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
4-16
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface”
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.