1997 GMC SIERRA engine

The 1997 GMC Sierra Owner’s Manual
1-1
2- 1
3- 1
4- 1
5-1
6-1
7- 1
8-1
9-1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SIR’ system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact GMC for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8- 10.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
Q
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BAllERY
CAUSE
BURNS
SPARK
OR qJ/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BAllERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols have to
do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
RUNNING
* 0
DAYTIME -
LAMPS **'
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on
some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
c
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT a
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
e
HORN )cr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL la
V
ProCarManuals.com

Section 2 Features and Controls
-
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained
are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2- 1
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-7 2-9
2- 10
2-11
2- 13
2- 14
2- 15
2- 19
2-22
2-22
2-27
2-28
2-30
Keys
Tailgate
Third Door
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System
Theft
New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition Positions
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transmission Operation
Manual Transmission Operation
Locking Rear Axle
Four-wheel Drive
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK
(P) (Automatic
Transmission Models Only)
Shifting Out
of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission) 2-3
1
2-3 1
2-32
2-32
2-33
2-36
2-36
2-43 2-48
2-52
2-59
2-6
1
2-62
2-64 2-66 Parking
Your Vehicle (Manual
Transmission Models Only)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
Windows
Tilt Wheel
Turn SignalAUultifunction Lever
Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
Sun Visors
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Positions
You can use your key to turn your ignition switch to five
different positions.
A E
ACCESSORY (A): ACCESSORY lets you use things
like the radio, power windows and the windshield
wipers when the engine
is off. Push in the key and turn
it towards you. Your steering wheel will remain locked,
just as it was before you inserted the key.
LOCK (B): This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It’s
a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to
LOCK.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like
LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle
in motion while the engine is off (for example,
your vehicle
is being pushed).
RUN (D): This is the position for driving.
START (E): This starts your engine.
I-
-
I A CAUTIO1.;
if
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
2-11
ProCarManuals.com

Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see “Starting Your Diesel
Engine”
in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor and start the engine. Your
vehicle won’t start
if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down -- that’s a safety feature.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
NOTICE:
I I I I
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle
is moving.
If you do, you could damage the Holding your key in START
for longer than
damage your starter motor.
vehicle is stopped. drained
much sooner. And the excessive heat can
transmission. Shift
to PARK
(P) only when your
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
ProCarManuals.com

2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START. If it doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way down for five more
seconds, or until
it starts.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
stops), wait
15 seconds and start over.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and the
accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0°F
(- 18°C) or colder, the
.A engine coolant heater
can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting
your vehicle.
2-14
ProCarManuals.com

To Use the Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord,
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
I
I
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind
of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt
AC outlet. If the cord won’t reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least
15 amps.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends
on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your
GM dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice
for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store
the cord as
it was before to keep it away from moving
engine
parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged. There are
several different positions for your shift lever.
ProCarManuals.com

If your vehcle is equipped with an automatic transmission,
it now features an electronic shift position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the
shift lever is capable of being moved out of
PARK (P). This means that if your key is in OFF, rather
than
LOCK, there will be a small current drain on your
battery which could discharge your battery over
a period
of time. If you have to leave your key in the
ignition
in OFF for an extended period, it is recommended
that you disconnect the battery cable from the battery to
prevent discharging your battery.
PARK
(P): This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
It is 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
I
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. 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,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle
will be free to roll -- even if your shift lever
is in PARK
(P) -- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL
(N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two-wheel high
(2H) or four-wheel
high
(4H) or four-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL
(N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
2-16
ProCarManuals.com