1997 GMC SIERRA brake

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go
off.
I NOTICE:
I
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle. Always check to be sure
your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
If you have
a 3500 HD model, it is recommended that
the propshaft mounted parking brake be burnished as
part of the new vehicle break-in. The parking brake
will work best after
it has been burnished following
these instructions.
Make
10 stops, using the parking brake foot pedal, from
20 mph (32 kmh) about 2 112 miles (4 km) apart. In
between stops, drive the vehicle at
20 mph (32 kmk).
2-27
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission
Models Only)
It can be danL *ous 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.
If you have 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, use the steps
that follow. If you have four-wheel drive 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). If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer”
in the Index.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2-28
ProCarManuals.com

0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear
-- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
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
suddenly 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.
ProCarManuals.com

If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave
it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), 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. If you 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 brake 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)
before 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
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has a brake-transmission shift interlock
system. You have
to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition
is in RUN. See “Automatic Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up
into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever to any gear you want.
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 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the brake-transmission shift interlock system
fixed as soon as you can.
2-30
ProCarManuals.com

Parking Your Vehicle (Manual
Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission
in REVERSE (R), turn off the engine, and
firmly apply the parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, 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 you are pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
Parking Over Things That Burn
I
2-31
ProCarManuals.com

A CAUTION:
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 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.
Windows
Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower
manual windows.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
Regular and Extended Cab
2-33
ProCarManuals.com

Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can
really help on
long trips.
Cruise control does
not
work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffk.
slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on
2-40
ProCarManuals.com

Setting Cruise Control Resuming a Set Speed
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you9re not using cruise, you might hit a button
and
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep
the cruise control switch
OFF until you want
to use it.
1. Move the cruise switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the SET button
at the end
of the lever
and release
it.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Suppose
you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This,
of course, shuts off
the cruise control.
But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 kdh) or more,
you can move the cruise
switch from
ON to
RIA (Resume/Accelerate)
for about half a secQp4,
You’ll
go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Remember, if you hold the switch at R/A longer than
half a second, the vehicle will keep going faster
until
you release the switch or apply the brake. So unless you
want to
go faster, don’t hold the switch at WA.
ProCarManuals.com