automatic transmission GMC SIERRA 1996 Owners Manual

To replace the batteries: rheft
1. Insert a dime in the side seam of the transmitter
housing, near
the key ring hole.
2. Twist the dime to separate the two halves of the
transmitter housing. Separate the housing, bottom
half first.
3. Remove and replace the batteries. Put the new
batteries
in with the printed side down.
4. Align the housing and snap the halves together. Vehicle theft is big business, especially
in some cities.
Although your vehicle has
a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing
we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do
it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a tone reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take
it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel
will be locked, and so will your
ignition.
If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks
your transmission. And
remember to lock
the doors.
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NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure it is
all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while
you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Key Release Button
The ignition key cannot be
removed from the ignition
of manual transmission
vehicles unless the key
release button
is used.
To remove the key on manual transmission vehicles,
turn the key to the
OFF position, then press the button
and
turn the key to the LOCK position. Do not hold the
button
in while turning the key to OFF. Keeping your
finger on the button,
pull the key straight out.
On automatic transmission vehicles, turn the key to
LOCK and
pull it straight out.
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Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel
Engine”
in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
Automatic transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold the
clutch pedal
to the floor and start the engine. Your
vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START. If it doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal
all the way down for five more
seconds, or
until it starts.
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..
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
3. After you've used the coolant heater, be sure to
store
the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don't. it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in'? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your GM dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dea1e.r can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your- shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission,
it now features an electronic shift position
indicator
within the instrument cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is capable
of
being moved out of the PARK (P) position. This means
that
if your key is in the OFF position, rather than the
LOCK position, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you have to leave your key in the
ignition
in the OFF position for an extended period, it is
recommended that you disconnect the battery cable from
the battery
to prevent discharging your battery.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you’re:
0 Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
0 Going about 35 mph (56 kdhj or more, push the
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(GO) can be used when
towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load or driving on
steep hills. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts
too often.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however
it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (68).
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use
SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to
the rear wheels when
you are
trying to start your vehicle
from a stop on slippery
road surfaces.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is put
in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into first
gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were
up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into
PARK
(P) to hold your vehicle in position
on a hill.
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To shift into or out of 4-WHEEL LOW (4L) or
NEUTRAL
(N):
1. Slow the vehicle to a roll, about 1 to 3 mph
(2 to 5 km/h) and shift an automatic transmission
into NEUTRAL (N), or with a manual transmission
press the clutch pedal.
2. Shift the transfer case shift lever in one
continuous motion.
Don’t pause in NEUTRAL
(N) as you shift the
transfer case into 4-WHEEL LOW (4L), or your gears
could clash.
Remember that driving in 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
or 4-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel economy.
Also, driving in four-wheel drive
on dry pavement could
cause your tires to wear faster and make your transfer
case harder to shift.
When
your headlamps or parking lamps are on,
rotate the thumb wheel next to the headlamp switch
up to brighten, or down
to dim, your transfer case
indicator light.
Electronic Transfer Case (Option)
If your four-wheel-drive vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the transfer case switches are below and to
the left
of the climate control system.
Use these switches to shift into and
out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose among three driving settings:
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in
two-wheel drive.
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4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle.
Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such
as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
4LO: This setting also engages your front axle to give
you extra traction. You may never need 4LO. It sends
the maximum power
to all four wheels. You might
choose 4LO
if you were driving off-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing
or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights
in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly
when you turn
on the ignition and one will stay on.
If the lights do not come
on, you should take your
vehicle
in for service. An indicator light will flash
while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the
shift is completed.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and
the front axle will unlock automatically.
Shifting from 2H1 or 4HI to 4LO
To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4L0, the vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (4.8 kmh) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL
(N). The preferred
method for shifting
into 4LO is to have your vehicle
moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release
the 4LO switch. You must wait for the 4LO indicator
light to stop flashing and remain illuminated before
shifting
your transmission into gear.
If the 4LO switch
is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light
will flash
for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle
is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is
in NEUTRAL (N).
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
I A ‘CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK
(P) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel
drive with
a manual transfer case shift lever 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). And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling
it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of
the vehicle may put too much force on the parking
pawl
in the transmission. You may find it difficult to
pull the shift lever out
of PARK (P). This is called
“torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you
leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting
Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
When
you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transmission,
so you can puIl the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
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Engine Exhaust
I
A CAUTION:
-
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
modified improperly.
blow
out any
CO; and
I
Zunning Your Engine While You’re
larked (Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the air system control off
could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard”
in the Index.)
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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.
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