GMC SIERRA 2002 Owner's Manual

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Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may want to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this
to be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Move the cruise control switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
The control on the driver's side of the instrument panel
operates the exterior lamps.
Turn the control clockwise to operate the lamps.

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The exterior lamp control has three positions:
(OFF): Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
It also puts the system into automatic headlamp mode.
(Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with
the following:

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Roof Marker Lamps (If Equipped)
(Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
You can switch your headlamps from high to low
-beam
by pulling on the turn signal/multifunction lever.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a headlamp off delay,
which will keep the headlamps on for a short time after
the ignition is turned to OFF. For more information see
ªSecondary Information Centerº in the Index.
Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel in the defroster grille. Be sure it
is not covered, or the system will be on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.

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There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so that
driving under bridges or bright overhead street lights does
not affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is
off. Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. See ªDaytime Running Lamps (DRL)º later in
this section for more information.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps if you need them.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition
is in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To disable the
chime, turn the thumbwheel all the way down. In the
automatic mode, the headlamps turn off once the
ignition key is in OFF.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the exterior lamp control off,

the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P),

the light sensor determines it is daytime and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be on.
The instrument panel won't be lit up either.

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When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the
last chosen headlamp setting that was used.
When you turn the exterior lamp control to off,
the headlamps will go off, and your DRL lamps will
illuminate, provided it is not dark outside.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the
parking brake, before starting the vehicle. Shifting the
transmission into PARK (P) will also allow you to idle
the vehicle with the DRL off. The DRL will stay off
until you release the parking brake or shift the
transmission out of PARK (P).
The following procedure applies only to vehicles first
sold in the United States.
When necessary, you may turn off the automatic
headlamp system and the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) feature by following these steps. When the system
is turned off, the headlamps will not automatically come
on when it becomes dark outside.1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times
within six seconds. After the fourth press of the
button, a chime will sound informing you the
system is off.
The system will revert back to the automatic mode when
the DOME OVERRIDE button is again pushed four
times within six seconds (a chime will sound), or when
the ignition is turned off and on again.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Puddle Lamps
Your vehicle is equipped with puddle lamps to help you
see the area near the base of the front doors when it is
dark out. The puddle lamps will illuminate when a door
is opened or when you press the UNLOCK button on the
keyless entry transmitter. You can program the puddle
lamps not to come on if you wish. See ªSecondary
Information Centerº in the Index for more information.

2-42 Fog Lamps
You can use your vehicle's fog lamps for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions.
The fog lamp button is
located on the left side of
your instrument panel.
Your parking lamps and/or low
-beam headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.Press the button to turn the fog lamps on while the
headlamps are on. Press the button again to turn them
off. An indicator light will glow in the button when the
fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use the fog lamps in the
dark without turning on the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever the high
-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off,
the fog lamps will come on again.
The fog lamps will be cancelled after the ignition is
turned off. If you still want to use the fog lamps after
you restart the vehicle, press the fog lamp button again.

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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to the
exterior lamp control.
Turn the thumbwheel up to adjust the instrument panel
lights and return the radio display to full brightness
when the headlamps or parking lamps are on. To turn on
the dome lamps, with the vehicle doors closed, turn the
thumbwheel all the way up.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lamps will
not come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is
pressed in.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps and puddle
lamps will come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is
in the out position. If the DOME OVERRIDE button is
pressed in, the lamps will not come on.
Front Reading Lamps
Your vehicle has front
reading lamps located
in the overhead console.
Press the round button
located next to the lamp
to turn the lamp on.
The lamps can be adjusted
to point in the direction
you want them to go.
Press the button again to turn the lamp off.

2-44 Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door
and the dome override button is in the out position.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamps control,
all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether the doors are opened or closed.
You can use the DOME OVERRIDE button, located
below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when the doors are opened, or
to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
to the in position. With the button in this position,
the dome lamps will remain off when the doors are
open. To return the lamps to automatic operation,
press the button again and return the button to
the out position. With the button in this position,
the dome lamps will come on when you open a door.
Cargo Lamp
Press the button to turn the
cargo lamp on. Press the
button again to turn it off.
A message in the instrument
panel cluster will come on
and display CARGO LAMP
ON when the cargo lamp is
turned on and the ignition
key is turned to RUN.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, reading, glove box,
cargo and underhood lamps if they are left on for
more than 20 minutes when the ignition is turned off.
This will keep your battery from running down.

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Mirrors
Electrochromic Inside Rearview Mirror
with Compass, Temperature Display and
OnStar Controls
When on, an electrochromic mirror automatically dims
to the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind
you after dark.
The mirror also includes a dual display in the upper
right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and
the outside temperature will both appear in the display at
the same time.Temperature and Compass Display
Press the on/off button, located to the far left, briefly to
turn the comp/temp display on or off.
If the display reads CAL, you will need to calibrate
the compass. For more information on calibration,
see below.
To switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius
do the following:
1. Press and hold the on/off button for four seconds
until either a flashing
F, or
C appears.
2. Press the button again to change the display to the
desired unit of measurement. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be
locked in and the compass/temperature display
will return.

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Electrochromic Mirror Operation
The electrochromic (self
-dimming) mirror function is
turned on automatically each time the engine is started.
To operate the electrochromic mirror do the following:
1. Make sure the green indicator light, located to the
left of the on/off button, is lit. If it's not, press and
hold the on/off button for six seconds until the
green light comes on, indicating that the mirror
is in electrochromic (self dimming) mode.
2. Turn off the electrochromic mirror function by
pressing and holding the on/off button for six
seconds until the green indicator light turns off.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if you live outside of zone eight.
Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance
cross
-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance. Compass variance is the difference
between earth's magnetic north and true geographic
north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.To adjust for compass variance do the following:
1. Find your current location and variance zone number
on the following zone map.
2. Press and hold the on/off button for nine seconds or
until a Z and a zone number appears in the display.
The compass is now in zone mode.

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3. Keep pressing the on/off button until the desired
zone number appears in the display. Release the
button. After about four seconds of inactivity,
the new zone number will be locked in and the
comp/temp display will return.
4. Calibrate the compass as described below.
Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if one of the
following occurs:

After five seconds, the display does not show a
compass heading (N for North, for example), there
may be a strong magnetic field interfering with the
compass. Such interference may be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder
or a similar magnetic item.

The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the
mirror compass windows. If CAL is not displayed,
push the on/off button for approximately 12 seconds
or until CAL is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated in one of two ways:

Drive the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less
until the display reads a direction, or

drive the vehicle on your everyday routine and after
several turns the compass will become calibrated and
will display a direction.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.