service GMC SIERRA 1997 Owner's Guide

Service
Your GM dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you
to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your dealer for
all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM parts and
GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
@I!!!!!”
n
Delco
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want to get the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about
how to service your vehicle than this manual
can.
To order the proper service manual, see “Service
and Owner Publications” in the Index. Your
vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle” in the Index.
You should keep
a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date
of any service work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
I
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on
a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall
off. You could be hurt.
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Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your GM dealer before adding equipment to
the outside
of your vehicle.
Fuel (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
in the Diesel Engine
Supplement. For vehicles with gasoline engines, please
read this.
Use regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or
higher. At a minimum, it should meet specifications
ASTM D4814 in the United States and CGSB
3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline specifications have been
developed by
the American Automobile Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) for better vehicle performance
and engine protection. Gasolines meeting
the AAMA
specification could provide improved driveability and
emission control system protection compared to
other gasolines. Be sure
the posted octane is at least 87. If
the octane is
less than
87, you may get a heavy knocking noise when
you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at
87 octane or higher and you
still hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
But don’t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when
you’re accelerating or driving up a
hill. That’s normal,
and
you don’t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid
of pinging. It’s the heavy, constant knock that means
you have a problem.
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated
on the underhood tune-up label),
it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are
not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily
on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
on
your instrument panel may turn on andor your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return
to your
authorized GM dealer for diagnosis
to determine the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of
the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
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Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadlenyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT);
ask your service station operator whether or not his fuel
contains
"T. General Motors does not recommend the
use of such gasolines.
If fuels containing MMT are used,
spark plug life may
be reduced and your emission control
system performance may
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp on your instrument panel may
turn on. If this
occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that
will help prevent
deposits from forming
in your engine and fuel system,
allowing your emission control system to function
properly. Therefore, you should not have to add anything
to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing oxygenates,
such
as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines
may
be available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if they
comply
with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don't use it. It can corrode
NOTICE: (Continued)
I NOTICE: (Continued) I
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn't
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries -- Gasoline
Engines
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to find. Never use leaded gasoline or
any other fuel not
recommended
in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused
by use of improper fuel wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact
a major oil company that does business in the
country where you'll be driving.
You can also write us
at the following address for
advice. Just tell
us where you're going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors International Product Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L 1 H 8P7
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Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your GM dealer is ready
to advise if you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
0
0
0
0
0
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures
are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or
off-road frequently.
You frequently tow a trailer.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine oil to
break down sooner. If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, then you need to change your oil and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs first. If
none
of them is true, use the long triphighway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter
every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving
a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine oil to
break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil contains certain
elements that may be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your skin
for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water,
or a good hand cleaner, Wash or properly throw
away clothing or rags containing used engine oil. (See
the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal
of oil products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the environment.
If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all free-flowing oil
from the filter before disposal. Don’t ever dispose of oil
by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle
it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If
you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling
center for help.
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Air Cleaner (Gasoline Engines)
Your air cleaner is located between the battery and
coolant recovery tank. The
air cleaner assembly
has an indicator that lets
you know when the air filter
is dirty and needs to be
serviced. The indicator
is
located in the air intake
tube between the air cleaner
and the engine.
See “Owner Checks and Services” in the Index to
determine when to check the indicator.
If the area inside the clear section of the indicator is
green, no air filter service is required. When the area
inside the indicator is orange and
CHANGE AIR
FILTER appears, the filter should be replaced.
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To remove the air filter, unhook the retaining clips and
remove the cover. Lift the filter and the connected duct
out of the air cleaner housing. Hold the duct and remove
the filter by both pulling and twisting the filter away
from the duct. Care should be taken
to dislodge as little
dirt as possible.
Clean the filter sealing surface
of the duct and the
filter housing. Install
the new filter
by pushing it all the way to the stop
on the duct.
Install the duct and the filter into the air cleaner housing.
Make sure that the duct fits properly
into the housing.
Install the cover and fasten the two retaining clips.
After the air filter is properly serviced, the indicator
should be reset. Push the button on top of the indicator
to reset
it to the green (clean) filter zone.
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Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
replace the air filter. See “Owner Checks and Services”
in
the Index.
Operating the engine with the
air cleaner off
can cause you OF others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air,
it stops flame if
the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t
drive with it
off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner
off.
I NOTICE:
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire can cause a
damaging engine fire. And, dirt can easily get
into your engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner in place when you’re driving.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is
when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83
000 km) if the vehicle’s CVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more
of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over
8,600 and you do
not use your vehicle under any
of these conditions, the
fluid and filter do
not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’
in the Index.
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How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this
done at your GM dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here,
or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which
is 180°F to 200 "F
(82°C to 93°C).
Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F ( 10°C), drive the
vehicle
in THIRD (3) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes. Then
follow
the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine
off and is used
only as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five
minutes if outside temperatures are 50°F
( 10°C) or
more. If it's colder than
50°F (lO"C), you may have
to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check,
you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more accurate
reading
of the fluid level.
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
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Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid
in your manual
transmission doesn’t require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your
GM dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and
fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting
a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on
a level place and the transmission is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
the
filler plug hole.
it
is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described
in the next steps.
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How to Add Fluid When to Check and What to Use
Here’s how to add
fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level
up to the bottom of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch system in your vehicle is
self-adjusting.
A slight amount of play (114 inch to
1/2 inch or 6 mm to 12 mm) in the pedal is normal.
It isn’t
a good idea to “top off’ your clutch fluid. Adding
fluid won’t correct
a leak. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired. Refer
to the Maintenance
yk I Schedule, Owner Checks
and
Services,
to determine
how often you should check
the fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir
and for the proper fluid.
See “Owner Checks
and Services” and “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
How to Check
The proper fluid should be added if the level does not
reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it’s in place in
the reservoir. See the instructions on the reservoir cap.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often
to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
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