1999 GMC C-SERIES light

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4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug the cord.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature.
Above 32
F (0
C), the coolant heater is not required.
From 32
F to
-10
F (0
C to -23
C), keep the
coolant heater plugged in at least two hours. Below
-10
F (-23
C), keep the coolant heater plugged in for
a minimum of eight hours or overnight. It will not harm
either the coolant heater or the vehicle to leave the
coolant heater plugged in longer than the times stated.
Be sure to remove and store the cord before starting the
engine. See ªDiesel Fuel Requirements and Fuel
Systemº in the Index for information on what fuel to use
in cold weather.
Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake
The exhaust brake is available on vehicles equipped
with a diesel engine and air brakes (or an air
compressor). It is located in the exhaust system.
The switch is on the upper
right side of the instrument
panel and turns the exhaust
brake on and off.
The exhaust brake indicator light is on when the exhaust
brake is in use.
The exhaust brake is used to help slow the vehicle and
may assist the vehicle's foundation brakes. The use of the
exhaust brake will assist the braking of the vehicle and
prolong the life of the foundation brake lining material.
When using the exhaust brake, the proper gear range
selection is important. The exhaust brake will be most
effective if the gear range selected is the lowest possible
range that does not allow the engine rpm to go more than
200 rpm above rated (full load) rpm as shown on the
Engine Information Plate. (Do not exceed 2900 rpm.)
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The accelerator and clutch pedals must be released in
order for the exhaust brake to engage. Whenever the
exhaust brake is active, the light in the switch will be on.
Do not use the exhaust brake when running the engine at
idle during warm
-up or other extended periods.
Prolonged use of the exhaust brake during idling will
cause the engine to overheat.
CAUTION:
Be careful when using the exhaust brake or you
could lock the wheels and lose control of the
vehicle. Operators not familiar with an exhaust
brake should not use this brake on slippery
surfaces before learning to use it on dry surfaces.
If the vehicle's wheels begin to lock when using
the exhaust brake on slippery surfaces, switch the
exhaust brake off immediately. The exhaust
brake will turn off if the anti
-lock brake system
is activated.
Tw o-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift
Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you'll find a label (or
labels) on the ceiling above the windshield or in another
place near the driver that show how to use it. Be sure
to follow the directions carefully. Use the following
directions based on the type of shift control you have.
Automatic Transmission
The switch for the rear axle
shift control is on the shift
tower to the right of the
shift lever.
When the switch is up, the rear axle is in the high range.
Push it down to get the low range.
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The two-speed axle should be in low range when you
park the vehicle. Apply the parking brake, shift to
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and shut off the engine.
To operate off
-road or under a heavy load, shift into low
range when the vehicle is standing still and then operate
the transmission normally.
On the highway, with the axle in low range and
transmission in top gear, you may shift the axle to high
range by raising the switch and releasing the accelerator
momentarily. Re
-apply the accelerator after your shift.
Under light load conditions, first shift the axle into the
high range with the vehicle at a standstill and then
operate the transmission normally.
Manual Transmission
The switch for the rear axle
shift control is on the shift
lever. When the switch is
up, the rear axle is in the
high range. Push it down to
get the low range.
The two
-speed axle should be in low when you park the
vehicle. You'll need to engage the transmission, even
move the vehicle a little, to be sure the axle is in the low
range. Then apply the parking brake, shift into
NEUTRAL and shut off the engine.
Also, always start the vehicle in motion with the
two
-speed axle in the low range. When you upshift the
rear axle from low to high, move the switch up for the
high range, disengage the clutch, pause, engage the
clutch and then press down on the accelerator. When
you shift the axle down from high to low, you don't
have to clutch. Just move the switch down to low,
release the accelerator and then quickly apply it again.
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Air Suspension Dump Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the Hendrickson HAS
Series single
-axle air suspension, you may have this
control. The air suspension dump control allows the
operator to lower the deck height approximately
4.5 inches (11.5 cm) from the normal frame height.
The switch to deflate and
inflate the air suspension is
located on the upper left
side of the instrument panel
above the driver's side vent.
The light in the switch will be illuminated whenever the
switch is in the ªdumpedº position.
Automatic Transmission Operation
We build vehicles with four, five and six-speed
automatic transmissions. This part of the manual covers
the basics of these. With some of the transmissions, you
will find another manual in your vehicle that goes into
more detail. On the ceiling, in front of and above the
driver, or in some other place near the driver, you will
see a label that describes important operating facts about
the automatic transmission in your vehicle. Make sure
you follow the instructions on this label.
You may have a PARK (P) position for your shift lever.
This position locks your rear wheels. It is the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can't move easily.
All vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions
can be started in PARK (P), if equipped, or in
NEUTRAL (N). When you shift out of NEUTRAL (N),
you may have to hold in a push button on the shift lever
or lift up on a release handle as you shift. See the
Allison Automatic Transmission Operator's Manual in
your vehicle for more information about this.
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2-24 Hydraulic Brakes
If your vehicle has hydraulic brakes, it has a parking
brake lever or an electric/hydraulic parking brake. The
lever is below the instrument panel to the left of the
steering column. The electric/hydraulic parking brake
knob is to the right of the steering column.
Your vehicle may also be equipped with an automatic
transmission which has a shift lever. This lever will have
a PARK (P) position on the shift indicator. When the
PARK (P) position is selected with the shift lever, the
parking brake is automatically applied.
Propshaft Brake Burnish Procedure
It is recommended that the propshaft-mounted parking
brake be burnished as part of the new vehicle break
-in.
The parking brake will work best after it has been
burnished following these instructions.
Make 10 stops, using the parking brake hand lever, from
20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart.
Between stops, drive the vehicle at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Lever Operated Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake,
pull the lever all the way up.
The PARK BRAKE light
will come on when the
parking brake is applied.
Then shift the transmission
to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
The vehicle must be stopped when applying the parking
brake, except while burnishing the parking brake linings
(see ªPropshaft Brake Burnish Procedureº in the Index).
You can easily adjust the parking brake by turning the
knob on the lever. Turning it clockwise makes the brake
grip more tightly. It will also make the lever seem harder
to pull up. Turning the knob counterclockwise makes the
parking brake apply less firmly. Adjust the parking
brake only when the lever is down (released).
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If your parking brake doesn't hold the vehicle when
applied, see your GM Truck dealer who can adjust your
parking brake properly.
To release the parking
brake, first push down the
regular brake pedal. Then,
push the parking brake lever
all the way down and shift
the automatic transmission
to NEUTRAL (N).
The PARK BRAKE light will remain illuminated if the
parking brake is not fully released.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can overheat
the parts in the system. You may have to replace
them, and you could also damage other parts of
your vehicle.
Electric/Hydraulic Parking Brake
(If Equipped)
CAUTION:
It will take a few seconds for the parking brake
to fully apply, and even longer when it is cold
outside. Do not leave your vehicle until the
parking brake applies fully. Without the parking
brake applied, your vehicle is free to move. It
could hit someone or something.
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If your vehicle has this
system, you will have a
knob to the right of the
steering column.
To apply the parking brake, pull the knob toward you.
Then shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
Push the knob in to release the parking brake. The
ignition must be in RUN and the shift lever out of
PARK (P) in order to release the parking brake.
The parking brake will automatically apply if the
ignition is turned off and in PARK (P) and will also
apply (will not release) if the vehicle's battery is dead
or disconnected.The PARK BRAKE light may flash while the parking
brake is being applied or released. This is normal for
this system.
If your vehicle needs towing or the parking brake will
not release, the towing operator will need to disconnect
the propshaft before towing your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Air Brake (If Equipped)
CAUTION:
When the yellow SYSTEM PARK and the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knobs are both pushed
in, your rig will be free to move. It could strike
someone or something. When both of these knobs
are pushed in, either hold the regular brake
pedal down or, if you have it, pull out the blue
TRACTOR PARKING knob, to keep your rig
from moving.
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If your vehicle has air
brakes, you will have this
control. Pulling it out
applies the parking brake.
The PARK BRAKE light
will come on when the air
parking brake is applied.
Vehicles built for use as tractors or towing vehicles have
one or two more air brake controls. They look like this:To charge a trailer's air brake system:
1. Move your tractor into the proper position. Apply the
parking brake by pulling the yellow SYSTEM PARK
knob out.
2. Hook up the trailer air system properly.
3. Get into the tractor. Push and hold down the regular
brake pedal.
4. Push in both the yellow SYSTEM PARK and the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knobs. This will charge
your trailer's air system.
If you have the blue TRACTOR PARKING knob,
pull it out to set the tractor brakes while the air system
is charging.
After a few minutes, the trailer system should be fully
charged. When it is, the air pressure gage will show
about 125 to 135 psi (862 to 931 kPa) and you may hear
the ªpop offº valve operate.
For driving with a trailer, the yellow, red and blue
(if equipped) knobs all must be pushed in. It's the same
when you're not pulling a trailer except that the red
TRAILER AIR SUPPLY knob must be out.
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