light CHEVROLET C/K 2003 Owners Manual

iv
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could damage
your vehicle.
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 it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols,
used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the Index:

ªInstrument Panelº

ªComfort Controlsº

ªAudio Systemsº
Also see ªWarning Lights and Gagesº in the Index.

1-9
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. See ªSafety
Belt Reminder Lightº in
the Index.
In most states and all 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 you do have a
crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn't survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!

1-14
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this
happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Then pull the belt across you more slowly.4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
If the belt isn't long enough, see ªSafety Belt
Extenderº at the end of this section.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.

1-25
If your vehicle has an air bag for the right front
passenger, please read this:
CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Air bags plus lap
-shoulder belts offer
the best protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety
belt system nor its air bag system is designed for
them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly in your
vehicle. To read how, see the part of this manual
called ªChildren.º
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air
bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See ªAir Bag Readiness Lightº in the Index
for more information.

1-33
The AIR BAG OFF light will come on to let you know
that the right front passenger's air bag is off. The right
front passenger's air bag will remain off until you turn it
back on again, and the AIR BAG OFF light will stay on
to remind you that the air bag is off.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger's air bag could inflate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, don't let anyone whom the national
government has identified as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the right front
passenger's position (for example, don't secure a
rear
-facing child restraint in your vehicle) until
you have your vehicle serviced.
United States

1-38
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap
-shoulder
belts. Here's how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don't let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will
lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If
the belt is not long enough, see ªSafety Belt Extenderº at
the end of this section. Make sure the release button on
the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle
the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.

1-60
CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger's air bag inflates. This is because the
back of the rear
-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inflating air bag. Be sure to turn
off the air bag before using a rear
-facing child
restraint in the right front seat position. If a
forward
-facing child restraint is suitable for your
child, always move the passenger seat as far back
as it will go.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger's air bag could inflate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, don't let anyone whom the national
government has identified as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the right front
passenger's position (for example, don't secure a
rear
-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger's seat) until you have your vehicle
serviced. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in the Index
for more on this, including important safety
information.

1-67
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2-5 Keys
2-7 Door Locks
2-8 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2-12 Switchbanks
2-13 Theft
2-14 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2-15 Ignition Positions
2-16 Starting Your Gasoline Engine
2-19 Starting the Diesel Engine
2-24 Starting Your DURAMAX
Diesel Engine
2-27 Engine Checks Before Operating
2-28 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2-30 Diesel Engine Exhaust Brake (If Equipped)
2-31 Two-Speed Rear Axle Electric Shift Control
(If Equipped)
2
-34 Automatic Transmission Operation
2-36 Manual Transmission Operation
2-40 Parking
2-45 Parking Over Things That Burn
2-45 Engine Exhaust2
-46 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-47 Horn
2-48 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2-48 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2-55 Inter-Axle Differential Lock Control
(If Equipped)
2
-56 Rear Axle Differential Lock Control
(If Equipped)
2
-57 Exterior Lamps
2-60 Interior Lamps
2-61 Mirrors
2-63 Storage Compartments
2-65 Accessory Power Outlets
2-66 Trailer Connections (C4/C5 Models Only)
(If Equipped)
2
-67 Trailer Connections (C6/C7/C8 Models Only)
(If Equipped)
2
-68 The Instrument Panel-Your
Information System
2
-70 Instrument Panel Cluster
2-73 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-4
Express-Down Feature
The driver's window also has an express
-down feature
that allows the window to be lowered without holding
down the switch. Press and hold the rear of the window
switch labeled AUTO for one second to activate the
express
-down mode.
The express
-down mode can be cancelled at any time by
pressing the front of the switch. To open the window
part way, lightly tap the switch until the window is at the
desired position.
Lockout Feature (If Equipped)
If you have a Crew Cab model with power windows, the
driver's door will have a lockout feature. When
engaged, this feature will prevent all window switches,
except the driver's window switches, from operating.
This switch is located above the four window switches
on the driver's door.. When the switch is not engaged,
all windows will return to normal operation.
Sliding Rear Window (If Equipped)
To open the sliding rear window, unlock the latch
lever by pulling the lever toward the driver's side of
the vehicle.
To close the window, slide the window toward the
passenger's side of the vehicle. The latch lever will
automatically snap onto the latch plate. Try to open the
window without releasing the latch lever to be sure the
window is in the locked position.