transmission GMC SIERRA 1996 Owner's Manual

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you’ll want to
consider
a number of things:
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
What’s the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Logs? Boulders?
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts?
What’s at the bottom of the hill‘? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom
with large rocks?
If you decide YOU can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low
gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and
they won’t have to do all
the work. Descend slowly,
keeping your vehicle under control at all times,
’ A CAUTION:
-
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This
could cause loss
of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending
a
hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed
under control.
Are there some things
I should not do when
driving down a hill?
At Yes! These are important because if you ignore them
you could lose control and have a serious accident.
0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline
of the hill. A hill that’s not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down.
0 Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal depressed
in a manual shift, This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have to
do all the work and could
overheat and fade.
ProCarManuals.com

Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But
0
e
a
0
if it happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply
the parking brake.
Shift
to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the
manual transmission) and, while still braking, restart
the engine.
Shift back
to a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the
incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide
whether to try
to drive across the incline. Here are some
things
to consider:
0 A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep
to drive across. When you go straight up or
down a
hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from
the front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end.
But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the
left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight
on the downhill wheels.
This could cause
a downhill slide or a rollover.
0 Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a
hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it
(a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires. cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine
do some of the
slowing down. Shift
to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get
so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
0
0
0
0
~h CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do
all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking
or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Know
how to go uphill. You may want to shift down
to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and
you can climb the hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay
in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something
in your lane, like a stalled car
or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area’or winding
roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

0 If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow
in OVERDRIVE
(@). You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts too often
(eg, under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions). 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).
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight
of the trailer,
the weight
of the trailer tongue
and the weight
on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how
you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull
a
trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle. Use
one
of the following charts to determine how much
your vehicle can weigh, based upon your vehicle model
and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming the
driver and
one passenger are in the tow vehicle and it
has all the required trailering equipment. The weight
of
additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
Above
the 2,000 lbs. (908 kg) trailer rating, the engine
oil cooler is required
on C/K- 1500 models with gas
engines and
C/K-2500 models with gas engines and
3.73 (or lower) axle ratio.
Above
the 4,000 lbs. (1 800 kg) trailer rating,
heavy-duty or gas shock absorbers are required
on
C- 1500 models, and heavy-duty shock absorbers
or
the off-road chassis package are required on
K-1500 models.
4-48
ProCarManuals.com

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
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 be~m 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 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission, you should use
THIRD
(3) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in THIRD
(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).
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you turn
your engine off‘ immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar
to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine
run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission
in PARK (P) (or the
manual transmission out
of gear and the parking brake
applied) for a few minutes before turning
the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached,
on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start
to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if
you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet for an automatic transmission, or into
gear for
a manual transmission.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When
the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift
into PARK (P) for an
automatic transmission, or REVERSE
(R) for a
manual transmission.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case
is in a drive gear and not in
NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the regular brakes. It can
be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer
case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free
to roll, even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P). So,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear -- not
in
NEUTRAL (N).
ProCarManuals.com

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
0 Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 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 Wiring Harness
A seven-wire harness is stored under the rear end of
your vehicle. between the frame rails. An electrical
connector
will need to be installed at the trailer end of
the harness, by a qualified electrical technician. For
additional trailer wiring and towing information please
consult your
GM dealer. Securely attach the harness to
the trailer, then tape or strap it to your vehicle’s frame
rail.
Be sure you leave it loose enough so the wiring
won’t bind or break when turning with the trailer, but
not so loose that it drags on the ground. Store the
harness in its original position. Wrap the harness
together and tie
it neatly so it won’t be damaged. If you
tow a trailer, your Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) may not be properly visible from behind.
You should select a trailer with
a CHMSL on it or, if
one is not available, have one installed. See your GM
dealer about how to connect your vehicle’s wiring to
a trailer CHMSL.
4-59
ProCarManuals.com

-
DW * Winche- Power Take-Off (PTO)
IT you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only
use it when your vehicle
is stationary or anchored.
NOTICE:
Using a power winch with the transmission in
gear
may damage the transmission. When
operating
a power winch, always leave the
transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block
the wheels to keep your vehicle from rolling.
NOTICE:
If you have a PTO that will exceed 35 hp installed
on your vehicle, it could damage the transfer
case or transmission. When having a
PTO
installed on your vehicle, make sure that it will
not exceed
35 hp.
Before using
a PTO, refer to the manufacturer’s or
installer’s instructions.
I NOTICE:
Using a PTO while operating in one place before
the vehicle has reached normal operating
temperature can damage the transfer case or
transmission.
If you will be using the PTO while
operating
in one place, drive and warm up the
vehicle before using the PTO.
ProCarManuals.com

To engage a PTO:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (Nj.
3. Hold the clutch pedal down and engage the PTO.
NOTICE:
Using a PTO for more than four hours without
driving your vehicle can damage the transfer case
or transmission. If using a PTO for more than
four hours without driving your vehicle, drive
your vehicle for
a while to allow the transfer case
and transmission
to cool.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transmission
into the gear you want. Then shift the
transfer case
into the range you want (if you have
four-wheel drive), apply the regular brakes and
release the parking brake.
4. Release the clutch (and the regular brakes) as you
normally would. When you release the clutch, the
PTO will start.
Using a Transfer Case Mounted Power
Take-Off
(Manual Transmission)
1. Set the parking brake,
2. Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N).
3. Hold the clutch pedal down. If the vehicle will
remain
in the same place, shift the transmission into
the highest gear.
4. Engage the PTO.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transmission into the gear
you want. Then shift the
transfer case
into the range you want, apply the
regular brakes and release the parking brake.
5. Release the clutch (and the regular brakes) as you
nor~nally would. When you release the clutch, the
PTO will start.
4-61
ProCarManuals.com

Using a Transfer Case Mounted Power
Take-Off (Automatic Transmission)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Set the parking brake.
Shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL
(N).
Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (N).
Engage the PTO.
If you are going to drive the vehicle, shift the
transfer case
into the range yo11 want. Then apply the
regular brakes and release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to
THIRD (3) to start the PTO.
Release the regular brakes to drive the vehicle.
Step-Bumper Pad
If your vehicle has a rear step bumper, it may
be equipped with
a rear step pad at the center of
the bumper.
If you will be using the
bumper to
tow a trailer,
you must remove the
center cutout circle
to
install the trailer ball. You
must also remove both outer
cutouts to attach the trailer
safety chains.
To remove the pad, lift
the edge of
the pad from
the rear
of the bumper
and swing
it forward.
When
the pad releases
from
the bumper holes,
lift the pad off.
4-62
ProCarManuals.com