
NOTICE 
Damage to your  transmission  caused by shifting out of P (Park) or N 
{Neutral)  with  the  engine  racing  isn’t  covered by your  warranty. 
OD (Automatic  Overdrive) 
This  position  is for  normal  driving. 
If you  need  more  power  for  passing,  and 
vou’re: 
- Going less than  about 35 mph (56 km/h),  push  your accelerator 
pedal  about  halfway  down 
- Going  about 35 mph (56 km/h)  or  more,  push  the  accelerator all the 
way  down 
You’ll  shift  down  to  the  next  gear  and  have  more  power. 
OD should not be used  when  towing  a  trailer,  carrying  a  heavy  load,  driving 
on  steep  hills, or  for  off-road  driving.  Select 
D (third  gear)  when operating  the 
vehicle  under  any  of  these conditions. 
D (Third Gear) 
This  is  like 
OD, but  you  never  go  into  Overdrive. You should  use D when 
towing  a  trailer,  carrying  a  heavy  load,  driving  on  steep  hills,  or  for  off-road 
driving. 
2 (Second  Gear) 
This  position  gives  you  more  power  but  lower  fuel  economy.  You can  use 
2 
on  hills.  It  can  help  control  your  speed as you  go  down  steep  mountain 
roads,  but  then  you  would  also  want 
to use  your  brakes off and on. 
If you  manually  select 2, the  transmission will drive  in second  gear.  You  may 
use  this  feature  for  reducing  torque  to the  rear  wheels  when  you  are  trying  to 
start  your  vehicle  from  a  stop  on  slippery  road  surfaces. 
1 (First  Gear) 
This  position  gives  you  even  more  power  (but lower  fuel economy)  than 
2. 
You can  use it on  very  steep  hills,  or  in deep  snow  or  mud. If the  selector 
lever  is put 
in 1, the  transmission  won’t shift into first  gear  until  the  vehicle  is 
going 
‘slowly enough. 
2-1 9 
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Features & Controls 
Torque Lock 
The  parking  brake  should  be  set  first  whenever  leaving  the  dri\
ver’s  seat. If 
you  are  parked  on  a  hill  and  the  transmission is placed  in P (Park)  before 
the  parking  brake  is  set,  the  weight  of the  vehicle  may put  too  much  force 
on the  parking  pawl  in the  transmission.  It  may  be  difficult  to pull  the selector 
lever 
out of P (Park).  This  is called  “torque  lock.” To prevent  this,  the  parking 
brake  should  be  set 
BEFORE moving  the  selector  lever  to P (Park). 
When  preparing  to move  the  vehicle,  the  selector  lever  should  be  moved  out 
of P (Park) BEFORE releasing  the  parking  brake.  Set  the  parking  brake  first, 
then  release  the  transmission  from 
P (Park),  even on level surfaces. 
If “torque lock” does  occur,  you  may  have  to have  another  vehicle  nudge 
your  vehicle  uphill 
a little  to take  some  of the  pressure off the  transmission 
while  you  pull the  selector  lever  out  of 
P (Park). 
Shifting lnto P (Park)  (Automatic  Transmission Models Only) 
It can  be  dangerous  to get  out  of  your  vehicle if the  shift  lever  is  not I 
A fully  in P (Park)  with  the  parking  brake  firmly  set.  Your vehicle  can 
roll. 
If you  have  left  the  engine  running,  the  vehicle  can  move  suddenl\
y. 
You  or  others  could  be  injured. 
To be  sure  your  vehicle  won’t  move, 
when  you’re  on  fairly  level  ground,  use  the  steps  that  foll\
ow. 
If you  have  four-wheel  drive,  and  your  transfer  case is in N (Neutral), I 
your  vehicle will be  free  to roll-even if your  shift  lever  is  in P 
(Park). So, be  sure  the transfer  case  is in  a  drive  gear-not  in N 
(Neutral). 
If you are parking  on  a  hill, or if you’re pulling  a  trailer,  also  see 
I “Parking  on  Hills”  or  “Towing  a Trailer” in the  Index. I 
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Your Driving  and the Road 
AN470054 
If there  is  no  curb  when  you’re  parking  uphill,  turn  the  wheel\
s to the  right. 
If there  is  no  curb  when  you’re  parking  uphill  on  the  left  si\
de of a  one-way 
street,  your  wheels  should  be  turned  to  the  left. 
Torque Lock (Automatic  Transmission) 
If you  are  parking  on  a  hill  and  you  don’t  shift  your  transmi\
ssion  into P 
(Park)  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 
P (Park).  This  is  called  “torque  lock.”  To prevent  torque  lock,  always 
be  sure 
to shift  into P (Park)  before  you  leave  the  driver’s  seat. To find out 
how,  see  “Shifting  Into P (Park)”  in the  Index. 
When 
you are  ready to drive,  move  the  selector  lever out of P (Park) 
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  transmission, so 
you  can  pull  the  shift  lever  out  of P (Park). 
4-52 
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CAUTION I 
Incorrect  wheel  nuts  or  improperly  tightened  wheel  nuts  can  cau\
se 
the  wheel 
to become loose and  even come off. This could  lead  to 
an accident.  Be  sure to use  the  correct  wheel  nuts. If you  have  to 
replace  them,  be 
sure to  get  the  right kind. 
Stop  somewhere  as soon as you  can  and  have  the  nuts  tightened 
with  a torque  wrench 
to the  promr  toraue. I 
For proper  torque, see “Wheel  Nut  Torque”  in  the  Index. 
Put  the  wheel  trim  back  on.  For  vehicles  with  plastic  nut  cap\
s,  tighten  the 
caps  until  they  are  finger  tight,  then  tighten  them  an  additio\
nal  one-half  turn 
with  the  ratchet.  Remove  any  wheel  blocks. 
Storing 
a jack, a tire or other  equipment  in  the  passenger 
compartment 
of the  vehicle  could  cause  injury. In a sudden  stop or 
collision,  loose  equipment  could  strike  someone.  Store  all  these\
  in 
the  proper  place. 
5-28 
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Service & Appearance Care 
Front Suspension and Steering  Linkage 
Your maintenance  schedule  will  tell you  how often to  lubricate  the  fittings.  See 
“Recommended  Fluids  and  Lubricants”  in  the  Index  for  the  \
proper  lubricant  to 
use. 
Front Wheel  Bearings 
Your  vehicle  has  front  wheel  bearings  that  must  be  cleaned  and  repa\
cked. 
Your  maintenance  schedule  will 
tell you  how  often  this  must  be  done. 
Front Shock Absorbers 
The  front  shock  absorbers  of  your  vehicle do many  things.  They  help  the 
vehicle  ride  smoothly  and  also  control  the  travel  of the  suspension  system. 
When  the  shock  absorbers  are  serviced,  any  replacement  shock  ab\
sorbers  must  be  the  same  as  the  original  equipment  shock  absorbers  in \
 both 
extended  length  and  strength. 
Wheel Nut Torque 
For  vehicles  with  dual  wheels,  when  the  vehicle,  wheel  or  fast\
eners  are  new, 
have  the  torque  set  at  the  first 
100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1600 and 
9600 km).  Use  the  torque  specified  in  the  appropriate  Specification \
 Chart  later 
in  this  section. 
Single  Belt  Accessory  Drive 
If your  new  vehicle  uses  a serpentine  belt, it is  lighter,  and  more  durable 
than  systems  with  several  belts. 
The  belt  runs  over  or  around  the  pulleys  on  the  engine. 
A tensioner is used 
to  keep  the  belt tight  at  all times.  The  tensioner  also  makes  replacing  the 
belt  easier.  If  you  need 
to replace  the  belt,  be  sure  to  get  the  correct 
replacement  belt.  Your dealership  or  parts  supplier  can  help  you  with  this. 
The  Accessory  Drive  Belt  Routing  label  on  your  vehicle  will  sh\
ow  you  how  to  route  the  belt  your  vehicle  uses. 
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Service & Appearance Care 
Tire  lnspecfion  and  Rotation 
To make  your  tires last longer,  have  them  inspected  and  rotated  at  the 
mileages  recommended  in the  Maintenance  Schedule.  See  “Scheduled 
Maintenance  Services”  in  the  Index. 
FRT FRT 
L 
I I 
K2655 
Use  this rotation  pattern, 
If your  vehicle  has  front  tires  with  different  load  ratings  or  tr\
ead  designs  (such 
as  all season  vs.  on/off  road)  than  the  rear  tires,  don’t  rotate  \
your  tires  front 
to  rear, 
After  the  tires  have  been  rotated,  adjust  the  front  and  rear  \
inflation  pressure 
as  shown  on  the  CertificationRire  label.  Make  certain  that  all \
 wheel  nuts  are 
properly  tightened. 
See “Wheel  Nut  Torque”  in the  Index. 
1 CAUTION 
Rust  or  dirt on a wheel,  or on the  parts  to  which it is fastened,  can 
make  the  wheel  nuts  become  loose  after  a time.  The  wheel  could 
come 
off and  cause  an  accident.  When  you  change  a wheel,  remove 
any  rust  or  dirt  from  places  where  the  wheel  attaches 
to the vehicle. 
In  an  emergency,  you  can  use  a cloth  or  paper  towel  to 
do this;  but 
be sure  to  use  a scraper  or  wire  brush  later, if you  need  to,  to get 
I 
I all  the  rust  or dirt off. (See  ‘Changing  a  Flat  Tire”  in  the  Index.) I 
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Service & Appearance Care 
Specification Charts 
Replacement  Parts 
Replacement  part  numbers  listed in this  section  are  based  on  the  latest 
information  available  at  the  time 
of printing,  and  are  subject to change. If a 
part  listed  in this  manual is not  the  same  as  the  part  used  in  your  vehicle 
when 
it was  built,  or if you  have  any  questions,  please  contact  your GM truck 
dealer. 
Engine  identification 
Liter  VIN Fuel Produced 
Displacement  Type  Engine  Code  System  BY Emissions 
5.7 V8 K TB I U.S., Can. 
7.4 V8 N TB I us. 
* 
* 
*Light  Duty  Emissions  with  8500 GVWR and  below  or: 
Heavy  Duty  Emissions  with  8501  GVWR  and 
above. 
TO291 
Wheel  Nut  Torque 
MODEL  DESCRIPTION  TORQUE 
C 1500 5 bolts  (14mm)  120 ft. Ibs. (1 60 Nmm) 
K 1500, C-K 2500 6 bolts (1 4mm) 120 ft. Ibs. (160 
N-m) 
C-K 2500 8 bolts  (14mm)  120 ft. Ibs. (160 Nem) 
I TO2951 
Cooling  System  Capacity 
VIN QUANTITY* 
ENGINE  CODE  Without NC With  AIC 
5.7L K 17.5 Quarts  (16.5  Liters) 
18  Quarts  (1 7 Liters) 
7.4- N 23 Quarts 
(22 Liters)  25  Quarts  (23.5  Liters) 
*All quantities  are  approximate. 
*After  refill,  the  level 
MUST be  checked  as  outlined  under  “Engine  Cooling 
System”  in  Section 
5. 
TO292 
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23. EXHAUST  PRESSURE EGULATOR  VALVE INSPECTION* -Check  that 
the  valve  works  properly.  Correct  any  binding.  Inspect  hoses  fo\
r  cracks, 
chafing  or  decay.  Replace  parts 
as needed. 
24. TIRE  AND  WHEEL  ROTATION  AND  INSPECTION -For proper  wear 
and  maximum  tire life,  rotate  tires 
at the  first  6,000  miles  (10 000 
kilometers)  for  Schedule I (t) or 7,500 miles (12 500 kilometers)  for 
Schedule 
II (.) and  then  every 15,000 miles  (25 000 kilometers) 
thereafter. 
Follow the  instructions  and  patterns  shown  in Section 6. 
Check  tires  for  uneven  wear or damage. If irregular  or  premature  wear  is 
apparent,  check  wheel  alignment. 
Also, check  for  damaged  wheels.  See 
“Tires”  in  the  Index  for  more  information. 
For dual  wheels,  whenever  the  vehicle,  wheels,  or  fasteners  are  new\
, 
have  the  wheel  fastener  torque  set  at  the  first  100, 
1,000 and  6,000 
miles 
(160, 1600  and  10 000 km). 
For 
3500 H.D.  Models,  block  the  tires  opposite  those  being  removed to 
keep  the  vehicle  from  rolling. 
25. 
DRIVE AXLE SERVICE -Check  readfront  axle  fluid level  and  add  as 
needed.  Check  constant  velocity  joints  and  axle  seals  for  leaki\
ng. 
Locking  differential-Drain  fluid at first  oil change  and  refill.  Check 
fluid  level  and  add  as  needed  at  subsequent  oil changes.  In dusty 
areas,  or  trailer  towing  applications  drain  fluid at  every 
15,000 miles 
(24 135  kilometers)  and  refill$ 
every  oil change.  In dusty  areas, 
or trailer  towing  applications,  drain 
fluid  every  15,000  miles 
(24 135  kilometers)  and  refi1l.t 
Standard  differential  -Check fluid level  and  add  as  needed  at 
More  frequent  lubrication  may  be required  on heavy-duty  or  off-road 
use. 
26. BRAKE  SYSTEM  INSPECTION -When  the  engine  oil is  changed, 
inspect  the  lines 
and hoses  for  proper  hookup,  binding,  leaks,  cracks, 
chafing,  etc.  Check  the  parking  brake  adjustment,  and  the  fluid level  in 
the  master  cylinder. 
A low  fluid  level can  indicate  worn  disc  brake  pads 
which may  need  to  be  serviced$ 
*An  Emission  Control  Service 
tA fluid loss in  these  systems  may  indicate  a  problem.  Have  them 
inspected  and  repaired 
at once. 
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