1993 GMC SIERRA weight

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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Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s
the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of
victims every year. Alcohol takes away three things that anyone\
needs to
drive a vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Police records show that half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol-a driver, a passenger or someone else, such as a pedes\
trian, had
been drinking. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. Over
25,000 motor vehicle-related deaths occur
each year because of alcohol, and thousands
of people are injured.
Just how much alcohol is too much
if a person plans to drive? Ideally, no
one should drink alcohol and then drive. But
if one does, then what’s “too
much”? It can be a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on
each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem.
The
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon\

four things:
How much alcohol is in the drink.
The drinker’s body weight.
The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking.
The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.
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Your Driving and the Road
Ir
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, ..-
I
AM407001
According to the American Medical Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person
who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up
with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC
by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks
if
each had 1-112 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank
three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the
person’s BAC would be close
to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food
just before or during drinking
will have a slightly lower BAC level.
DRINKING THAT WILL 8
RESULT IN A BAC
OF ABOUT .05% IN
~ THE TlME SHOWN 6
7
OF DRINKS
NUMBER ’
(as in picture) 4
3
t --
2 1
1 i I
100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
BODY WEIGHT
IN POUNDS
I 3 HOURS
I
YOUR
AM407002
The law in most U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In
Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than
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Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a hill. If
this happens, you have to decide whether to try to drive across the incline.
Here are some things to consider:
0
For
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be too steep to drive
across. When you go straight up
or down a hill, the length of the wheel
base (the distance from the front wheels
to the rear wheels) reduces the
likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end. But when you drive
across an incline, the much more narrow track width (the distance
between the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle from
tilting and rolling over.
Also, driving across an incline puts more weight
on the downhill wheels. This could cause a downhill slide
or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive across a hill. Loose
gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip
sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that
will trip
it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness
of the incline even worse. If
you drive across a rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels
drop into a rut
or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether to try to drive
across an incline. Just because the trail goes across the incl\
ine doesn’t mean
you have to drive it. The last vehicle to try
it might have rolled over.
CAUTIP!
4 Driving across an incline that’s too steep will make your v\
ehicle roll
over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness
of the incline, don’t drive across it. Find another
route instead.
Q: What if I’m driving across an incline that’s not too steep, but I hit
some
loose gravel and start to slide downhill. What should I do?
A: If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn downhill. This
should help straighten out the vehicle and prevent the side sl\
ipping. However,
a much better way to prevent this
is to get out and “walk the course” so you
know what the surface is like before you drive it.
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AM470053
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill, turn the wheels to the right.
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left side 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 tra\
nsmission 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 shift 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).
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z
Your Driving and the Road
NOTICF
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly
repairs
not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow the
advice in this section.
Every vehicle
is ready for some trailer. towing. If it was .built with trailering
options, as many are,
it’s ready for‘heavier trailers. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means chan\
ges isn handling,
durability, and fuel .economy. Successful, safe trailering .takes\
correct
equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In it are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers.
So please read this section carefully before you
pull a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important .points. .
0 There are many different laws having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig
will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be\

driving.
A good source for this information can be state or provincial
police.
.Consider using a sway control if your trailer will weigh 4,000 pounds
(1 800 kg) or less. You should always use a sway control if your trailer
will weigh more than 4,000 pounds (1800 kg). You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles (800 km) ‘your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle,
or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 km/ti) and don’t make ,starts at full throttle. T\
hat
will help your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier load$.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
Weight
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never be more than 13,500 Ibs. (6125.6 kg). But even \
that can be
too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, ‘road grades, outside temperature, and how much your vehicle is
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used to pull a trailer all are important. And, it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle. You can ask your dealer
for
our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at the address listed
in your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight t\
o measure because
it affects the total, gross weight
of your vehicle. The gross vehicle weight
(GVW) includes the curb weight
of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it,
and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer,
you must add the tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index
for more
information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A
m
B
AN490002
If you’re using a “dead-weight” hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10%
of the total loaded trailer weight (B). If you have a “weight-distributing” hitch,
the trailer tongue (A) should weigh
12% of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then\
the tongue,
separately,
to see if the weights are proper. If they aren’t, you may be able
to get them right simply by moving some items around in the \
trailer.
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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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