GMC SIERRA 1996 User manual

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ANUAL

The 1996 GMC Sierra Owner’s Manual
SeatsandRestraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SIR” system.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
ComfortControlsandAudio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about
the road and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to doif you have
a problem while driving, such asa flat tireor overheated
engine, etc.
Here the manual tellsyou how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and whatfluidsand lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact
GMC Truck for assistance and how to get service and owner
publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects’’ on page 8-8.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
YourDrivingandtheRoad .............................................................. 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
ServiceandAppearanceCare ............................................................ 6-1
MaintenanceSchedule......... ......................................................... 7-1
CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................ 8-1
Index ................................................................................ 9-1

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
GMC TRUCK, the GMCTRUCK 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 theright to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for GMCTruck
Division 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.
Litho in U.S.A.
X9604 B First Edition
‘--) We support voluntary
technician certification.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION
THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriCtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplairede ceguide en franGais chez
votre concessionaire
ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T IC7
‘Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995
All Rights Reserved
ii

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 foryour vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index
in the back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of
all that’s in the manual, and the page number where
you’ll find
it.
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 hurtyou
if you were to ignore
the warning.
A 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 behurt.
iii

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.?’
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 itcould be costly.
But
the notice will tell you what todo to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals,
you might see
CAUTION and NOTICEwarnings
in different colors or
in different words.
You’ll also see warning labeis
on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you willfind these notices:
I NOTICE:
I
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
iv

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
WARNING
A
HAZARD
FLASHER
These symbols
are
on someof
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BATTERY
POWER
WINDOW RUNNING
0
DAYTIME -
LAMPS '*'
FOGLAMPS # 0
VENTILATING
FAN
1
-3
COOLANT
a
ENGINEOIL e,
PRESSURE
HORN
)tr
SPEAKER v
FUEL B
V

Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Regular Cab Pickup
Extended
Cab Pickup
?
Crew Cab
Chassis Cab
3500 HD Chassis Cab
vi

Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
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.
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 seatbacksand head restraints.
Mar--a1Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust
a manual driver’sseat 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, split bench
or full
bench seat,
you can adjust it
with this lever at the front
of the seat.
~
I
Slide the lever at the front of the seat toward the
passenger’s side tounlock
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 tomake sure
the seat
is locked in place.
1-1

Power Driver’s Seat (Option)
If yourvehicle hasapowerseatonthe driver’sside, you can
adjust
it with thesecontrols at the outsideedge of the seat.
You can use the round center knob
to move the seat
where
you want it. To raise the seat, move the knob up.
To lower the seat, move the knob down. To move the
seat forward,move
the knob toward the front of the
vehicle.
To move the seat rearward, move the knob
toward the rear of the vehicle.
You can alsoraise and lower the front and rear
of the
seat. To raise the front of the seat, move the front
lever up.
To lower the front of the seat, move the front
lever down.
To raise the rear of the seat, move the rear
lever up.
To lower the rear of the seat, move the rear
lever down.
Power Lumbar Control
If you have power lumbar
adjustment,
you can
increase or decrease
lumbar support in an area
of the lower seatback.
To increase support, press and hold the front of the
rocker switch.Let
go of the switch when the lower
seatback reaches the desired
level of support.
To decrease support,press and hold the rear of the
rocker switch. Let
go of the switch when thelower
seatback reaches the desired level of support.
1-2

Reclining Seatbacks
Your vehicle will have one of these reclining
seatback controls.
To adjust a seatbackwith this lever, move the lever
rearward. Release
the lever to lock the seatback where
you want it. Move the lever again rearward and the
seatback will
go to an upright position.
To adjust a seatbackwith
this lever, lift the front
of
the lever.
Release the lever
to lock the
seatbackwhere
you want it.
Pull
up on the front of the
lever and the seatback
will
go to an upright position.
1-3

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
A CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicleis
in motion canbe dangerous. Evenif you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined likethis.
The shoulderbelt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against yourbody. Instead, itwill be
in frontof you. In
a crash you could go into it,
receiving neckor otherinjuries.
The lapbelt can’t do its job either. In
a crash the
belt could
go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, notat yourpelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when thevehicle
is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.
1-4

Head traints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest
to the top of your ears. Thisposition
reduces the chance
of a neck injury in a crash.
Seatback Latches
The front seatback of the base level bench seat folds
forward to let
you access the rear of the cab. Your
seatback will move back and forth freely, unless
you
come to a sudden stop. Then it will lock in place. If you
have a Crew Cab, your front seatbackis designed not to
fold forward. Access to the rear of the cab is available
by using the rear doors.
The front seatback of all seats except
the base level
bench seat folds forward
to let you access the rear of the
cab.
If you have a Crew Cab, your front seatback is
designed
not to fold forward. Access to the rear of the
cab is available by using the rear doors.
To fold a seatbackforward
on all seats except the base
level bench seat,pull this
lever forward and fold
the
seatback forward.
To return the seatback to the upright position, just push
the seatbackrearward
until it latches. After returning the
seatback
to its upright position, pull the seatback
forward to make sure
it is locked.
The rear seatback
of a rear bench seat without a center
armrest can be folded forward
to let you reach the
area behind it. Your seatback will move back and forth
freely, unless you come
to a sudden stop. Then, it will
lock into place.
The Crew Cab rear seatback with a centerarmrest folds
forward to let.you accessthe area behind
it.

To fold a seatback forward,
pull this lever forward and
fold the seatback forward.
To return the seatback to the upright position,just push
the seatback rearward until it latches. After returning the
seatback to its upright position, pull the seatback
forward
to make sure it is locked.
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward
in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury
to the person sitting there. Always press rearward
on
the seatback to be sure it is locked.
Easy Entry Seat (Extended Cab Only)
The driver and passengerfront bucket seat and the 60/40
split benchseat of your vehicle hasan easy entry feature.
This makes
it easy to get in and out of the rearseat.
To operatethe seat, pull
forward
on the top of this
lever and tilt
the back
forward toward the front
of
the vehicle.
When
you do, the seat bottom will release. Just pull or
push the seat forward
until it stops.
To return the seat to its regular position, return the
seatback
to its upright position, then push the whole seat
rearward until
it latches.
1-6

After returningthe seat to its regular position,try to
move the seat with your body in order
to make surethe
seat
is locked into place.
’ A\ CAUTION:
I
If any easy entry seatisn’t locked, it canmove. In
a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there
could be injured. And, evenif there is no crash
or
sudden stop, a driver sitting in an unlocked easy
entry seat could be startledby the sudden
movement and hit the wrong control or pedal,
causing anaccident. Afteryou’ve used it, besure
to push rearward on any easy entry seat to be
sure it is locked.
Rear Seat (Extended Cab)
Folding the Rear Seat
The extended
cab may have a rear folding seat
which can be folded open for more seating space.
To
use the seat:
1.
Pull the entire seatforward until it is flat.
2. Then pull forward on the
RELEASE lever under
the seat cushion,
on the
passenger’s side of the
rear seat. Push the
seatback rearward until
it latches.
3. After pushing the seatbackupright into position, pull
the seatback forward to make sure it is locked.
1-7

The extended cab’s rear seat can also be folded up to
provide more cargo space. To fold the seat:
1. Pull forward on the RELEASE lever at the side of
the seat cushion, behind the passenger’s side front
seat. Fold the seatback forward
until it latches with
the seat cushion.
2. Lift the entire seat
and push it rearward
into place.
3. Make sure the seat is secure.
Rear Seat (Crew Cab)
You can adjust the seat by sliding the lever at the front
of the seat toward the seat support to unlock it. Then,
slide
the seat to where you want it. Release the lever and
try to move the seat with your body in order to make
sure the seat is locked into place.
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safetybelts
properly.
It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And
it explainsthe Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
(SIR), or air bag system.
Don’t
let ady6h K de where heor she can‘t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries
can be muchworse.
You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected fromit. You can be seriously
injured orkilled. In the same crash,you might
not be if you are buckled up.Always fasten your
safety belt,and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properlytoo.
-
1-8

i
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
tobuckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says
to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If youdo have a
crash, you don’t know
if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes aremild, and some crashes can be
so seriousthat even buckled up a person wouldn’t
survive.
But most crashes arein between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can surviveand sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety beltsin vehicles,
the facts areclear..Inmost crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
Why Safety BeltsWork
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast
as it goes.
Take the simplestvehicle.
Suppose it’sjust a seat
on wheels.
1-9

Get it up to speed.Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.
Put someone on it.
1-10
I i

The person keeps going until stoppedby something.
In a real vehicle, it couldbe the windshield
...
or the instrumentpanel ...
1-11

Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
@ Won't I be trapped in the vehicle afteran
accidentif
I'm wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety
belt ornot. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even
if you're upside down. And yourchance of
being conscious during and after an accident,
so
you-canunbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
e.' If my vehicle has air bags, why shouldI have to
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only;
so they work with
safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag
system everoffered for salehas required the use
of
safety belts. Even if you're in a vehicle that has air
bags, you still have
to buckle up to getthe most
protection. That's true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
wear safety belts?
i or the safety belts!
~ With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
~ You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
1 and your strongest bones take the forces.That's why
1 safety belts make such good sense.
i
I
I 1-12