1998 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

I
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight
if
you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You
don’t need to add water to the ACDelco
Freedom@ battery (or batteries) installed in
every new
GM vehicle. But if a battery has filler
caps, be sure the right amount of fluid is there.
If
it is low, add water to take care of that first. If
you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t get it on you.
If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things
you should know. Positive (+) will
go to positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to a
metal engine part. Don’t connect positive
(+) to
negative
(-) or you’ll get a short that would
damage the battery and maybe other parts
too.
On vehicles equipped with dual batteries, make any
battery connections
to the primary battery located on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands
away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
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6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery.
7. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect it to the positive
(+) terminal
of the good battery.
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8. Now connect the black
negative
(-) cable to
the good battery’s negative
(-) cable.
Don’t
let the other end touch anything until the next
step. The other end
of the negative (-) cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to
a heavy unpainted metal
part
of the vehicle with the dead battery.
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that
move. The electrical connection is just
as good
there, but the chance
of sparks getting back to the
battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine
for awhile.
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11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after
a few tries, it probably
needs service.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have your GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. See “Roadside Assistance’’
in
the Index.
If your vehicle has been changed since it was
factory-new, by adding such things
as fog lamps, aero
skirting, or special tires and wheels, these instructions
may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
0 That your vehicle has rear-wheel-drive, or that it has
the four-wheel-drive option.
0 The make, model and year of your vehicle.
Whether you can move the shift lever for the
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When
the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to
see
them.
transmission and transfer case, if you have one.
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A CAUTION:
To help avoid injury to you or others:
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0
0
0
0
a
0
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
being towed. Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not
fully secured.
Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.
Always use separate safety chains on each
side when towing a vehicle.
For pickups (except cab chassis models),
use T-hooks on front of vehicle, J-hooks
on rear.
For cab chassis models, use J-hooks on
front and rear of vehicle.
A CAUTION:
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle.
Don‘t have your vehicle towed on the drive wheels
unless you must.
If the vehicle must be towed on the
drive wheels. be sure to follow the speed and distance
restrictions later
in this section or your transmission will
be damaged. If these limitations must be exceeded, then
the drive wheels have
to be supported on a dolly.
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Front Towing
Two- Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tow Lirnits -- 35 nzph (55 kdh), 50 miles (80 kr.n/h)
If your vehicle is two-wheel drive, use the
following directions:
I. Engage the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
4. Put an automatic or a manual transmission in
NEUTRAL (N).
5. When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles (Manual Transfer Case)
Tow Lirnits -- 55 rnph (88 knzdh) or legtrl speed limit,
distance
is unlimited
If your vehicle is four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case, use the following directions:
1. Engage the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with
a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
4. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P), or a
manual transmission
in FIRST (1).
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5. Put the transfer case in NEUTRAL (N). See
“Four-wheel Drive” in the Index
for the proper
procedure to select NEUTRAL
(N).
6. When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Put the transfer case in 2 High (2HI).
6. When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
Four- Wheel Drive-Vehicles (Electronic
Transfer Case)
Tow Limits -- 35 mph (55 krdh), 50 miles (80 krn/l1)
If your vehicle is four-wheel drive with an electronic
transfer case, use the following directions:
1. Engage the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
3. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
NOTICE:
If your vehicle is equipped with an electronic
transfer case and the tow limits must be
exceeded, a towing dolly must be used under the rear wheels or vehicle/powertrain damage
will occur.
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Rear Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Tow Limits -- 55 ~zph (88 krdh) or legal speed limit,
distmce is ditnited
If your vehicle is two-wheel drive, use the
following directions:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Engage the parking brake.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahedd position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
Put an automatic transmission
in PARK (P), or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
When the vehicle is hooked up, release the
parking brake.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles (Manual Transfer Case)
If your vehicle is four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case, use the following directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Engage the parking brake.
Turn the ignition
key to ON.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a clamping device designed for towing service.
(Do not use the vehicle’s steering column lock for this.)
Put an automatic transmission
in PARK (P), or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
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