automatic transmission GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owners Manual

Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ............................................................... 2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System
......................... 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
........... 2-4
Doors and Locks
............................................. 2-6
Door Locks
.................................................... 2-6
Power Door Locks
.......................................... 2-7
Rear Doors
................................................... 2-8
Tailgate
........................................................ 2-8
Windows
........................................................ 2-10
Power Windows
............................................ 2-11
Swing-Out Windows
...................................... 2-11
Sun Visors
................................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
.................................. 2.13
Content Theft-Deterrent
................................. 2.13
Passlock@
.................................................... 2.14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................ 2.15
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2.15
Ignition Positions
.......................................... 2.15
Starting Your Engine
..................................... 2.16
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2.17
Automatic Transmission Operation
................... 2.18
All-Wheel Drive
............................................ 2-21
Parking Brake
.............................................. 2-22
Shifting Into Park
(P) ..................................... 2-23 Shifting
Out
of Park (P) ................................. 2-25
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-26
Engine Exhaust
............................................ 2-26
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
.... 2-27
Mirrors
........................................................... 2-28
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStap, Compass and Temperature
Display
.................................................... 2-28
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-31
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
..................... 2-31
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
.................. 2-31
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors
.................... 2-32
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors
.................................. 2-32
Onstar@ System
............................................. 2-33
HomeLink@ Transmitter
................................... 2-35
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter
........... 2-35
Storage Areas
................................................ 2-39
Glove Box
................................................... 2-39
Cupholder(s)
................................................ 2-39
Center Console Storage Area
......................... 2-39
Tonneau Cover
............................................ 2-39
Vehicle Personalization
................................... 2-42
Memory Seat
............................................... 2-42
2- 1

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering fluid
reservoir. If you have a diesel engine, refer to
diesel supplement for location.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 11 0-volt AC outlet.
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a fire. You could
be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong
11 0-volt AC outlet. If the cord
won’t reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug ana
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
If you don’t, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission
that features an electronic shift position indicator
located within the instrument panel cluster. This display
is powered anytime the shift lever
is capable of being
moved out
of PARK (P). See Fuses and Circuit Breakers
on page
5-95.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK
(P): This position locks your wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle can’t move easily.
2-1 8

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

Section 3 Instrument Panel
I~s~Pu~~~IP Panel OWWV~~W ............................... 3.2
Hazard Warning Flashers
................................ 3.3
Other Warning Devices ................................... 3.4
Horn
............................................................. 3.4
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3.4
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
......................... 3.5
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3.11
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3.15
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3.16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3.17
Climate Controls
............................................ 3.18
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
........... 3.18
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............. 3.24
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3.25
Speedometer and Odometer
........................... 3.26
Tachometer
................................................ -3-26
Safety Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.26
Air Bag Readiness Light
................................ 3-27
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator
................. 3.30
Battery Warning Light
.................................... 3.33
Brake System Warning Light
.......................... 3.34
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
............. 3.35
Air
Bag
Off Light .......................................... 3-28
Voltmeter Gage
............................................ 3-33
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
..... ..... 3.36 Transmission Temperature
Gage
..................... 3.36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............................. 3.38
Oil Pressure Gage
........................................ 3-40
Cruise Control Light
...................................... 3.41
Tow/Haul Mode Light
.................................... 3-41
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3.42
Driver Information Center (DIC)
....................... 3.43
DIC Operation and Displays
........................... 3.43
DIC Warnings and Messages
......................... 3.53
Audio System(s)
............................................. 3.61
Setting the Time
...................... .......... 3.6 1
Radio with Cassette and CD ..... .............. 3.62
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
............................. 3.76
CD Changer
................................................ 3-78
Theft-Deterrent Feature
................................. -3-81
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
....................... 3.81
Understanding Radio Reception
...................... 3-82
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
................ -3-83
Care of Your CDs
......................................... 3.84
Care of Your CD Player
................................ 3.84
Fixed Mast Antenna
...................................... 3.84
XMTM Satellite Radio Antenna System
............. 3.84
DAB Radio Antenna System
........................... 3.84
Low Fuel Warning Light
................................. 3-42

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,
0 the exterior lamp control is in AUTO
0 the automatic transmission is not in PARK (P), and
0 the light sensor determines it is daytime.
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. 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.
W-hen you turn the exterior iamp controi
to off, the
headlamps will go off, and your DRL lamps will
illuminate, provided it is not dark outside.
Shifting the transmission into PARK
(P) will 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).
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.
3-1 3

XMTM Radio Satellite Service (USA Only): XMTM is a
continental
U.S. based satellite radio service that
offers 100 coast to coast channels including music,
news, sports, talk and children’s programming. XMTM
provides digital quality audio and text information,
including song title and artist name. A service fee is
required in order to receive the XMTM service. For more
information, contact XMTM at www.xmradio.com or
call 1 -800-852-XMXM
(9696).
Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) (Canada Only): DAB
is a Canadian land-based radio service that offers
digital quality audio and text information including song
title, artist name, traffic, weather, emergency
announcements and more. Digital Audio Broadcast
transmission services are currently available
in Toronto,
Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Windsor. In fringe
areas signals may be interrupted by buildings, trees and
other obstructions. Additional services will be added
in the future. For current DAB coverage and other
information consult the GM Canada website at
www.gmcanada.com, your dealer or call
1-800-263-3777.
Playing the Radio
PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on
and off.
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to
decrease volume.
AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): Your audio system
monitors the noise inside your vehicle. To use automatic
volume, press the AUTO VOL button until AVOL
ON
appears on the display. Then, automatic volume
will automatically adjust the volume of your radio
so that
it always sounds the same to you. To turn the
automatic volume off, press the AUTO VOL button until
AVOL
OFF appears on the display.
3-63

Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over
50 mph (80 km/h)
and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to shift
the transmission to THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a
lower gear selection
if the transmission shifts
too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions).
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Tow/HauI Mode
Tow/haul is a feature that assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. The purpose
of the
tow/haul mode is to:
Reduce the frequency and improve the predictability
of transmission shifts when pulling a heavy trailer or
a large or heavy load.
Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as when
the vehicle is unloaded.
Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring
less throttle pedal activity when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a switch at the end
of the shift lever which when pressed enables
tow/haul. When the switch is pressed, a light on the
instrument panel will illuminate to indicate that tow/haul
has been selected. Tow/haul may be turned
off by
pressing the switch again, at which time the indicator
light on the instrument panel will turn
off. The vehicle will
automatically turn
off tow/haul every time it is started.
4-52

Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
You can tow in DRIVE
(5). You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a lower gear
selection
if the transmission shifts too often (e.g.,
under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions).
You may also want to activate the tow/haul mode
if the
transmission shifts too often. See “Tow/Haul Mode”
earlier in this section.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes.
If you turn your
engine
off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar
to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) for a
few minutes before turning the engine
off. If you do get
the overheat warning, see
Engine Overheating on
page
5-27.
Parking on Hills
m
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK
(P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-58

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
0 release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine
oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling system and
brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-59

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
........................................... 5-4
Fuel
................................................................ 5.5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5.5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5.5
California Fuel
............................................... 5.6
Additives
....................................................... 5.6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
................. ....... 5.7
Filling Your Tank
......................................... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-9
the Hood
............................................. 5.10
Hood Release
........................................ ,.5-10
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5.12
Checking
Things Under
Engine Oil
................................................... 5.13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
................................ 5.19
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5.24
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5.27
Cooling System
............................................ 5.30
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
........................ -5-21
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
.................. 5-27 Engine
Fan Noise
......................................... 5.36
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5.37
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5-38
Brakes
........................................................ 5.39
Battery
........................................................ 5.42
Jump Starting
............................................... 5.43
All-Wheel Drive
......................... .............. 5-49
Rear Axle
....................................................... 5-50
Front Axle
...................................................... 5-51
Bulb Replacement
.......................................... 5-52
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5-52
Headlamps
................................................. -5-52
Roof Marker Lamps
...................................... 5-54
Cargo Lamp
............................................. 5-56
Taillamps
..................................................... 5-58
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-59
Front
Turn Signal, Sidemarker
and Daytime
Running Lamps
......................................... 5-53
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Pickup
Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps
..................................................... 5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-60
5-
1