GMC 2001 Sierra 1500 Pickup User manual

Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
1-800-GMC-8782
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call 1-800-268-6800 )
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-GMC-8782
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call 1-800-268-6800 )
Courtesy
Transportation
Trip Routing
Every
2001 Sierra
under warranty is
backed with the
following
services:

2001 GMC Sierra
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number X2115 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i

ii
Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
Tailgate
Automatic Transmission
Manual Transmission
Four-Wheel Drive Operation (If Equipped)
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Message Center
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag System Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls

iii
Section
3
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Section
4
Your Driving and the Road
Section
5
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Off-Road Driving
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road

iv
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™ (If Equipped)
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Passenger Compartment Air Filter (If Equipped)
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records

v
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual)
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC,
the GMC Emblem and the name SIERRA are registered
trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for GMC whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

vii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.

viii
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

ix
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
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
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
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

x
Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Regular Cab Pickup
Extended Cab Pickup
Chassis Cab
Crew Cab
R

For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6*
Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6*
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6*
Cooling System
See Section 5*
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Battery
See Section 6
Fuel
See Section 6*
*For vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, see the Diesel Engine Supplement

1- 1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-12 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-17 Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-18 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-18 Driver Position
1-24 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-25 Right Front Passenger Position
1-25 Air Bag System
1-35 Center Passenger Position
1-36 Rear Seat Passengers
1-40 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-42 Children
1-46 Restraint Systems for Children
1-67 Older Children
1-70 Safety Belt Extender
1-70 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-70 Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down. It also tells you about
reclining front seatbacks and head restraints.
Manual Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
If your vehicle has a manual bucket or split bench seat,
you can adjust it with this lever located at the front of
the seat.
Lift the lever at the front of the seat to unlock it.
Using your body, slide the seat to where you want it.
Then, release the lever and try to move the seat with
your body in order to make sure the seat is locked
into place.

1-3
Manual Lumbar Control (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has a
lumbar adjustment, you
can increase or decrease
lumbar support in an area
of the lower seatback. It is
located on the outboard side
of the seat cushion.
To increase or decrease support, turn the knob toward
the front or rear of the vehicle.
Power Seat(s) (If Equipped)
Horizontal Control: If your vehicle has a power seat,
you can adjust it with this control located on the
outboard edge of the seat.
Raise or lower the front of the seat by raising or
lowering the forward edge of the button. Raise or
lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering the
rear edge of the button.

1-4
Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the whole
button toward the front or toward the rear of the vehicle.
Moving the whole button up or down raises or lowers
the entire seat cushion.
Vertical Control: If your vehicle has power reclining
seats, you can use this button to adjust the angle of the
seatback. Move the reclining front seatback rearward or
forward by moving the button toward the rear or toward
the front of the vehicle. See “Reclining Seatbacks” in
the Index for further information.
Power Lumbar Control (If Equipped)
If you have power
lumbar adjustment, you
can increase or decrease
lumbar support in an area
of the lower seatback.
The control is located on
the on outboard of the
cushion seat.
To increase support, press and hold the front of the
control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.
To decrease support, press and hold the rear of the
control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.
You can also reshape the back wing area of the
lower seatback.
To increase support, press and hold the top of the
control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.
To decrease support, press and hold the bottom of the
control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback
reaches the desired level of support.

1-5
Memory Seat (If Equipped)
The memory function
controls the driver’s seat
cushion and recliner
positions. The control is
located on the driver’s
side door panel.
It does not store the lumbar or back support positions.
To set your memory seat:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat to your desired position.
2. Press the SET button and then press the 1 or 2
side of the memory control within five seconds.
When your vehicle is in PARK (P), press the 1 or 2
button of the memory control to recall the seat setting.
To do the same thing for a second driver, follow the
preceding steps, but press the other number of the
memory control.
Heated Front Seats (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has heated
front seats, the ignition
must be in RUN for them
to operate.
The control for the driver’s side heated seat is located
on the driver’s side door panel. The control for the
passenger’s side heated seat is located on the
passenger’s side door panel.
To activate the heated seats, press the button once for
the HI heat setting. Press the button again for the
LO heat setting. To turn off the heated seats, press the
button a third time. An indicator light on the button will
illuminate for each heat setting anytime the heated seats
are operating.

1-6
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the front seatback, lift the lever upward.
The lever is located on the outboard side of the seat
cushion. Release the lever to lock the seatback where
you want it. Lift the lever again upward and the seatback
will go to an upright position.
If your vehicle has power seats with a power recliner,
see “Power Seats” in the Index for further information
on how to operate the reclining seatback feature.
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.

1-7
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash, you
could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.