warning GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owner's Guide

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant message,
can indicate
a serious problem. See “Low Coolant”
under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-53.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant message, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little
too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-51.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or
so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@ ).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just
to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, push down the accelerator
until the engine speed
is about twice as fast as normal
idle speed for at least three minutes while you’re parked.
If you still have the warning, turn off the engine andget
everyone out
of the vehicle until it cools down. Also, see
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode listed
previously in this section.
You may decide not
to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-29

Adding ~.ly p.-.n water to your coa....g system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s
coolant warning system
is set for the proper
coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you
wouldn’t get the overheat warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or others could be
burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable i i water and DEX COOL@ coolant.
Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
I
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and
it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-33

Notice:
Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based
oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system
parts
so badly that they’ll have to be replaced.
Don’t let someone
put in the wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint finish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake fluid on your
vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately.
See “Appearance Care” in the Index.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal firmly). The
brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence
to GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6- 15
5-41

Brake Pedal Travel Battery
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together
if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality
GM brake parts.
When you replace parts of your braking system -for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
need new ones put in
- be sure you get new approved
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change
- for the
worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect
can change in many other ways
if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts. Your new
vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelco@ battery. When it’s time for a new battery, get
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco@
battery. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5-12 for battery location.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
5-42

While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect
to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and
a half
(1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction - AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds
to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination.
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
5-66

A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a Changing a Flat Tire
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your
steering
the way you want the vehicle to go. it may be hazard warning flashers.
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop - well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how
to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
C..-nging a tire can cause
an injury. The
vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over you
or other people. You and they could be badly
injured. Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Put the wheel blocks at the front and rear
of the tire farthest away from the one
being changed. That
would be the tire on
the other side of the vehicle, at the
opposite end.
5-69

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flames
if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed
space. When you use anything from a container to clean
your vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s
warnings and instructions. And always open your doors
or windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine They can all be hazardous
- some more than
others
- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and
loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and painted
surfaces with a clean, damp cloth.
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
5-86

Accessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-16
Adding Washer Fluid
....................................... 5-38
Additional Program Information
........................... 7-8
Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6
Add-on Electrical Equipment
............................ 5-95
Add-on Equipment .......................................... 4-48
Off Light ..................................................... 3-28
Passenger Status Indicator
........................... 3-30
Readiness Light
.......................................... 3-27
Air Bag Systems
............................................. 1-57
Bag-Equipped Vehicle
............................... 1-72
Passenger Sensing System
........................... 1-68
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)
.............. 3-66
Air Bag
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Air Bag
Off Switch ....................................... 1-64
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
.................... 1-62
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
......... 1-72
What Makes an
Air Bag inflate? .................... 1-61
What Will You See After an
Air Bag Inflates?
...................................... 1-62
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
................... 1-61
Where Are the Air Bags?
.............................. 1-59
Air Cleaner/FiIter, Engine
................................. 5-1 9
All Overseas Locations ...................................... 7-4
All-Wheel Drive
............................................... 5-49
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
......................... 2-21
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
.................. 5-90
AM ............................................................ 3-82
Antenna, Fixed Mast
....................................... 3-84
Anti-lock Brake System
..................................... 4-7
Appearance Care
............................................ 5-86
Care of Safety Belts
.................................... 5-88
Antenna,
XMTM Satellite
Radio System ............... 3-84
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning
Light .............. 3-35
Chemical Paint Spotting
............................... 5-91
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
................ 5-86
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
.............. 5-88
Finish Damage
............................................ 5-91
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials .......... 5-92
Sheet Metal Damage
................................... 5-91
Underbody Maintenance
............................... 5-91
Weatherstrips
.............................................. 5-88
Ashtrays
........................................................ 3-17
Audio System(s)
............................................. 3-61
Audio Systems
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
...................... 3-81
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
................ 3-83
Care of Your CD Player
............................... 3-84
Care of Your CDs
........................................ 3-84
CD Changer
............................................... 3-78
DAB Radio Antenna System
.......................... 3-84
Fixed Mast Antenna
..................................... 3-84
Radio with Cassette and CD
......................... 3-62
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
................................ 3-76
Setting the Time
.......................................... 3-61
Theft-Deterrent Feature
................................ 3-81
Understanding Radio Reception
..................... 3-82
1

Audio Systems (cont.)
XMTM Satellite Radio Antenna System ............ 3-84
Automatic Headlamp System
............................ 3-1 2
Operation ................................................... 2-1 8
System Check
......................................... 6-12
Automatic
Transmission
Fluid
.......................................................... 5-21
Automatic Transmission Check
.......................... 6-1 1
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
B
Backing Up .................................................... 4-57
Battery
.......................................................... 5-42
Battery Replacement
......................................... 2-5
Battery Run-Down Protection ............................ 3-1 6
BATTERY NOT CHARGING
............................. 3-54
Battery Warning Light
...................................... 3-33
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
......................... 4-35
Body Lubrication Service
.................................. 6-1 1
Brake Parking
...................................................... 2-22
System Inspection
....................................... 6-1 5
System Warning Light .................................. 3-34
Brake Adjustment
............................................ 5-42
Brake Fluid
.................................................... 5-39
Brake Pedal Travel
......................................... 5-42
Brake Wear
.................................... ....... 5-41
Brakes
.......................................................... 5-39
Braking ........................................................... 4-6 Braking
in Emergencies
..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle
..................................... 2-15
Bulb Replacement
........................................... 5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp
............................................ 5-56
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps
........................................ 5-53
Halogen Bulbs
............................................ 5-52
Headlamps
................................................. 5-52
Pickup Box Identification and Fender
Marker Lamps
......................................... 5-58
Replacement Bulbs
...................................... 5-59
Roof Marker Lamps
..................................... 5-54
Buying New Tires
........................................... 5-64
Taillamps
.................................................... 5-58
C
California Fuel .................................................. 5-6
Canada
........................................................... 7-4
Canadian Owners
................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance ........................... 7-7
Capacities and Specifications
.......................... 5-1 04
Car Washes for QUADRASTEERTM Equipped Vehicles
..................................................... 4-13
Carbon Monoxide
..................... 4-38, 4-51, 2-8, 2-26
Care of
Safety Belts
................................ ..... 5-88
Care
of Your
Cassette Tape Player
................................... 3-83
2

Compact Disc Changer Errors .......................... 3-80
Compact Disc Messages
.................................. 3-76
Compass Calibration
....................................... 2-30
Compass Variance
.......................................... 2-29
Content Theft-Deferrent
.................................... 2-1 3
Control of a Vehicle
.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage
............................ 3-36
Heater, Engine
............................................ 2-17
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
............................. 5-27
Cooling System
.............................................. 5-30
Cruise Control
.................................................. 3-8
Cruise Control Light
........................................ 3-41
Cupholder(s)
............................................... 2-39
Current and Past Model Order Forms
..... .... 7-11
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation
.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users
............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance
Off ices ........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities
................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ...... 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government
.............................................. 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government
.............................................. 7-9
Roadside Assistance Program
......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information
........ 7-1 0
D
DAB Radio .................................................... 3-82
Defensive Driving
............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting
................................. 3-22
Doing Your Own Service Work
........................... 5-4
Dome Lamps
................................................. 3-16
Door
Daytime Running Lamps
.................................. 3-13
Locks
.......................................................... 2-6
Power Door Locks
......................................... 2-7
Rear Doors
.................................................. 2-8
Position, Safety Belt
..................................... 1-13
Driver Information Center (DIC)
......................... 3-43
Driver
DRIVER DOOR AJAR
..................................... 3-60
DIC Operation and Displays
.......................... 3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages
........................ 3-53
Driving At Night
..................................................... 4-29
City
........................................................... 4-33
Defensive
..................................................... 4-2
Drunken
....................................................... 4-2
Freeway
..................................................... 4-34
Hill and Mountain Roads
.............................. 4-36
In Rain and on Wet Roads
........................... 4-30
Winter
........................................................ 4-38
Driving On Grades
.......................................... 4-58
Driving on Snow or Ice
.................................... 4-39
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
............... 4-32
4