warning light GMC SIERRA CLASSIC 2007 Owner's Manual

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 468.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 255.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP
problem, both the brake and ABS warning lights will
come on accompanied by a 10-second chime. The
lights and chime will come on each time the ignition
is turned on until the problem is repaired. See your
dealer for service.
361

City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is
the amount of traffic on them. You will want
to watch out for what the other drivers are doing
and pay attention to traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city
driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip
into an unknown part of the city just as you
would for a cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and
energy. SeeFreeway Driving on page 397.
Treat a green light as a warning signal.
A traffic light is there because the corner
is busy enough to need it. When a light turns
green, and just before you start to move,
check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
396

Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency
supplies in your vehicle.
Also seeTires on page 543.Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom,
a supply of windshield washer uid, a rag,
some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a
ashlight, a red cloth, and reective warning
triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe
conditions, include a small bag of sand, a
piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly
secure these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the tires
meet the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between the tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery
situation. You will have a lot less traction, or grip,
and will need to be very careful.
402

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on your instrument panel will
ash whenever you signal a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the
bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may
think drivers behind you are seeing your signal
when they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbefore
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can
tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift the
transmission to lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions).You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode
if the transmission shifts too often. SeeTow/Haul
Mode Light on page 264.
If you have a 5-speed manual transmission and
you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use
FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear
(or, as you need to, a lower gear).
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, consider the following: Engine coolant at
or near sea level will boil at a lower temperature
than at higher altitudes. If you turn your engine off
immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let
the engine run while parked, preferably on
level ground, with the automatic transmission in
PARK (P) for a few minutes before turning
the engine off. For manual transmissions, let the
engine run while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of gear and the
parking brake applied, for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If you do get the overheat
warning, seeEngine Overheating on page 505.
453

When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it
clicks. It will require more effort to turn the fuel cap
on the last turn as you tighten it. Make sure the
cap is fully installed. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 258.
The TIGHTEN FUEL CAP message will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) if
the fuel cap is not properly installed. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 270for more
information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do
not remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow
of fuel by shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant. Leave the
area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to
get the right type. Your dealer can get one
for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not
t properly. This may cause your malfunction
indicator lamp to light and may damage
your fuel tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 258.
476

How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper uid should be added if the level does
not reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it
is in place in the reservoir. See the instructions on
the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever
occurs rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®
extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 505.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
502

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and may have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have
wear indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake
rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings
inspected immediately. Rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. Drum brakes
have an inspection hole to inspect lining wear
during scheduled maintenance. When you have
the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your brakes
adjust for wear.
519

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
559

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 468
Accessory Power Outlet(s).......................... 228
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment................................................ 416
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle..................................................... 109
Additives, Fuel............................................ 472
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 599
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 491
Air Conditioning.........................230, 231, 235
Airbag
Off Light.................................................. 248
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 250
Readiness Light....................................... 247
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 650
Airbag System............................................... 91
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle....................... 109
Airbag Off Switch..................................... 100
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 98
Passenger Sensing System...................... 103
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle.... 108
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 97Airbag System (cont.)
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?................................................. 98
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 95
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 93
AM-FM Radio.............................................. 291
Antenna, Fixed Mast................................... 353
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System....................................... 353
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................... 361
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 255
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels........ 594
Care of Safety Belts................................ 592
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 596
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 593
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 589
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 590
Finish Care.............................................. 593
Finish Damage......................................... 596
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.................................... 591
Leather.................................................... 591
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 595
Tires........................................................ 595
Underbody Maintenance........................... 596
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 597
659

Appearance Care (cont.)
Washing Your Vehicle.............................. 592
Weatherstrips........................................... 592
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 594
Ashtray(s).................................................... 229
Audio System(s).......................................... 289
AM-FM Radio.......................................... 291
Audio Steering Wheel Controls................. 349
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.......... 350
Care of Your CD and DVD Player............ 352
Care of Your CDs and DVDs................... 352
Chime Level Adjustment........................... 353
Fixed Mast Antenna................................. 353
Radio with Cassette and CD.................... 304
Radio with CD......................................... 294
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................ 318
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)............................ 347
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................. 291
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).................. 290
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................ 348
Understanding Radio Reception............... 350
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...... 353
Automatic Headlamp System....................... 223Automatic Transmission
Fluid...............................................494, 497
Operation................................................. 140
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Switch.......... 226
B
Battery........................................................ 520
Battery Warning Light.................................. 253
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 398
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)................. 361
Emergencies............................................ 363
Parking.................................................... 169
System Warning Light.............................. 254
Brakes........................................................ 517
Braking....................................................... 360
Braking in Emergencies............................... 363
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 134
Bulb Replacement....................................... 532
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
and Cargo Lamp.................................. 537
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Daytime Running Lamps....................... 534
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 532
660