1994 GMC SIERRA battery

I
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run
the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps
the battery (or batteries) charged.
You will need a well-charged battery (or
batteries) to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your
headlights. Let the heater run for awhile.
If you have a diesel engine, you may have to run it at a higher speed to get
enough heat. Then, shut the engine off and close
the window almost all the
way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when
you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
Power Winches
If you wish to use a power winch on your vehicle, only use it when your
vehicle
is stationary or anchored.
When operating a power winch on your vehicle, always leave the\

transmission
in "N" (Neutral). Leaving a automatic transmission
in "P" (Park) while using a power winch may damage the
transmission.
Also, leaving an automatic or manual transmission
in gear while using a power winch may damage the
transmission.
Use the regular brakes, set the parking brake, or block the wheels to keep
your vehicle
from rolling.
4-36
ProCarManuals.com

Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can use them to warn others. Set one up
at the side of the road about 300 feet (1 00 m) behind your vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery (or batteries) has run down, you may want to use another-
vehicle
and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. But please follow the
steps below to do it safely.
things
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your
vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your vehicle warranty.
Trying
to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it could
damage your vehicle, even if you have a manual transmission.
And if you have an automatic transmission, it won’t start that
way.
5-3
ProCarManuals.com

To Jump Start Your Vehicle
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with two batteries (or more), you
should know before
you begin that, especially in cold weather, you may
not be able to get enough power from
a single battery in another
vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle
has more than one battery, use the battery that’s on the
passenger side
of the vehicle - this will reduce electrical resistance.
sure the vehicle’s aren’t touching each other.
If they are, it could cause
a ground connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to start your
vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage
the electrical systems.
You could be injured
if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly
on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission
in “P” (Park) or a
manual transmission in “N” (Neutral). If you have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is not in “N” (Neutral).
2. Get the vehicles
close enough
so the jumper cables can reach, but be
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t
needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save
your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly damaged. The
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the positive (+) and
negative
(-) terminals on each battery.
5-4
ProCarManuals.com

5. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or missing insulation. 'Ir'
they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should
know. Positive
(+) will go to positive (+) and negative (-) will go to
negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don't connect (+) to (-) or you'll
get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts, too.
5-5
ProCarManuals.com

7. Don’t let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-) cable to the good battery’s negative
(-) cable.
Don’t let the other end touch anything
until the next step. The other end
of the negative cable doesn’t go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy
unpainted metal part
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
Good Battery (-) Heavy Metal Engine Part
5-6
ProCarManuals.com

9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection
is just as
good there, but the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is much
less.
10. :Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for
awhile.
1 1. ‘Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
.Remove Cables in this Order:
2 3 1. Heavy Metal
Engine Part
2. Good Battery
(-)
3. Good Battery (+)
4. Dead Battery (+)
12. :Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting.
‘Take care that
they don’t touch each other or any other metal.
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have your GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your
vehicle. They can provide the right equipment and know how to tow
it
without damage.
If your vehicle has been changed since
it was factory-new, by adding such
things like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these things
coulcl be damaged during towing.
Befolre you do anything,
turn on the hazard warning flashers.
5-7
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Things Under the Hood (continued)
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................. 6-45
Brake Master Cylinder
................................... 6-46
Replacing Brake System Parts
................................ 6-49
Other Maintenance Items
.................................... 6-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Inserts
.............................. 6-50
FluidLeakCheck
.......................................... 6-51
Lubrication
............................................... 6-51
Battery .................................................. 6-52
Vehiclestorage
......................................... 6-52
Bulb Replacement
......................................... 6-53
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
.................................. 6-62
Exhaustsystem
........................................... 6-64
Loading Your Vehicle
...................................... 6-64
Tires .................................................... 6-71
Inflation-Tire Pressure
.................................. 6-71
Tire Inspection and Rotation
............................... 6-73
When it’s Time for New Tires
............................. 6-74
Buying New Tires
....................................... 6-76
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
............................. 6-77
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
......................... 6-78
Wheel Replacement
..................................... 6-78
Tire Chains
............................................ 6-79
Appearancecare
.......................................... 6-80
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
......................... 6-81
Cleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle ....................... 6-84
Appearance Care Materials
.................................. 6-87
Vehicle Identification Number
................................ 6-88
Service Parts Identification
Label ............................. 6-90
Specifications Charts
..................................... 6-91
6-2
ProCarManuals.com

Never use too much of any lubricant and be sure to wipe up any extra
lubricant when
you are finished.
Your maintenance schedule
will tell you how often to lubricant these items.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index for the proper
lubricant
to use.
Lock Cylinders
To be sure your locks operate properly, they must be lubricated. Your
vehicle’s maintenance schedule will
tell you how often to lubricate them.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index for the proper
lubricant
to use.
You should not use penetrating oils because they could wash
out the factory
installed lubricant and cause the lock
to bind. De-icers which contain
alcohol could
also wash away the lubricant, so be sure to lubricate the lock
after using
a de-icer of this type.
Tailgate Handle
The tailgate handle pivot points on your vehicle should be lubricated to keep
the handle working smoothly.
Your maintenance schedule
will tell you how often to lubricant the handle.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index for the proper
lubricant to use.
Battery
Every new GM vehicle has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You never have to
add water to
one of these. When it’s time for a new battery, we recommend
a Delco Freedom@ battery. Get one that has the catalog number shown on
the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, take off the
black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery
from running down.
6-52
ProCarManuals.com