1998 GMC SIERRA tow

NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth,
you can destroy your transmission. I
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains”
in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If
you have a
four-wheel drive vehicle, shift into
4HI. Then shift back
and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear
(or with a manual transmission, between FIRST
(1) or
SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is
in gear. If that doesn’t get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
Or,
you can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle has
them.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing
Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle may be equipped with recovery hooks.
The recovery hooks are provided
at the front of your
vehicle.
You may need to use them if you’re stuck
off-road and need to be pulled to some place where
you can continue driving.
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The recovery hooks, when used, are under a lot of
force. Always pull the vehicle straight out. Never
pull on the hooks at
a sideways angle. The hooks
could break off and you or others could be
injured from the chain or cable snapping back.
NOTICE:
Never use the recovery hooks to tow the vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged and
it would not
be covered
by warranty.
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Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Engine Oil
(Diesel Engine)” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
It’s
a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the
oil must
be warm and the vehicle
must be on level ground.
.. ..
The engine oil dipstick has a yellow ring handle and is
located
on the passenger’s side of the engine.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into
the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual
level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
u
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As shown in the chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your
vehicle. However,
you can use SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going
to be
0°F (- 18 “C) or above. These numbers on an oil
container show
its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils, such
as SAE 20W-50.
NOTICE:
Use only engine oil with the American Petroleum
Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines “Starburst” symbol. Failure to use the
recommended oil can result in engine damage not
covered by your warranty.
GM Goodwrench@ oil meets all the requirements for
your vehicle.
If you are in an area where the temperature falls below
-20°F (-29°C)’ consider using either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an
SAE OW-30 oil. Both will provide
easier cold starting and better protection for your engine
at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your dealer is ready to
advise if
you think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the short tripkity
maintenance schedule:
Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving
in stop-and-go traffic).
You operate your vehicle in dusty areas or
off-road frequently.
You frequently tow a trailer.
The vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
or other commercial application.
Driving under these conditions causes engine
oil to
break down sooner.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle,
then you need to change your oil and filter
every
3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months -- whichever
occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/highway
maintenance schedule. Change the oil and filter every
7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months -- whichever
occurs first. Driving a vehicle with
a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions causes engine
oil to
break down slower.
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
If your vehicle has a diesel engine, see “Automatic
Transmission Fluid”
in the Diesel Supplement.
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83
000 km) if the vehicle’s GVWR is over 8,600 or
if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of
these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
regularly
reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
If your vehicle’s GVWR is not over 8,600 and you do not
use your vehicle under any
of these conditions, change the
fluid and filter every
100,000 miles (166 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your
GM dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come
out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C
to 93°C). See “Checking Transmission Fluid Hot“ in
the Index.
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Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than
50°F (IOOC), drive the
vehicle in THIRD
(3) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes. Then
follow
the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours or more with the engine off and is used
only as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five
minutes if outside temperatures are 50°F (10°C) or
more.
If it's colder than 50°F ( 1 O"C), you may have
to idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during
a cold check, you must perform 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 applied, place the shift lever
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 shift
lever
in PARK (P).
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow these steps:
1. The red transmission dipstick handle is located at the
rear
of the engine compartment, on the passenger's
side. Flip the handle up and then
pull out the dipstick
and wipe
it with a clean rag or paper towel.
then pull it back out again.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
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Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check
the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant.
Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
C3 (3500 HD) Trucks Equipped with Dana
Rear
Axle
Additional rear axle scheduled maintenance is required
on
3500 HD models equipped with Dana rear axles
when they are driven under the following conditions:
Extreme loading (at or near GVWR) or trailer
Operation above 45 mph (70 km/h) for extended
Vehicles used in any of these conditions require the
rear axle lubricant be changed every
30,000 miles
(50 000 km). Fluid capacity is 4.12 quarts (3.9 L).
towing, and:
periods of time.
Four-wheel Drive
Most lubricant checks in this section also apply to
four-wheel-drive vehicles. However, they have two
additional systems that need lubrication.
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4. Push in gently on the
bulb, turn it to the
left and remove it from
the socket. Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
For proper type and length, see “‘Normal Maintenance 1 I
Replacement Parts” in the Index. I i
i
5. Put in a new bulb and, pushing in gently, turn it to
the right until it is tight.
6. Put the socket back in the lamp assembly and replace
the lens and lens seal.
To replace the windshield wiper blade assembly:
1. Lift the wiper arm and rotate the blade until it is
2. Push the release lever and slide the wiper assembly
3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.
facing away from the windshield.
toward the driver’s side
of the vehicle.
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