1997 GMC JIMMY automatic transmission

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kndh).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or
kilometers (used
in Canada).
Your odometer is tamper resistant.
It will show silver lines
between the numbers
if someone tries to turn it back.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then
it must be. But if
it can't, then it's set at zero, and a label must be put on
the driver's door to show the old mileage reading when
the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odomet
The trip odometer can tell you how fir your vehicle has
been driwn since you last set the
trip odometer to zero.
To set the trip odome.ter to zero, press the button near
the readout.
Tachometer (If Equipped)
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
ner minute (rprn). Each
tachometer has
a different limit depending on the
powertrain
in your vehicle. The tachometer has three
areas: normal operating range, red warning range and
red danger range.
The normal operating range shows your engine speed
during normal driving conditions.
For example, when
the needle points
to 2, it means the engine is running at
2.000 revolutions per minute (rpm). The tachometer
needle
will vary all the time that the engine is running.
The shaded red warning range tells you that your engine
speed
is reaching its upper limits. Don't drive very long
with the tachometer
in the red warning range. If you
have
a manual transmission. shift to a higher gear as
soon as possible. If you have an automatic transmission,
lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
The solid red danger range tells you that your engine speed
is at its upper limits. Your should immediately shift
to a
higher gear, or lift your foot off of the accelerator pedal.
1 NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red range,
or engine damage will occur.
_. ~ 2-71

Recreational Vehicle Towing (Four-wheel Drive With
7
Shift Transfer Case Only)
1.
2.
3.
3.
Set the par' * lg brake firmly.
Place an automatic transmission
in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST ( I ).
Firmly attach the vehicle being towed to the tow
vehicle.
Do not tow the vehicle by the rear bumper
bar. Refer
to the hitch manufacturer's instructions.
Place the manual shift transfer case shift lever
in
NEUTRAL (N).
A CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case into NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is
in PARK (P), for an automatic transmission, or
if your vehicle is in gear, for a manual
transmission. You
or others could be injured.
Make sure the parking brake
is firmly set before
you shift the transfer case into
NEUTRAL (N).
5. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is firmly attached
to the tow vehicle.
6. Insert the ignition key into the ignition switch and
turn
it one notch forward of the LOCK position. This
places the key
in the OFF position, which unlocks
the steering column while preventing battery drain.
Unlocking the steering column will allow
for proper
movement
of the front wheelshires during towing.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
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There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig
will be legal, not only where you live but
also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control
if your trailer will
weigh
2,000 lbs. (900 kg) or less. You should always
use a sway control
if your trailer will weigh more
than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg). You can ask a hitch dealer
about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the first
500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and
don’t nuke starts at
full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts
of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
If you have an automatic transmission, you can use
DRIVE
(D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing
a trailer. Operating your vehicle in
DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will minimize heat
buildup 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).
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
0 the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle
is used to pull a
trailer are all important. And,
it can also depend on any
special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
4-46

When towing a trailer, the ~~rrows on your instrument
panel
will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
itre 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 arc
still working.
Driving On Grades
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reducc your
speed
to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission ovc.rheating.
If you have an automatic transmission. you should use
DRIVE
(D) when towing a trailer. Operating your
vehicle
in DRIVE (D) when towing a trailer will
minimize heat buildup and extend the life
of your
trrmsmission. Or:
if you have ;1 manual transmission. it's
better not to use FIFTH (5) gear. just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a I~MW gear). Whcn
towins at high altitude
on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a
lower temperature than at normal altitudes. If yo^^ turn
your engine off immediately after towing
at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your \:ellicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this. let the
engine
r~~n while parked (preferably on level grout1d)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (Pj (or the
1manuaI transmission out of
gear and the parking brake
applied) 1'01-
;I 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
yo~~r vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
4-52

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on
a Hill
I, Apply your reg~~lar brakes and lwld the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear: and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service nlore often when you're
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on
this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation
are automatic transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine
oil. ~~xle lubricant, belt, cooling system
and
brakc adjustment. Each of these is covered in this
manurd.
and the Index will help you find then] quickly.
If you're trailering. it's a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-54

NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
Do not try to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it. This could damage your vehicle, even
if
you have a manual transmission. And if you have
an automatic transmission, it ~on't start that way. Batteries can hurt
you. They can
be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burr1 you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don't
follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
I NOTICE:
5-3

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but
be sure the vehicles aren*t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want.
You wouldn't be able to
start your vehicle,
and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
You co~~ld
be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the
parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an
automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a manual
transmission
in NEUTRAL (N). If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle with a manual transfer case
shift lever, be sure
the transfer case is not in
NEUTRAL (Nj.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the ci, wsette
lighter, or accessory power outlets,
if you have this
option. Turn off all
lamps that aren't needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries.
In addition, it could save your radio!
I NOTICE:
If' you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged, The repair wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools
away from any underhood
electric fan.
- -
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood can start up
even
when the engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
5-4

If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If you zet the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam. the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get
a little too hot when you:
0 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See "Driving on Grades" in the Index.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute
or so:
2. T~11-11 on yo~~r heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you're in a traffic jam. shift to NEUTRAL (N):
otherwise, shift to the highest gear \vhile
driving -- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE ((33) or
DRIVE (D) for automatic transmissions.
If you no longer have the overheat warning. you
can drive. Just
to be safe. drive slower for about
10 minutes. If the warning doesn't come back on.
you can drive norrnally.
If the warning continues. pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there's still no sign of steam. push the accelerator until
the engine speed is about twice as fast as normal idle
speed. Bring the engine speed back
to normal idle speed
after two or three minutes. Now see
if the warning stops.
But then, if you still have the warning, rum ogtlw
eugine
c~l got el?er;\.olw out oftlw \vl~iclc. until it
cools down.
You
may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right
away.
5-13