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How To Use This Manual
These symbols are used on warning lights in your vehicle:
1-
Engine Coolant Temperature
BRAKE
Brake Battery
Charging
System
I RELEASE
Parking Brake Release
s Fuel
SHIFT
Shift Light
Engine Oil
Pressure
Low
Coolant
Here are some other symbols you may see:
Fuse
I II
Hood Release Lighter Horn
PO594
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When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes before you move your
vehicle. This lets oil pressure build up. Your engine will sound louder when
it's cold.
NOTIP
-
If you're not in an idling vehicle and the engine overheats, you wouldn't
there to see the coolant temperature gage. This could damage your
hicle. Don't let vour enaine run when you're not
in vour vehicle.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)
The following tips will help you get good starting in cold weather.
Use
SAE IOW-30 oil when the outside temperature drops below freezing.
When the outside temperature drops below
0°F (-18"C), use your engine
block heater.
If you park your vehicle in a garage, you shouldn't need to use \
the block
heater until the garage temperature goes below
0°F (-18"C), no matter how
cold it is outside.
To use the engine block heater, first turn
off the engine. Then open the hood,
unwrap the electrical cord and plug it in. It uses normal house voltage
(110
volts), but:
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CAUTION
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an ele\
ctrical
shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and
cause a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a
properly grounded three-prong
11 0-volt outlet. If the cord won’t reach,
use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least \
15
amps.
1 NOTICE
1 After you’ve used the block heater, be sure to store the cord in th~~~~
manner it was, to help keep it away from moving engine parts.\
If YOU
don’t, it could be torn and damaged.
~p@&%?yl~
How long should you keep tne MOCK neater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil ,you have, and some other things. Follow this-
chart.
,.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER USAGE”
Viscosity . 32’ $0 0°F ’ 0’ to -10°F ‘Belaw -1 0°F
Grade Oil (0” to &I S‘C) ’ ’ (-18’ to. -23°C) (B&w -23°C)
SAE Not Two Eight Hours
I OW-30 Required Hours or Overnight
SAE . Nit ’ . Two Eight Hours
15W-40 f3equired Hours or Overnight
..
* The times listed are minimum. times. It will not harm &her
the block heater
TO1 57
or the vehicle to leave it plugged in longer than the times stated. 3
For best results in cold weather, use Number I-D diesel fuel or a “winterized”
Number
2-D fuel.
If Your Diesel Engine Won’t- Start
If you’ve run out of fuel, look -at “Running Out Of Fuel” (see ‘‘Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
m the Index).
If you’re not out of fuel, and your engine won’t start, do this:
Turn y6ur ignition key
to Run. .Make sure that the GLOW PLUGS light is out.
Then turn
the ignition key to Stkrt while you ‘push the accelerator pedal
down.
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. If the light. doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try staiting your engine
again. And, see your dealer
as soon as you- can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes out and you know your batte\
ries are
charged, but your engine still won’t start, your vehicle nee\
ds service.
If your batteries don’t have enough .charge to start ,your engine, see “Battery”
in the Index.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and that you’ve changed the
oil
at the proper times. If you use the wrong oil, your engine may be harder
to start.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops, your vehicle needs service.
NOTICE
Don’t use starting “aids” such as ether or gasoline, in the m~v intakc They
could damage your engine.
..- - .- * K2214
In very cold weather, 0°F (-18°C) or colder, if you have an engine block
heater, it can help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up.
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Features & Controls
To use the block heater:
1.
Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical
- shock. Also, the wrong extension cord could overheat and cause a
fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt outlet.
If the cord won’t reach, use a
! heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
After you’ve used the block heater, be sure
to store the cord in the
manner it was, to help keep it away from moving engine parts. If
you
don’t, it could be torn and damaged.
How long should you keep the block heater plugged in? The ans\
wer depends
on the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other thi\
ngs. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact a Gen\
eral Motors
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. Th\
e dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
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Oil Pressure Gage
Standard Cluster, Gas Standard Cluster, Diesel
60
K2335
Tachometer Cluster, Gas Tachometer Cluster, Diesel
The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per
square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles ind\
icate 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.
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Features & Controls
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a dangerously low oil
level or other problem causing low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as
possible.
bnu I IUIY
+ Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine
can become
so hot that it catches on fire. You or others could be
burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
I NOTICE
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly anc
not covered by your warranty.
Voltmeter
Standard Cluster Tachometer Cluster
14 14
A
K2336
When your engine is not running, but the ignition is on (in the Run position),
this gage shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts. When the engine
is running, the gage shows the condition of the charging system. Readings
between the low and high warning zones indicate the normal ope\
rating range.
Readings
in either warning zone indicate a possible problem in the electrical
system.
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close behind you, you can allow a little extra time and flash\
your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to slow
down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curvea, somerlmes quite sharply. The exit\
speed is
usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer,\
not to
your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher\
speeds, you
may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are.\
For example,
40 rnph (65 km/h) might seem like only 20 mph (30 km/h). Obviously, this
could lead to serious trouble
on a ramp designed for 20 mph (30 kmlh)!
Driving a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are\
still many
made on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the s\
ame in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at\
higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the \
wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more
if you and your vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work-don’t plan to make too many miles
that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and \
shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained,
it’s ready to go.
If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in \
your vehicle’s
dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help \
if
you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure? inside and outside?
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