1994 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

To Check Brake Fluid
You can check the
brake fluid without
taking off the cap. Just
look at the windows
on the brake fluid
reservoir. The fluid
levels should be above
“MIN.” If they aren’t,
have your brake system checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work
is done on the brake hydraulic system, make sure the levels are
above
“MIN” and below the top of each window.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake fluid - such as
Delco Supreme
ll@ (GM Part No.1052535). Use new brake fluid from a
sealed container only, and always clean the brake fluid reservo\
ir cap before
removing it.
NOTICE:
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid. For
example, just
a few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake system parts so
badly that they’ll have to be replaced.
Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful not to spill brake
fluid
on your vehicle. If you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care” in the Index.
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Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. If you have a
C 3500 HD model, it has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The
sound may come and go or be heard
all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well. That could lead to an accident.
When
you hear the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in
costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
If
you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have wear indicators, but if you
ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have
the rear brake linings inspected.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time the
tires are removed for rotation or changing. When you have
the front brakes
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if
there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
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Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes adjust for wear.
If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your rear drum brakes
may need adjustment. Adjust them by backing up and firmly applying
the
brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to
be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake parts in
them, as your vehicle does when it is new. When you replace parts of your
braking system
- for example, when your brake linings wear down and
you have to have new ones put
in - be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly.
For example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes can change, for
the
worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect can change in many
other ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Other Maintenance Hems
Front Suspension and Steering Linkage
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often to lubricate the fittings.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index for the proper
lubricant to use.
Front Wheel Bearings
Your vehicle has front wheel bearings that must be cleaned and repacked.
Your maintenance schedule
will tell you how often this must be done.
Front Shock Absorbers
The front shock absorbers of your vehicle do many things. They help the
vehicle ride smoothly and also control
the travel of the suspension system.
When the shock absorbers are serviced, any replacement shock absorbers
must be
the same as the original equipment shock absorbers in both
extended length and strength.
NOTICE:
If you use shock absorbers that are not the same as the original
shock absorbers, the shock absorbers
or suspension system
could be damaged.
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Wheel Nut Torque
For vehicle with dual wheels, wnen the vehicle, wheel or Tasteners are new,
have the torque set at
the first 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (1 60, 1600 and
9600 km). Use the torque specified
in the appropriate Specification Chart
later
in this section.
Single Belt Accessory Drive
If your new vehicle uses a serpentine belt, it is lighter and more durable than
systems with several belts.
The belt runs over or around the pulleys on the engine.
A tensioner may be
used
to keep the belt tight at all times. The tensioner also makes replacing
the belt easier.
If you need to replace the belt, be sure to get the correct
replacement belt. Your dealership or parts supplier can help you with this.
The Accessory Drive belt Routing label on your vehicle will show
you how
to route
the belt your vehicle uses.
Windshield Wiper Blade Inserts
To replace the
windshield wiper
blade insert, lift the
wiper arm and rotate
the blade until
it is
facing away from the
windshield.
Unlatch
the end of the insert from the holding clips. Remove the insert and
slide a new
one in place. Make sure the blade is secured in the clips.
Air Conditioning
Every now and then have your dealership check your air conditioning
system
to be sure it has not lost any cooling ability. If you think the system
is not working properly, have your dealership check it out as soon as
possible.
The air conditioning
will not work when the temperature is below 40°F
(4°C).
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Fluid Leak Check
After the vehicle has been parked for a while, inspect the surface under the
vehicle for water, oil, fuel or other fluids. Water dripping from the air
conditioning
system after it has been used is normal. If you notice fuel leaks
or fumes, the causes should be found and corrected at once.
Lubrication
Accelerator Control System
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often the accelerator linkage
pivot points must be lubricated. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Tndex for the proper lubricant to use.
Accelerator cables and cruise control cables should not be lubricated.
Any
cab1e.s that are worn or are hard to pull should be replaced.
Hood Latches and Hood Hinge
Your maintenance schedule will tell you how often to lubricate the hood
latch and hood hinge assembly. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index for the proper lubricant to use.
Propeller Shaft Slip Splines
See your maintenance schedule to find out how often the. slip splines must
be lubricated. See “Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index for
the proper lubricant to use.
Constant Velocity Joints
See your mamtenance schedule to find out how often the constant velocity
joints must be lubricated. See “Recommended Flui-ds and Lubricants”
in the
Index for the proper lubricant to use.
Body
Normal use of your vehicle will cause metal to metal wear at some points on
the cab and body if they are not lubricated.
For exposed surfaces, such as door checks, door lock bolts, lock striker
plates, dovetail bumper wedges, etc., a
thin film of engine oil should be
applied.
The seat adjusters and seat track should be lubricated
with chassis grease.
Door weather strips and rubber hood bumpers should be wiped clean with
a
rubber lubricant.
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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.
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Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
Bulb Replacement
Before you replace any bulbs, be sure that all the lights are\
off and the
engine isn’t running.
Sealed Beam Headlights
I
1. Remove the four
screws from the
headlight retainer.
2. Pull the headlight
out and remove
the retainer.
3.
4.
5.
Unplug and
remove the
headlight.
Plug in the new
headlight and put
it in place.
Install the
retainer
to the
headlight and
tighten the
screws.
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Halogen Bulbs
NOTICE:
Avoid touching the bulb or letting it come in contact with
anything damp. Oil from your skin or moisture on the bulb can
cause the bulb to explode when it is turned on.
If either comes in
contact with the bulb, clean it with alcohol or a suitable
degreaser and wipe the bulb dry.
Composite Headlights
1.
2.
Remove the two
screws at the top
of the radiator
support.
Pull the headlight
lens assembly
out.
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