1999 GMC SIERRA parking brake

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v
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
SPEAKER
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

2-
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2-1
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 Keys
2
-3 Tailgate
2
-4 Third Door (If Equipped)
2
-5 Door Locks
2
-6 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-9 Theft
2
-10 Passlock

2-10 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-11 Ignition Positions
2
-13 Starting Your Gasoline Engine
2
-15 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-16 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-19 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-21 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-25 Parking Brake
2
-27 Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-29 Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)2
-30 Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Only)
2
-30 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-31 Engine Exhaust
2
-31 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-32 Locking Rear Axle (If Equipped)
2
-32 Windows
2
-35 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-35 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-41 Exterior Lamps
2
-42 Interior Lamps
2
-44 Mirrors
2
-51 Storage Compartments
2
-60 Instrument Panel
2
-62 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-64 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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2-13 Key Release Button (Manual Transmission)
The ignition key cannot be
removed from the ignition
of manual transmission
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.
Starting Your Gasoline Engine
If you have a diesel engine, see ªStarting Your Diesel
Engineº in the Diesel Engine Supplement.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when
your vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor
and start the engine. Your vehicle won't start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down
-- that's a safety feature.

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Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, it features an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument cluster. This display
must be powered any time the shift lever is capable of
being moved out of PARK (P). This means that if your
key is in OFF, rather than LOCK, there will be a small
current drain on your battery which could discharge
your battery over a period of time. If you have to leave
your key in the ignition in OFF for an extended period,
it is recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
PARK (P): This locks your rear wheels. It's the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can't move easily.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle
will be free to roll
-- even if your shift lever
is in PARK (P)
-- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N). So, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear, two
-wheel high (2H) or
four
-wheel high (4H) or four-wheel low
(4L)
-- not in NEUTRAL (N). See ªShifting
Into PARK (P)º in the Index. If you're pulling
a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.

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NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, first press down the clutch
pedal. Wait about five seconds for the internal parts to
stop spinning, and then shift into REVERSE (R).
Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your transmission.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,
when turning off your engine and parking your vehicle.
Shift Speeds
CAUTION:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle.
You could injure yourself or others. Don't shift
down more than one gear at a time when you
down shift.
If your speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.

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4-Wheel High (4H): This setting engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle. Use 4H when you need
extra traction and in most off
-road situations.
CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N) can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in PARK (P), or if you have a manual
transmission, even if you are in gear. You or
someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure
to set the parking brake before placing the
transfer case in NEUTRAL (N). See ªParking
Brakeº in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): Shift to this setting only when your
vehicle needs to be towed or when using a power
take
-off.
4
-Wheel Low (4L): This setting also engages your
front axle to give you extra power and also gives you a
higher driveline ratio. It should be used only for
off
-road driving.
You can shift from 2
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to
4
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or from 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
to 2
-WHEEL HIGH (2H) while the vehicle is moving.Your front axle will engage faster if you take your foot
off the accelerator for a few seconds after you shift. In
extremely cold weather, it may be necessary to stop or
slow the vehicle to shift into 4
-WHEEL HIGH (4H).
To shift into or out of 4
-WHEEL LOW (4L) or
NEUTRAL (N):
1. Slow the vehicle to a roll, about 1 to 3 mph
(2 to 5 km/h) and shift an automatic transmission
into NEUTRAL (N), or with a manual transmission,
press the clutch pedal.
2. Shift the transfer case shift lever in one
continuous motion.
Don't pause in NEUTRAL (N) as you shift the transfer
case into 4
-WHEEL LOW (4L), or your gears
could clash.
Remember that driving in 4
-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or
4
-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel economy. Also,
driving in four
-wheel drive on dry pavement could
cause your tires to wear faster and make your transfer
case harder to shift and run noisier.
When your headlamps or parking lamps are on, rotate the
thumb wheel next to the headlamp switch up to brighten
or down to dim your transfer case indicator light.

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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.
Shifting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO
To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO, 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 km/h). 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 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds the
transfer case will return to 4HI.Shifting from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI
To shift from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI, your 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 out of 4LO is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the
4HI switch. You must wait for the 4HI indicator light to
stop flashing and remain illuminated before shifting
your transmission into gear.
If the 4HI switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the 4HI indicator light will flash for 30
seconds but will not complete the shift unless the
vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake
pedal with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down.

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Pull the lever, located
just above the parking
brake pedal, marked
BRAKE RELEASE.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle. Always check to be sure
your parking brake is fully released before
you drive.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
If you have a 3500 HD model, 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 foot pedal, from
20 mph (32 km/h) about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) apart. In
between stops, drive the vehicle at 20 mph (32 km/h).