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3. If this light does  not come  on,  or  the instant the light goes off,  turn your 
ignition  key  to 
START. When the  engine  starts, let go  of the  key. 
NOTICE: 
Holding your  key in “Start”  for longer  than 15 seconds  at a time 
will  cause your  battery to be drained  much sooner.  And  the 
excessive  heat can damage your  starter motor. 
4. If the engine  does  not start after  15 seconds  of cranking,  turn the 
ignition  key to 
OFF. Wait  one minute for  the starter  to cool,  then  try 
the  same steps again. 
If you’re trying to start your  engine after you’ve  run out of fuel,  follow the 
steps 
in “Running  Out of Fuel” (see  “Diesel Fuel Requirements  and  Fuel 
System” 
in the Index). 
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. 
NOTICE: 
If you’re  not in an  idling  vehicle  and  the  engine overheats,  you 
wouldn’t  be  there  to see the  coolant  temperature  gage. This 
could  damage your  vehicle.  Don’t  let  your engine run when 
you’re  not in your  vehicle. 
Cold Weather  Starting  (Diesel  Engine) 
The  following  tips will help you get good  starting in cold weather. 
Use 
SAE low-30 oil  when  the  outside  temperature  drops below  freezing. 
When  the outside  temperature  drops  below 0°F 
(-I S’C), use your  engine 
coolant  heater. 
If 
you park  your vehicle in a  garage,  you shouldn’t  need  to  use the coolant 
heater 
until the  garage  temperature  goes below 0°F (-1 Sac), no matter  how 
cold 
it is  outside. 
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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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Instrument Panel 
13 1’2 
1. Side Window  Defogger  Vents 
2. Light Controls 
3. Air Vents 
4. Multifunction Lever 
5. Tilt Lever 
6. Instrument Cluster 
7. Gearshift Lever 
8. Audio System 
9. Comfort  Control System 
10. Glove Box 
1 1. Audio  System 
12.  Ashtray 
13.  Rear  Window  Defogger  Switch 
or  Rear  Heater  Switch 
15. Dome  Light  Override  Switch 
16. Fuse  Panel 
17.  Parking  Brake Release  Handle 
Instrument  Cluster 
Your instrument cluster is designed  to let you  know  at  a glance how  your 
vehicle  is  running. 
You’ll know  how  fast you’re  going, about  how  much 
fuel  you  have 
and many  other things  you’ll  need  to know  to  drive  safely  and 
economically. 
Tachometer Cluster 
If you have  the  tachometer  cluster, it looks different  but  will  tell you 
everything  the  standard  cluster does,  with  the addition  of displaying  your 
engine’s  revolutions  per minute  (rpm). 
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Comfort Controls 
Flow-Through Ventilation  System 
Your vehicle’s  flow-through  ventilation system  supplies  outside air  to the 
inside  of your  vehicle  when it  is moving. 
I 
With  the side 
windows closed, air 
will flow into  the front 
I 
F” 
air  inlet 
through 
and  out 
exhaust  grilles, 
the 
vehicle 
the rear  air 
valves. 
Outside  air will  also  enter the vehicle  when the heater  or  the air 
conditioning  fan is running, unless  your optional  air conditioner  is in  the 
MAX mode. For more information  see “MAX Button” in  this section. 
Ventilation Tips 
Keep the hood  and front  air inlet  free of ice,  snow,  or  any  other 
obstruction 
(such as leaves).  The heater and defroster  will  work far 
better,  reducing the  chance of fogging  the inside 
of your windows. 
When  you  enter a vehicle in cold  weather, turn the  blower  fan  to HI 
for  a  few moments before driving  off. This  helps clear the  intake ducts 
of snow and moisture, and reduces the  chance of fogging the inside of 
your  windows. 
Keep  the  air path  under  the front seats clear  of objects.  This helps  air  to 
circulate throughout your vehicle. 
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Heater Output 
Engine  Coolant  Heater 
If your vehicle  has  a diesel  engine, it is equipped  with an engine coolant 
heater.  An engine  coolant  heater 
is optional  on  gas engine vehicles. You can 
use  an engine  coolant  heater  during initial  start-up 
in cold  weather (20” F, 
-8” C, or lower) to  help  heat  the  passenger compartment  faster.  Because  an 
engine coolant  heater  warms  the  engine coolant, your  vehicle’s  heating 
system  can provide some  heat as soon  as you  start  the engine. 
The  use 
of an engine  coolant  heater also reduces  the  time it takes for the 
engine  to reach  normal  operating  temperature,  and  shortens the  time it takes 
the  heater 
to reach  full output. For more information,  See “Engine Coolant 
Heater”  in  the  Index. 
Diesel  Engine 
If you idle your  diesel engine for a long time  when  it’s cold outside,  your 
heater  may  blow  out  cool  air.  This is normal.  When  you  increase  the  engine 
speed, your  heater  should  blow 
out warmer  air.  If  it doesn’t,  your  coolant 
level  may  be  low.  See “Engine  Coolant” 
in the Index to find  out  how  to 
check  your coolant  level. 
Heating System (Without  Air  Conditioning) 
If your vehicle does not have air conditioning,  this  is what  your  heating 
system  will  look  like. 
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Function  Lever 
The upper lever on the control  panel can be moved  to  three  different heating 
functions. 
0 Vent  (Left): Air comes  out at  the  vents on your instrument  panel  and  at 
your front side windows. 
a  heat  setting,  is  best for cold  weather. 
0 Defrost (Right): This  setting operates the  defroster. Air comes  out near 
the  bottom  of  the windshield  and at your front side  windows.  Use this 
setting, along  with 
a heat setting,  when you get fog  or  ice on the 
windshield. 
0 Heater  (Center): Air  comes  out near  the floor.  This setting, along  with 
Placing  the lever  between positions sends  air  out both  vents. 
Temperature  Lever 
The  lower  lever on the control  panel lets you select  the temperature of the 
air flowing  into  the passenger area 
of your vehicle.  Move  the  lever right 
toward 
(+) for  warmer  air.  Move the  lever left toward (-) for cooler air. 
Fan Control  Knob 
The knob on the  right  side of  the  heating system  control  panel controls the 
fan speed. The knob  has  four speed positions. To increase the air  flow, turn 
the knob toward (+). To decrease the  air  flow,  turn it toward (-). 
Electronic  Heating/Air Conditioning System 
If your vehicle has air conditioning, your  heating/air conditioning  system 
will 
look like  this. 
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