steering wheel GMC SIERRA 1997 Owner's Manual

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow or sand, your wheels
won’t get good traction.
You can’t accelerate as quickly,
turning is more difficult, and you’ll need longer
braking distances.
It’s best
to use a low gear when you’re in mud -- the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear.
In really deep mud,
the idea is to keep your vehicle moving
so you don’t
get stuck.
When you drive
on sand, you’ll sense a change in wheel
traction. But it will depend upon how loosely packed the
sand is.
On loosely packed sand (as on beaches or sand
dunes) your tires will tend
to sink into the sand. This has
an effect on steering, accelerating and braking. You may
want to reduce the air pressure in your tires slightly
when driving on sand. This will improve traction.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.
On these surfaces, it’s very easy to lose control. On wet
ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will
have difficulty accelerating. And
if you do get moving,
poor steering and difficult braking can cause you to slide
out of control.
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or rivers can be
~ dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could fall through the ice and you and
your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle
on safe surfaces only.
Driving in Water
Light rain causes no special off-road driving problems.
But heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood
waters demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep
the water is before you drive through
it.
If it’s deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles or
exhaust pipe, don’t try it
-- you probably won’t get
through. Also, water that deep can damage your axle
and other vehicle parts.
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If the water isn’t too deep, then drive through it slowly.
At fast speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur
if you
get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your
tailpipe is under water, you’ll never be able
to start your
engine. When you go through water, remember that when
your brakes get wet, it may
take you longer to stop.
ki CAU IN:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown.
If it’s
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and
you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle
over. Don’t drive
through rushing water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be
a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and
uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust system
for damage. Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
See “Driving Through Water”
in the Index for more
information on driving through water.
4-26
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.............. .............
I
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about
freezing
(32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there.
.,
..
Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow
-- drive with caution.
Accelerate gently.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If
you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and
polish the surface under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though you have an anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want to begin stopping sooner than you would on
dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in the Index.
Mow greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until you hit a spot that’s covered with
ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around
clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface
of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch
of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it.
Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
4-38
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Following Distance Making Tt----- -
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before
you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal
well in advance.
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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
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Engine Fan Noise
Your vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged, the fan spi.ns faster to provide
more air
to cool the engine. In most everyday driving
conditions, the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully engaged. This improves
fuel economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully engages.
So you may
hear an increase in fan noise. This
is normal and should
not be mistaken as the transmission slipping or making
extra shifts. It is merely the cooling system functioning
properly. The fan will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this
fan noise when you start the engine.
It will
go away as the fan clutch partially disengages.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out
of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have
a “blowout,” here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in
a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop -- well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to
use your
jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
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I NOTICE: I
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains”
in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE
(R) and a forward gear
(or with
a manual transmission, between FIRST (1) or
SECOND (2) and REVERSE(R)), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you out after a few tries,
you may need to be towed out.
Or, you can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle has
them.
If you do need to be towed out, see ”Towing Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle may be equipped with recovery hooks. The
recovery hooks are provided at
the front of your vehicle.
You may need
to use them if you’re stuck off-road
and need
to be pulled to some place where you can
continue driving.
5-35
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Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how
to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-
3
6-4
6-5
6-8
6- 14
6- 15
6- 19
6-2 1
6-25
6-26
6-26 6-27
6-29
6-32
6-32 Service
Fuel (Gasoline Engine)
Fuels
in Foreign Countries - - Gasoline
Engines
Filling Your Tank
Checking Things Under the Hood
Noise Control System
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
Air Cleaner Filter (Gasoline Engines)
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid
Hydraulic Clutch
Rear Axle
Four-wheel Drive
Engine Coolant Radiator Pressure Cap (Gasoline Engine)
Thermostat 6-33
6-33 6-35
6-39
6-39
6-49 6-50
6-59
6-60
6-64
6-68
6-69
6-70 6-75
6-76
6-78 Power Steering Fluid
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
R
Tires
Appearance Care .eplacement
Cleaning the Inside
of Your Vehicle
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle
Appearance Care Materials
Chart
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Electrical System Replacement Bulbs
Capacities and Specifications
Air Conditioning Specifications
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Garage Door Opener ............................ 2-52
GAWR
....................................... 4-41
Gear Positions. Automatic Transmission
............. 2- 15
Gear Positions. Manual Transmission .......... 2- 19. 2-20
GloveBox
.................................... 2-52
Gross Axle Weight Rating
........................ 4-41
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ...................... 4-41
Guide
en Fransais 11
GVWR ....................................... 4-41
.. .................................
Halogen Bulbs ................................ 6-39
Hazard Warning Flashers
.......................... 5-2
Head Restraints
................................. 1-6
Headlamps .................................... 2-43
Bulb Replacement
....................... 6.40. 6.41
HigWLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-37
OnReminder
................................ 2-44
Wiring
..................................... 6-70
Hearing Impaired. Customer Assistance
.............. 8-4
Heating
........................................ 3-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-37
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-35
Hill and Mountain Roads
......................... 4-35
Hitches. Trailer
................................. 4-53
Hood Checking Things Under
......................... 6-8
Release
...................................... 6-9
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
........................... 6-26
Hydroplaning
.................................. 4-3 1
Horn
......................................... 2-35 Ignition
Positions
.............................. 2-11
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
................. 7-48
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-46
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-51
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-48
Inspections
.................................... 7-49
Brake System
................................ 7-50
DriveAxle
.................................. 7-50
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-49
Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-49
Steering
.................................... 7-49
Suspension
.................................. 7-49
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-49
Transfer Case (Four-wheel Drive)
............... 7-50
Instrumentpanel
............................... 2-62
Cleaning
.................................... 6-63
Cluster
..................................... 2-64
FuseBlock
.................................. 6-71
Intensity Control
............................. 2-46
Interior Lamps
................................. 2-46
.................................... J ack. Tire 5-23
Jump Starting
................................... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service
..................... 7-46
Key Release Button
............................. 2-12
Keyless Entry System
............................ 2-7
Keys
.......................................... 2-2
9-5
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Safety Defects. Reporting ........................ 8- 10
Safety Warnings and Symbols ....................... 111
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-4
Seatback. Latches
................................ 1-6
Seatbacks. Reclining
............................. 1-4
Seats
EasyEntry
................................... 1-7
ManualFront
................................. 1-2
Power Driver’s
................................ 1-3
Power Lumbar Control
.......................... 1-4
Rear
.................................... 1.8. 1.9
Restraint Systems
.............................. I . 1
Seatcontrols ................................. 1-2
Securing a Child Restraint
. . 1.48. 1.50. 1.52. 1.54. 1-57
Securing a Child Restraint
in the
Right Front Seat Position
.................. 1.54. 1-57
Service
........................................ 6-2
Bulletins. Ordering
....................... 8- 1 1. 8. 12
EngineSoonLight
............................ 2-73
Manuals. Ordering
....................... 8- 11. 8. 12
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-69
Publications. Ordering
.................... 8- 1 1. 8. 12
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care ...................... 6- 1
Service and Owner Publications .............. 8- 1 1. 8- 12
Service Publications
........................ 8- 1 1. 8. 12
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........... 1-30
Sheet Metal Damage
............................ 6-66
Shift Lever .......................... 2.15.2.19. 2.20
Shift Light
............................... 2.22. 2.76
Shifting Into Park (P)
............................ 2-28
...
Shiftspeeds ................................... 2-21 Shifting.
Manual Transmission
............... 2- 19. 2-20
Shifting Out of Park
(P) .......................... 2-30
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1-16
Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement
............... 6-45
SignalingTurns
................................ 2-37
Skidding
...................................... 4-13
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-24
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-76
Specifications. Engine
........................... 6-76
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-4
Speedometer
................................... 2-65
Stains. Cleaning
................................ 6-61
Starter Switch Check
............................ 7-44
Starting Your Engine
............................ 2-13
Steam
........................................ 5-12
Steering
....................................... 4-9
In Emergencies ............................... 4-10
Power
....................................... 4-9
Tips
......................................... 4-9
Variable Effort
................................ 4-9
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-36
Step-BumperPad
............................... 4-61
StorageAreas
.................................. 2-52
Storage. Overhead
.............................. 2-52
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-39
Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
.................. 5-34
Sunvisors
.................................... 2-61
Sunglasses Storage
.............................. 2-54
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
.................. 1-23
Symbols. Vehicle
.................................. v
SIR .......................................... 1-23
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