GMC SONOMA 2001 Manual PDF

1-58
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you've had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then you need new belts.
If you ever see a label on
the driver's or on a crew cab
right front passenger's
safety belt that says to
replace the belt, be sure to
do so. Then the new belt
will be there to help protect
you in a collision. You
would see this label on the
belt near the door opening.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even if the belt wasn't being used at
the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you'll need to replace air bag system
parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-14 Tailgate
2
-15 Theft
2
-16 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-18 Passlock

2-18 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-19 Ignition Positions
2
-21 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-24 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-27 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-29 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-32 Parking Brake
2
-33 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)2
-35 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-36 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-37 Engine Exhaust
2
-37 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-38 Locking Rear Axle
2
-38 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-39 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-45 Exterior Lamps
2
-48 Interior Lamps
2
-50 Mirrors
2
-53 Storage Compartments
2
-61 Accessory Power Outlets (If Equipped)
2
-65 Instrument Panel - Your Information System
2
-66 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-69 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-2
Windows
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the windows
closed is dangerous. A child can be overcome by
the extreme heat and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never
leave a child alone in a vehicle, especially with the
windows closed in warm or hot weather.

2-3 Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower your
manual side door windows.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
If you have power windows, the controls are on each
of the side doors. With power windows, the switches
control the windows when the ignition is on, in
ACCESSORY, or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. (See ªRetained Accessory Powerº
in the Index.) The driver's door has a switch for the
passenger window(s) as well.
Regular or
Extended Cab
Crew Cab

Press the side of the switch with the down arrow to
lower the window. Press the side of the switch with the
up arrow to raise the window.

2-4
Express-Down Window
The driver's window switch also has an express
-down
feature that allows you to lower the window without
holding the window switch. Press the driver's window
switch down briefly to activate the express
-down
feature. Lightly tap the switch to open the window
slightly. The express
-down feature can be interrupted at
any time by pressing the up arrow end of the switch.
Lockout Switch (Crew Cab)
Four
-door vehicles have a lockout feature to prevent
passengers from operating the power windows. It is
located on the driver's door armrest. Press LOCK to
activate this feature. Press NORM and the windows will
return to normal operation.
Swing-Out Windows (Extended Cab)
To open a rear swing-out
window, pull the latch
toward the front of the
vehicle and then push the
latch out and rearward.
When you close the window, be sure the latch engages.

2-5 Sliding Rear Window (If Equipped)
Squeeze the latch in the center of the window and slide
the glass to open it.
When you close the window, be sure the latch
is engaged.
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-6
This vehicle has one
double
-sided key for the
ignition and door locks. It
will fit with either side up.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.
The key code number tells your dealer or a qualified
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able to have
new ones made easily using this number. Your dealer
should also have this number.

2-7
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys inside. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get in. So be sure you
have extra keys.
If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle call the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. See ªRoadside
Assistance Centerº in the Index for more information.
Door Locks
CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

Passengers -- especially children -- can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the
handle won't open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in
a crash if the doors aren't locked. So, wear
safety belts properly and lock the doors
whenever you drive.

Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.

Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your doors can help
prevent this from happening.

2-8
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
You can use the keyless entry system, if you have this
feature. You can also use your key to unlock your door
from the outside. To lock your door from the inside,
slide the lever on the inside of the door down.
To unlock the door, slide the
lever on the inside of the
door up. You will see a red
area on the lever.
You can also use the power door lock
switch (if equipped).
Power Door Locks (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has power door locks, the switch is
located on the armrest. Remove the ignition key and
press LOCK to lock all the doors at once.
To unlock the doors, press the raised area next to the
key symbol.

2-9 Programmable Automatic Door Locks
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has power door locks, it is equipped with a
feature that enables you to program your power door locks.
The following is a list of the available programming options:

All doors lock/Only the driver's door unlocks:
Press the lock side of the power lock switch on the
door panel once and then the unlock side once.
If your vehicle is not equipped with remote keyless
entry, you may not be able to utilize this option.

All doors lock/All doors unlock: Press the lock side
of the power lock switch on the door panel once, and
then the unlock side twice.

All doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the
lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel
once, and then the unlock side three times.

No doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the
lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel
twice. This turns off the automatic lock feature.
For more information, see your dealer.
Your vehicle left the factory programmed to have no
doors lock or unlock automatically. You can set the
automatic door lock feature to lock all the doors when
the vehicle speed is greater than 15 mph (24 km/h) fortwo seconds, and then unlock the door(s) once the key is
removed from the ignition. The following instructions
detail how to program your door locks. Choose one of
the previous programming options before entering the
programming mode.
To enter the program mode you need to do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition in OFF. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever all the way toward you
and hold it while you perform the next step.
2. Turn your key to RUN and OFF twice. Then, with
the key in OFF, release the turn signal/multifunction
lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock switch
lock and unlock.
3. You are now ready to program the automatic door
locks. Select one of the previous four programming
options and follow the instructions. You will have
30 seconds to begin programming. If you exceed the
30 second limit, the locks will automatically lock and
unlock to indicate you have left the program mode.
If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning with
Step 1. You can exit the program mode any time by
turning the ignition to RUN (the locks will
automatically lock and unlock to indicate you are
leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock switches
are not pressed while in the programming mode, the
auto lock/unlock setting will not be modified.