2001 GMC SIERRA display

2-24
Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transmission, it features an electronic shift position
indicator within the instrument panel cluster. This
display must be powered anytime 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 remove the
IGN 0 fuse from the instrument panel fuse block.
See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle can't move easily. If your vehicle is equipped
with the Allison

Transmission, use park for stationary
operation of the Power Takeoff (PTO) (if equipped).
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).
CAUTION: (Continued)

2-63
Cargo Lamp
Press the button to turn the
cargo lamp on. Press the
button again to turn it off.
A message in the instrument
panel cluster will come on
and display CARGO LAMP
ON when the cargo lamp is
turned on and the ignition
key is turned to RUN.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, reading, glove box,
cargo and underhood lamps if they are left on for more
than 20 minutes when the ignition is off. This will keep
your battery from running down.
Mirrors
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
Pull the tab under the mirror toward you to reduce glare
from headlamps behind you after dark. Push the tab
away from you for normal daytime operation.

2-64
Electrochromic Inside Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature Display
(If Equipped)
When on, an electrochromic mirror automatically dims
to the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind
you after dark.
The mirror also includes a display in the upper right
corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and the
outside temperature will both appear in the display at the
same time. The dual display can be turned on or off by
briefly pressing either the TEMP or the COMP button.
Temperature Display
The temperature can be displayed by pressing the
TEMP button. Pressing the TEMP button once briefly, will
toggle the temperature reading on and off. To alternate the
temperature reading between Fahrenheit and Celsius, press
and hold the TEMP button for three seconds until the display
blinks F
and C
. Press and release the TEMP button to
toggle between the Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. After
five seconds of inactivity, the display will stop blinking and
display the last selection made.
Press and release the TEMP button to toggle the
temperature display between Fahrenheit or Celsius. If an
abnormal reading is displayed, please consult your dealer.

2-65
Electrochromic Mirror Operation
The time period you need to press and hold the
TEMP button to turn the electrochromic feature on or
off is fifteen seconds. The indicator light to the right of
the TEMP button will still turn on or off to show you
when the electrochromic feature is activated.
Compass Operation
Press the COMP button once briefly to turn the compass
on or off.
When the ignition and the compass feature are on,
the compass will show two character boxes for
approximately two seconds. After two seconds,
the mirror will display the compass heading.
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if:

After five seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (ªNº for North, for example),
there may be a strong magnetic field interfering with
the compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder
or a similar magnetic item.

The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.
In order to calibrate, ªCALº must be displayed in the
mirror compass windows. If ªCALº is not displayed,
push in the ªCOMPº button for approximately
eight seconds or until ªCALº is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated in one of two ways:

Drive the vehicle in circles at five mph (8 km/h)
or less until the display reads a direction, or

Drive the vehicle on your everyday routine and after
several turns the compass will become calibrated and
will display a direction.

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Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live outside zone eight.
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance
cross
-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance. Compass variance is the difference
between earth's magnetic north and true geographic
north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Use the COMP button located at the bottom of
the mirror.
2. Press and hold the COMP button for three seconds
until a zone number appears in the display.
3. Find your current location and variance zone number
on the following zone map.
4. Press the COMP button on the bottom of the mirror
until the new zone number appears in the display.
After you stop pressing the button in, the display will
show a compass direction within a few seconds.

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Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a
glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how
fast you're going, about how much fuel you have and
many other things you'll need to know to drive safely
and economically.
Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or
kilometers (used in Canada).
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
Press the reset button to toggle between the trip
odometer and the regular odometer. Holding the reset
button for two seconds while the trip odometer is
displayed will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.Engine Hour Meter Display
The odometer can also display the number of hours the
engine has run. To display the hour meter, turn the
ignition off, press and hold the reset button for at least
four seconds. The hour meter will be displayed for up to
30 seconds, or until the ignition is turned on.Tachometer
Your tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
On vehicles with a manual transmission, if you
operate the engine with the tachometer in the
red area, your engine or other parts could
be damaged.
Damage to your engine or vehicle caused by
operating the engine in the red area isn't covered
by your vehicle warranty. Don't operate the
engine with the tachometer in the red area.

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At approximately 265
F (130
C), the message center
will display a TRANS FLUID HOT message and the
transmission will enter a transmission protection mode.
When the transmission enters the protection mode, you
may notice a change in the transmission shifting
patterns. The transmission will return to normal shifting
patterns when the transmission fluid temperature falls
below 260
F (127
C).
See ªMessage Centerº in the Index for
further information.
If the transmission fluid reaches temperatures of
approximately 275
F (135
C) or greater, the message
center will display a TRANS HOT...IDLE ENG warning
message. Pull the vehicle off the roadway when it is safe
to do so. Set the parking brake, place the transmission
in PARK (P) and allow the engine to idle until the
transmission temperature falls below 260
F (127
C).
If the transmission continues to operate above
265
F (130
C), please contact your nearest dealer
or the GM Roadside Assistance Center.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above the normal
operating range, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to costly repairs
that may not be covered under your warranty.
The following situations can cause the transmission to
operate at higher temperatures:

Towing a trailer

Hot outside air temperatures

Hauling a large or heavy load

Low transmission fluid level

High transmission fluid level

Restricted air flow to the radiator and the auxiliary
transmission oil cooler (if equipped).
A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures on
a frequent basis, see ªScheduled Maintenanceº in the
Index for the proper transmission maintenance intervals.

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Tow/Haul Light
(Automatic Transmissions Only)
This message is displayed
when the tow/haul mode has
been activated.
For more information see, ªTow/Haul Modeº in the Index.
Fuel Gage
United States CanadaWhen the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have left in your tank.
The gage will first indicate E (Empty) before you are out
of fuel, and you should get more fuel as soon as possible.
Here are some situations you may experience with your fuel
gage. None of these indicate a problem with the fuel gage.

At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the
gage reads F (Full).

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.

The gage goes back to E (Empty) when you turn off
the ignition.
If you have a diesel engine, see ªFuel Gageº in the
Diesel Engine Supplement.