brake GMC SIERRA 1998 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 1998, Model line: SIERRA, Model: GMC SIERRA 1998Pages: 452, PDF Size: 23.65 MB
Page 106 of 452

I ~ The front axle portion of the indicator diagram will light
up when you shift into four-wheel drive and the front
axle engages.
Some delay between shifting and the indicator’s lighting
is normal. If the front axle light does not go out
immediately after you shift out of four-wheel drive,
1 have your dealer check your system.
An indicator near the lever shows you the transfer
case settings:
2-Wheel High (2H): This setting is for driving in most
street and highway situations. Your front axle is not
engaged in two-wheel drive. 4-Wheel High
(4H): This setting engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle. Use
4H when you need
extra traction and in most off-road situations.
Shifting the transfer case to
NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even
if the transmission
is in
PARK (P), or if you have a manual
transmission, even if you are in gear. You or
someone else could be seriously injured. Be
sure
to set the parking brake before placing the
transfer case in
NEUTRAL (N). See “Parking
Brake” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): Shift to this setting only when your
vehicle needs to be towed or when using a power take-off.
4-Wheel
Low (4L): This setting also engages your front
axle to give you extra power and also gives you
a higher
driveline ratio. It should be used only for off-road driving.
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Page 109 of 452

Shifting from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI
To shift from 4LO to 4HI or 2H1, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than
3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method
for shifting out of
4LO is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4HI
switch. You must wait for the 4HI indicator light to stop
flashing and remain illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the 4HI switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the
4HI indicator light will flash for
30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless the
vehicle is moving slower than
3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N).
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull
the lever, located
just above the parking
brake pedal, marked
BRAISE RELEASE.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle. Always check to be sure
your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
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Page 110 of 452

If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first
to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission Only)
If you have a 3500 HD model, it is recommended that
the propshaft mounted parking brake be burnished
as
part of the new vehicle break-in. The parking brake
will work best after
it has been burnished following
these instructions.
Make
10 stops, using the parking brake foot pedal, from
20 mph (32 kmh) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart. In
between stops, drive the vehicle at
20 mph (32 km/h).
A CAUTION:
-
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly
set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
If
you have fourwheel drive and your transfer case is
in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll,
even
if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear
-- not in
NEUTRAL (N). If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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Page 111 of 452

1.
2.
Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
Move
the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
r
3.
Pull the lever toward you.
4.
5.
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK
(P).
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Page 112 of 452

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Only)
I A CATJTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. If you have
four-wheel drive with
a manual transfer case
shift lever and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL
(N), your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK
(P). So be sure
the transfer case is in
a drive gear -- not in
NEUTRAL
(N). And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could overheat and even
catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t
leave your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to. If you
have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle
is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK
(P) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever
wasn’t
fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put
too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission.
You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK
(P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
When
you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some
of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
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Page 113 of 452

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock
system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is
in
RUN. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up
into PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever
to any gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the brake-transmission shift interlock system
fixed as
soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Models
Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in REVERSE
(R), turn off the engine, and
firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case
is in a drive gear. Your vehicle could roll if it isn’t.
If
you are parking on a hill, or if you are pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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Page 115 of 452

Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic
1 ~ ission) an
It’s better not to park with the engme rblllling. But if
ever you have to, here are some things to know.
c
A A AUTION: -1
i Idling the engine with the air system control off
could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.)
4 CAUT- IN: -
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll, even if
your shift lever is in PARK (P). So. be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). Always
set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps to be
sure your vehicle won’t move.
See ”Shifting Into
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer. see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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Page 122 of 452

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 e.ither stop or return
to the preset speed.
The use of a hood-mounted air deflector may adversely
affect windshield wiper and washer performance.
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about
, .. .. .. . , . :.!r+.l .. 25 mph (40 km/h).
When
you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
C * ‘JTIOT ;
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 traffic.
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.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
Setting Cruise Control
If you leave your cruise control switch on W,AI
you’re 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.
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Page 123 of 452

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.
Resuming a Set Speed
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 yo11 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 second.
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 fister until
you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you
want
to go fdster, don’t hold the switch at R/A.
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Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
0 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 (1.6 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.
0 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/h) 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
t.o 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.
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