1994 GMC SIERRA warning

To reset the trip odometer, fully press the reset button located \
near the trip
odometer readout. If the reset button is not fully pressed, the trip odometer
may not go all the way back to zero. If it doesn’t, you may have to press the
reset button again to reset the readout to zero.
Tachometer
If you have a
tachometer, it displays
the engine speed in
revolutions per minute
(rpm).
I NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in the red area\
,
your engine or other parts could be damaged.
Damage to your engine or vehicle caused by operating the
engine in the red area isn’t covered by your vehicle warranty.
Warning Lights and Indicators
This section describes the warning lights and gages that may b\
e on your
vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it
becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacem\
ent.
Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also s\
ave you or
others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be
or is a problem with one of your
vehicle’s functions.
As you will see in the details on the next few pages,
some warning lights come on briefly when you turn the ignition\
key just to
let you know they’re working.
If you are familiar with this section, you
should not be alarmed when this happens.
2-69
ProCarManuals.com

Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your
vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let
you
know when there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are
driving,
or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the
section that tells you what to do about
it. Please follow the manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly - and even dangerous. So please get to
know your warning lights and gages. They’re
a big help.
Brake System Warning Light
The red brake system
warning light is
located at the bottom
right corner
of the
instrument cluster
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system
is divided into two parts. If one part
isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking,
though, you need both parts working well.
Your vehicle also has rear-wheel anti-lock brakes.
If the warning light
comes on, there could be
a brake problem with either your regular or
rear-wheel anti-lock brakes, or both. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on
as you start the vehicle. If it doesn’t come on
then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
2-70
ProCarManuals.com

A CAUTION:
The brake system warning light will also come on when you set your
parking brake, and
it will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
Water in Fuel Light
The red Water in Fuel
light,
if you have one,
is located near the
middle right edge of
the instrument cluster,
just below the turn
signal and lane change
indicator.
This light will come on to warn you
if there is water in the diesel fuel
system. For more information on how this light works, see “Diesel Fuel
Requirements and Fuel System”
in the Index.
2-71
ProCarManuals.com

Low Coolant Warning Light
The orange Low
Coolant Warning
light, if you have one,
is located
in the upper
left corner of the
instrument cluster.
If you have
on anytime
engine may a
diesel engine, you have a low coolant light. If this light comes
the engine is running, your system
is low on coolant and the
overheat. See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as soon as you can.
Charging System Warning Light
The red Charging
System Warning light
I is located at the upper
right corner
of the
instrument cluster.
The Charging System Warning light should come on briefly when
you turn
on the ignition, before starting the engine, as a check to show you it is
working. After the engine starts, the light should go
out. If it stays on or
comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with your
charging system.
It could indicate a problem with the alternator drive belt,
or some other charging system problem.
Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light on, it helps to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.
2-73
ProCarManuals.com

Check Gages Light
The orange Check
Gages light is located
near the lower right
corner
of the
instrument cluster.
This light
will come on briefly when you are starting the engine. If the light
comes
on and stays on while you are driving. it could indicate a problem
with your vehicle. It could be a problem with your oil pressure, coolant
temperature. or some other problem. Chcck your various gages
to see if they
are
in the warning zones. If they are, have your vehicle serviced right away.
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Indicator Light
(Canada Only)
The green Daytime
Running Lights
(DRL) Indicator light,
if you have one, is
located near the upper
center
of the
instrument cluster.
If your vehicle was first sold. when new. in Canada, you will have this green
lighl on the instrument pancl.
It will light whenever the Daytime Running
Lights
are on. For more details about DRL, sce "Headlights and Vehicle
Lighting'.
in this section.
2-75
ProCarManuals.com

Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by
not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your Vehicle’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering
skid, too much speed or steering in
a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And
in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the
driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts
to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and
quickly steer the way
you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering
quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for
a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel,
or other
material is
on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your
driving to these conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance
will be longer and vehicle control more
limited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by
shifting
to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You 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 down
steadily when you have
to stop suddenly. As long as the front wheels are
rolling, you
will have steering control.
4-12
ProCarManuals.com

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Turn on your low-beam headlights - not just your parking llgnts - to
help make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay
attention to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and
plan your trip
into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
save time and energy. (See the
next section, “Freeway Driving.”)
0 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
0 Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner is busy enough to need
it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
4-28
ProCarManuals.com

Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Vehicle in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant mix
is correct.
0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper,
a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield
washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing,
a small shovel, a flashlight,
a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be
driving under severe conditions, include
a small bag of sand, a piece of old
carpet or
a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items
in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have
good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation.
You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and
will need
to be very careful.
4-33
ProCarManuals.com