1993 GMC SIERRA flat tire

Section
0
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes
safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
I
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts
properly.
2
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
3
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort
controls and how to operate your audio system.
4
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and
how to drive under different conditions.
5
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while
driving, such as
a flat tire or engine overheating.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running
properly and looking good.
7
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and
what fluids and lubricants to use.
8
This section tells you how to contact your GM division for
assistance and
how to get service publications. It also gives
vou information on “Reportina Safetv Defects”.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of alr..,st every subject in this
manual. You can use
it to quickly find something you want to
m read. -
V
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Rear Seats
Rear Folding Seat (Extended Cab Models)
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The extended cab may have a rear folding seat which can be f\
olded down
for more seating space.
To use the seat, pull the entire seat forward until it is flat. Pull forward on
the,
RELEASE lever, under the right-hand side of the seat cushion. Push the\

seatback rearward until it latches.
After pushing the seatback upright into position, pull the seat\
back forward to
make sure it is locked.
Rear Seat (Four Door Models)
You can adjust the seat by sliding the adjuster lever at the fron\
t of the seat
toward the 'door to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where yau want it. Then
release the lever and
try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the
seat is locked into place.
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may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues-such as enough water, ice
or packed snow on the
road to make a “mirrored surface’’-and slow down when you have \
any
doubt.
Remember: the rear wheel anti-lock braking system (RWAL) helps\
avoid only
a rear braking skid. In a braking skid (where the front wheels are no longer
rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes to get the front wheels rolling
again. This restores steering control. Push the brake pedal dow\
n steadily
when you have to stop suddenly.
As long as the front wheels are rolling, you
will have steering control. Steer the way you want to go.
Off-Road Driving with Your FourcWheel
Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Also, see
“Anti-lock Brakes” in the Index.
If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive,
you shouldn’t drive off-road unless you’re on a level, so\
lid surface.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have some defi\
nite hazards.
The greatest
of these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American\
road system behind.
Traffic lanes aren’t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There a\
re no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill
or downhill. In short, you’ve gone right
back
to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s why it’s very important
that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and suggestions. These
will help make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. \
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to
have all necessary maintenance and service work done. Be sure \
you read all
the information about your four-wheel drive vehicle in this manual.
Is there
enough fuel?
Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the fluid levels up where
they should be? What are the local laws that apply to off-roa\
ding where you’ll be driving?
If you don’t know, you should check with law enforcement people\

in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land?
If so, be sure to get the
necessary permission.
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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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As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequat\
e
following distances.
Hill and Mountain Roads
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AM470001
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and \
more enjoyable.
(See “Off-Road” in the Index for information about driving off-road.)
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can \
work
hard on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let
your engine do some
of the slowing down. Don’t make your brakes do it
all. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. That
way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes.
If you don’t shift down,’ your brakes could get so hot that they
- b wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking or even none
going
down a hill. You could crash. .Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. I I
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Your Driving and the Road
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the limit for cold tires. You’ll find
these numbers on the Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s door
(or see “Tire Loading” in the Index). Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few reasons why you’ll need the righ\
t hitch.
Here are some rules
to follow:
If your vehicle has a step bumper and you are going to use a ball-type
hitch, remove the pad and cut holes in
it to match the hitch and safety
chain holes in the bumper.
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will weigh more than 4,000
pounds (1800 kg) be sure to use a properly mounted weight-distributing
hitch and sway control of the proper size. This equipment is very
important for proper vehicle loading and good handling when you\
’re
driving.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trail\
er. Cross
the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer
so that the tongue will not
drop
to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer
or by the trailer
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for atta\
ching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so you can turn with your rig. And,
never allow safety chains to drag .on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs
its own brakes-and they must be adequate. Be sure
to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into your vehicle’s brake system
if the trailer’s brake system will use
more than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3~~) of fluid from your vehicles master cylinder.
If it does, both braking systems won’t work well. You could even lose your
brakes.
Will the trailer brake parts take 3,000 psi (20 650 kPa) of pressure? If
not, the trailer brake system must not be used with your vehi\
cle.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake fluid tap at the
port on the master cylinder that sends fluid
to the rear brakes. But don’t
use copper tubing for this.
If you do, it will bend and finally break off.
Use steel brake tubing.
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Pmb/ems on the Road
1 Section
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road .
Hazard Warning Flasher ........................................................................\
............... 5-2
Other Warning Devices ........................................................................\
................. 5-3
Jump Starting ........................................................................\
................................ 5-3
Towing Your Vehicle ........................................................................\
...................... 5-8
Engine Overheating ........................................................................\
....................... 5-9
If
If
a Tire Goes Flat ........................................................................\
...................... 5-17
Changing a Flat Tire
........................................................................\
............... 5-17
Jack Storage
........................................................................\
............................ 5-19
Spare Tire
........................................................................\
................................ 5-20
You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow ................................................... 5-33
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Engine Fan Noise
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster to provide more air to
cool the engine. In most every day
driving conditions the clutch is not engaged. This improves fue\
l economy and
reduces fan noise. Under heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing andlor high
outside temperatures, the fan speed increases when the clutch e\
ngages.
So
you may hear an increase in fan noise. This is normal and should not be
mistaken as the transmission slipping or making extra shifts. It is merely the
cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the clutch disengages.
You may also hear this fan noise when you start the engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch disengages.
If a Tire Goes Fiat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip \
the steering wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a stop well out of
the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the‘vehicle under control by steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road
if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your jacking equipment
to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driv\
ing slowly to a
level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.
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