power steering GMC SIERRA 2004 Owner's Manual

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to four
different positions.
A (LOCK):This position locks your ignition when the
key is removed. The steering locks when equipped with
a manual transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK
B (ACCESSORY):This position allows you to use
things like the radio, power windows and the windshield
wipers when the engine is off.{CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the
key to LOCK will lock the steering column and
result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision. If you need to
turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to OFF. Do not press the key
release button while the vehicle is moving.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these works,
then your vehicle needs service.
C (RUN):This is the position for driving.
D (START):This position starts your engine.
2-22

Engine Coolant Heater
In very cold weather, 0ÉF
(-18ÉC) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can
help. You'll get easier
starting and better
fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater
should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours
prior to starting your
vehicle.
At temperatures above 32ÉF (0ÉC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is located on the driver's side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering ¯uid
reservoir. If you have a diesel engine, refer to
diesel supplement for location.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a ®re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could be
damaged.
2-25

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Button. See ªDome Lampsº under
Interior Lamps on page 3-19.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. See ªClimate Controlsº in Section 3.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Electronic Transfer
Case/Traction Assist System (TAS). See
Four-Wheel
Drive on page 2-35.
E. Multifunction Lever. See
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-34.
G. Gearshift Lever (Automatic Transmission). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
H. Tow/Haul Selector and Overdrive Disable (Allison
Transmission
žOnly) Button (If Equipped). SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
I. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-73.
J. Comfort Control System. See
Climate Control
System on page 3-21.
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-126.L. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-10.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-55.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. See
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-126.
O. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-48.
P. Tilt Wheel Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on page 3-7.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlet. See
Accessory
Power Outlets on page 3-20, andAshtrays and
Cigarette Lighter on page 3-21.
R. Storage Area. See ªStorage Areasº in Section 2.
S. Ashtray. See
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
on page 3-21.
T. Manual Selectable Ride Control (If Equipped). See
Manual Selectable Ride on page 4-11.
U. 4WS Switch (If Equipped). See
QUADRASTEERŸ
on page 4-14.
V. Passenger Air Bag Off Switch. See
Air Bag Off
Switch on page 1-76.
W. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-66.
3-5

Driver Information Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located on the instrument panel
cluster above the steering wheel. The DIC can display
information such as the trip odometer, fuel economy and
personalization features.
A (Trip Information):This button will display the
odometer, personal trip odometer, business trip
odometer, hourmeter, annual log and the timer.
B (Fuel Information):This button will display the
current range, average fuel economy, instant fuel
economy and engine oil life.
C (Personalization):This button will change personal
options available on your vehicle.D (Select):This button resets certain functions and
turns off or acknowledges messages on the DIC.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the DIC steering
wheel buttons you will not have all of the features listed
above, and you will turn off, or acknowledge DIC
messages by using the trip odometer reset stem located
on the instrument panel cluster.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay the DIC will display the current driver (1 or 2)
and the information that was last displayed before the
engine was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Pressing any of the four buttons will
acknowledge (clear) most current warnings or service
messages. Some warnings that cannot be
acknowledged (cleared) are: ENGINE OVERHEATED,
OIL PRESSURE LOW, REDUCED ENGINE POWER,
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE. These warnings must
be dealt with immediately and therefore cannot
be cleared until the problem has been corrected.
3-55

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Assist System (TAS)...........................4-9
Manual Selectable Ride.................................4-11
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-12
Steering......................................................4-12
QUADRASTEERŸ........................................4-14
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-17
Passing.......................................................4-17
Loss of Control.............................................4-18
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle....................................................4-20
Driving at Night............................................4-37
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-39
City Driving..................................................4-42Freeway Driving...........................................4-43
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-44
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-44
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-45
Winter Driving..............................................4-47
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-51
Towing..........................................................4-53
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-53
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-54
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-57
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.......4-64
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................4-68
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-70
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab..................4-70
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-70
Power Take-Off (PTO).................................4-101
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

FIRM (Loaded):Press the button to activate this
setting, the indicator light will be lit. Use this setting to
minimize trailer inputs to the vehicle or when the vehicle
is fully loaded. This setting is also appropriate for
off-road driving.
You can select a setting at any time based on road and
trailering conditions to provide the best ride and
handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
Locking Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your locking rear axle
can give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the
time, but when one of the rear wheels has no traction
and the other does, this feature will allow the wheel with
traction to move the vehicle.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems Ð steering and acceleration Ð have to do their
work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. See
Traction Assist
System (TAS) on page 4-9.
4-12

Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps.
·Use a low gear and get a ®rm grip on the steering
wheel.
·Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Do not use more power than you
need, because you do not want your wheels to start
spinning or sliding.
·Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If
the path twists and turns, you might want to ®nd
another route.
{CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up
hills, always try to go straight up.
·Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.
·Attach a ¯ag to the vehicle to make you more
visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
·Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill
to let opposing traffic know you are there.
·Use your headlamps even during the day. They
make you more visible to oncoming traffic.
{CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed
can cause an accident. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another
vehicle. You could be seriously injured or
killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.
4-28

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Speci®cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-23
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-25
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Allison
Transmission
ž) ..........................................5-28
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-31
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-32
Engine Coolant.............................................5-33
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-36
Engine Overheating.......................................5-36Cooling System............................................5-39
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-44
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-45
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-46
Brakes........................................................5-48
Battery........................................................5-52
Jump Starting...............................................5-53
Rear Axle.......................................................5-59
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-60
Noise Control System.....................................5-62
Tampering with Noise Control System
Prohibited.................................................5-62
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-64
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-64
Headlamps..................................................5-64
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps.........................................5-66
Roof Marker Lamps......................................5-67
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp.............................................5-69
Pickup Box Identi®cation and Fender Marker
Lamps.....................................................5-70
Taillamps.....................................................5-71
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-74
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-33.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-18.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If equipped).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmissionž) on page 5-25orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmissionž)on
page 5-28.
F. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-39.
G. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-18.H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-45.
I. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-53.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-53.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-48.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic
Clutch on page 5-32.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-126.
N. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-52.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-46.
5-13

A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
B. Coolant Surge Tank. See
Engine Coolant on
page 5-33.
C. Air Filter Restriction Indicator (If Equipped). See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
Engine Oil on page 5-18.
E. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped).
See
Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison
Transmissionž) on page 5-25orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (Allison Transmissionž)on
page 5-28.
F. Engine Oil Fill. See
Engine Oil on page 5-18.
G. Fan. See
Cooling System on page 5-39.H. Remote Negative (-) Terminal (GND). See
Jump
Starting on page 5-53.
I. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 5-45.
J. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting on
page 5-53.
K. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brakes on page 5-48.
L. Clutch Fluid Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic
Clutch on page 5-32.
M. Underhood Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-126.
N. Battery. See
Battery on page 5-52.
O. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
Windshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-46.
5-15