1998 GMC SIERRA lights

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example.
these symbols are used
on an
originnl battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
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 e
TURN
RUNNING
*'***'O
DAYTIME LAMPS
*
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WIPER Q
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE k
COOLANT - td
TEMP -
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(@)
rr
ENGINE OIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE -%-
t
LIGHTER
HORN
)tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL no
V
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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.
2-2
2-
3
2-4 2-5
2-6
2-9
2-
10
2- 10
2-1 1
2-12
2- 14
2-15
2-18
2-2
I
2-25
2-26
2-29 Keys
Tailgate
Third Door
(If Equipped)
Door Locks
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
Theft
PasslockTM
New Vehicle ”Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped) Automatic Transmission Operation
Manual Transmission Operation Four-wheel Drive
(If Equipped)
Parking Brake
Shifting Into Park
(P) (Automatic
Transmission Models
Only)
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) 2-29
2-30
2-30
2-3 1
2-32
2-32
2-34
2-35
2-4
1
2-43
2-45
2-5
1
2-60
2-62
2-64 Parking
Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission
Models
Only)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
Locking Rear Axle (If Equipped)
Windows
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose among three driving settings:
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in
two-wheel drive.
4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as
on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
4LO: This setting also engages your front axle to give
you extra traction. You may never need 4LO. It sends
the maximum power to all
four wheels. You might
choose 4LO if you were driving off-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly when
you
turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting will
stay on. If the lights
do not come on, you should take your
vehicle in for service. An indicator light will flash while
shifting. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is
completed. If for some reason the transfer cannot make a
requested shift, it will return
to the last chosen setting.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically
with some delay.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically
with some delay.
ting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO
'li hift from 2HI or 4HI to 4L0, the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than
3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method
for shifting into 4LO is to have your vehicle moving
1 to
2 mph (1.6 to
3.2 kmh). Press and release the 4LO
switch. You must wait for the
4LO indicator light to stop
flashing and remain illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear.
If the 4LO switch is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will flash
for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving slower than
3 mph (4.8 kmh) and the
transmission is
in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds the
transfer case will return to 4HI.
2-24
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Clearance Lamps (If Equipped)
Taillamps License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Transfer Case Shift Indicator Light (Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
Rotate the knob to the right again to the master
lighting symbol
to turn on all the lamps listed as
well as the headlamps.
Rotate the knob to the left,
to OFF, to turn off
your lamps.
Rotate the thumb wheel next to
the knob up to adjust
instrument panel lights. Rotate the thumb wheel
up to
the first notch to return the radio display and gearshift
indicator
LED display to full intensity when the
headlamps or parking lamps are on.
You can switch your headlamps from high
to low beams
by pulling on the turn signal/multifunction lever.
Headlamps On Reminder
A buzzer will sound when your headlamps are turned on
and the key
is turned to the OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY position.
If you need to use your
headlamps when the key is turned to OFF-
LOCK or ACCESSORY, the
buzzer can be turned off by turning
the thumb wheel next
to the parking lamp/headlamp
knob all the way down.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful
in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system
will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
0 the ignition is on,
0 the headlamp switch is off and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’t
be on.
Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it begins to get dark, your DRL indicator light is a
reminder to turn your headlamp switch on. The other lamps
that come
on with your headlanips will also come on.
When you
turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will
go off, and your headlamps will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
2-42
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To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay
off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
If you have fog lamps, use them for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions.
Your parking lamps and/or
low-beam headlamps must be on for your fog lamps
to work.
The fog lamp switch is on
the lower edge of your
instrument panel.
Press the ribbed top part of the switch to turn the fog
lamps on. Press
the bottom of the switch to turn them
off.
A light will glow in the switch when the fog lamps
are on. Remember,
fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use your fog lamps in
the dark without turning on your headlamps.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go
off, the
fog lamps will come on again.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
The instrument panel intensity control is located to the
right of the headlamp switch.
Rotate the thumb wheel up to adjust instrument panel
lights. Rotate the thumb wheel up to the first notch to
return the radio display and gearshift indicator LED
display to full intensity when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on. To turn on the dome lamps (with the
vehicle doors closed) rotate the thumb wheel up to the second notch position.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated
entry feature.
When the doors are opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the dome lamp button is out. When all the doors
are closed, or the dome lamp button is pressed in, the
lamps will stay on for
a short period of time and will
then go out.
2-43
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Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there
miiy be or is a
problem with
one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see
in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working.
If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is
a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one
of the gages shows
there
may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to
do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come
on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about 20 seconds, then it
will flash for about 55
seconds. If the driver’s belt
is already buckled, neither
the tone nor the light will
come on.
2-64
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Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to
be familiar with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things to consider.
Su$ace Conditions. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or
ice. Each
of these surfaces affects the steering, acceleration
and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending
upon the kind of surface
you are on, you may experience
slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration,
poor traction and longer braking distances.
Su$ace Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you if
you’re not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the
rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s
more discussion of these subjects later.)
Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly? When
you drive over obstacles or
rough terrain, keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or
other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands if
you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even
with
one or two wheels, you can’t control the vehicle as
well or at all.
Because
you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving
on paved roads and highways.
There are
no road signs, posted speed limits or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment about
what is safe and what isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At
the very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount
of alcohol. You could
have a serious
-- or even fatal -- accident if you drink
and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
See “Drunken Driving’’ in the Index.
4-17
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What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses
at night. They may cut
down
on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps.
It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside
of the glass
can build up a film caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up
far less
of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick
out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should
be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t
even aware of
it.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4-28
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