key GMC SONOMA 2003 Owner's Guide

Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on, the driver’s door
is opened and your ignition is in OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY. To turn the chime off, turn the control
counterclockwise or turn the instrument panel brightness
thumbwheel down to the fully dimmed position. In the
automatic mode, the headlamps turn off once the ignition
key is in OFF.
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
rst sold in Canada.The DRL system will make your headlamps come on
at reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is on,
the exterior lamp control is in OFF,
the sensor detects daytime light,
an automatic transmission is not in PARK (P), and
the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won’tbe
on. The instrument panel won’t be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular headlamps.
The DRL system on some vehicles may turn off
temporarily while the turn signals are activated.
To idle an automatic transmission vehicle with the DRL
off, put the transmission in PARK (P). To idle a
manual transmission vehicle with the DRL off, set the
parking brake. The DRL will stay off until you shift out of
PARK (P) or release the parking brake.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
It is located on the driver’s side of your instrument panel
next to the exterior lamps control.
Turn the thumbwheel up to make your instrument panel
lights brighter or down to dim them. Turn the
thumbwheel all the way up to turn on the interior lamps.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an entry lighting feature.
When any door is opened, the dome lamps will
come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is in the out
position. If your vehicle is equipped with remote keyless
entry and all the doors are closed, or the front door
handles are lifted and released, the lamps will stay on
for a short period of time and will turn off automatically.
If you use your remote keyless entry transmitter to
unlock the vehicle, the interior lights will come on for a
short time whether or not the DOME OVERRIDE
button is in the out position.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you
see while exiting the vehicle. These lights will stay on
for a short period of time and then will go out, if the
DOME OVERRIDE button is in the out position.
Front Map Lamps
If your vehicle is a Crew Cab®and has front map
lamps, they are located in the overhead console. For all
other vehicles that have this feature, they are located
on the inside rearview mirror. The front map lights
that are located on the inside rearview mirror will
automatically come on for approximately 40 seconds
when the doors are unlocked with the remote keyless
entry transmitter (if equipped) or until the ignition key is
turned to RUN or ACCESSORY. The lamps will also
stay on for approximately 40 seconds after you exit the
vehicle, unless you lock the doors with the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
switch near each lamp.
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Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open any door.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
instrument panel brightness thumbwheel, located next to
the exterior lamps control, all the way up to the
second notch. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
You can use the DOME OVERRIDE button, located
below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when any door is opened,
or to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
in. With the button in, the dome lamps will remain off
when any door is opened. To return the lamps to
automatic operation, press the button again and return
it to the out position. With the button in this position,
the dome lamps will come on when you open any door.
This will override the illuminated entry feature, unless
you use your remote keyless entry transmitter
(if equipped) to unlock the vehicle.
Battery Rundown Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, vanity,
reading, glove box, cargo and underhood lamps if they
are left on for more than 20 minutes when the ignition
is off. This will keep your battery from running down.If the battery rundown protection shuts off the interior
lamps, it may be necessary to do one of the following to
return it to normal operation:
Shut off all lamps and close all doors, or
turn the ignition key to RUN.
Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle may be equipped with an accessory
power outlet.
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
There may be an accessory power outlet located near
the center of the vehicle on the lower part of the
instrument panel. A small cap must be pulled down to
access an accessory power outlet. When not using
an outlet be sure to cover it with the protective cap.
Notice:When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed 20 amps.
Always turn off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
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Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has
been driven, in either miles (used in the United States)
or kilometers (used in Canada).
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. Simply press the trip odometer button.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs
a new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to
the mileage total of the old odometer, then it must
be. But if it can’t, then it’s set at zero, and a label must
be put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
To view the trip odometer, press the button near the
readout. To reset the trip odometer, hold the button until
it resets.
Tachometer
The tachometer (if equipped) displays the engine speed
in revolutions per minute (rpm).Notice:On vehicles with a manual transmission,
if you operate the engine with the tachometer in the
shaded warning areas, your vehicle’s engine or
other parts of your vehicle could be damaged.
Damage to your engine or vehicle caused by
operating the engine with the tachometer in the
shaded warning areas isn’t covered by your vehicle
warranty. Don’t operate the tachometer in the
shaded warning areas.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay
on for several seconds,
then it willash for
several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system
checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the air bag sensors, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, seeAir Bag System on page 1-54.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it willash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light shouldash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have itxed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Air Bag Off Light
When you turn the right front passenger’s air bag off,
this light will come on and stay on to remind you that the
air bag has been turned off. This light will go off when
you turn the air bag back on again. SeeAir Bag
Off Switch on page 1-60for more on this, including
important safety information.
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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.
Up-Shift Light
You have the shift light if
you have a manual
transmission.
Shifting when the indicator light is on will help you get
the best fuel economy. See“Up-Shift Light”under
Manual Transmission Operation on page 2-28.
Brake System Warning Light
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
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, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
United StatesCanada
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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
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-42.
{CAUTION:
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.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. 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. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-27.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have itxed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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If the light continues toash, 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 stillashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service as soon
as possible.
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. SeeFilling Your Tank on page 5-6. 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 5-4. 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, misring, 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,
your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has
the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools tox any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.
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{CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catchesre. 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.
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside
temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the
low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused
by a dangerously low oil level or other problems causing
low oil pressure.
Security Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn the
key toward START.
The light will stay on until
the engine starts.
If the lightashes, the Passlock
®system has entered a
tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, seePasslock®
on page 2-19.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may be a problem with the Passlock
®
system. Your vehicle will not be protected by Passlock®,
and you should see your dealer.
Also, seeContent Theft-Deterrent on page 2-17for
additional information regarding the SECURITY light.
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it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety
problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then
drive. But what if people do? How much is“too much”if
someone plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends on each person and situation,
here is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone
who is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According to the American Medical Association, a
180 lb (82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce
(355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of liquors like whiskey, gin or vodka.It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example,
if the same person drank three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the
person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person
who consumes food just before or during drinking will
have a somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women generally
have a lower relative percentage of body water
than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this
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