Marker Lamp Bulb Replacement
. .. .......... 6-45
Tailgate Removal
................................ 2-2
Taillamp Bulb Replacement
.................. 6-45. 6-46
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance ............... 8-3
9-9
ProCarManuals.com

Tape Player Care ............................... 3-24
Temperature Control. Climate Control System
..... 3- I. 3-3
Theft
.......................................... 2-7
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.......................... 3-2 1
Thermostat .................................... 6-30
Third Door ..................................... 2-3
Tilt Steering Wheel
............................. 2-33
Time. Setting the
................................ 3-7
Tirechains
.................................... 6-57
Tire Loading
................................... 4-42
Tires
......................................... 6-48
Alignment and Balance
........................ 6-55
Buying New ................................. 6-53
Chains
..................................... 6-57
Changing
a Flat .............................. 5-2 1
Cleaning .................................... 6-64
Inflation
.................................... 6-49
Inflation Check
............................... 7-42
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-50
Loading .................................... 4-42
Pressure
.................................... 6-49
Temperature
................................. 6-55
Traction .................................... 6-54
Treadwear ................................... 6-54
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-54
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-52
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-55
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-52
TopStrap
..................................... 1-39
TorqueLock
................................... 2-28
THEFTLOCK
TM ................................ 3-2 1
Torque. Wheel Nut ......................... 5.28. 6.75
Towing
a Trailer ................................ 4-46
Trailer
Towing
Your Vehicle
............................. 5-7
Brakes
..................................... 4-55
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-57
Drivingwith
................................. 4-55
Hitches ..................................... 4-54
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-59
Parking on
Hills .............................. 4-58
Safety Chains
................................ 4-55
Tongueweight ............................... 4-53
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-54
Towing
..................................... 4-46
TurnSlgnals ................................. 4-57
Weight
..................................... 4-48
Wiring Harness
............................... 4-59
Transfer Case, Electronic ......................... 2-23
Transfer Case Lubricant
.......................... 6-25
Transfer Case, Manual
........................... 2-21
Transmission Fluid
Automatic
................................... 6-19
Manual
..................................... 6-22
Transmitters. Keyless Entry
........................ 2-5
Transportation, Courtesy
.......................... 8-6
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-57
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-3
Turn Signal
and Lane Change Signals ............... 2-34
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
................... 2-33
Turn Signals When Towing
a Trailer ................ 4-57
9-10
ProCarManuals.com