
The 1997 GMC Sierra Owner’s Manual
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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.
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC,
the GMC Emblem and the name
SIERRA are registered
trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time
it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
in the product after that time without further notice.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for GMC
whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle,
so it will be
there if
you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
X9704 B First Edition
ii
p!l CERTIFIED
F We support voluntary
technician certification.
-
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE
c
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en frangais chez
votre concessionaire
ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 1 C7
@Copyright General Motors Corporation
1996
All Rights Reserved
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In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you’ll need
some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing
and diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness
of the system,
when the sensors are activated and driver’s safety
belt usage at deployment.
Unless you have a Crew Cab, your vehicle has a
switch on
the instrument panel that you can use to
turn off the passenger’s air bag. But use this switch
only when
you want to secure a rear-facing child
restraint at the right front passenger’s position. See
“Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position” in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.
A CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s air bag is turned
off, an adult or a child who is no longer an infant
sitting in the right front passenger’s position
won’t have the extra protection of an air bag.
In
a crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able to inflate
and help protect the person sitting there. Make
sure the air bag
is turned on unless you are using
a rear-facing child restraint in the right front
seat position.
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, Let only qualified technicians work on your air
I bag system. Improper service can mean that your
air bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s
air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You
may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
~ bag module and the instrument panel for the
I passenger’s air bag. Do not open or break the air
bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle.
You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
GM dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase
a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications’’ in the Index.
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate uring improper service. You
can be injured
if yo 6 are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the
air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to
do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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CAUTION: (Continu
Be sure to turn
off the air bag before using a
rear-facing child restraint in the right front
seat position. To turn
off the right
front passenger’s air bag, insert
your ignition key
into the switch, push in, and move
the switch to AIR BAG OFF.
The AIR BAG OFF light will come on to let you know
that the right front passenger’s air bag is off. The right
front passenger’s air bag will remain
off until you turn it
back on again, and
the AIR BAG OFF light will stay on
to remind you that the air bag is off.
A CAUTdN:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned
off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger’s air bag could inflate
even though the switch
is off. If this ever
happens, don’t secure
a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle until you have your
vehicle serviced.
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Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors from about
3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied
with your vehicle.
In addition, your interior lamps will be illuminated for a
set period of time when the transmitter signal is received
by the Keyless Entry System.
Your Keyless Entry System operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation
is subject to the following two
conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference,
and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device. This
system has
a range of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system.
If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement or
transmitter resynchronization is necessary. See the
instructions
that follow.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle.
You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
0 Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left
or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
0 If you’re still having trouble, see your GM dealer or
a qualified technician for service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
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To replace the battery: Synchronization
1. Insert a small coin, or flathead screwdriver, to
separate the bottom of the transmitter from
the top.
making sure the positive
(+) side of the battery is
facing down.
2. Remove the battery and replace it with a new one,
3. Snap the top and bottom together.
4. Test the operation of the transmitter with your
vehicle.
If the transmitter does not work, try
synchronizing the transmitter
with the receiver. Synchronization
may be necessary due to the security
method used
by this system. The transmitter does not
send the same signal twice to the receiver. The receiver
will not respond to a signal it has been sent previously.
This prevents anyone from recording and playing back
the signal from the transmitter.
To resynchronize your transmitter, stand close to your
vehicle and simultaneously press and hold the
LOCK
and UNLOCK buttons on the transmitter for at least
five seconds. The door locks should cycle to confirm
synchronization.
If the locks do not cycle, see your
dealer for service.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
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I NOTICE: I
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure
you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Key Release Button
of manual transmiss~on
vehicles unless the key
release button
is used.
To remove the key on manual transmission vehicles,
turn the key to
OFF, then press the button and turn the
key to
LOCK. Do not hold the button in while turning
the key to
OFF. Keeping your finger on the button, pull
the key straight out.
On automatic transmission vehicles, turn the key to
LOCK and pull it straight out.
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