GMC SIERRA 1997 Owners Manual

nrn Signal and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a
tum, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the
tum is finished, the lever will return automatically.
CII
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 not 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 High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low to high beam or high
to low beam, pull the multifunction lever all the way
towards you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel also
will be on.
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Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield
wipers by turning the knob
with the wiper symbol on it.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the knob to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let
go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
knob
on MIST longer.
You can set the wiper eea ror
a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the knob to choose the delay time. The
closer to
LOW, the shorter the delay. For
steady wiping at low speed,
turn the knob to the
LOW position. For high-speed wiping, turn the knob
further, to
HIGH. To stop the wipers, move the knob
to OFF.
Damaged wiper blades may prevent you from seeing
well enough to drive safely,
To avoid damage, be sure to
clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If they are frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them.
If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy ice or snow can overload your wipers. The
windshield wiper motor
is protected from overload by a
circuit breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to
heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. Although protected from electrical overload,
overload due to heavy snow, etc. may cause wiper
linkage damage. Always clear ice and heavy snow from
the windshield before using your windshield wipers.
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Windshield Washer
Washer fluid will spray as long as you push the paddle.
When you let go of the paddle, the wipers will continue
to wipe for a few seconds and then either stop or return
to the preset speed. The
use of a hood mounted air deflector may adversely
affect windshield wiper and washer performance.
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In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can
really help on
long trips.
Cruise control does
not
work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffk.
slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on
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Setting Cruise Control Resuming a Set Speed
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you9re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep
the cruise control switch
OFF until you want
to use it.
1. Move the cruise switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release
it.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Suppose
you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This,
of course, shuts off
the cruise control.
But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 kdh) or more,
you can move the cruise
switch from
ON to
RIA (Resume/Accelerate)
for about half a secQp4,
You’ll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Remember, if you hold the switch at R/A longer than
half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster
until
you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you
want to
go faster, don’t hold the switch at WA.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release
the switch. (To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to
R/A for less
than half a second. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about
1 mph (I .6 km/h) faster.)
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release
it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go
1 mph (1.6 km/hl slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off
the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load
and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
If the steepness
of the hill causes the vehicle speed to drop more than
15 mph (24 km/h) below the set speed, your cruise control
will automatically disengage. When going downhill, you
may have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down.
Of course, applying the brake takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much
trouble and don’t use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
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Lamps Taillamps,
Your parking lamp and headlamp switch is
on the
driver’s side of your instrument panel.
Rotate the knob clockwise to the parking lamp symbol
to turn on:
Parking Lamps,
Sidemarker Lamps,
Clearance Lamps (If Equipped),
License Plate Lamps,
Instrument Panel Lights and
Transfer Case Shift Indicator Light
(Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles).
Rotate the knob clockwise again to the master lighting
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 signal/multifunction lever.
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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.
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,
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.
the headlamp switch is off and
the parking brake is released.
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Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
If you have fog lamps, use them for better vision in foggy
or misty conditions. Your parking lamps and/or 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.
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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 is 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 (If Equipped)
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 parkingheadlamps
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.
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