light GMC SIERRA 1998 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 1998, Model line: SIERRA, Model: GMC SIERRA 1998Pages: 452, PDF Size: 23.65 MB
Page 127 of 452

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.
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.
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.
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Page 137 of 452

5. Now, with the
compartment door closed, press the
button marked
PUSH
again to make sure the
garage door opener
operates properly.
With the garage door opener positioned properly and
the right number of pegs in place, you should only
have to press the
PUSH button slightly to operate
the opener.
6. Adjust the position of the garage door opener and
add or remove pegs,
as needed, until the opener
operates properly.
Sunglasses Storage Compartment
The center overhead compartment can be used to
conveniently store your sunglasses.
To open the center compartment, press the release
button located at the rear of the compartment door.
Place your sunglasses in the compartment door with the
lenses facing out.
The rear compartment can be used to store a small item,
like a book.
To open the rear compartment, press the release button
located at the rear
of the compartment door.
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Page 142 of 452

Ashtrays and Cigarette L - ;er
l Front Ashtray
The front ashtray is located at the bottom of the
instrument panel. Pull
on the notch in the ashtray door
to open it.
NOTICE:
If you store paper or other things that burn in
your ashtrays, they could be set on fire by
cigarettes or other smoking materials. That could
cause
a fire and possibly damage your vehicle. Do
not store papers and other things that burn in
your ashtrays.
To remove the front ashtray, press the retainer spring
and pivot the ashtray toward you.
To replace the ashtray,
place the bottom part
of the ashtray on the pivot bar at
the bottom
of its mounting on the instrument panel.
Then rotate the ashtray
back to its original position.
Rear Ashtray (If Equipped)
To use a rear ashtray, if you have them, pull at the top of
the ashtray door to flip the door open.
To remove a rear ashtray, press down on the inside tabs
and open the door fully.
NOTICE:
If you store paper or other things that burn in
your ashtrays, they could be set on fire
by
cigarettes or other smoking materials. That could
cause
a fire and possibly damage your vehicle. Do
not store papers and other things that burn in
your ashtrays.
To use the cigarette lighter, push it in all the way, and let
go. When it's ready, it will pop back by itself.
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’ NOTICE:
Holding a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while
it is heating can make it overload,
~ damaging the lighter and the heating element.
Just push the lighter all the way in and let go.
When it’s done,
it will pop back by itself.
Accessory Power Outlets
Two auxiliary power outlets are located near the
cigarette lighter. Use these outlets to power mobile
telephones or other devices designed to operate
with
vehicle electrical systems.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them
out to help block glare at the front
and side windows.
Your visor may have a strap
to hold small items, such
as maps.
Some visors have an extender on the inside edge. When
the visor is down, pull
the extender out for extra glare
coverage at the front
or side.
Some visors have mirrors with lamps.
If the mirror has
lamps, they will come on when
you lift the mirror cover.
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Page 148 of 452

Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there
miiy be or is a
problem with
one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is
a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one
of the gages shows
there
may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to
do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
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.
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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.
AIR BAG OFF Light (Except Crew Cab)
When you turn the right front passenger’s air bag off, this
light will come
on and stay on to remind you that the air
bag has been turned off. This light will go off when you
turn the air bag back on again. See “Securing a Child
Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position”
in the Index for
more on this, including important safety information.
-
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If the right front passenger’s air bag is turned
off, an adult or
a child who is no longer an infant
sitting in the right front passenger’s position
won’t have the extra protection of an air bag. In
a crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able to inflate
and help protect the person sitting there. Make
sure the air bag is turned on unless you are using
a rear-facing child restraint in the right front
seat position.
A
A CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger’s air bag could inflate
even though the switch is off.
If this ever
happens, don’t secure a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle until you have your
vehicle serviced.
Charging System Indicator Light
7-1 This light should come on
I-+I
brieflywhen you turn on the
ignition, before starting the
engine,
as a check to show
you it is working.
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After the engine starts, the light should go out. If it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the generator
drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light on, it
helps to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and the
air conditioner.
Voltmeter
19
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
in RUN, this gage shows
your battery’s state of
charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings
in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number
of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period.. This condition is normal since the
charging system
is not able to provide full power at
engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading in
either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will 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.
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.
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If the warning light comes on, there co11ld be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
(a) (@)
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. BRAKE
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.)
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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system,
this light will
come on when you start
ANTI -
LOCK
your engine and may stay
on for several seconds.
That’s normal.
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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
1
This gage shows the engine
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 (100°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 (1 25 “C) mark. If the
gage reaches the
260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates that
the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
The “Problems on
the Road,” section of this manual shows
what
to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine
Soon Light) (Gasoline Engine)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
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