
Table of Contents 
Introduction - How to Use this Manual 
This  section tells you  how  to use  your manual and includes  safety 
and  vehicle  damage  warnings  and symbols. 
Section 1 - Seats and Restraint  Systems 
This section tells  you  how to use your seats and  safety belts 
properly. 
It also explains  the air ba, 0 s -y stem. 
Section 2 - Features & Controls 
This  section  explains  how to start  and operate  your  vehicle. 
Section 3 - Comfort  Controls & Audio  Systems 
This section tells  you  how to adjust the ventilation and  comfort 
controls  and how  to operate  your audio  system. 
Section 4 - Your  Driving  and  the Road 
Here you’ll find  helpful  information and tips about  the  road  and 
how  to drive  under different  conditions. 
Section 5 - Problems on the  Road 
This  section tells  you what  to do if you  have  a problem  while 
driving,  such 
as a  flat  tire or  engine  overheating.  etc. 
Section 6 - Service & Appearance  Care 
Here the manual tells  you how to keep your vehicle running 
properly  and looking  good. 
Section 7 - Maintenance  Schedule 
This section tells  you when  to perform  vehicle  maintenance and 
what  fluids  and lubricants  to use. 
Section 8 - Customer  Assistance  Information 
L get service  publications.  It also  gives  you information on 
This 
section tells  you  how to  contact 
GM for  assistance  and how  to 
“Reporting  Safety Defects”  on page 
8-4. 
Index 
Here’s an  alphabetical  listing of almost every  subject in this 
manual.  You can use 
it to  quickly  find something you want  to  read. 
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These symbols are on some of your controls: 
uu 
Windshield Wiper  Windshield 
Washer 
I I 
Windshield Defroster 
Ventilating Fan 
These symbols are used on  warning and  indicator lights: 
Engine  Coolant 
Temperature 
~~ 
Battery  Charging 
System 
BRAKE 
Brake 
ANTI- 
LOCK 
4 Wheel 
Anti-Lock 
I 1 
Rear  Window 
Defogger 
Fuel 
Parking Brake 
Release 
Engine Oil 
Pressure 
SHIFT 
Shift  Lighf 
Vlll . .. 
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New Vehicle “Break-In” - 3500 HD Model 
If you have a 3500 HD model, your parking brake requires a special 
break-in  procedure.  See “Parking  Brake” 
in the Index. 
Ignition Switch 
Use  your  key to start your  vehicle.  The key lets you turn the ignition switch 
to  five  different positions: 
2 
5 
1. OFF 
2. RUN 
3. START 
4. ACC 
5. LOCK 
ACC  (Accessory): 
ACC lets you use things like the radio, power  windows 
and the windshield  wipers when the engine is off. To get into ACC, push in 
the key and turn it toward you.  Your steering  wheel  will  remain locked,  just 
as it was before you inserted  the key. 
LOCK: This  position  locks your ignition,  steering wheel and  transmission. 
It’s 
a theft deterrent  feature. You will only  be able  to remove  your key  when 
the ignition 
is turned  to LOCK. 
OFF: This position  lets  you turn  off the  engine  but still  turn the steering 
wheel.  It  doesn’t lock the  steering wheel like  LOCK. Use 
OFF if  you must 
have  your  vehicle 
in motion while the  engine is off (for example, if your 
vehicle  is  being pushed). 
RUN: This is the position  for  driving. 
START:  This  starts  your engine. 
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Starting Your Gasoline  Engine 
If you  have  a diesel engine, see “Starting  Your Diesel Engine”  in the Index. 
Engines  start differently.  The 8th digit  of your  Vehicle  Identification 
Number  (VIN)  shows  the code  letter or number for your engine. 
You will 
find  the 
VIN at  the  top left of your  instrument panel.  (See “Vehicle 
Identification  Number” 
in the  Index.)  Follow the proper steps  to start the 
engine. 
Automatic  trunsnaission: 
Move  your  shift lever to  PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your  engine  won’t 
start 
in any other position - that’s  a safety  feature.  To restart  when you’re 
already  moving,  use NEUTRAL 
(N) only. 
NOTICE: 
Don’t  try to shift  to PARK (P) if  your  vehicle is moving.  If  you 
do,  you  could  damage  the  transmission.  Shift  to 
PARK (P) only 
when  your  vehicle 
is stopped. 
The  gear  selector should  be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold  the clutch pedal to the 
floor  and  start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start 
if the clutch pedal  is  not 
all  the  way  down 
- that’s  a safety  feature. 
To start ymr 4.3 Liter V6 (Code Z) or 5.0 Liter V8 (Code H) engine: 
1. Without pushing  the accelerator pedal,  turn your ignition  key to 
START. When the engine  starts,  let go of the  key.  The idle speed will 
go down  as your  engine  gets  warm. 
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. 
2. If it doesn’t  start right away,  hold your  key in START. If it doesn’t start 
in three seconds,  push  the accelerator  pedal about one-quarter of the 
way  down for 
12 more  seconds,  or until it starts. 
3. If your engine  still won’t  start (or starts  but  then  stops), it could be 
flooded 
with too  much  gasoline.  Try this: 
4. Wait 15 seconds  to  let  the  starter motor cool down. Then  push your 
accelerator  pedal  all  the  way  to  the  floor. Hold 
it there.  Then,  hold  the 
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key in START  for no more  than ten seconds.  This  clears  the extra 
gasoline  from  the engine. 
If  the  engine  still  doesn’t  start,  wait another 
15 seconds and  do  Step 4 
again. 
When the  engine  starts,  let  go 
of the key  and the accelerator  pedal. 
NOTICE: 
Your  engine  is  designed  to  work  with  the  electronics  in  your 
vehicle. 
If you add  electrical  parts  or  accessories,  you could 
change  the 
way the  fuel  injection  system  operates.  Before  adding 
electrical  equipment,  check  with  your  dealer. 
If you  don’t,  your 
engine  might  not  perform  properly. 
If you  ever  have  to  have  your  vehicle  towed,  see  t,he part of this 
manual  that  tells  how to  do  it  without  damaging  your  vehicle. 
See  “Towing  Your  Vehicle” in  the  Index. 
To start your 5.7 Liter  (Code K) or 7.4 Liter  (Code N) V8 engine: 
1. Without pushing the accelerator  pedal,  turn your ignition key to 
START.  When the  engine  starts,  let  go  of the  key.  The  idle  speed will 
go  down  as your  engine gets warm. 
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. 
2. If it doesn’t  start right away, hold your key  in  START.  If it doesn’t start 
in three  seconds,  push the accelerator  pedal about  one-quarter of the 
way  down  for 
12 more seconds,  or until it starts. 
3. If your  engine  still won’t  start (or starts  but then  stops), it could  be 
flooded  with too much  gasoline.  Try this: 
4. Wait 15 seconds to let the starter  motor cool down.  Then push your 
accelerator  pedal 
all the way to the floor. Hold it there.  Then hold the 
key 
in START  for  no  more  than ten seconds.  This  clears  the extra 
gasoline  from 
the engine. If the  engine  still doesn’t  start,  wait another 
15 seconds  and do  Step 4 again. 
When 
the engine  starts,  let  go of the key and the  accelerator  pedal. 
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Hot  Engine  Restart (Vehicles With 5.7L LO5 Engine  and  Over 8500 lbs. 
GVWR): 
If your  engine  is already hot  and then  stalls,  turn your ignition  key to OFF. 
Then turn your  key to RUN and wait 20 seconds before  you restart your 
engine.  When the engine 
starts, let go of the key  and the accelerator pedal. 
NOTICE: 
Your  engine is designed  to  work  with the  electronics  in  your 
vehicle. 
If you  add  electrical  parts  or  accessories,  you  could 
change  the 
way the  fuel  injection  system  operates.  Before adding 
electrical  equipment,  check  with  your  dealer. 
If you  don’t,  your 
engine  might  not  perform  properly. 
If you ever have  to  have  your  vehicle  towed, see the  part of this 
manual  that  tells  how to  do  it  without  damaging  your  vehicle. 
See  “Towing  Your  Vehicle” in  the  Index. 
Driving  Through  Deep  Standing  Water 
NOTICE: 
If you drive  too  quickly  through  deep  puddles  or  standing  water, 
water  can  come  in  through  your  engine’s air  intake  and  badly 
damage  your  engine.  Never  drive  through  water  that  is  slightly \
lower  than  the  underbody  of your  vehicle. 
If you  can’t  avoid 
deep  puddles  or  standing  water,  drive  through  them  very 
slowly. 
Driving  In Snow (Diesel  Engines) 
When driving in a heavy snowstorm  or in swirling snow  with a diesel 
engine,  snow  can get into the air  intake system.  If  you keep driving 
in these 
conditions 
the air cleaner  may get plugged, causing black  smoke  and loss of 
power. In an emergency,  if the  air cleaner gets plugged  with  snow,  you can 
remove  the air cleaner.  Then,  drive  to 
a place of safety as soon as possible 
and 
put the  air cleaner back on. 
Starting  Your Diesel  Engine 
Your diesel  engine  starts  differently than a gasoline  engine. 
1. Automatic transmission: Move your shift lever  to PARK (P) or 
NEUTRAL 
(N). Your  engine  won’t start in any  other position - that’s 
a safety  feature. To restart  when you’re already  moving, use 
NEUTRAL  (N) only. 
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NOTICE: 
Don't  try to shift  to PARK (P) if your  vehicle is moving. If you 
do,  you  could  damage  the  transmission.  Shift  to 
PARK (P) only 
when your vehicle is stopped. 
2. MmLwl ~I-~~CZ.SI~~~.YS~~CZ: Move your shift lever to NEUTRAL (N) and 
hold  the  clutch pedal 
to the floor  while starting  the engine.  Your vehicle 
won't  start 
if the  clutch  pedal  is  not  all  the wlay down - that's a safety 
feature. 
Turn  your  ignition  key to 
RUN. 
Observe  the GLOW  PLUGS  light.  (This light may not come  on if the 
engine  is hot.) 
NOTICE: 
If the GLOW PLUGS light  stays  on,  it  means  that  your  vehicle 
could  have  one 
of several  problems, so you should have  it 
serviced  right  away. 
3. As soon as the GLOW  PLUGS light goes off. IMMEDIATELY turn the 
ignition  key 
to START.  When  the  engine starts. let go of the  key.  (The 
longer  you  wait  to  start after the  light goes 
off, the harder it will be to 
start  the engine.) 
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 IS 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. follocv  the 
steps 
in "Running  Out of Fuel"  (see "Diesel  Fuel  Requirements  and  Fuel 
System" 
in the  Index). 
When 
YOLI~ 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. 
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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 IOW-30 oil  when  the outside temperature  drops below  freezing. 
When the outside temperature  drops below 
0°F (-1 floc), 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 (-I SOC), no matter how 
cold 
it is outside. 
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 
(I 10 volts),  but: 
A CAUTION: 
Plugging  the  cord  into  an  ungrounded  outlet  could  cause  an 
electrical  shock.  Also, the  wrong  kind  of extension  cord  could 
overheat  and  cause 
a fire.  You could  be seriously  injured.  Plug 
the  cord  into  a  properly  grounded  three-prong  110-volt outlet. 
If the  cord  won’t reach,  use a heavy-duty  three-prong  extension 
cord  rated  for 
at least 15 amps. 
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. 
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