check engine GMC SIERRA CLASSIC 2007 Owners Manual

Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s
window and open the driver’s door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with
the RKE transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait
for the security light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the
door with the manual door lock and open the
door. This should set off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when it should, but
the vehicle’s headlamps ash, check to see if the
horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To
replace the fuse, seeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 600.
If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle’s
headlamps do not ash, see your dealer for
service.
Passlock®
Your vehicle has the Passlock®theft-deterrent
system.
Passlock
®is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock®enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder
is turned with a valid key. If a correct key is
not used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered
with, fuel is disabled.
If the engine stalls and the security light ashes,
wait until the light stops ashing before trying
to restart the engine. Remember to release the key
from START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the security light
comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if
you turn the engine off. However, your
Passlock
®system is not working properly and
must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is
not protected by Passlock
®at this time. You
may also want to check the fuse. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 600. See your dealer
for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside
Assistance Center. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 644.
133

When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or−18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn
the ignition key to START and hold it there up
to 15 seconds. When the engine starts, let
go of the key.
2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but
then stops, it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all
the way to the oor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for about three seconds.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and
accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey but then
stops again, do the same thing, but this time
keep the pedal down for ve or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, your engine might not
perform properly. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can help. You will 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
32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required. Your vehicle may also have an internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This
will prevent operation of the engine coolant
heater when the temperature is at or above
0°F (−18 C°) as noted on the cord.
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.
139

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
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 may 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 briey when
you start the engine just to let you know they
are 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 is 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 are a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center
(DIC) that works along with warning lights and
gages. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 270.
244

Battery Warning Light
If this light comes on
when the engine is
running, there could be
a problem with the
charging system.
The battery display will also stay on while the key
is in RUN until the engine is started.
If the light stays on after starting the engine 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 the 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 Gage
When the engine is not
running, but the ignition
is in RUN, this gage
shows your battery’s
state of charge in
DC volts.
While the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The gage
may transition from a higher to lower or a lower to
higher reading. This is normal. Readings
between the low and high warning zones indicate
the normal operating range. The voltmeter
gage may also read lower when in fuel economy
mode. This is normal.
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.
253

If the transmission continues to operate above
265°F (130°C), contact your nearest dealer or the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 644.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle while the
transmission temperature gage reading is
above normal. See your dealer for service.
The following situations can cause the
transmission to operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the
auxiliary transmission oil cooler, if equipped.A temporary solution to reduce hotter transmission
operating temperatures may be to let the
transmission cool down. If the transmission is
operated at higher temperatures on a frequent
basis, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for the proper transmission
maintenance intervals.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has a
computer which
monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition,
and emission control
systems.
258

This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The check engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, your emission
controls may not work as well, your fuel
economy may not be as good, and your engine
may not run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that may not be covered by your
warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those of the same
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modications tothese systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This may also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 468.
This light should come on, as a check to show
you it is working, when the ignition is on and the
engine is not running. If the light does not
come on, have it repaired. This light will also
come on during a malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has
been detected. A misre increases vehicle
emissions and may damage the emission
control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis and
service may be required.
Light On Steady— An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on your
vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
259

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 470. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is
warmed up.) This will be detected by the system
and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed to
evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for
lack of OBD system readiness, your GM dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
261

Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) when the
engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate
pressure in kPa (kilopascals).
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings
above the low pressure zone indicate the normal
operating range.A reading in the low pressure zone may be
caused by a dangerously low oil level or some
other problem causing low oil pressure. Check
your oil as soon as possible. See “OIL PRESSURE
LOW” underDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 270andEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
on page 486.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others
could be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.United StatesCanada
262

CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message is displayed when the engine oil
needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be sure to reset
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message. See
Engine Oil Life System (Gasoline Engine) on
page 489,Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on
page 486, andScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 617for more information.
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE
On some vehicles, if there is a problem with the
generator and battery charging system, this
message will appear on the DIC, a chime will
sound, and the battery warning light on the
instrument panel cluster will come on. Driving with
this problem could drain the battery. Turn off all
unnecessary accessories. Stop and turn off
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Have
the electrical system checked by your dealer
immediately. SeeBattery Warning Light on
page 253andVoltmeter Gage on page 253for
more information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
If your vehicle has an oil level sensor, and the oil
level in the vehicle is low, this message will
appear on the DIC. Check the oil level and correct
it as necessary. You may need to let the vehicle
cool or warm up and cycle the ignition to be
sure this message will clear. Once the problem is
corrected, pressing any of the four DIC buttons
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display. SeeEngine Oil (Gasoline
Engine) on page 486for additional information.
CHECK WASHER FLUID
If the washer uid level is low, this message will
appear on the DIC. SeeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 516. Adding washer uid to the
windshield washer reservoir will clear the
message. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the
four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display.
272

DRIVER DOOR AJAR
If the driver’s door is not fully closed, this message
will appear on the display and you will hear a
chime. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstructions, and close the door again.
Check to see if the message still appears on the
DIC. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four
DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear it
from the DIC display.
ENGINE COOLANT HOT
If the cooling system temperature gets hot, this
message will appear in the DIC. Turn off the
air conditioning. If the message is still on, or if the
engine coolant temperature gage continues to
rise, pull the vehicle over when it is safe to do so.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Gage on
page 256for more information. Stop the vehicle
and let the engine idle in PARK (P) for a few
minutes, or NEUTRAL with the parking brake set
for manual transmissions, to allow the coolant
to reach a safe temperature. This message
will clear when the coolant temperature drops to
safe operating temperature.
ENGINE OVERHEATED
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
engine is overheating, severe engine damage
may occur. If an overheat warning appears
on the instrument panel cluster and/or
DIC, stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Do not increase the engine speed above
normal idling speed. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 505for more information.
If the engine cooling system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation, this message
will appear in the DIC and you will hear a chime.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is
safe to do so to avoid severe damage. This
message will clear when the engine has cooled to
a safe operating temperature.
273