2005 GMC SIERRA wheel

Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
1. Pull the handle located
inside the vehicle to
the lower left of
the steering wheel.
2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on
the secondary hood release located near the
center of the grille.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the ller caps
are on properly. Then pull down the hood and close
it rmly.
5-13

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and may have rear
drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving, except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.
Rear brake drums should be removed and inspected
each time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
Drum brakes have an inspection hole to inspect lining
wear during scheduled maintenance. When you
have the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your brakes adjust
for wear.
5-51

3. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the
parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in the
jump start procedure. Put an automatic transmission
in PARK (P) or a manual transmission in NEUTRAL
before setting the parking brake. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear, not in NEUTRAL.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
4. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the
radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save the radio!5. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (−) terminal locations of the other vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) jump
starting terminal and a remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal. You should always use these
remote terminals instead of the terminals on the
battery.
The remote positive (+) terminal is located behind a
red plastic cover, if equipped, near the engine
accessory drive bracket. To uncover the remote
positive (+) terminal, open the red plastic cover, if
equipped.
The remote negative (−) terminal is located on the
engine drive bracket on all V8 and diesel engines,
and on the thermostat housing on the 8.1L engine.
On V8 engines it is marked GND.
On V6 engines the remote negative (−) terminal is
located on a tab attached to the engine accessory
drive bracket where it is marked GND.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14
for more information on the location of the
remote positive (+) and remote negative (−)
terminals.
5-54

Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
The proper level for the 1500 Series is from
5/8 inch to 1 5/8 inch (15 mm to 40 mm) below the
bottom of the ller plug hole.
The proper level for the 1500HD Series,
2500 Series, 2500HD, and 3500 Series is from
0 to 1/2 inch (0 to 13 mm) below the bottom of the
ller plug hole.
The proper level for the 1500 and 2500 Series
vehicles with QUADRASTEER™ (4-Wheel Steer) is
from 0 to 1/4 inch (0 to 6 mm) below the ller
plug hole.
Add only enough uid to reach the proper level.
What to Use
To determine what kind of lubricant to use see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-14.
Four-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section also apply to these
vehicles. There are two additional systems that need
lubrication.
1500 Series Shown, 2500 Series Similar
5-58

{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a
serious accident. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 4-50.
Underinated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-79.
Overinated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact —such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
20-Inch Tires
If your vehicle has the optional 20-inch P275/55R20
size tires, they are classied as touring tires and
are designed for on road use. The low-prole, wide
tread design is not recommended for “off-road” driving
or commercial uses such as snow plowing. See
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle on
page 4-20andAdding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment on page 4-56for additional information.
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(G) Single Tire Maximum Load:Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum pressure needed
to support that load when used as a single. For
information on recommended tire pressure see
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 5-79andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-50.
Tire Size
The following examples show the different parts of
a tire size.(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P as the
rst character in the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(A) Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letters LT as
the rst two characters in the tire size means a light
truck tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example, if
the tire size aspect ratio is 75, as shown in item C of the
light truck (LT-Metric) tire illustration, it would mean
that the tire’s sidewall is 75% as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter
R means radial ply construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description:The service description
indicates the load range and speed rating of a tire. The
load index can range from 1 to 279. Speed ratings
range from A to Z. Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
5-76

Operating your vehicle with a light load means:
The total weight of occupants in your vehicle is less
than the total seating capacity number your vehicle
was designed to carry multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg).
The total seating capacity number is on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
No more than 200 lbs (91 kg) of cargo, which must
be secured in the cargo area.
No trailer is attached to your vehicle.
You have not added any additional equipment to
your vehicle, like a truck cap or tool box.
The vehicle load capacity and the rear axle load
capacity are reduced when the tire pressure is lowered
to the amount recommended for improved ride.
Before operating your vehicle with passengers or cargo
greater than a light-load, you must inate the rear
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure shown on
the Tire and Loading Information Label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-50.
Dual Tire Operation
When the vehicle is new, or whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel nut is replaced, check the wheel nut torque
after 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and
10 000 km) of driving. For proper torque and wheel nut
tightening information, seeRemoving the Spare Tire
and Tools on page 5-93.
The outer tire on a dual wheel setup generally wears
faster than the inner tire. Your tires will wear more
evenly and last longer if you rotate the tires periodically,
seeTire Inspection and Rotation on page 5-83. Also
seeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
{CAUTION:
If you operate your vehicle with a tire that is
badly underinated, the tire can overheat. An
overheated tire can lose air suddenly or catch
re. You or others could be injured. Be sure all
tires (including the spare) are properly inated.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-79, for
information on proper tire ination.
5-82

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as
soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also
check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-85andWheel Replacement
on page 5-88for more information.
Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull,
and then try to rotate or turn the tire. If it moves,
use the wheel wrench/hoist shaft to tighten the cable.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-92.
If your vehicle has dual rear wheels, also seeDual Tire
Operation on page 5-82.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.If your vehicle has single rear wheels and the tread
design for your front tires is the same as your rear tires,
use the rotation pattern shown here when rotating
your tires. If your vehicle is an SS model, the spare tire
is not designed to be used in the tire rotation.
5-83