GMC 1976 TRANSMODE User manual

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X-7680 8
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6
TRANSMOD E
OPERATING MANUA L
EFFECTIVE WIT H
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBE R
TZE336V100880 (23' )
TZE366V100883 (26' )
IMPORTANT' OPERATING, SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTION S
GMC

GM
Part No . 2010488

A WORD TO GMC OWNERS . . .
This manual has been prepared to acquaint you with the operation an
d
maintenance of only the chassis and body components of your TransMod
e
Vehicle, and to provide important safety information
. It is supplemented b
y
convenient folders which provide additional information on vehicl
e
maintenance, emission control, and warranties
. We urge you to read thes
e
publications carefully and follow the recommendations to help assure th
e
most enjoyable and troublefree operation of your vehicle
.
When it comes to service, remember that your GMC MotorHome deale
r
knows your chassis and body components best and is interested in you
r
complete satisfaction
. Return to him for Guardian Maintenance Service an
d
any other assistance you may require
.
GMC Truck and Coach maintains a number of Zone Offices throughout th
e
country
. Should you have a problem that cannot be handled through norma
l
channels, follow the procedure presented in Section 6 of this manual unde
r
the heading, "Owner Assistance"
.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing a GM
C
product—and assure you of our continuing interest in your motoring pleasur
e
and satisfaction
.
GMC Truck & Coach Divisio
n
FOR CONTINUING SATISFACTION, KEEP YOUR VEHICL
E
ALL GM
. GENERAL MOTORS PARTS ARE IDENTIFIED B
Y
ONE OF THESE TRADEMARKS
:
GM

GMC
TRANSMODE VEHICL E
Operating Manua l
This manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle, an d
must remain with the vehicle at time of resale .
For vehicles sold in Canada, substitute the name General Motors o f
Canada Limited, wherever the name GMC Truck and Coach Divisio
n
appears in this manual .
All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manua l
are based on the latest product information available at the time o f
publication . The right is reserved to make changes at any time withou t
notice .
GMC Truck & Coach Divisio n
General Motors Corporatio n
Pontiac, Michigan 4805 3
TABLE OF CONTENT S
Section
Pag e
1

Before Starting Your Vehicle
 5
2 Starting and Operating Vehicle
 1 0
Steering Column Controls  1 2
Floor Controls  1 7
Instrument Panel and Controls 
1 9
3

In Case of Emergency

3 3
4

Appearance Care 
3 9
5

Service and Maintenance 
45
6

Specifications, Owner Assistance, Index, Gas Station Information
67
1

IMPORTANT INFORMATIO
N
ON VEHICLE LOADIN
G
OVERLOADING

MAXIMUM FRONT AND REAR AXL E
CAUTION

WEIGHTS (AS MANUFACTURED )
The weight of the cargoload must b e
properly distributed over both the fron t
and rear axles, although not necessaril y
evenly . The (VIN) plate shows th e
maximum weight that the front axle ca n
carry (front GAWR) and the maximu m
weight that the rear axle (rear GAWR) ca n
carry . The GVWR represents the maximu
m
permissible loaded weight of the vehicl e
and takes into consideration the engine ,
transmission, frame, brake, axle and tir e
capabilities . Actual front and rear en d
weights at the ground can only b e
determined by weighing the vehicle . Thi s
can be accomplished through highway weig h
stations or other such commercial facilities .
For assistance in this regard, consult you r
Vehicle Loading (23' Model )
GVWR RATING 10,500 LBS .
FRONT GAW R
4,200 LBS
.
REAR GAW R
7,000 LBS .
/1 l
*FRONT CURB 3,800 LBS .

*REAR CURB 3,100 LBS
.
I
REAR CARG
O
& PASS . LOAD
3,900 LBS .
400 LBS .
TOTAL

4,200 LBS
.

TOTAL

7,000 LBS .
MAXIMUM TOTAL WEIGHT AT GROUND 10,500 LBS
.
*Curb weight is the maximum weight of the vehicle (as manufactured by GMC
)
without driver, passengers, or cargo but does include fuel and coolant .
FRONT CARG
O
& PASS
. LOA D
The components of your vehicle ar e
designed to provide satisfactor y
service if the vehicle is not loade d
in excess of either the Gros s
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) o r
the maximum Front and Rear Gros s
Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR's )
specified on the vehicle identificatio n
number (VIN) plate located behin d
the

right

front

access

door .
Overloading can create seriou s
potential safety hazards and can als o
shorten the service life of you r
vehicle
. Your dealer can advise yo u
concerning proper loading condition s
of your vehicle .
2

GVWR RATING 11,700 LBS .
FRONT GVW R
4,200 LBS .
REAR GAW R
7,500 LBS .
'FRONT CUR B
FRONT CARG O
& PASS . LOAD
3,800 LBS .
400 LBS .
4,200 LBS .
TOTAL
MAXIMUM TOTAL WEIGHT AT GROUND 11,700 LBS
.
*Curb weight is the maximum weight of the vehicle (as manufactured by GMC
)
without driver, passengers, or cargo but does include fuel and coolant
.
Vehicle Loading (26' Model )
dealer . Care should also be exercised to se e
that the cargoload is distributed on bot h
sides of the centerline of the vehicle a
s
equally as possible .
EFFECT ON WARRANT Y
Your New Vehicle Warranty does not appl y
to any part of your vehicle "which ha s
been subject to misuse . " Any part whic
h
fails because of overloading has bee
n
subject to misuse .
ALLOWABLE LATERA L
WEIGHT VARIATIO N
The independent suspension on this vehicl e
could be adversely affected by a n
unbalanced load on either side of vehicle
.
The allowable front lateral weight variation is 25
0
pounds
. The allowable rear lateral weigh
t
variation is 600 pounds .
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) Plat
e
The vehicle identification number plat e
shows the GVWR and the front and rea
r
GAWR's for the vehicle to which they ar e
attached .
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the weigh t
of the vehicle itself, all items added to th
e
vehicle after it has left the factory, th e
driver and all occupants, and everythin g
Q GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION 0
WARRANTY MAY BE VOIDED IF WEIGHT EXCEEDS ANY OF RATINGS SHOWN . GROS S
VEHICLE WEIGHT INCLUDES WEIGHT OF BASE VEHICLE, ALL ADDED EQUIPMENT, DRIVE R
AND PASSENGERS, AND ALL PROPERTY LOADED INTO OR ONTO VEHICLE .
RATINGS IN POUNDS• AS MANUFACTURE D
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT FOR THIS VEHICL E
MAXIMUM FRONT END WEIGHT AT GROUN D
MAXIMUM REAR END WEIGHT AT GROUN D
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO .
Vehicle Identification Plat e
3

that is loaded into (or onto) the vehicle
.
The GVW must not exeed the GVWR an d
the front and rear weights of the loade d
vehicle must not exceed the front and rea r
GAWR's .
CAUTION
TIRE
S
It is important that the tires on you
r
vehicle be of the proper size, and b
e
properly inflated
. It is important to avoi
d
over-inflation as well as under-inflation
. Se e
the SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE sectio
n
for proper tire inflation pressures
.
When using your vehicle to transpor
t
luggage or other cargo, it i
s
recommended that the articles b
e
secured in place . This precautio n
will help prevent such items fro m
becoming dangerous projectiles in th e
event of an accident .
For continuing satisfaction keep your vehicle al
l
GM
. General Motors Parts are identified by on
e
of these trademarks
:
GM
V
Delc o
4

SECTION 1
BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICL E
DRIVER CHECKLIS T
Before Entering Vehicl e
I . See that windows, mirrors and lights ar e
clean .
2.
Visually note inflation condition of tires .
3.
Check that area to rear is clear if abou t
to back up .
Before Driving Of f
1. Lock all doors .
2. Position seat .
3. Adjust inside and outside mirrors .
4. Fasten seat belts .
5. Check that warning bulbs light when ke y
is turned to start position .
6. Release parking brake (and see tha t
brake warning light turns off) .
7. Be sure you understand your vehicle an d
how to operate it safely .
REMINDER : Always lock entrance doo r
when driving for greater security in th e
event of an accident, to help kee p
children from opening door, and fo r
greater security against entry b y
unwelcome persons while momentaril y
stopped
.
INSIDE REARVIEW MIRRO R
Switch inside mirror to night position t o
reduce glare from following headlights .
To raise or lower mirror to achiev
e
desired field of view, grasp mirror an d
exert sufficient pressure by pushing o r
pulling up, down, or sideways .
KEY S
Two sets of keys are furnished with you r
vehicle . Each key has a different cros s
section so that it can be inserted only i n
certain locks .
Key with Square Head—For ignition switc h
only .
Key with Oval Head—For door lock, glov e
box and other locking compartments .
The code number of each key i s
stamped on the "knock out" plug in th e
key head . Your dealer removed these plug s
and placed them with the spare set o f
keys in the special key envelope that wa s
given to you at the time of delivery . Fo r
your protection :
•
Record the numbers on the key envelop e
and discard the key plugs .
• Keep the key envelope in a safe plac e
such as your wallet, NOT IN TH E
VEHICLE .
In the event the original keys are lost ,
duplicates can be made by your dealer o r
Inside Rearview Mirror
n
5

Seat Track Mechanis m
a

locksmith

using

the

key

cod e
information .
Be sure to lock the glove box an
d
remove the key from the vehicle wheneve
r
it is necessary to leave the ignition ke
y
with an attendant .
SEAT S
The driver and passenger seats in th e
driver compartment may be adjusted to
suit an individual's preference (except dua l
passenger seat) . To move seat forward o r
backward, simply release the seat lockin g
lever located on the left side of the seat .
Once released, exert slight body pressure i n
the direction desired . Release lever to loc k
the seat in the desired position .
The seats can be swiveled to provid e
easy entrance and exit . To turn swive l
seat, release locking mechanism by movin g
seat swivel lever, then turn seat .
CAUTIO
N
After adjusting a manually operate d
seat, always use body weight t o
push forward and backward on sea t
to twist seat to assure that sea t
adjusters and

swivel lock

hav e
securely engaged

in

the ne w
position .

Motion

of

the

sea t
indicates that latches are no
t
properly engaging
. If the seat is no t
locked in position, the chance o
f
injury and/or the severity of injur
y
in the event of an accident could in -
crease . If this condition persists, take th e
vehicle to your dealer for service . D O
NOT adjust the driver's seat swivel o
r
fore and aft mechanism while the vehicl e
is moving . The seat could move unexpect-
edly causing loss of control of th e
vehicle .
Seat Swivel Mechanis m
6

Entrance Door Latc h
ENTRANCE DOO R
DOOR LATC H
Door must be locked from outside th e
vehicle by inserting the key into the doo r
key lock and turning . To unlock, turn i n
the clockwise direction . Reverse th e
direction to lock .
To lock door from inside vehicle, pus h
the lock button DOWN
. To unlock an d
open door from the inside, pull the loc k
button UP and pull on inside door handle .
LAP BELT S
Your vehicle is equipped with lap belt s
in the driver and front passenger seatin g
position(s) . It is recommended that whil e
the vehicle is in motion, all occupant s
remain seated and keep lap belts buckle d
snugly at all times .
The front outboard seating positions—hav e
retractors
which are designed t o
automatically take up excess webbing .
•
Adjust seat to your satisfaction and si t
erect and well back in the seat
.
• In a single motion, pull webbing acros
s
lap far enough to permit inserting meta
l
latch plate end of lap belt into th
e
buckle, until a snap is heard . If webbing
is not pulled out far enough to reac h
the buckle, let the belt rewind into th e
retractor to release lock mechanism, s o
belt can be pulled out to the prope
r
length .
• Position lap belt across lap as LOW O
N
HIPS as possible
. To reduce the risk o
f
sliding under the belt during an accident ,
adjust to a SNUG FIT by pulling bel t
firmly across lap in direction of retracto r
so it can take up slack .
NOTE : Take care not to let the lap bel t
twist while it is being rewound into th e
retractor
. The bulk of the twisted bel t
may cause the retractor to jam so it wil l
not rewind further, while at the same tim e
the retractor's locking mechanism ma y
prevent the belt from being withdrawn . I
f
a belt should become jammed, you may b e
able to release it by working the belt i n
or out until the belt rewinds far enoug h
to unlock . If lap belt remains jammed o r
other parts of the restraint system do no t
operate properly take the vehicle to you r
dealer for service .
CAUTIO
N
A snug fit and a low lap bel t
position are essential to lessen th e
chance of injury in the event of a n
accident, because this spreads th e
7

Lap Belt (Front Seating Position )
force exerted by the
lep belt in
a
collision over the strong hip bon
e
structure rather than across the sof
t
abdominal area . To help lessen th
e
chance of injury in the event of a
n
accident
: Never use the same bel
t
for more than one person at
a
time ; avoid wearing belts in
a
twisted condition
; do not allow belt s
or hardware to become damaged b
y
being pinched between the sea
t
structural (metallic) members or i
n
the door .
Inboard seating position, front dua
l
passenger seat (if so equipped)—should
b e
positioned and secured as above, an
d
adjusted to a SNUG FIT by pulling o
n
the end of the belt extending from the ad-
justable latch plate
.
•
To lengthen the lap belts at thes e
seating positions, place adjustable latc
h
plate at right angle to the belt webbin
g
and pull on latch plate ; belt should the n
slide easily through the adjustmen
t
feature .
•
To unfasten seat belts, depress pus h
button in center of buckle .
• When no longer in use, front outboar d
lap belts can be stowed by allowin g
them to rewind into their retractors .
LAP BELT INSPECTIO N
• Periodically inspect belts, buckles, latc h
plates, retractors, and anchors for damag e
that could lessen the effectiveness of th
e
restraint system .
•
Keep sharp edges and damaging object s
away from belts and other parts of th e
restraint system .
•
Replace belts if cut, weakened, frayed ,
or subjected to collision loads
.
•
Check that the anchor mounting bolt s
are tight
.
• Have questionable parts replaced .
•
Keep belts clean and dry .
• Clean only with mild soap solution an
d
lukewarm water .
• Do not bleach or dye belts since thi
s
may severely weaken them .
CHILD RESTRAIN T
Children in vehicles should be restraine d
to lessen the risk of injury in accidents, o r
sudden stops . In using any infant or chil d
restraint system, read and comply with al l
installation and usage instructions .
All unused lap belts near the chil d
should be stowed properly to help preven t
them from striking the child in the even t
of an accident . Lap belts without storag e
provisions should have buckles latched an
d
belts adjusted to remove slack
.
If a child is traveling in a vehicle no
t
equipped with an appropriate infant o
r
child restraint system, the followin
g
precautions should be taken :
1 . Infants unable to sit up by themselve s
should be restrained by placing them i n
a covered padded bassinet place d
crossways in the vehicle (widthwise) o n
the seat . The bassinet should be securel
y
restrained with the regular vehicle la p
belts
.
8

2 . Children able to sit up by themselve s
should be placed on a seat and la p
belted . Never allow a child to stand o r
kneel on any seat or elsewhere in th e
vehicle, once it is underway .
TRAILER HAULIN G
Towing a trailer will affect handling ,
durability and economy . Maximum safet y
and satisfaction depends upon proper us e
of correct equipment and avoiding overload s
and other abusive operation .
The maximum loaded trailer weigh t
which you can pull with your vehicl e
depends on what special equipment ha s
been installed . GMC does not recommen d
towing any trailer OVER 1,000 POUND S
GROSS TRAILER WEIGHT
.
To assist in attaining good handling o f
the Vehicle Trailer Combination, it i
s
important that the trailer tongue load b e
maintained at approximately 10% of th e
loaded trailer weight
. Tongue loads can b e
adjusted by proper distribution of the loa d
in the trailer, and can be checked b y
weighing separately the loaded trailer and the n
the tongue .
The allowable passenger and cargo loa d
(GVW) of this vehicle is reduced by a n
amount equal to the trailer tongue load o n
the trailer hitch .
CAUTION S
1. Trailer brakes are required o n
trailers over 1,000 lbs . loade d
weight .
2.
DO NOT tap into vehicle'
s
hydraulic brake system i f
operation of the trailer brak e
system requires more than 0 .0 2
cu : in . of fluid displacement fro m
the vehicle's master cylinder . Th
e
vehicle ' s master cylinder flui d
capacity will not be sufficient t
o
operate
both vehicle and traile r
brakes under all conditions of us e
if more than 0 .02
cu
: in . of flui
d
displacement is required
.
3.
Whenever a trailer hitch i s
removed, be certain to have an
y
mounting holes in underbod y
properly sealed to prevent possibl e
entry of exhaust fumes, dirt o r
water . (See "ENGINE EXHAUS
T
GAS CAUTION" in the followin
g
section .)
OPERATION I N
FOREIGN COUNTRIE S
Your vehicle's engine is designed t o
operate on unleaded fuel of approximatel
y
91 research octane number
.
If you plan to operate your vehicl e
outside the continental limits of the Unite
d
States or Canada, there is a possibility tha t
the best fuels available are so low i
n
anti-knock quality that excessive knockin
g
and serious engine damage may result fro
m
their use
. To obtain information on th
e
quality of fuels available in the countrie
s
in which you plan to travel write to GM
C
Truck & Coach Division, General Motor
s
Corporation, Pontiac, Michigan 48053 (or i
n
Canada write to General Motors of Canad
a
Limited, Owner Relations Department ,
Oshawa, Ontario), giving
:
•
The vehicle identification number (fro m
plate attached to right side of das h
panel or from the registration slip o r
title) .
•
The country or countries in which yo u
plan to travel
.
It is recommended that you do no t
operate your vehicle in any country no t
having fuels meeting the requirements o f
your vehicle's engine as these MAY CAUS
E
ENGINE DAMAGE for which GMC Truc
k
& Coach is not responsible under th e
terms of the New Vehicle Warranty o r
Emission Control Systems Warranty
.
9

SECTION 2
STARTING AND OPERATING VEHICL E
ENGINE EXHAUST GAS CAUTIO N
(CARBON MONOXIDE )
Avoid inhaling exhaust gases because they contain carbon monoxide, which b y
itself is colorless and odorless . Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that ca n
cause unconsciousness and is potentially lethal .
If, at any time, you suspect that exhaust fumes are entering the vehicl e
from any source have the cause determined and corrected as soon as possible .
If you must drive before the cause is corrected, drive only with ALL window s
FULLY open and heating or cooling system adjusted for maximum ventilatio n
(see below) .
The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into the vehicle body is a
properly maintained engine exhaust system, body and body ventilation system .
It is recommended that the exhaust system and body be inspected by a
competent mechanic :
• Each time the vehicle is raised for lubrication or oil change
.
• Whenever a change is noticed in the sound, alignment, or appearance of th
e
exhaust system .
• Whenever the exhaust system, underbody or rear of the vehicle is damag e
See your Maintenance Schedule folder for inspection procedure .
To allow proper operation of the vehicle's ventilation system, keep front inle
t
grille clear of snow, leaves, or other obstructions at all times .
Location of Holes in Kick-up Pane l
10

OCCUPYING A PARKED VEHICLE WITH ENGINE RUNNING FOR A
N
EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IS NOT RECOMMENDED .
Do not run engine in confined areas such as garages any more than neede
d
to move vehicle in or out of area
. When vehicle is stopped in a n
UNCONFINED area with the engine running for any more than a short perio
d
of time, adjust heating or cooling system to force outside air into the vehicl
e
as follows
:
1
.On vehicles not equipped with automotive air conditioning, set fan t
o
medium or high speed and upper control lever to any position excep
t
"OFF . "
2
.On vehicles equipped with automotive Air Conditioning, set fan to mediu
m
or high speed and upper control lever to any position except "OFF"
.
The two rear windows (if so equipped) should be closed while driving t
o
avoid drawing dangerous exhaust gases into the vehicle through those openings
.
In addition, it is recommended that roof vent(s) be closed while driving
. If, fo r
some reason, a rear window or roof vent must remain open for a period whil
e
driving, or electrical wiring or other cable connections to a trailer must pas
s
through the seal between them and the body, the following precautions shoul
d
be observed .
• Close all windows
.
•
Adjust heating or cooling system to force outside air into the vehicle a
s
described in Step 1 or 2 above but with fan set at high speed
.
•Air vents in or under the instrument panel should be fully open
.
It is important that the inside engine cover be properly seated to preven
t
possible leakage of exhaust fumes into the vehicle through this opening
.
The kick-up panel at the rear of the floor (see illustration) contains hole
s
which may be utilized to facilitate access to the interior for installation o
f
certain interior equipment (i
.e ., access for wiring, plumbing, etc
.) The hole s
should be plugged and sealed to avoid possible exhaust gas (carbon monoxide
)
intrusion into the interior of the vehicle
.
Whenever operating the optional motor-generator it is essential the left-rea
r
window (if so equipped) of the vehicle be kept closed to prevent possibl
e
entry of motor-generator exhaust gases into vehicle
. Inspect the motor-generato r
exhaust system at vehicle lubrication intervals or when a change is noticed i
n
the sound, alignment, or appearance of the exhaust system or if it is damaged
.
Do not run motor-generator in a confined area, such as a garage
.
NOTE
: Particular care should be taken to prevent the possibility of carbo
n
monoxide exposure when the vehicle is modified for recreational or other usage
.
Additionally, some recreational vehicle appliances (such as lights, refrigerators
,
stoves, heaters) may generate carbon monoxide and should be used only i
f
there is adequate ventilation .
11

STEERING COLUMN CONTROL
S
Steering Column Control s
ANTI-THEFT STEERIN
G
COLUMN LOC K
The anti-theft ignition switch, located o
n
the right side of the steering column, ha
s
five positions :
Anti-Theft Steering Column Lock
• ACCESSORY—Permits operation o f
electrical accessories when the engine i
s
not running
. To engage, push key in an
d
turn toward you (counterclockwise
. )
• LOCK—Normal parking position, lock
s
ignition and provides added thef
t
protection by preventing normal operatio
n
of steering wheel and shift controls
. Ke y
cannot be turned to "LOCK" positio
n
and removed until transmission is place
d
in "PARK . "
• OFF—Permits turning engine off withou
t
locking steering wheel and shift controls
.
• RUN—Normal operating position
.
•
START—Permits engagement of starter .
NOTE :
The anti-theft steering column loc
k
is not substitute for the parking brake .
Always set the parking brake when leavin g
the driver's seat unattended
.
If difficulty is experienced in turning th e
ignition key and lock knob to unlock th
e
ignition, attempt to turn the steering whee l
as hard as possible in the direction th e
wheels are turned
. At the same time tur n
the ignition-lock knob in a clockwis
e
direction with as much effort as you ca
n
apply with your own hand . Do no
t
attempt to use a tool of any kind t
o
apply additional force on the lock knob ,
as this could break the knob
.
PARKIN G
When

leaving

the

driver's

sea
t
unattended :
• SET PARKING BRAKE
FIRST . (See
note on page 19
. )
•
Place transmission selector lever in "PARK
. "
•
Turn key to LOCK position .
•
Remove key from steering column loc k
(the buzzer will remind you) .
•
Lock entrance door if leaving vehicle .
A -
CRUISE CONTROL
ENGAGE BUTTO N
B - TURN SIGNAL LEVE R
C - TILT-AWAY STEERING WHEEL LEVE
R
D - IGNITION SWITC
H
E -
HORN BUTTO N
F - HAZARD
WARNING FLASHER BUTTO N
G -
TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER
12

1
3
NOTICE : Do not leave your vehicle unattende
d
with the engine running. If the engine shoul
d
overheat while your vehicle is unattended, th
e
temperature warning light or gauge would g
o
unheeded which could result in extensiv
e
damage to your vehicle .
STARTING ENGIN E
1. Apply the parking brake .
2. Place the transmission selector in "P "
or "N" ("P" is preferred) . A starter safet
y
switch is designed to prevent starte
r
operation while the transmission selector i s
in any drive position . (If it is necessary t
o
re-start the engine with the vehicle moving
,
place the selector lever in "N" . )
3. Depress accelerator pedal and activat e
starter as outlined in the following, fo r
different conditions
.
COLD ENGIN E
Fully depress accelerator pedal an d
slowly release
. With foot off the pedal ,
crank the engine by turning the ignitio n
key to the "START" position— releas e
when engine starts
. If engine starts bu t
fails to run, repeat this procedure . Whe n
engine is running smoothly (approx
. 3 0
seconds) the idle speed may be reduced b y
slightly depressing the accelerator pedal an d
then slowly releasing .
CAUTIO N
Extended running of the engine (
5
minutes or more) without depressin g
the accelerator pedal, could caus
e
damage to the engine or exhaus
t
system due to overheating
.
WARM ENGIN E
Depress accelerator pedal about halfwa y
and hold while cranking the engine
.
Transmission Shift Indicato
r
and Speedomete r
EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER (BELOW 0° F
. )
(-18° C .) OR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEE
N
STANDING IDLE FOR SEVERAL DAY
S
Fully depress and release accelerato
r
pedal two or three times before crankin
g
the engine
. With foot off the accelerato r
pedal, crank the engine by turning the ke y
to the start position—release key whe n
engine starts
.
IF ENGINE FAILS TO START :
• First, fully depress and release th e
accelerator pedal several times, the
n
remove foot from accelerator pedal an
d
crank engine .
•
If engine still does not start, full y
depress the accelerator pedal and hold t o
the floor while cranking the engine .
•
If the engine has been flooded wit h
gasoline, it may start to run but no
t
have enough power to keep running . I n
this case, continue cranking with th e
accelerator pedal fully depressed until th e
engine cleans itself of excess gasoline an d
runs smoothly .
• If engine doesn't crank properly due t o
a discharged main battery (automotiv e
battery), place the battery switch in th e
"BAT BOOST" position . Return th e
switch to the "BAT NORMAL" positio
n
when engine starts .

Turn Signal Leve r
NOTE : Do not continue cranking th
e
engine for more than 30 seconds at a tim
e
to prevent starter overheating .
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIO
N
The transmission selector lever is located o
n
the right side of the steering column and th e
shift indicator is located in the bottom sectio n
of the speedometer cluster on the dash .
•
"PARK"—Transmission lock when parkin g
or while starting the engine . Pull th e
selector lever towards you to select o r
release this position
. Never move th e
selector lever to "PARK" position unles
s
the vehicle is completely stopped .
"NEUTRAL" is the only other positio n
in which your vehicle may be started .
•
REVERSE "R"—For backing the vehicle .
Bring the vehicle to a complete sto p
before moving the selector lever int o
Reverse .
• NEUTRAL "N"—The out-of-gear position
.
It is provided for starting a stalle
d
engine while the vehicle is in motion o
r
running the engine while standing wit
h
brake applied . DO NOT COAST I N
NEUTRAL .
•
DRIVE RANGE "D"—The driving rang e
for city and highway driving . Thi s
position permits the transmission t o
operate through its complete range o f
gear ratios and to select automaticall y
the proper ratio for road and loa d
conditions .
• SUPER RANGE "S"—Used when supe r
performance is needed for increase d
acceleration in traffic, hill climbing, o
r
"Engine Braking" down-hill
. The selecto r
lever may be moved from "D" to "S "
and vice versa, under most operatin
g
conditions
. " SUPER" should not be use d
at speeds above 75 MPH .
•
LOW " L"—Available for heavy pullin
g
through mud or sand and for engin e
braking when descending steep hills
. Th e
selector lever may be moved to "L" a
t
any speed but the transmission will onl y
shift automatically into Low range whe
n
the vehicle speed is under approximatel
y
40 MPH
. The transmission will no t
upshift from Low range as long as th e
selector lever is in the "L" position .
CAUTIO N
Before descending a steep or lon g
grade, down a mountain or hillside ,
reduce speed and shift into a lowe r
gear
. Use the lower gear ranges t o
control vehicle speed . Avoi d
prolonged or frequent application o
f
the brakes which could caus e
overheating and thus reduce brak e
effectiveness . Use caution whe n
shifting into lower range or lowe r
gear on slippery surfaces wit h
vehicle moving—abrupt engine brakin
g
action could cause the front wheel s
to skid, possibly leading to loss o f
vehicle control .
• FORCED DOWNSHIFT—When additiona l
acceleration is desired to pass movin g
vehicles or to climb steep grades a t
speeds between approximately 35 and 6 5
MPH, the transmission can b e
downshifted by depressing the accelerato r
pedal completely to the floor . It is als o
possible to obtain a forced downshift i n
"DRIVE" range at speeds under 35 MP H
by depressing the accelerator pedal par t
way down .
14

TURN SIGNAL AN D
LANE CHANGE FEATUR E
Whenever a right or left turn i s
intended, when changing lanes, or whe n
pulling away from the curb, use the tur n
signals .
• FULL TURN—For normal turns, mov e
the turn signal lever to position " A" fo r
right turn and "B" for left turn . Leve r
will remain in position without manua l
effort until the turn is completed, the n
cancel automatically .
• LANE CHANGE—Move lever to th e
detent position "C " for change to righ t
lane or to "D" for change to left lane .
Hold lever in position until lan e
maneuver is completed, then release .
Lever will return to "OFF" position .
HAZARD WARNING FLASHE
R
For operation of hazard warning flasher, se
e
"In Case of Emergency" later in this manual
.
HORN CONTRO
L
The horn is actuated by depressing th e
rectangular shaped GMC button located in th e
center of the steering wheel .
POWER STEERIN
G
If the steering system power assist fail s
due to some malfunction, or because th e
engine has stalled, the vehicle can still b e
steered . However, much greater effort i s
required, particularly in sharp turns .
TILT STEERING WHEEL
Tilt Steering Whee
l
Cruise Control Leve r
The tilt mechanism is operated by liftin
g
up on the small control lever, on the lef
t
side of the steering column just below th e
directional signal lever, then moving th e
steering wheel to the selected position an d
releasing the lever .
The tilt steering wheel can be tilted u p
above normal position to provide additiona
l
room for entrance and exit as well a
s
selected driving positions above or belo
w
normal height .
CRUISE CONTRO
L
The optional Cruise Control is a
n
automatic speed control system which i s
designed to allow the vehicle to hold a
15

selected speed of approximately 30 MPH o r
higher—depending on engine limitations—thu s
increasing comfort

and

economy

o n
turnpikes,

and

other

non-congeste d
highways .
•
TO OPERATE—The Cruise Contro l
engagement button is located in the en
d
of the turn signal lever
. Accelerate th e
vehicle to the desired speed an
d
momentarily push in the engagemen
t
button,

take

your

foot

off

th e
accelerator and

this speed will b
e
maintained .
•
TO RESET AT A FASTE
R
SPEED—Accelerate the vehicle to th e
desired higher speed, push in th
e
engagement button fully and releas e
slowly .
• TO RESET AT A SLOWE
R
SPEED—Depress the engagement butto
n
fully and HOLD
. Allow vehicle to
decelerate
. When vehicle reaches desire
d
speed, release the engagement butto
n
slowly .
•
FOR PASSING—You can increase you
r
speed by depressing accelerator pedal .
When you remove your foot from th
e
pedal, the vehicle will slow down to th
e
cruising speed set prior to th
e
acceleration .
•

TO DISENGAGE—Lightly apply the brak e
pedal to disengage system .
CAUTIO N
DO NOT use the Cruise Control whe
n
conditions are not suitable for maintain-
ing a constant speed, such as in heav
y
or varying traffic, or on winding or slip-
pery roads . With the Cruise Control en -
gaged, removing foot from the accel-
erator pedal does not permit engin
e
speed to return to idle .
16

FLOOR CONTROL S
Vehicle Floor Control s
POWER BRAKE SYSTE M
This vehicle is equipped with a Dual Hy-
draulic Split System With Power Assist . I t
is also equipped with disc type brake s
on the front wheels and drum type brake s
on the tandem rear wheels .
NOTE : Operation of the brake syste m
warning light is covered (on page 21) (i n
the section on "Instrument Panel an
d
Controls .")
CAUTIO
N
Driving through deep water may we t
the brakes and adversely affec t
brake performance so that th e
vehicle will not slow down at th e
usual rate, and may pull to th e
right or left
. Applying the brake s
lightly will indicate whether the
y
have been so affected . To dry the m
quickly, lightly apply the brake s
while maintaining a safe forwar d
speed with an assured clear distanc e
ahead until brake performanc e
returns to normal .
17

Parking Brake Contro l
• On your vehicle, if power assist to th e
brakes is interrupted due to a stalle d
engine or some malfunction, two o r
more brake applications can normally b e
made using reserve power
.
•
If the brake pedal is held down, th e
system is designed to bring the vehicl e
to a full stop on reserve power .
However, the reserve power is partiall
y
depleted each time the brake pedal i s
applied and released . Do not pum p
brakes when brake power assist has bee n
interrupted, except when necessary i n
order to maintain steering control o n
slippery surfaces .
•When reserve power is exhausted, th e
vehicle can still be stopped by applyin
g
greater force to the pedal .
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKE S
Brakes on this vehicle (except for th e
Parking Brake) are self-adjusting, designe d
to eliminate periodic adjustments .
Drum brake adjustments are mad
e
automatically as the brakes are applie
d
while vehicle is moving backwards .
Disc

brake

adjustment

is

mad e
automatically with each brake application .
• If excess brake pedal travel develops ,
drive alternately backward and forwar d
several times and apply brakes firmly i n
each direction .
• See your dealer if normal pedal travel i s
not restored, or if there is a rapi d
increase in pedal travel, which could b e
a sign of other brake trouble
. See you r
dealer also if adjustment of the parkin
g
brake is required .
NOTE : "Riding The Brake" by restin g
your foot on the brake pedal when no t
intending to brake can cause abnormall y
high brake temperatures, excessive linin g
wear and possible damage to brakes i n
addition to wasting gasoline .
REMINDER
: Front disc brakes have a
built-in wear indicator that is designed t o
make a high frequency, squealing, o r
cricket-like warning sound when the lining s
are worn to where replacement is required .
The sound will occur intermittently o r
continuously when wheels are rolling, bu t
will disappear when the brake pedal i s
applied firmly . See also the various brak e
checks listed in the maintenance schedul e
folder .
PARKING BRAK E
• To set parking brake, pull up the handl e
located on the floor against the lef t
wall, below the instrument panel .
•
For increased holding power, first depres s
regular brake pedal with the right foot ,
and hold it while setting the parkin g
brake with left hand .
• To release parking brake push the handl e
down .
• As a reminder, the "PARK BRAKE "
reminder light is designed to come o n
whenever the parking brake control i
s
not fully released, and the ignition i s
on .
• Never drive vehicle with parking brak e
set as this may overheat or otherwis
e
damage rear brakes
.
18