stop start GMC SIERRA DENALI 2003 Owners Manual

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle is equipped with a content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
With this system, the
security light on the cluster
will flash
as you open
the door
(if your ignition is
off), to let you know
that you are activating the
system. This
message reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security light should come on and flash.
If you are using the
remote keyless entry transmitter, the door does
not need to be open.
3. Close all of the doors. The light will stop flashing and
stay solid.The security light should go
off after
approximately
30 seconds. The alarm is not armed
until the security light goes
off. If the delayed locking
feature is active, the alarm will not activate until all
doors are closed and the security light goes
off.
Once the system is armed, if a door is opened without
the key or the remote keyless entry transmitter, the
alarm will go
off. Depending on how you have
programmed the alarm in the secondary information
center, the horn may sound, the headlamps may flash
or both the headlamps and the horn will activate.
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate
if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual
door lock. It activates only
if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that
you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key
if
the alarm has been set off.

Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are closed.
Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any
other way will set
off the alarm if the system
has been armed.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with the key. You can also turn
off the alarm by pressing
UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter or
by placing the key in the ignition and turning it to
START.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window
and open the driver’s door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for
the security message
to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set
off the alarm. If the
alarm does not sound and the headlamps do not
flash, you may have the feature turned
off. See DIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-43 for more
information.
Passlock@
Your vehicle is equipped with the
Passlock@ theft-deterrent system.
Passlock@ is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock@ enables fuel
if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key.
If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.
If the engine stalls and the security light flashes,
wait until the light stops flashing before trying to restart
the engine. Remember
to release the key from
START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able
to restart the engine if you turn the
engine
off. However, your Passlock@ system is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock@ at this
time. You may also want to check the fuse (see
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-95.) See your
dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5
under Customer Assistance Information.
2-1 4

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notices Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
* Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed - fast or slow - for
the first
500 miles (805 km). Don’t make
full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index for more information.
Ignition Positions
With your key in the ignition switch you can turn it to
four different positions.
c
A
~~~ ~
Notice: If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can’t turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force
it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these works,
then your vehicle needs service.
2-1 5

LOCK (A): This position locks your ignition and
transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You will only
be able to remove your key when the ignition is
turned to
LOCK.
ACCESSORY (B): This position lets you use things like
the radio, power windows and the windshield wipers
when the engine is
off.
RUN (C): This position is for driving.
START
(D): This position starts your engine.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The Retained Accessory Power (RAP) feature will allow
certain features on your vehicle to continue to work
up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position - that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice: Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15
seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let
go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about
15 seconds between each try.
2-1 6

When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0°F or -18"C), do this:
Engine Coolant Heater
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down
for five or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer.
If you don't, your engine
might not perform properly. In
very cold weather,
0°F (-18°C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater
can help. You'll get
easier starting and better
fuel economy during
engine warm-up. Usually,
the coolant heater
should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours
prior to starting your
vehicle.
At temperatures above
32°F (OOC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
2-1 7

It is 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.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. 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, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P). See “Shifting
Into Park
(P)” in the Index. If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
REVERSE
(R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice
or sand without damaging your transmission, see
If You
Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-42.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRF’
lk’’ when your vehicle is beir- towed.
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine
is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Don’t
shift into a drive gear while your engine
is
racing.
Notice: Damage to your transmission caused by
shifting out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with
the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you’re:
0 Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
2-1 9

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

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.
I I
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

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.
, I
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

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