1997 GMC JIMMY parking brake

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenlJ
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 yo~~r 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 (or pressing the
button on
a console shift lever). If YOLI 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 br'ke 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) kc$~w 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 parking pawl in the transmission, so
~OLI can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
2-32

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock.
YOLI have to fully apply your regular brake before you
can shift
from PARK (PI when the ignition is in the
RUN position. See "Automatic Transmission Operation"
in the Index.
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 want (you must
press the shift lever button
if you have the console
shift lever).
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out
of PARK (P)? try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 3.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual
Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, turn off your engine,
put your- manual transmission in REVERSE (R) and
firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive with it manual transfer case
shift lever, 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 vehicle is pulling
a trailer, see "Towing a Trailer" in the Index.
2-33

Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if
ever have to, here are some things to know.
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.
l (See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
I-
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 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). 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.
2-35

Lamps On Reminder
A reminder tone will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are turned
on and your ignition is in OFF,
LOCK or ACCESSORY. To turn the tone off, press the
OFF switch.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
reduced brightness when:
the ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off and
the parking brake is released. When
the DRL are
on. only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be on.
The instrument panel won't be
lit up either.
When
it begins to get dark, your DRL indicator light is a
reminder to turn your headlamp switch on. The other
lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also
come on.
When you
turn the headlamp switch off, the regular
lamps will
go off, and your headlamps will change to
the reduced brightness
of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL
will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
2-46

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be
a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
I
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, BRAKE
(a) (@)
:;;::::$d;:n1::: if
have it fixed so it will be
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to
the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle“
in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will
also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light 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.
2-75

Shift Light
SHIFT
You have the shift light
if you
have a manual
transmission. This light
comes on very briefly as a
bulb check when you start
the engine. Shilting when
the indicator light is
on wi 11
help you get the best fuel
economy. See "Shift Light"
in the Index.
Check Gages Light
1 The CHECK GAGES light
1 will come on briefly when
you are starting the enlrine.
CHECK
GAGES
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
This light is on the
instrument panel.
It goes on
whenever the DRL are on,
the ignition is on. the
headlamp switch is
off
and the parking brake is :*.:(-J
-e released.
2-80

I-
=
If you have a nlanual transfer case shift lever,
shifting the transfer case
to NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your whicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P) (,or, if you have the manual
transmission, even
if you’re in gear). This is
because the NEUTRAL (N) position on the
transfer case overrides the transmission.
If you
are going to leave your vehicle, set the parking
brake and shift the transmission to
PARK (Pj (or,
put your manual transmission in FIRST (1)).
Rut do not shift the transfer case to the
NEUTRAI, (N) position. Leave the transfer case
in the
2HI,4HI or 4LO position.
4-22 . ., . , .~

Q.' Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It's nl~lch mo~x likely to happen going ~~phill. But if
it happens going downhill, here's whut to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the reg~11;~I brakes.
Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the
Apply the
parking brake.
manual transmission) and, while still braking. restart
the engine.
and drive straight
down.
Shif't back to a low gear, release the parking brake.
if the engine won't start, get out md gct help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go m-oss
the incline of a hill. if this happens, yo^^ have to decide
whether to try to drive across the inc!int.. Here are some
things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up 01- down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight LIP or
down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels to the I-car whecls)
reduces the likelihood
the vehic!e will tumble cnd
over end.
But wlwn you drive i~cross an incline. the
much more narrow track width (the distance bctwee1l
the left and right wheels) nay not prevent the vehicle r
Driving across an incline that's too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness
of the incline, don't drive
across it. Find another route instead.