GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owners Manual

DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road
driving. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD
(3): This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND
(2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes occasionally.
If you manually select SECOND
(2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature
for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are
trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces. FIRST
(1): This position
gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND
(2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle
is moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: If your rear wheels won’t turn, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal.
This could overheat and damage the transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position on a hill.
On cold days, approximately
32°F (OOC) or colder, your
transmission is designed to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended to improve heater performance.
2-20

Tow/HauI Mode
Your vehicle may be equipped with a tow/haul mode.
The switch is located on the end of the column shift
lever. You can use this feature to assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load.
I
00
When tow/haul is activated
the tow/haul symbol will
illuminate
on the
instrument panel cluster.
See
Tow/Haul Mode under
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-51 for more
information.
All-Wheel Drive
With this feature, engine power is sent to all four wheels
all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is
no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It
is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for
road conditions.
2-2 1

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will flash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least
3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go
off.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes
to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-51.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge
of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
2-22

Shifting Into Park (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t
move, even when you’re
on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel
drive, if your transfer case
is in NEUTRAL,
your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your
shift lever is in PARK (P).
So, be sure the
transfer case is
in a drive gear - not in
NEUTRAL. If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
set
the parking brake.
/ 1
I.
Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-23

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully
in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK
(P) and the
parking brake
is firmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK
(P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK
(P) without first pulling it
toward you.
If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
2-24

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK
(P). This is called ”torque
lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see Shifting lnto
Park
(P) on page 2-23.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK
(P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition
is in RUN. See Automatic Transmission
Operation on page
2- 18.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK
(P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to LOCK.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the vehicle to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
5. Have the system fixed as soon as you can.
you want.
2-25

Parking Over Things That Burn En - ‘ne Ex’- - - is1
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things
that can burn. Engine exhaust can kill.
It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell.
It can cause unconsciousness and
death.
You might have exhaust coming
in if:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the road or over road
debris.
different.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had
been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
0 Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
blow out any
CO; and
2-26

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have
to, here are some things to know.
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust.’’
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan is at the highest setting. One place
this
can happen is a garage. Exhaust - with
CO
- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard. See
“Winter Driving’’ in the Index.
It can be d,,,gersus to b-. dt of your vehicle
if the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To
be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-23.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on
page 4-5 1.
2-27

Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Onstar@, Compass and
Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have this feature. 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 duel 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.
cl) (On/Off): This is the on/off button.
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 adjust between Fahrenheit and Celsius do the
following:
1. Press and hold the on/off button for approximately
four seconds until either a flashing
OF, or "C
appears.
desired unit of measurement. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked
in and the compass/temperature display will return.
2. Press the button again to change the display to the
Electrochromic Mirror Operation
The electrochromic (self dimming) mirror function is
turned on automatically each time the ignition 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 approximately 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
approximately six seconds until the green indicator
light turns off.
2-28

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 until a Z and a
zone number appears in the display. The compass
is now in zone mode.
3. Keep pressing the on/off button until the desired
zone number appears in the display. Release the
button. After approximately 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.
2-29