1996 GMC SIERRA battery

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
These symbols are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY POWER
WINDOW RUNNING
0
DAYTIME -
LAMPS '*'
FOG LAMPS # 0
VENTILATING
FAN
1
-3
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE HORN
)tr
SPEAKER v
FUEL B
V
ProCarManuals.com

I
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
1 The air bag affects how your vehicle should be serviced.
There
are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want
the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
GM dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
For up to two minutes after the ignition key
is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape,
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the
air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
~~ ~~ ~~
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the
front
of my vehicle, will it keep the air bag from
working properly?
A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is
attached to your vehicle
so that the vehicle’s basic
structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep the
.I air bags from wor@ng properly in a crash.
What if
I add a snow plow? Will it keep the air
bag from working properly?
A: We’ve designed our air bag systems to work
properly under a wide range of conditions,
including snow plowing with vehicles equipped
with the optional Snow Plow Prep Package
(RPO VYU). But don’t change or defeat the
snow plow’s “tripping mechanism.” If you do,
it
can damage your snow plow and your vehicle,
and it may cause an air bag inflation.
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Power Door Locks (Option)
Press the bottom of the
power door lock switch,
marked
LOCK, on either
front door to lock
all the
doors at once. Press the
ribbed side of the switch to
unlock
all the doors at once.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close
the door.
Keyless Entry System (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors from up to
30 feet (9 111) away using the key
chain transmitter supplied with your vehicle. Your
Keyless Entry System operates
on a radio
frequency subject
to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
(1 ) This device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
Should interference to
this system occur, try this:
0 Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions
on battery
replacement.
vehicle. This product has
a maximum range.
0 Check the distance. You may be too far from your
0 Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal.
See your GM dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Changes or modifications
to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use
this equipment.
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Operation
To unlock the driver’s door, press the UNLOCK button.
If you press this button again within five seconds, all the
doors (except the rear seat access door)
will unlock.
Press the
LOCK button to lock all the doors (except the
rear seat access door).
When the UNLOCK button is pressed, the interior dome
lamps are turned on for
40 seconds or until the ignition
is activated.
When the LOCK button is pressed, the interior lamps
are turned on for
a few seconds if the doors are closed.
If the LOCK but.ton is pressed when a door is open, the
interior lamps
will stay on for a few seconds after the
door
is closed.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter
is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining
transmitters
with you when you go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches
the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be
matched. Once the new transmitter
is coded, the lost
transmitter will
not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle
can have only two transmitters matched to
it.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use. the batteries in your key chain
transmitter should last
about two years.
You can tell the batteries are weak
if the transmitter
won’t work at the normal range
in any location. If you
have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter
works,
it’s probably time to change the batteries.
Use two Duraeell@ batteries type
DL2014, or a
similar type.
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Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel
Engine”
in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
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.
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.
Manual transmission
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.
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 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal
all the way down for five more
seconds, or
until it starts.
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..
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
AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
3. 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 some 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 dea1e.r can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your- shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission,
it now 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, rather than the
LOCK position, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you have 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.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells
you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag module,
the wiring and the diagnostic module. For more
information
on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in
the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition
to RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
Charging System Indicator Light
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away. This
light should come
on
briefly when you turn on the
ignition, before starting the
engine, as
a check to show
you it is working.
After the engine starts,
the light should go out. If it stays
on or comes on while
you are driving, you may have a
problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the alternator drive belt,
or some other
charging system problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If
you must drive a short distance with this light on, it
helps to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter
I When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
in the RUN position, this
gage shows your battery’s
9 19 state of charge in DC volts.
n
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition
of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range. Readings
in the low warning zone
may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating
in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition
is normal since the
charging system
is not able to provide full power at
engine idle.
As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow
the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time
with the reading in
either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all
unnecessary accessories.
Readings
in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem
in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced
as soon as possible.
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