1994 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Owners Manual

To use the engine coolant heater, first turn off the engine. Then open the
hood, unwrap the electrical cord and plug it in. It uses normal house voltage
(1 10 volts), but:
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant 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 coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends
on the weather, the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Follow this chart.
Engine Coolant Heater Usage
Viscosity/
Oil Grade
SAE
1 OW-30
SAE
15W-40
32°F to 0°F 0°F to -10°F Below -10°F
(o0C to -18°C) (-18°C to-23°C) Below
-23°C
Not
Required
Not
Required Two
Hours*
Two
Hours* Eight Hours*
or Overnight
Eight Hours* or Overnight
*The times listed are minimum times.
It will not harm either the coolant
heater or the vehicle to leave the coolant heater plugged
in longer than the
times stated.
For best results
in cold weather, use Number 1-D diesel fuel or a
“winterized” Number
2-D fuel.
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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” in the Index).
If you’re not out of fuel, and your engine won’t start, do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. Make sure that the “GLOW PLUGS” light
is out. Then turn the ignition key to
START.
If the light doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try starting 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 off and you know your batteries are
charged, but your engine still won’t start, your vehicle needs service.
If the light does not come
on when the engine is cold, your vehicle needs
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.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block Heater)
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In very cold weather, 0°F (- 1 8 “C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can
help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine
warn-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 1 10-volt outlet.
I
I
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to store the \
cord as
it was before
to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you
don’t, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer
depends on the weather, the kind of oil
you have, and some other things.
Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact a GM
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give
you the best advice for that particular area.
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Automatic Transmission
There are several
different positions for
your shift lever.
0 P (Park)
This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best position to use when you start
your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily.
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R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transmission. Shift to
“R” only after your
vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand
without damaging your transmission, see “If You’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.
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.
0 @ (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
pedal about halfway down.
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- 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.
@ 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 @, but you never go into Overdrive. You should use 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.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to drive. This might
happen if you were stuck in very deep sand or mud or were up
against
a solid object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle there
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage
the transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into “P” Park to hold
your vehicle in position on
a hill.
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Five-Speed Manual Transmission
This is your shift
pattern. Here’s how
to
operate your
transmission:
..
1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch pedal and shift into “I .” Then,
slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into
“1” when you’re going less than 20 mph (32 kdh).
If you’ve come to
a complete stop and it’s hard to shift into “1 ,” put the
shift lever
in Neutral and let up on the clutch. Press the clutch pedal
back down. Then shift
into “1 .”
0 2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the
accelerator pedal and
shift into “2.” Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
3,4 and 5 (Third, Fourth and Fifth Gears) - Shift into “3,” “4” and
“5” the same way you do for “2.” Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal,
0 To Stop - Let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal.
and shift to Neutral.
0 R (Reverse) - To back up, first press down the clutch pedal. Wait 3-5
seconds for the internal parts to stop spinning and then, shift into “R.”
Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift to “R” (Reverse) only after your vehicle is stopped.
Shifting to
“R” (Reverse) while your vehicle is moving could
damage your transmission.
Also, use Reverse, along with the parking brake, when turning off your
engine and parking your vehicle.
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Shift Light
If you have a manual
transmission, you may
have a
SHIFT light.
This light will show
you when to shift to
the next higher gear
for best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next higher gear if weather,
road and traffic conditions let you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate
slowly and shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you
quickly change the position of the accelerator. Ignore the
SHIFT light when
you downshift.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Only: If your vehicle has four-wheel drive
and is equipped with a manual transmission, disregard the shift light when
the transfer case is in
4-LOW.
Manual Transmissions- Shift Speeds
If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 lun/h), or if the engine is not running
smoothly, you should downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to
downshift two or more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
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