User manual GMC SIERRA 1998

[. . . ] SIERRA ~~ COMFORTABLY 1N COMMAND. '" The 1998 GMC Sierra Owner's Manual 1-1 2- 1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. Tt also explains the air bag system. Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. 3- 1 4- 1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how t o drive under different conditions. 5-1 6-1 7-1 Problems on the Road This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving?suchas a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good. Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when t o perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. 8- 1 Customer AssistanceInformation This section tells you how to contact GMC for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8- 10. 9-1 Index Here's an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. [. . . ] You may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle. Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle. 4-36 Driving on Snow orIce Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You'll have a lot less traction or "grip" and will need to be very careful. What's the worst time for this?"Wet ice. " Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it's about freezing (32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid drivingon wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -- drive with caution. If you accelerate too fast, drive wheels will spin and the polish the surface under the tires even more. Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle's stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have an anti-lock braking system, you'll want to begin stopping soonerthan you would on dry pavement. See "Anti-Lock`' in the Index. Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. 4-37 0 Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that's covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches appear in may shaded areas where the sun can't reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve oran overpass may remain icy when the surroundingroads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try notto brakewhile you're actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. If You're Caught in a Blizzard 4-38 If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unlessyou know for sure that you are near help and you can hike throughthe snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: 0 0 Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth tc - - 3ur vehicle to alert police that you've been stopped by the snow. [. . . ] Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users . . 6-68 6-67 2-42 2-74 5-3 Defects. . 8- 10 4-2 3-6 3-6 3-15 2-44 2-5 2-51 2-4 2-20 1-14 4-31 4-2 4-3 4-32 4-38 4-28 4-27 4-14 4-9 4-58 4-34 4-37 4-30 4-28 4-36 4-56 4-3 6-56 9-3 Gages Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ]