Owner’s Manual
Table Of Contents
- 2001 GMC Sierra Owner's Manual
- Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
- Seats and Seat Controls
- Safety Belts: They re for Everyone
- Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
- How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
- Driver Position
- Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
- Right Front Passenger Position
- Air Bag System
- Center Passenger Position
- Rear Seat Passengers
- Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults
- Children
- Restraint Systems for Children
- Where to Put the Restraint (Regular Cab Pickup)
- Where to Put the Restraint (Extended Cab Pickup)
- Where to Put the Restraint (Crew Cab Pickup)
- Top Strap
- Right Front Passenger Position Top Strap Anchor (All Models)
- Rear Seat Top Strap Anchors (Extended Cab Models)
- Rear Seat Top Strap Anchors (Crew Cab Models)
- Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)
- Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position (Extended Cab and Crew Cab)
- Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position
- Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Rear Seat Position (Extended Cab and Crew Cab)
- Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
- Older Children
- Safety Belt Extender
- Checking Your Restraint Systems
- Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
- Section 2 Features and Controls
- Windows
- Keys
- Door Locks
- Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
- Rear Doors
- Tailgate
- Theft
- Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
- Passlock
- New Vehicle Break-In
- Ignition Positions
- Starting Your Engine
- Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
- Automatic Transmission Operation
- Manual Transmission Operation
- Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
- Parking Brake
- Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission Only)
- Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission Only)
- Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission Models Only)
- Parking Over Things That Burn
- Engine Exhaust
- Running Your Engine While You re Parked (Automatic Transmission)
- Manual Selectable Ride (If Equipped)
- Locking Rear Axle
- Horn
- Tilt Wheel
- Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
- Exterior Lamps
- Interior Lamps
- Mirrors
- Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
- Electrochromic Inside Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display (If Equipped)
- Outside Manual Adjust Mirrors
- Camper- Type Outside Mirrors (If Equipped)
- West Coast-Type Outside Mirrors (If Equipped)
- Electric Outside Rearview Mirrors (If Equipped)
- Heated Outside Rearview Mirrors (If Equipped)
- Convex Outside Mirror
- Storage Compartments
- Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
- Sun Visors
- Cellular Telephone (If Equipped)
- OnStar System (If Equipped)
- The Instrument Panel - Your Information System
- Instrument Panel Cluster
- Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
- Safety Belt Reminder Light
- Air Bag Readiness Light
- Air Bag Off Light
- Voltmeter
- Shift Light (If Equipped)
- Brake System Warning Light
- Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
- Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
- Transmission Temperature Gage (If Equipped)
- Low Traction Light (If Equipped)
- Traction Off Light (If Equipped)
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light in the United States or Check Engine Light in Canada)
- Oil Pressure Gage
- Cruise Light (If Equipped)
- WD Light (If Equipped)
- Tow/Haul Light (Automatic Transmissions Only)
- Fuel Gage
- Message Center
- Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
- Comfort Controls
- Standard Comfort Controls
- Heater and Air Conditioning Comfort Controls (If Equipped)
- Electronic Climate Control System (If Equipped)
- Rear Air Conditioning and Heating Systems (If Equipped)
- Rear Air Conditioning and Heating Systems with Electronic Climate Control System (If Equipped)
- Air Conditioning
- Heating
- Defogging and Defrosting
- Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped)
- Ventilation System
- Audio Systems
- Setting the Clock for Systems with SET Button
- Setting the Clock for Systems with HR and MN Buttons
- AM-FM Stereo
- AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)
- AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)
- AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)
- Remote Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)
- Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)
- Understanding Radio Reception
- Tips About Your Audio System
- Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
- Care of Your Compact Discs
- Care of Your Compact Disc Player
- Fixed Mast Antenna
- Comfort Controls
- Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
- Defensive Driving
- Drunken Driving
- Control of a Vehicle
- Braking
- Traction Assist System (Option)
- Steering
- Off-Road Recovery
- Passing
- Loss of Control
- Off-Road Driving with Your Four- Wheel- Drive Vehicle
- Before You Go Off-Roading
- Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
- Environmental Concerns
- Traveling to Remote Areas
- Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
- Scanning the Terrain
- Driving on Off-Road Hills
- Approaching a Hill
- Driving Uphill
- Driving Downhill
- Driving Across an Incline
- Stalling on an Incline
- Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice
- Driving in Water
- After Off-Road Driving
- Driving at Night
- Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
- City Driving
- Freeway Driving
- Before Leaving on a Long Trip
- Highway Hypnosis
- Hill and Mountain Roads
- Winter Driving
- Recreational Vehicle Towing
- Loading Your Vehicle
- Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment
- Camper Wiring Harness (If Equipped)
- Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
- Towing a Trailer
- If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
- Weight of the Trailer
- Weight of the Trailer Tongue
- Total Weight on Your Vehicle s Tires
- Hitches
- Safety Chains
- Trailer Brakes
- Driving with a Trailer
- Following Distance
- Passing
- Backing Up
- Making Turns
- Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
- Driving On Grades
- Parking on Hills
- When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill
- Maintenance When Trailer Towing
- Trailer Wiring Harness
- Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped)
- Power Winches
- Power Take-Off (PTO) (If Equipped)
- Step-Bumper Pad
- Section 5 Problems on the Road
- Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
- Service
- Fuel
- Fuels in Foreign Countries
- Filling Your Tank
- Filling a Portable Fuel Container
- Checking Things Under the Hood
- Noise Control System
- Engine Oil
- Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
- Passenger Compartment Air Filter (If Equipped)
- Automatic Transmission Fluid (Except Allison Transmission)
- Automatic Transmission Fluid (Allison Only)
- Manual Transmission Fluid
- Hydraulic Clutch
- Rear Axle
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Engine Coolant
- Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
- Power Steering Fluid
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Brakes
- Battery
- Bulb Replacement
- Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
- Tires
- Appearance Care
- Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
- Care of Safety Belts
- Cleaning Glass Surfaces
- Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades
- Weatherstrips
- Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
- Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome- Plated Wheels (If Equipped)
- Cleaning Tires
- Sheet Metal Damage
- Finish Damage
- Underbody Maintenance
- Chemical Paint Spotting
- GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Service Parts Identification Label
- Electrical System
- Replacement Bulbs
- Capacities and Specifications
- Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
- Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
- Introduction
- Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
- Scheduled Maintenance -- Gasoline Engines
- Scheduled Maintenance -- Gasoline Engines
- Scheduled Maintenance -- Gasoline Engines
- Part B: Owner Checks and Services
- Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
- Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
- Part E: Maintenance Record
- Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
- Customer Satisfaction Procedure
- Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users
- Customer Assistance Offices
- GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities
- Roadside Assistance
- Courtesy Transportation
- Warranty Information
- REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
- REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT
- REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS
- Ordering Owner Publications in Canada
4-12
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer
but it will take much more effort.
Speed-Sensitive Steering
This system varies the amount of steering effort
proportionate to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier
at lower speeds for maneuvering and parking ease.
As your vehicle speed increases, the steering effort also
increases. At highway speeds, the amount of steering
effort is increased.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through
the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.