GMC SAVANA 2003 Owner's Manual

Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine
just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar
with this section, you should not be alarmed when
this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays
on when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section
that tells you what to do about it. Please follow
this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly–and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.
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2003 - Savana OM

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely, and
economically.United States version shown, Canada similar
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2003 - Savana OM

Speedometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. Laws vary as to the procedure
that must be followed, so check with your state or
provincial vehicle registration office. But generally,
if the new odometer can be set to the mileage total
of the old odometer, then it must be. But if it can’t, then
it’s set at zero, and a label must be put on the driver’s
door to show the old mileage reading when the
new odometer was installed.
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2003 - Savana OM

Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell
you how far your vehicle
has been driven since
you last set the trip
odometer to zero.
To reset the trip odometer, fully press the reset button
located near the trip odometer readout.
The trip odometer can show either total miles or trip
miles using this button located on the instrument cluster.
Electronic Road-Speed Governor
Your vehicle may have this feature. This system
automatically controls top vehicle speed. The system
controller receives a signal from the vehicle speed sensor
and reduces power when the vehicle speed reaches the
maximum 65 mph (105 km/h) governed speed.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a tone will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds,
then it willflash for
several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the tone
nor the light will come on.
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2003 - Savana OM

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag sensor, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, seeAir Bag System on page 1-63.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it willflash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light shouldflash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have itfixed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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2003 - Savana OM

Air Bag Off Light
If your vehicle is equipped with an air bag off switch,
when you turn the right front passenger’s air bag off,
the air bag off light will come on and stay on to remind
you that the air bag has been turned off. This light
will go off when you turn the air bag back on again.
SeeAir Bag Off Switch on page 1-71for more on this,
including important safety information.{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s air bag is turned
off for a person who isn’t in a risk group
identified by the national government, that
person won’t have the extra protection of an
air bag. In a crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able
to inflate and help protect the person sitting
there.
Don’t turn off the passenger’s air bag unless
the person sitting there is in a risk group
identified by the national government. See″Air
Bag Off Switch″in the Index for more on this,
including important safety information.
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2003 - Savana OM

{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.
Charging System Light
This light should come on
briefly when you turn on
the ignition, before starting
the engine, as a check
to show you it is working.
After the engine starts, the light should go out. If it stays
on or comes on while you are driving, you may have
a problem with your charging system. It could indicate a
problem with the generator drive belt, or some other
charging system problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light on,
it helps to turn off all your accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
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2003 - Savana OM

Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in the RUN position),
this gage shows your
battery’s state of charge in
DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between
the low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power
at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading
in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
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2003 - Savana OM

Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will
come on when you set your parking brake. The light
will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means you have a brake problem.
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
United States
Canada
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2003 - Savana OM

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t
have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes
and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See
“Brake System Warning Light”earlier in this section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have itfixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
operating conditions, you should pull off the road,
stop your vehicle, and turn off the engine as soon
as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-26.
United StatesCanada
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2003 - Savana OM