Notice:Holding your key in START for longer
than 15 seconds at a time will cause your
battery to be drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage your starter motor.
Notice:If the wait to start light stays on
after starting your vehicle, your vehicle may
not run properly. Have your vehicle serviced
right away.
3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds
of cranking, turn the ignition key to OFF. Wait
one minute for the starter to cool, then try
the same steps again.
If you are trying to start your engine after you
have run out of fuel, seeRunning Out of Fuel
on page 262.
When your engine is cold, let it run for a few
minutes before you move your vehicle. This lets
oil pressure build up. Your engine will sound louder
when it is cold.
Notice:If you are not in an idling vehicle and
the engine overheats, you would not be there to
see the overheated engine indication. This
could damage your vehicle. Do not let your
engine run when you are not in your vehicle.Cold Weather Starting
If your vehicle has the 6.6L DURAMAX®Diesel
Engine and the Isuzu 6H 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.
101
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 268orEngine Oil (Gasoline Engine)
on page 268orEngine Oil (DURAMAX
®/Isuzu
Diesel Engine) on page 272. 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 111.
•SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 253for
information on what fuel to use in cold
weather.
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.
102
If the light does not come on when the engine is
cold, your vehicle needs service.
If your batteries do not have enough charge to
start your engine, seeBattery on page 304.
Be sure you have the right oil for your engine, and
that you have changed the oil at the proper
times. If you use the wrong oil, your engine may
be harder to start.
Be sure you are using the proper fuel for existing
weather conditions. SeeWhat Fuel to Use on
page 253.
If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops,
your vehicle needs service.
{CAUTION:
Do not use gasoline or starting aids, such
as ether, in the air intake. They could
damage your engine. There could also be
a re, which could cause serious personal
injury.
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. See
Engine Shutdown Warning Light on page 177.
104
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.
105
The engine idle speed will return to normal once
the following conditions are met:
•Once engine coolant temperature reaches
about 150°F (65°C).
•The intake temperature reaches a
certain level.
The high idle speed will be temporarily interrupted
and the engine speed will return to normal if
any of the following conditions occur:
•The brake pedal is applied.
•The accelerator pedal is pressed.
•The automatic transmission is shifted out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
•The clutch pedal on the manual transmission
is pressed.
•Vehicle speed is detected.
Once these conditions no longer exist, the engine
idle speed will slowly increase to high idle after
the normal delay, if the conditions for engine
coolant temperature and air intake temperature
are still met.
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 175for more information.
109
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.
111
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 173
Low Coolant Warning Light....................... 173
Wait to Start Indicator............................... 174
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........................ 174
Oil Pressure Gage..................................... 175
Low Oil Level Light................................... 176
Change Engine Oil Light........................... 176
Engine Overspeed Warning Light.............. 177
Engine Shutdown Warning Light................ 177
Transmission Temperature Gage............... 178
Exhaust Brake Indicator Light.................... 178
Differential Lock Indicator Light.................. 178
Reduced Engine Power Light.................... 179
Highbeam On Light................................... 179
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light........................................ 179
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light............... 180
Check Gages Warning Light...................... 180
Fuel Gage................................................. 181Water in Fuel Warning Light...................... 182
Air Filter Restriction Indicator..................... 182
Air Pressure Gage..................................... 183
Hourmeter Gage........................................ 183
Audio System(s)......................................... 184
Setting the Time........................................ 185
AM-FM Radio............................................ 186
Radio with Cassette.................................. 189
Radio with CD........................................... 195
Theft-Deterrent Feature
(Non-RDS Radios)................................. 201
Radio Reception........................................ 201
Care of the Cassette Tape Player............. 202
Care of Your CDs..................................... 203
Care of the CD Player.............................. 204
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................. 204
Chime Level Adjustment............................ 204
Section 3 Instrument Panel
138
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).A reading in the low pressure zone may be
caused by a dangerously low oil level or other
problem.
If you have a Caterpillar
®diesel engine, also see
your Caterpillar®Operation & Maintenance
Manual.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others
could be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
United StatesCanada
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