instrument panel GMC SIERRA 1996 Owners Manual

The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield
...
or the instrument panel ...
1-11
ProCarManuals.com

Here are the most important things to know about the
air bag system:
A CAUTION:
-
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if
you aren’t wearing your safety belt -- even if you
have an air bag. Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things
inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. The air
bag is only
a “supplemental restraint.” That is, it
works with safety belts but doesn’t replace them.
Air bags are designed to work only in moderate to
severe crashes where the front of your vehicle hits
something. They aren’t designed to inflate
at all in
rollover, rear, side or low-speed frontal crashes.
Everyone in your vehicle, including the driver,
should wear a safety belt properly
-- whether or
not there’s an air bag for that person.
A CAUTION:
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you in position for
an air bag inflation
in a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with
an air bag, and sit as far back as you can
while still maintaining control
of your vehicle.
AIR
BAG
’ There is an air bag
readiness light
on the
instrument panel, which
shows
AIR BAG.
The system checks
the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in
the Index
for more information.
1-22
ProCarManuals.com

Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn .about the many standard and
optional features on your vehicle, and information
on
starting, shifting and braking. Also explained are the
instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if
everything is working properly
-- and what to do if you
have a problem.
Keys
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could- be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls
or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
2-1
ProCarManuals.com

’hrn Signal and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These po.sitions allow you
to signal a turn
or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow
on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until.the arrow starts
to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release
it.
.,
If you move the lever all the way up or down, and the
arrow flashes at twice the normal rate, a signal bulb
may be burned out and other drivers may
.ot see your
turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown
fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
Headlamp HighLow Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or high
to low, pull
the multifunction lever all the way toward
you. Then release it.
When
the high beams
are
on, this light on the
instrument panel also will be
on.
ProCarManuals.com

Lamps
Your parking lamp and
headlamp switch is on the
driver's side of your
instrument panel.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Clearance Lamps
(If So Equipped)
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps Instrument Panel Lights
Transfer Case Shift Indicator Light
(Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles) Rotate the knob clockwise again
to the master lamp
symbol to turn on all the lamps listed as well as
the headlamps.
Rotate the knob counterclockwise to
OFF to turn off
your, lamps.
Rotate the thumb wheel next
to the knob up 'to adjust
instrument panel lights. Rotate the thumb wheel up to
the first notch to return the radio display and gearshift
indicator LED display to full intensity when the
headlamps or parking lamps are on.
You can switch your headlamps from high to low beams
by pulling on the
turn signalhigh-beam lever.
Headlamps On Reminder
A buzzer will sound when your headlamps are turned on
and the key is turned to the
OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY position.
If you need to use your
headlamps when the key is turned to
OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY, the buzzer can be turned off by turning
the thumb wheel next to the parking lampheadlamp
knob all the way down.
2-39
ProCarManuals.com

Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The
DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off, and
the parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t be on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit up either. When
it begins to get dark, your DRL indicator light
is a
reminder to turn your headlamp switch on. The
other lamps that
come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go off, and your headlamps
will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake.
The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when
you need it.
2-40
ProCarManuals.com

Fog Lam1 Underhood Reel Lamp
If you have fog lamps. use them for better vision in foggy
or misty conditions. Your parking lamps andor low-beam
headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.
The
fog lamp switch is on
the lower edge of your
instrument panel.
Press the ribbed top part
of the switch to turn the fog
lamps on. Press the bottom of the switch to turn them
off. A light will glow in the switch when the fog lamps
are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone
will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use
your fog lamps in
the dark without turning on your headlamps.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams
go off, the
fog lamps will come
on again.
If you have an underhood reel lamp, it is located inside
the engine compartment on the rear passenger side
of
the engine compartment. You can use it as a flashlight.
To use the lamp, pull LIP on the lever beside it and pull
the lamp
out. The cord will unreel as you pull the lamp.
When you are done using
the lamp, reel the cord back
into the housing
by turning the handle.
Then,
slide the lamp into the holder. Press PUSH on the
lever to hook the lamp into the holder.
ProCarManuals.com

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
The instrument panel intensity control is located to the
right of the headlamp switch.
Rotate the thumb wheel up to adjust instrument panel
lights. Rotate the thumb wheel up
to the first notch to
return the radio display and gearshift indicator
LED
display to full intensity when the headlamps or parking
lamps are
on. To turn on the dome lamps (with the
vehicle doors closed) rotate the thumb wheel up to the
second notch position.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle may be equipped with an illuminated
entry feature.
When the doors are opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the dome lamp button
is out. When all the doors
are closed, or the dome lamp button
is pressed in, the
lamps
will stay on for a short period of time and will
then
go out.
Front Reading Lamps (Option)
If your vehicle has reading
lamps, press the button next
to the lamp
to turn the lamp
on. The lamps can be
adjusted to point
in the
direction you want.
Press the button again
to turn the lamp off.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by rotating the
thumb wheel, located next
to the parking/headlamps
knob, all the way up to
the second notch. In this
position, the dome lamps will remain
on whether the
doors are opened or closed.
You can use the dome lamp button, located below the
parking/headlamp knob,
to set the
2-42
ProCarManuals.com

Memo Pad Holder
Your vehicle may have a
memo holder attached to the
front of
the console. Use it
to hold pads of paper or
similar items.
Instrument Panel Cupholder
Your vehicle has a cupholder in the middle of the
instrument panel.
To use the cupholder, pull
the handle and slide the
cupholder tray open.
To close the cupholdel-,
slide
it back in the
instrument panel.
Two cup depressions are provided above the glove box
on top of the instrument panel to hold cups or other
containers when the vehicle is not moving.
Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle may have a console compartment between
the bucket seats.
2-49
ProCarManuals.com

Your vehicle includes a number of storage
compartments for storage
of often used items.
Some vehicles have storage areas
in the instrument
panel. Use these spaces for items such
as gloves or
small books.
Some models
have a storage pocket on each of the
front doors.
Some vehicles have a storage area behind the seat.
Armrest Storage Compartment
Your vehicle may have a center armrest storage
compartment
in the front bench seat.
To open it, fold down the armrest, press the latch handle
located at
the front of the armrest. Then, let the lid pop
up and swing open.
The storage compartment
has a cassettekompact disc
holder. The holder
will store up to five compact disc
cases and
up to six cassette tape cases.
The storage compartment
also has a folding writing
table
on top of the armrest lid.
To use the writing table, pull the latch at the rear of the
table and swing the writing table forward. Use it to hold
pads
of paper and a pen.
Underhood Storage Area
There is a storage compartment in the front driver's side
of the engine compartment. Lift the cover to access the
storage area.
2-5 1
ProCarManuals.com