
Featums & Controls
Section
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional featur\
es on your
vehicle. and information on starting. shifting. and braking
. Also explained are
the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you
if everything is
working properly-and what to do
if you have a problem .
For explanation of vehicle symbols in this section. refer to “Vehicle
Symbols” in Section 0 .
Keys ........................................................................\
............................................... 2-3
Your Doors and How They Work
........................................................................\
2-5
Side Doors ........................................................................\
................................. 2-5
Door Locks
........................................................................\
................................. 2-6
Tailgate
........................................................................\
........................................... 2-8
Theft ........................................................................\
............................................... 2-9
New Vehicle Break-In
........................................................................\
................. 2-10
Ignition Switch
........................................................................\
............................. 2-10
Sterting Your Gasoline Engine
........................................................................\
... 2-12
Starting Your Diesel Engine
........................................................................\
....... 2-15
Automatic Transmission
........................................................................\
.............. 2-21
Five-Speed Manual Transmission (Without Low Gear)
.................................... 2-24
Five-Speed Manual Transmission (With Low Gear)
......................................... 2-25
Locking Rear Axle
........................................................................\
....................... 2-28
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If you have a quick-release tailgate it can be removed by:
1. Raising the tailgate slightly and removing both retaining cables.
2. Lift the tailgate at the right side and pull it out at the left side.
Reverse the above procedure to reinstall. Make sure the tailgate is secure.
Then
Vehicle theft is a big business, especially in some cities. Although your
vehicle has a number of theft deterrent features, we know that nothing we
put on it can make it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you can
help.
Key in the Ignition: If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside,
it’s an easy target for joy riders or professional thieves-so don’t do it. When
you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door, you’ll hear a tone reminding
you to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you. Always do
this. Your steering wheel will be locked, and
so will your ignition. If you have
an automatic transmission, taking your key out also locks your \
transmission.
And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night: Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight. Put them in a storage
area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots: If you park in a lot where someone will be watching your vehicle\
,
it’s best to lock it up and take your keys. But what
if you have to leave your
ignition key? What
if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area or console.
Lock the console.
Lock all doors except the driver’s,
Then take the door key with you.
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Features & Controls
A On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key to LOCK will lock
3 steering column and result in a loss of ability to steer the
vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need to turn th\
e engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only to OFF. Don’t move
the key -‘?ase lever while the vehicle is mc
IQ.
To Remove the Key
On manual transmission vehicles, turn the key to the LOCK position while
pressing the key release lever down. Keeping your finger on the lever, pull
the key straight out.
On automatic transmission vehicles, turn the key to
LOCK and pull it straight
out.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel Engine” in the Index.
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number for your engine. You will find the VIN
at the top left
of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle Identification Number”\
in the Index.)
Follow the proper steps to start the engine.
To Starl Your 4.3 Liter (Code Z) engine
or
5.0 Liter (Code H) engine:
1. Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re
already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
NOTICE I
Manual Transmission
Shift your gear selector to neutral and hold the clutch pedal to the floor
while starting the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal is
not all the way down-that’s a safety feature.
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2. Don’t push the accelerator pedal before starting your engine.\
In some
other vehicles you might need to do this, but because of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm.
3. Turn your ignition key to Start. When the engine starts, let go of the
Holding your key in
Start for longer than 15 seconds at a time will caus
your battery to be drained much sooner. And the :essive heal
m
damage your starter motor.
4.
5.
If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in Start. If it doesn’t start in
three seconds, push the accelerator pedal about one-quarter of the way
down for
12 more seconds, or until it starts.
If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops), \
it could be
flooded with too much gasoline. Try this:
Wait
15 seconds to let the starter motor cool down. Then push your
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. Hold it there. Then, hold the
key in
Start for no more than ten seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
If the engine still doesn’t start, wait another 15 seconds and do it all again.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator ped\
al.
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 fuel
injection system operates. Before adding electrical equipment, ch\
eck with
-w dealer. If you don’t, your engine might not perform properly
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see the part of th\
is Manua
that tells how to do
it wit‘--.Jt damaging your ?hide. See “Tc ‘ng Yo
Vehicle’’ in the lnde
To Start Your 5.7 Liter (Code K) engine
or 7.4 Liter (Code N) engine:
1. Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety feature.
To restart when you’re
already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
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When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator ped\
al. Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle.
If you 1
add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the fuel
injection system operates. Before adding electrical equipment, ch\
eck with
your dealer. If you don’t, your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see the part of this Manu; .
that tells how to do it without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
NOTICE I
If you -drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water, water can
come
in through your engine’s air intake and badly damage your engin\
e. 1%-
you can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive through very slowlv. I
--
Never drive through standing water more than 8 inches deep if yo~
vehicle has a diesel engine.
Also, don’t drive through any standing water
faster than
5 mph (8 kmh). If you do, water can be drawn in through the
air intake, and this can severely damage your engine.
-
Driving In Snow (Diesel Engines)
When driving in a heavy snowstorm or in swirling snow with a diesel engine,
snow can get into the air intake system.
If you keep driving in these
conditions, the air cleaner may get plugged, causing black smok\
e and
loss of
power. In an emergency,
if the air cleaner is plugged with snow, you can
remove the air cleaner. Then, drive to a place
of safety as soon as possible
and put the air cleaner back on.
Starting Your Diesel Engine
Your diesel .engine starts differently than a gasoline engine.
1. Automatic Transmission:
Move your shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). Your engine won’t start
in any other position-that’s a safety feature.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
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Featums & Contmls
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
Shifting
to R (Reverse) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage
your transmission. Shift
to R (Reverse) only after your vehicle is stopped. I
b
1
damaging your transmission, see “If Yo$re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow” in the Index.
N (Neutral)
In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when
you’re already moving, use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use N (Neutral) when your
vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION I
Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) while your engine is “racing”
(running at high speed) is dangerous. Unless your foot is fi\
rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You cou\
ld lose
control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out of P (Park) or N
wI ! your enaine is racing.
I
NOTICE
I
1
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting out of P (Park) or N
(Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t covered by your war\
ranty.
OD (Automatic Overdrive)
This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and
you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your accelerator
- Going about 35 mph (56 kmlh) or more, push the accelerator all the
pedal about halfway down
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.
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Features & Controls
Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure
If you have a 3500 HD Model, it is recommended that the propshaft mounted
parking brake be burnished as part of the new vehicle break in. The parking
brake
will work best after it has been burnished following these instructions.
Make
10 stops, using the parking brake foot pedal, from 20 mph (32 k\
m/h)
about 2
112 miles (4 km) apart. In between stops, drive the vehicle at 20
mph (32 kmlh).
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 Into P (Park) (Automatic Transmission Models Only)
1 CAUTION
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not
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 suddenly.
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 follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in N (Neutral),
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 N
(Neutral).
If you are parking on a hill, or if you’re pulling a trailer, also see
“Parking on Hills9’ or “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. I
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic
Transmission Models Only)
I CAUTION
A It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. 1
1 Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in P
(Park) with the parking brake firmly set.
If you have a four-wheel drive with a manual transfer case sh\
ift lever
and your transfer case
is in N (Neutral), 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).
And,
if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could be injured. Don’t
leave your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to.\
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be su\
re your
vehicle
is in P (Park) and your parking brake is firmly set, before you leav\
e
it. If you have a four-wheel drive, be sure that the transfer case i\
s in a drive
gear-not in
N (Neutral).
After you’ve moved the shift lever into the
P (Park) position, hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from P
(Park) without first pulling it toward you.
If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into
P (Park).
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual transmission in R
(Reverse) and firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case is in a\
drive gear.
Your vehicle could roll
if it isn’t.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer,
see “Parking on Hills” or “Towing a Trailer” in the\
Index.
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