1997 GMC JIMMY Owner's Manual

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Engine Fan Noise If a Tire Goes Flat
This vehicle has a clutched engine cooling fan. When
the clutch is engaged,
the fan spins faster to provide
more air to cool the engine.
In most everyday driving
conditions, the clutch
is not engaged. This improves
fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy
vehicle loading, trailer towing and/or high outside
temperatures, the
fan speed increases when the clutch
engages.
So you may hear an increase in fan noise. This
is normal and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping
or making extra shifts. It is merely
the cooling system functioning properly. The fan will
slow down when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch disengages.
You
may also hear this fan noise when you start he
engine.
It will go away as the fan clutch disengages. It's
unusual
for a tire to "blow out" while you're driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of
a tire, it's muc11 more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a "blowout." here are a few
tips about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to ~naintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout. particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you'd use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove yo~~r foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the c.ehicle under control
by
steering the way ~OLI want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy
and noisy. but you can still steer. Gently
brake to
a stop -- well off the road if possible.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
A CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift
lever in PARK
(P) or shift a manual
transmission to FIRST
(1) or
REVERSE (R).
CAUTIQN: iContinued) .~
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle
with a manual transfer case shift lever,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Put the wheel blocks at the front and
rear
of the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would be the
tire on the other side of the vehicle,
at
the opposite end.
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L
The following steps will tell you how to use thc jack and
change
a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you'll need is stored r~long the
driver's rex
wall. In some cases, you may ha\:e to
remove the spare tire in order to reach the jack. Your
vehicle is also equipped with work gloves and a plastic
ground mat
lo assist in the changing of a flat tire.
To remove your jack cover,
pull
up on the latch at the
end
of the cover. near the
endgate and the latch
on the
top of the cover. Remove
the whecl blocks, jack
and
wheel wrench.
NOTICE:
Never remove or restow a tire from/to a stowage
position under the vehicle while the vehicle
is
supported by a jack. Always tighten the tire fully
against the underside of the vehicle when
restowing.
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insert the chisel end of the
wheel wrench. on an angle,
into the hole in the rear
bumper. Be sure thc chisel
end
of the wheel \vrench
connects into the
hoist shaft.
I NOTICE:
To help avoid vehicle damage, do not. drive the
vehicle before the cable
is restored.
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Insert the key and pull
the lock cast” straight oft‘.
It is not necessary to turn
the key.
L
A
Put the spare tire neat- the l’lat tire.
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Some of the molded plastic hub caps ha\:e imitation
wheel nuts molded into therm. The wheel wrench won't
fit these imitation nuts, so don't try to remove them with
the socket end of the wheel wrench.
nut. they must be removed in order to get to the wheel
nuts.
Use the socket end ofthe wheel wrench to rer11ove
the wheel
nut caps.
YOLII- wheel nut caps may attach your hub cap to the
wheel. Remo\~.
these wheel nut caps before you take off
the hub cap.
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