1995 GMC SIERRA heating

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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NOTICE:
Holding a cigarette lighter in with your hand while it is heating
can make it overload, damaging the lighter and the heating
element.
Just push the lighter all the way in and let go. When it’s
done, it will pop back by itself.
L
To remove the front ashtray, pull on the front of the ashtray insert. Then
slide the insert
out of the ashtray door.
You may also have two auxiliary power outlets next to the cigarette lighter.
Use these outlets to power mobile telephones
or other de\:ices designed to
operate with vehicle electrical systems.
To use a rear ashtray.
if you have them. pull
at the top of the
ashtray door to flip the
door open.
To remove a rear ashtray. if you have them, press down on the inside tabs
and open the door
fully.
NOTICE:
If you store paper or other things that burn in your ashtrays,
they could be set
on fire by cigarettes or other smoking
materials. That could cause
a fire and possibly damage your
vehicle.
Do not store papers and other things that burn in your
ashtrays
Storage Compartments
Your vehicle has a variety of storage compartments designed to store small
items.
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Listed are four situations you may experience with your f~~el gage:
At the gas station. the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads full.
It lakes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the fuel gage indicated.
For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half
full, but it
actually took a little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill the
, tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up.
The gage doesn't go back to empty when you turn off the ignition.
None of these indicate
a problem with the fuel gage.
For information on how to fill your fuel tank, see "Fuel - Filling Your
Tank"
in the Index.
For your fuel tank capacity, see "Fuel -Tank Capacity" in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. Most of the time. the gage
pointer
will show your coolant temperature at 2 10°F (99"C), or less. But, if
you are pulling a heavy load or driving LIP hills, your coolant temperature
may rise and
fall near the red 260°F ( 128°C) mark. This is normal. If the
gage pointer moves to the red 260°F
(128°C) mark, your engine is too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated. You should pull off the
road,
stop your vehicle. and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Hot Coolant Can Burn You Badly!
In "Problems on the Road," this manual shows what to do. See "Engine
Overheating"
in thc Index.
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Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Secfion
In this section you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control systems
and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be sure to read about the
particular system supplied with your vehicle.
Comfort Controls
Heater Controls
If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, your heater controls will look
like this.
The knob on the left side of the heating system control panel controls the
fan speed. The knob has four speed positions. To increase the air flow, move
the
knob toward HI. To decrease the air flow, move it toward LO. To turn
the fan off, move the knob to
OFF.
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Before using your vehicle's air conditioning. open the windows to clear the.
vehicle of hot air.
Using the recirculation function can also help. See "Recirculation Buttor:"
in this section for more information.
The knob on the left side of the heating system control panel controls the
fan speed. The knob has four speed positions. To increase the air
flow. move
the knob toward
HI. To decrease the air flow. move it toward LO. To turn
the fan off. move the knob
to OFF. If you have the air conditioner on.
moving the fan knob
to OFF also turns off' the A/C compressor.
The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the relative
temperature of the air flowing into the passenger
area of your vehicle. This
knob
will allow you to adjust the relative air temperature independently of'
the function knob setting. Move the knob right toward the red area for
warmer air. Move the knob left toward the blue area for cooler air. With
A/C
on, move the knob to MAX for maximum cooling.
This setting puts the system
in the recirculation mode and helps to maximize
your air conditioner's performance and your vehicle's fuel economy. This
setting also cools the air the fastest. After the vehicle's interior reaches
a
comfortable temperature, move the knob clockwise to place the air
conditioning system
in the normal mode.
The right knob
on the control panel changes the heatedair conditioning
setting.
VENT - This setting, with the arrow pointing at the figure's head. directs
air through the instrument panel vents.
VENT/HEAT
- Use this setting, with the arrows pointing at the figure's
feet and head, to divide airflow between the heater floor vents and
instrument panel vents.
HEAT
- This setting. with the arrow pointing at the figure's feet. directs air
through the heater floor vents. This setting is useful for cold weather.
HEAT/DEFROST
- Use this setting, with the arrow pointing at the figure's
feet and the defroster symbol near the figure's head. to divide airflow
between the heater floor vents and windshield.
DEFROST
- This setting with the defrost symbol directs air through the
windshield defroster vents. This setting is useful when you have fog
or ice
on the windshield.
The control knob can be placed
in any position between two heatedair
conditioning settings to blend the flow
of air. The closer the knob is to a
setting symbol, the more the air flow will represent that symbol's air flow
arrows.
RECIRCULATION
BUTTON - This button, between the left and middle
knobs, allows the air inside your vehicle
to be recirculated. This setting
helps to maximize your air conditioner's performance and your vehicle's
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fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest and can be used to
keep “unwanted odors” and/or dust from entering the vehicle. When using
the air conditioner, turn off recirculation after the vehicle reaches
a
comfortable interior temperature.
When
the right knob on the control panel is between HEAT and DEFROST,
the recirculation feature will not function.
A/C - This button, between the middle and right knobs. allows the air
coming into your vehicle
to be cooled and directed through the instrument
panel vents. This setting is useful for normal cooling
on hot days. When you
first use
A/C with the recirculation button pushed in, turn off recirculation
as soon as the vehicle reaches a comfortable interior temperature.
Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, it is equipped with an engine coolant
heater.
An engine coolant heater is optional on gas engine vehicles. If you
use the engine coolant heater before starting your engine
(in cold weather
(20” F, (-8” C), or lower) your heating system will produce warmer air
faster, to heat the passenger compartment
in cold weather.
The use
of an engine coolant heater also reduces the time it takes for the
engine to reach normal operating temperature. and shortens the time it takes
the heater
to reach full output. For more information, See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Diesel Engine Heater Output
If you idle your diesel engine for a long time when it’s cold outside, your
heater may blow out cool air. This is normal. When you increase the engine
speed, your heater should blow out warmer air.
If it doesn’t, your coolant
level may be too low. See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index to see how to
check your coolant level.
Rear Window Defogger (Option)
You can tell if your vehicle has this option by looking at the rear window. If
you see lines running across the glass, you have it. These are the wire-like
elements which heat your window.
I NOTICE:
Scraping the inside of your rear window could cut and damage
the defogger.
Your warranty would not cover this damage. And,
don’t put decals there, you might have to scrape them off.
For best results, clear the window of as much snow or ice as possible first.
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Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the traile\
r to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra wiring (included in
the optional trailering package). The green arrows
on your instrument panel
will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If
you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph
(70 kmh) to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you have an automatic transmission
you should use DRIVE (3) (or, as
you need to, a lower gear) when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in
DRIVE (3) when towing a trailer will minimize heat build-up and extend
the life
of your transmission.
If you have a manual transmission and
you are towing a trailer, it’s better
not to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need
to, a lower gear).
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When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If
you turn your engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, your vehicle
may show signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission
in PARK (Pj (or the manual transmission
out
of gear and the parking brake applied) for a few minutes before turning
the engine off.
If you do get the overheat warning, see “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into PARK (P) yet, or in gear
for a manual transmission.
Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
When the wheel chocks are
in place, release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
Re-apply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking brake, and then
shift
to PARK (P), or REVERSE (Rj for a manual transmission.
If you have
a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear-not in NEUTRAL
(N).
Release the regular brakes.
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 rofl.
If you have Ieft 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, use the
steps that follow.
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).
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