1995 GMC SIERRA engine

Recommended Shift Speeds*
Five
Speed Manual Transmission with Low Gear
Acceleration Shift Speed MPH
(KW)
Engine
(VIN
CODE)
4.3L V6 (Z)
6.5L V8 (P)
4.3L V6 (Z)
6.SL V8 (P)
2 to 3
15 (24)
1 5 (24)
3 to 4
40 (64)
40 (64)
4 to 5
50 (80)
45 (72)
Cruise Shift Speed MPH (KM/H)
15 (24)
I 5 (24) 25-40
(40-64)
25-40
(40-64) 45-50
(72-80)
45 (72)
*LOW GEAR (1) is intended only for heavy loads and is not recommended
for normal driving.
If your speed drops below 20 mph
(32 km/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.
A CAUTION:
If you skip more than one gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. And you could injure yourself or
others. Don’t shift
down more than one gear when you
downshift.
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you downshift, or if you
race the engine when you downshift, you can damage the engine,
clutch or transmission.
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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Models
Only)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine
running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever
is
not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set. If you
have four-wheel drive with a manual transfer case shift lever
and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be
free to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK
(P). So be sure the
transfer case
is in a drive gear - not in NEUTRAL (N). And, if
you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat
and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your
vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P) position, hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then. see
if you can move the shift lever away
from PARK (P) without first pulling
it toward you.
If
you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission.
You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock,
set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you
leave the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the
Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) before
you release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push
yours
a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
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Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission
Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual transmission in
REVERSE (R), turn off the engine, and firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case is in a drive gear.
Your vehicle could roll if it isn't.
If you are parking on
a hill, or if your pulling a trailer, see "Parking on
Hills" or '"Towing a Trailer" in the Index.
Parking Over Things That Burn
1 A CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your \
vehicle and ignite. Don't park over papers, leaves, dry grass
or
other things that can burn.
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Engine Exhaust
A CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness
and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on
the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to blow out any CO;
and
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here
are
some things to know.
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A CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the air system control off could allow
dangerous exhaust into your vehicle (see the earlier Caution
under “Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide
~ (CO) into your vehicle even if the fan switch is at the highest
setting. One place this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
- with
CO - can come in easily. NEVER park in a garage with the
engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard. (See “Blizzard” in the
Index.)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is
not fully in PARK
(P) with the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is
running unless you have to. If you’ve left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever
to PARK
(P).
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in NEUTRAL (N),
your vehicle
will be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear - not in NEUTRAL (N). Always
set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
won’t move. See “Shifting Into PARK
(P)“ in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer. see ”Towing a Trailer“ in the Index.
Four- Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your engine‘s driving
power
to all four wheels for extra traction. To get the most satisfaction out
of four-wheel drive, you must be familiar with it’s operation. Read the part
that follows before using four-wheel drive.
You should use 2-WHEEL
HIGH (2H) for most normal driving conditions.
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Cargo Lamp
If you have a cargo lamp, you can use it to light the cargo area of your
vehicle.
Press the top, ribbed
part of the switch
to
turn the cargo lamp
on,
and press the
bottom
of the switch
to turn it off.
The dome
lamp switch must be on, or one of the doors open, for the cargo
lamp to work.
Underhood Reel Lamp
If you have an
underhood reel lamp,
it is located inside the
engine compartment
on the passenger side
fender.
You can use it
as a flashlight.
To use the lamp, pull up on the lever and pull the lamp out. The cord will
unreel as you pull the lamp.
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Tachometer
. :i
Your tachometer
displays the engine
speed
in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
1 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 part describes the warning lights and gages that may be 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 replacement.
Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come 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 start the engine just
to let
you know they’re working. If you are familiar
with this section, you should
not be alarmed when
this happens.
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 this 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.
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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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ANTI-
LOCK
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on when you start your
engine and may stay on for several seconds. That‘s normal.
If the light
doesn’t come on, have
it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
If the light stays on. or comes on when you’re driving, your vehicle needs
service.
If the regular brake system warning light isn‘t on, you still have
brakes, but you don‘t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system
warning light is
also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light”
earlier
in this part.
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