Page 65 of 375

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 4. After you’ve used the coolant heater, be sure to
store the cord as it was before
to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don’t,
it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends
on the outside temperature, the
kind
of oil you have, and so.me other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that
you contact
your
GM dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
. --
P RNDD 21
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, it features an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument cluster. This display
must be powered anytime
the shift lever is capable of
being moved out of the PARK (P) position. This means
that
if your key is in the OFF position, but not locked,
there will be a small current drain on your battery which
could discharge your battery over a period
of time. If
you need to leave your key in the ignition in the OFF
position for an extended period, it is recommended that
you disconnect the battery cable from the battery to
prevent discharging your battery.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position
to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
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Page 66 of 375

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It is 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 have 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, your vehicle
will be free to roll
-- even .if your shift lever
is in PARK (P) -- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two-wheel high (2HI) or four-wheel
high (4HI) or four-wheel low (4LO)
-- not in
NEUTRAL
(N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index. Ensure’ the shift lever
is €ully in PARK (P) range
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
brake-transmission shift interlock. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is
ii.1 the RUN position.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
“Shifting Out of PARK (P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (Rjonly after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice
or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow” in the Index.
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Page 67 of 375
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine r
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
1
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Page 68 of 375
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever
is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into
FIRST (1) until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
1 NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a solid
object.
You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal.
This could overheat and damage the transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position on a hill.
Manual Transmission
5-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
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Page 69 of 375

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here’s how to operate your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST
(l), put the shift
lever
in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then,
slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH (3,4 and 5): Shift
into THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the
same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on
the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift
to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal
down, wait about six seconds, then shift into
REVERSE (R). Then let up on the clutch pedal
slowly while pressing
the accelerator pedal.
riGCE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to
REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your transmission.
Use REVER$E (R), along with the parking brake, for
parking your vehicle.
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Page 70 of 375

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Shift Light
SHIFT
If you have a manual
transmission, you have a
SHIFT light. This light will
show you when to shift
to
the next higher gear for
best fuel economy.
When this light comes on,
you can shift to the next
higher gear
if weather, road and traffic conditions let
you.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when
the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go
on
and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. 'Ignore the SHIFT light when you downshift.
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.'
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped
with a manual transmission, disregard the
SHIFT light
when the transfer case
is in 4LO.
Locking Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your rear axle can give you
additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sad or gravel. It
works like a standard axle most of the time, but when
one
of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does,
the locking feature will allow the wheel with traction to
move the vehicle.
Page 71 of 375
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Four-wheel Drive (Option)
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To shift out of two-wheel drive and into
four-wheel drive, move the transfer case shift lever to
4HI or 4LO. You should use 2HI for most normal
driving conditions.
NOTICE:
Driving in the 4HI or 4LO positions for a long
time on dry or wet pavement could shorten the life of your vehicle’s drivetrain.
Manual Transfer Case
If your four-wheel-drive vehicle has the manual transfer
case, the transfer case shift lever is on the floor next
to
the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of
four-wheel drive.
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Page 72 of 375

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine An indicator light near the lever shows you the transfer
case settings:
2HI
4HI
N SET PARK BRAKE
0 4LO
The front axle portion of the diagram on the indicator
will light up when you shift into four-wheel drive.
A
slight delay between shifting and the pattern’s lighting is
normal. If the pattern does not light up, or if
the
front axle lights do not go out after you shift out of
four-wheel drive, have your dealer check your system.
Turn the INT
LIGHTS switch located to the right
of your headlamp switch to dim your transfer case
indicator light when your headlamps or parking lamps
are on. This will also cause your instrument panel lights
to dim.
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in
two-wheel drive.
4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use
4HI when you need extra
traction, such as
on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
N SET PARK BRAKE: Shift to this neutral setting
only when your vehicle needs to be towed.
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