1997 GMC JIMMY brake fluid

The heavier the rain. the harder it is to see. Even il'yo~~r
windshield wiper blades are
in good sl~ape. a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals.
pavement markings, the edge
of the road and even
people walking.
It's wise
to keep your wiping equipment in good shape
and keep your windshield washer tank filled with
washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts
when they show signs
of streaking or missing areas on Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't work
the windshield. or when strips of rubber start to separatc as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
from the inserts. one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work nornlally.
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0
0
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also
the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know
how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this:
let your engine do some of the
slowing down.
Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on
a steep
downhill slope.
A CAUTION: . -.
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition
otf is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work
of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when
you go downhill.
0 Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a
lower gear. The lower gears help cool yo~~r engine and
transmission, and you can climb the hill better.
0 Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay
in your own lane.
0 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be
something
in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on nmuntains that warn of
special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones. a falling rocks area or winding
roads.
Be alert to these and take appropriate action.
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Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install
ti trailer hitch'?
If you do. then be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch.
If you don't seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) f~-om your exhaust can get
into your vehicle (see "Carbon Monoxide"
in the
Index).
Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
you should always attach chains between yo11r vehicle
and
your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufilcturer
or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety
chains and
clo not attach them to the blmper. Always
leavejust enough slack
so you can turn with your rig.
And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1.000 Ibs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes -- and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for
the trailer brakes so you'll be able to install, adjust and
n1aintain them properly.
Your trailer*s
brake system can tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic
brake system only if:
The trailer parts can withstand 3.000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
0 The traileras brake system will use less th;m
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of fluid from your vehicle's
master cylinder-. Otherwise. both braking systems
won't work well.
You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
tluid tap at the port on the master cylinder that sends
fluid to the
ear brakes. But don't use copper tubing for
this. If you do, it will bend and finally break off. Use
steel brake tubing.
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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.
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/d CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill
things that
will burn onto a hot engine.
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When you lift the I~ood, you'll see these items:
A. Battery
B. Coolant Re,covery
Tank
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Transmission Dipstick C. Brake Master Cylinder
E. Engine Oil Fill H. Air Cleaner
E Power Steering Reservoir I. Windshield Washer Fluid
6-8

Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle hus been sitting
for eight hours or
Inore with the engine off and is lwd
only as a reference. Let the engine run rlt idle for five
minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F ( 10°C) oI
more. If it’s colder than 50°F ( IOOC), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check, you rrlwst perfor111 a hot check
before adding fluid. This
will give you a more accurate
reading
of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the
engine running.
With the parking brake applicd. place the shift le\;er
in PARK (P).
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each
gear range, pausing for about
three seconds
in each range. Then. position the shit’t
lever
in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
I. Flip the handle LIP and then pull out the dipstick and
wipc it with a clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
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NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
adding water.
Don’t mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid tank and
other parts of the washer system.
Also,
water doesn’t clean as well as washer fluid.
three-quarters full when
it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion if freezing occurs,
which could damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in your
windshield washer. It can damage your
washer system and paint.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Y~LII. brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with DOT-3 brake fluid.
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