key GMC SIERRA 1997 Owner's Manual

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their
safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
20 seconds,
then it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the tone nor the
light will come on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
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. The system check includes the
air bag sensors, the air bag module, the wiring and the
diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag
system,
see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will
flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for
a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
2-67
ProCarManuals.com

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If
one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
briefly when
you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn
you if
there’s
a problem.
I
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light
on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come
on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
2-71
ProCarManuals.com

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI -
LOCK
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes
on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If
the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is
also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See
“Brake System Warning Light” earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Ill This gage shows the engine
1
*\\I‘
00
%,
0
260
coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator
of how hard your vehicle is
working. During a majority of the operation, the gage
will read 210°F
(lOO°C) or less. If you are pulling a
load or going up hills, it is normal for
the temperature to
fluctuate and approach the
260°F (125°C) mark. If the
gage reaches the 260°F ( 125 “C) mark, it indicates that
the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
2-72
ProCarManuals.com

If the Light Is Flashing If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stup the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service. You
may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap
will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on
fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install
the fuel cap properly. It
will take a
few driving trips to turn the light off.
2-74
ProCarManuals.com

Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands
of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs
to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
0 Attentiveness.
Police records show that almost half
of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol.
In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, some
17,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use
of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.
Many adults
-- by some estimates, nearly half the adult
population
-- choose never to drink alcohol, so they
never drive after drinking. For persons under
2 1, it’s
against the law
in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws. The
obvious way
to solve this highway safety problem
is for people never
to drink alcohol and then drive. But
what
if people do? How much is “too much” if the
driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends
on each person and situation,
here is some general information
on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
0 The amount of alcohol consumed
0 The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According to the American Medical Association, a
180-lb.
(82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce
(1 20 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had
1-1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
4-3
~
ProCarManuals.com

Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off-road driving. One of the best ways to control your
vehicle is to control
your speed. Here are some things to
keep in mind.
At higher speeds:
0 you approach things faster and you have less time to
scan the terrain for obstacles.
0 you have less time to react.
0 you have more vehicle bounce when you drive
you’ll need more distance for braking, especially
over
obstacles.
since you’re on an unpaved surface.
When you’re driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can
-1 easily throw you
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and
its many different features. Here are some things
to consider.
Su@ace Conditions. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow
or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration
and braking of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surface
you are on,
you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning,
delayed acceleration, poor traction and longer
braking distances.
Surjiuce Obstucles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous.
A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you
if you’re not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash.
So, whether you’re driving on
or off the road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
0 Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s
0 Is the path ahead clear?
0 Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
L more discussion of these subjects later.)
0 Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly?
ProCarManuals.com

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
But they won't flash if you're braking. Press the button at the top
of the steering column all
the way down to make your
front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in,
and even if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, press the button until the first
click and release.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, your turn
signals won't work.
' 5-2
I
ProCarManuals.com

Front Towing 4. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or
manual transmission in FIRST
(1).
5. Put the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N).
6. When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
7. Maximum speed 55 mph (88 kmh), distance
If your vehicle is a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel
drive with an electric shift transfer case,
use the
following directions: parking brake.
unlimited.
1.
2.
3.
If your vehicle is four-wheel drive with a manual transfer case, use the following directions:
1. Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
2. Engage the parking brake.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
4.
5.
6.
7.
Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
Engage the parking brake.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with
a clamping device designed for
towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering
column lock
for this.)
Put an automatic transmission
in NEUTRAL (N) or
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
Put the transfer case
in 2HIGH (2HI).
When
the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
Maximum speed
35 mph (55 km/h), maximum
distance
50 miles (80 km).
5-10
ProCarManuals.com

2
3
J
D
07
U13
OiQ
03 04
FusdCircuit Breaker Usage
1 Stop/TCC Switch, Buzzer, CHMSL,
Hazard Lamps, Stoplamps
Transfer Case
Courtesy Lamps, Cargo Lamp, Glove
Box Lamp, DomeReading Lamps,
Vanity Mirrors, Power Mirrors
FuseEircuit Breaker
4
10
11
12
13
14
Usage
Instrument Cluster, DRL Relay,
Lamp Switch, Keyless Entry, Low
Coolant Module, Illuminated Entry
Module, DRAC (Diesel Engine)
Not Used
Cruise Control
Auxiliary Power Outlet
Air Bag System
License Lamp, Parking Lamps,
Taillamps,
Roof Marker Lamps,
Tailgate Lamps, Front Sidemarkers,
Fog Lamp Relay, Door Switch
Illumination, Fender Lamps,
Headlamp Switch Illumination
Air Bag System
Wiper Motor, Washer Pump
A/C, A/C Blower, High
Blower Relay
Power Amp, Cigarette Lighter, Door
Lock Relay, Power Lumbar Seat
4WD Indicator, Cluster, Comfort
Controls, Instrument Switches,
Radio Illumination, Chime Module
6-72
ProCarManuals.com

FuseKircuit Breaker
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
A
B
Usage
DRL Relay, Fog Lamp Relay
Front and Rear Turn Signals,
Back-up Lamps, BTSI Solenoid
Radio (Ignition)
LCWALNCM, ABS, Cruise Control
Radio (Battery)
PRNDL, Automatic Transmission, Speedometer, Check Gages
Warning Light
Variable Effort Steering
Not Used
Not Used
Front Axle, 4WD Indicator Lamp,
TP2 Relay (Gasoline Engine)
Power Door Lock, Six-Way Power
Seat, Keyless Entry Module
Power Windows
Underhood Fusemelay Center
The underhood fusehelay center is located in the rear
of the engine compartment near the brake fluid
reservoir. Move the retainer clips for the cover to
access the fuse block.
You can remove fuses with
a fuse extractor. The fuse
extractor
is mounted to the interior fuse block. To
remove fuses
if you don’t have a fuse extractor, hold the
end of the fuse between your thumb and index finger
and
pull straight out.
ProCarManuals.com