tow GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owner's Manual

Hazard Warning Flashers The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Override Button
9. Exterior Lamp Control
C. Air Outlets
D. Storage Compartment
E. Multifunction Lever
F. Instrument Panel Cluster
G. Shift Lever
H. Tow/Haul Selector Switch (If Equipped)
I. Audio System
J. Comfort Control System
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
L. Hood Release
M. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
N. Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block
0. Tilt Lever
P. Parking Brake Release
Q. Compact Disc Changer (If Equipped)
R. Ashtray
S. Accessory Power Outlet
1. Air Bag Off Switch and 4-Wheel Steer Button
U. Glovebox Your hazard
warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
3-3

Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the
turn signal. To turn
off the chime, move the turn signal
lever to the
off position.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low to high beam, push
the lever toward the instrument panel.
To return the
low-beam headlamps, pull the multifunction lever toward
you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on.
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Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature allows you to use your high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front
of you that you
want to pass. It works even
if your headlamps are off
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you.
If your headlamps are
off or on low-beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay on as long
as you hold the lever toward you and the high-beam
indicator on the instrument panel will come on. Release
the lever
to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
0: OFF
$? : MIST
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to mist.
Hold it
there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers
will stop after one wipe.
If you want more wipes, hold
the band on mist longer.
3-6

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.
The exterior lamp control has four positions:
0 (OFF): Turning the control to this position turns off
the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL), and the automatic
headlamps. An indicator light will illuminate when
this position is selected. AUTO
(Automatic): Turning the control to this position
puts the system into automatic headlamp mode.
An
indicator light will illuminate when this position is
selected.
:oO: (Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Roof Marker Lamps (If Equipped)
$0 (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 pushing the turn signal/multifunction lever towards
the instrument panel.
3-1 1

2. Set the driver’s and passenger’s temperature.
To find your comfort setting, start with a
74°F
(23°C) temperature setting and allow about
20 minutes for the system to regulate. Turn the
driver’s or passenger’s side temperature knob
to adjust the temperature setting as necessary. If
you choose the temperature setting of
60°F
(15°C) the system will remain at the maximum
cooling setting. If you choose the temperature
setting of
90°F (32°C) the system will remain at the
maximum heat setting. Choosing either maximum
setting will not cause the vehicle to heat or cool any
faster.
Be careful not
to cover the sensor located on the
top of the instrument panel near the windshield.
This sensor regulates air temperature based on sun
load, and also turns on your headlamps.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the
system will delay turning on the fan until warm air
is available. The length of delay depends on
the engine coolant temperature. Pressing the fan switch will override this delay and change the fan
to
a selected speed.
Manual Operation
To change the current setting, select one of the
following:
A 8f? v (Fan): This button allows you to manually
adjust the fan speed. Press the up arrow
to increase fan
speed and the down arrow
to decrease fan speed.
4d (Mode): Press this button to manually change the
direction of the airflow in your vehicle; keep pressing the
button until the desired mode appears on the display.
If you press the mode button
to select an air delivery
mode, the display will change
to show you the selected
air mode delivery. The display will then show the
current status of the system. When the system is turned
off, the display will go blank after displaying the
current status
of the system.
f;’ (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument
panel vents.
+2 (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the
instrument panel vents, then directs the remaining air
to
the floor vents. A little air is directed toward the
windshield and the side window vents. Cooler air is
directed
to the upper vents and warmer air to the floor
vents.
3-20

Outlet Adjustment Operation Tips
Use the air outlets located in the center and on the side
of your instrument panel to direct the airflow.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust the
direction and amount of airflow inside the vehicle.
Move the louvers up or down. Use the thumbwheel next
to or underneath the outlet to close the louvers. For
the most efficient airflow and temperature control, keep
the outlet in the fully opened position.
If your vehicle is equipped with rear seat outlets they
can be used
to adjust airflow toward either seating area,
the floor, or upward. Move the center louver up or
down
to direct the airflow. Keep
the hood and front air inlets free
of ice, snow,
or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The
heater and defroster will work far better, reducing
the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear
of objects. This helps air
to circulate throughout your
vehicle.
Adding outside equipment
to the front of your
vehicle, such as hood-air deflectors, etc., may affect
the performance
of the heating and air conditioning
system. Check with your dealer before adding
equipment
to the outside of your vehicle.
3-23

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.
Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will
flash when you set the parking brake. The light will
flash
if the parking brake doesn’t release fully. If you try
to drive with the parking brake engaged, a chime
will sound when the vehicle speed is greater than
3 mph (5 km/h).
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 and a chime sounds there
could be a brake problem. Have your brake system
inspected right away.
I BRAKE I
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United States Canada
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. See Towing
Your Vehicle on page 4-45.
3-34

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.
~
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.
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If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service.
You will also hear a
chime sound when the light
is on steady. 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.
In addition to both lights, you will
also hear a chime sound on the first occurrence of
a problem and each time the car is shut
off and then
restarted. See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 3-34 earlier in this section.
3-35

See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-43 for
further information.
If the transmission fluid reaches temperatures of
approximately 275°F
(1 35°C) or greater, the Driver
Information Center wiil display a
TRANS HOT IDLE
ENG warning message. Pull the vehicle off the roadway
when it
is safe to do so. Set the parking brake, place
the transmission in PARK
(P) and allow the engine
to idle until the transmission temperature falls below
260°F (1 27°C). If the transmission continues to operate
above
265°F (13O"C), contact your nearest dealer or
the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside
Assistance Program
on page 7-5.
Notices If you keep driving your vehicle with the
transmission temperature gage above the normal
operating range, you can damage the transmission.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered under your warranty. The
following situations can cause the transmission to
operate at higher temperatures:
0 Towing a trailer
0 Hot outside air temperatures
0 Hauling a large or heavy load
0 Low transmission fluid level
High transmission fluid level
0 Restricted air flow to the radiator and the auxiliary
transmission oil cooler
(if equipped).
A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures
on a frequent basis, see
Scheduled Maintenance
on page
6-5 for the proper transmission maintenance
intervals.
3-37

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
0 Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart
the engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If
the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still
flashing, follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle
to your dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See
Fi//ing Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap has
been left
off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light
off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will
cause your engine not to run
as efficiently as designed.
You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation
on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the
light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check
the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment
and diagnostic tools to
fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
3-39

A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a
dangerously low oil level or some other problem
causing
low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as
possible. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-53
and ‘vgine Oil on page 5-13.
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become
so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control. See “Cruise
Control” under
Turn
SignaVMultifunction Lever
on page 3-5.
Tow/HauI Mode Light
This light is displayed
when the tow/haul mode
has been activated.
For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-5
I.
3-41