Cold Weather Starting
If your vehicle has the DURAMAX®Diesel Engine, the
following notice applies:
Notice:Your diesel engine has an electric air
intake heater system which reduces white smoke
and helps start the engine in cold weather. Do
not spray starting uid into the air intake where it
can contact the heater elements.
If you do not have the GM Automatic Ether Injection
System, do not use starting uid or you could
damage your engine. If you have the GM system,
use only GM approved starting uid that has
been tested to establish compatibility with the air
inlet heater system.The following tips will help you get good starting in cold
weather.•Use the recommended engine oil when the outside
temperature drops below freezing. SeeEngine Oil
(Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine) on page 5-24or
Engine Oil (DURAMAX®Diesel) on page 5-24or
Engine Oil (Gasoline Engine) on page 5-28.
When the outside temperature drops below
0°F (−18°C), use of the optional engine coolant
block heater is recommended.
•If you experience longer cranking times, notice
an unusual amount of exhaust smoke or are at
higher altitudes (over 7,000 ft. or 2 135 m), you may
use your optional engine coolant block heater.
SeeEngine Coolant Heater on page 2-26.
•SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 5-8for information
on what fuel to use in cold weather.
2-17
Cold Weather Starting
(Caterpillar®Diesel)
Because the diesel engine uses compression ignition, it
is harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline engine.
The air intake heater and use of the proper engine oil,
optional engine coolant heaters and optional ether
injection systems help cold weather starting. See the
Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for more information.
Restarting the Diesel Engine While
Moving (Automatic Transmission)
If you have to restart the engine while the vehicle is
moving, you will first have to shift to NEUTRAL (N). This
safety feature prevents starting the engine when the
transmission is in a drive gear for more information.
Stopping the Diesel Engine
1. Set the parking brake and shift to NEUTRAL (N) or
PARK (P).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
If your vehicle has a two-speed axle, see
Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control on
page 2-28.
If you have a Caterpillar
®diesel engine, see your
Caterpillar®Diesel Engine Operation & Maintenance
Manual for additional information.
Diesel Engine Warm-Up
Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
warms up. These can include outside temperature,
engine load, idle time and your vehicle’s option content.
Your vehicle may be equipped with some features
that can help the engine reach operating temperature
sooner. Some of these features are discussed below.
Also, remember that an automatic transmission
adds heat to the cooling system through the heat
exchanger in the radiator. Because of this, vehicles
equipped with automatic transmissions are often able to
retain engine coolant heat better than manual
transmission vehicles.
See your Caterpillar
®Operation & Maintenance manual
for additional diesel engine warm-up information.
2-18
Engine Alarm and Automatic
Shutdown
Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature or low engine
oil pressure. If high engine temperature or low engine oil
pressure is detected, you will also hear a tone alarm
at two beats per second. The alarm and the light
will remain on until the condition is fixed. If the engine
temperature or oil pressure condition worsens, the
tone alarm will go to five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in about 25 to 30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. SeeEngine Shutdown
Warning Light on page 3-40.
Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Do not start it
until the reason for the problem is known, and the
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you
are still in traffic, you can restart the engine and
get another 25 to 30 seconds of operation.Do this only if you have to, since there is a problem that
can harm the engine if it is not fixed. Engine automatic
shutdown, for gasoline engines, requires activation
by your dealer.
Notice:If you try to operate the vehicle after the
engine automatically shuts down, you may damage
the vehicle. Have your vehicle repaired as soon
as possible.
Ambulance, Fire, and Rescue Packages
Your check gages warning light will come on if the
system senses high engine temperature or low engine
oil pressure. If high engine temperature or low engine oil
pressure is detected, you will also hear a tone alarm
at two beats per second. The alarm and the light
will remain on until the condition is fixed. If the engine
temperature or oil pressure condition worsens, the
tone alarm will go to five beats per second.
If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The engine will not shutdown, but you should have the
vehicle checked as soon as you can.
2-20
Engine Checks Before Operating
When you have started your engine, let it run for
20 to 30 seconds before you put a load on the engine.
But do not leave the vehicle while the engine is running.
Avoid unnecessary idling of diesel engine equipped
vehicles.
If the engine idles too long, the temperature of the
engine coolant will fall below the normal operating
range. Low engine operating temperature causes
several conditions which affect engine operation and
reduce engine life.
The engine should be permitted to go through a
warm-up period. Operate the vehicle at a minimum
of 600 rpm during the warm-up period. During this period
and during operation, the following observations
should be made.During this warm-up period, check your warning lights
and gages:•If oil pressure does not begin to rise within
15 seconds of starting, stop the engine and find the
cause. SeeOil Pressure Gage on page 3-38for
more information.
•If the engine coolant temperature gage needle goes
into the hot area on the gage, stop the engine and
find the cause of the overheating. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-36for more
information.
•If you have air brakes, the dual-needle air pressure
gage should read at least 115 psi (790 kPa) for
both service systems before you try to move
the vehicle. When air pressure is below 60 psi
(420 kPa), the LOW AIR light will come on and you
will hear a tone alarm. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-33for more information. If the
pressure does not build up or drops during warm-up,
stop the engine and find the cause before you try
to move the vehicle. Recommended air pressure
before driving is 120 psi (830 kPa). SeeAir
Pressure Gage on page 3-47for more information.
2-24
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with this feature.
In very cold weather, 0°F (–18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At
temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Find the plug-in outlet located under the
driver’s door.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will
not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you will be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
2-26
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-37
Wait to Start Indicator (Diesel Engine).............3-37
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-38
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-38
Low Oil Level Light.......................................3-39
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-40
Engine Overspeed Warning Light....................3-40
Engine Shutdown Warning Light.....................3-40
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-41
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light.........................3-41
Differential Lock Indicator Light.......................3-42
Reduced Engine Power Light.........................3-42
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-43
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light...........................................3-43
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-44
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-44Fuel Gage...................................................3-45
Water in Fuel Warning Light...........................3-46
Air Filter Restriction Indicator..........................3-46
Air Pressure Gage........................................3-47
Hourmeter Gage...........................................3-47
Audio System(s).............................................3-48
Setting the Time...........................................3-49
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-50
Radio with Cassette......................................3-53
Radio with CD..............................................3-59
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios).......3-64
Radio Reception...........................................3-64
Care of the Cassette Tape Player...................3-65
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-66
Care of the CD Player...................................3-67
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-67
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-67
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light
If this light comes on or
flashes while you are
driving, two things may
happen.
First, you will not notice any difference in engine
performance, but your tail pipe emissions may increase.
Second, your engine may not run properly or may
stall without warning. If either of these things happen,
drive or tow your vehicle to your dealer for service.
This light should come on when the ignition is on, but
the engine is not running, as a check to show you
it is working. If it does not come on at all, have
it repaired.
Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after awhile, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
be as good, and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may
not be covered by your warranty.
Oil Pressure Gage
The engine oil pressure gage, on the lower right portion
of your instrument panel cluster, shows engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or in kPa
(kilopascals). Oil pressure may vary with outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings of
30 to 40 psi (205 to 275 kPa) on gasoline engines at
operating temperature and moderate road speeds
are normal. If you have a diesel engine, the normal
operating range should be between 35 and 70 psi
(240 to 480 kPa).
United StatesCanada
3-38
Transmission Temperature Gage
If you have an automatic
transmission and this
gage, it is located above
the switchbank in the
center of the instrument
panel.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission oil. A reading in the
warning zone, the red area beginning at 300°F (150°C),
means you must stop driving and check into the
cause. One possible cause is a low oil level in the
transmission.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above normal
operating range, you can damage the transmission.
This could lead to costly repairs that would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your
vehicle while the transmission temperature gage
reading is above normal. See your dealer for service.
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light
If your vehicle is equipped
with an exhaust brake, you
will have this light,
located above the climate
controls in the center
of the instrument panel.
The exhaust brake indicator light will come on and stay
on whenever the diesel engine exhaust brake or
exhaust restrictor is active. For more information, see
Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake on page 2-27andExhaust
Restrictor (Engine Warm-Up) on page 2-22.
3-41