brake light GMC SONOMA 2004 User Guide

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to
consider a number of things:
•How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
•What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
•Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
•What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom with large
rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a
low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes
and they will not have to do all the work. Descend
slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
{CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This
could cause loss of control and a serious
accident. Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
4-21

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you can not, try to slow down before you
hit them.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will not
work as well in a quick stop and may cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water
or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
4-30

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).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear the
brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
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.
SeeBrake System Inspection on page 6-31.Brake Pedal Travel
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.
5-39

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake. If
you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is not in NEUTRAL (N).
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or in the accessory power outlets. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that aren’t needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save your radio!4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive (+) and negative (-) terminal locations on
each vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more information on location of the
battery.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the batteries have enough water. You
do not need to add water to the ACDelco
®
battery (or batteries) installed in your new
vehicle. But if a battery has ller caps, be sure
the right amount of uid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that rst. If you do
not, explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
5-42

(A) Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter “LT” as
the first two characters in the tire size means a light
truck tire engineered to standards set by the U. S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example, if
the tire size aspect ratio is “75,” as shown in item “C” of
the illustration, it would mean that the tire’s sidewall is
75% as high as it is wide.(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter
“R” means radial ply construction; the letter “D” means
diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter “B”
means belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description:The service description
indicates the load range and speed rating of a tire. The
load index can range from 1 to 279. Speed ratings
range from “A” to “Z”. The light truck tire size example
above shows dual or single tire configurations.Tire Terminology and Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined weight
of optional accessories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire’s height to its
width. Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
5-64

Fuse Usage
4 Gages, Body Control Module,
Instrument Panel Cluster
5 Parking Lamps, Power Window
Switch, Body Control Module,
Ashtray Lamp
6 Steering Wheel Radio Controls
7 Headlamps Switch, Body Control
Module, Headlamp Relay
8 Courtesy Lamps, Battery Run-Down
Protection
9 Heating, Ventilation, Air Cooling
Control Head (Manual)
10 Turn Signal
11 Cluster, Engine Control Module
12 Interior Lights
13 Auxiliary Power
14 Power Locks MotorFuse Usage
15 4WD Switch, Engine Controls (VCM,
PCM, Transmission)
16 Supplemental Inflatable Restraint
17 Front Wiper
18 Steering Wheel Radio Controls
19 Radio, Battery
20 Amplifier
21 Heating, Ventilation, Air Cooling
(Manual), Heating,Ventilation, Air
Cooling (Automatic), Heating,
Ventilation, Air Cooling Sensors
(Automatic)
22 Anti-Lock Brakes
23 Rear Wiper
24 Radio, Ignition
5-97

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-16
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-53
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-36
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-94
Add-On Equipment..........................................4-52
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)....................3-38, 3-42, 3-51, 3-62
After Off-Road Driving.....................................4-27
Air Bag
Readiness Light..........................................3-25
Air Bag System..............................................1-46
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle...............................1-53
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-50
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-52
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?....................1-50
What Will You See After an
Air Bag Inflates?......................................1-50
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?...................1-49
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-48
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
All Overseas Locations...................................... 7-4
AM ...............................................................3-74
AM-FM Radio.................................................3-36
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-76
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System..........................................3-76
Anti-lock Brake System..................................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-28
Appearance Care............................................5-86
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-89
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-92
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-86
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-89
Finish Damage............................................5-92
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-91
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-92
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-93
Weatherstrips..............................................5-89
Approaching a Hill..........................................4-18
Ashtrays........................................................3-17
Assist Handles...............................................2-40
Audio System(s).............................................3-35
AM-FM Radio.............................................3-36
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-74
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-76
Care of Your CDs........................................3-75
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-76
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-49
Radio with CD............................................3-39
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-59
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-35
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-73
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-74
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-76
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-12
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-20
Automatic Transmission Check..........................6-26
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-28
B
Backing Up....................................................4-61
Battery..........................................................5-40
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-6Battery Rundown Protection.............................3-16
Bed Rails......................................................2-41
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-34
Before You Go Off-Roading..............................4-14
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-27
Brake
Parking......................................................2-25
System Inspection.......................................6-31
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brake Adjustment............................................5-40
Brake Fluid....................................................5-37
Brake Pedal Travel.........................................5-39
Brake Wear...................................................5-39
Brakes..........................................................5-37
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-48
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
Headlamps.................................................5-49
One-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps...............5-51
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-54
Taillamps....................................................5-53
Two-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps...............5-51
Buying New Tires...........................................5-70
2

C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada........................................................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Capacities and Specifications..........................5-101
Carbon Monoxide...................4-38, 4-55, 2-11, 2-29
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-89
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-74
Your CD Player...........................................3-76
Your CDs ...................................................3-75
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-56
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-25
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-56
CD Messages................................3-48, 3-58, 3-73
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-52
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-21
Certification/Tire Label.....................................4-49
Chains, Tires..................................................5-74
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-29
Gages Warning Light...................................3-34
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-38
Checking Coolant............................................5-25
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking the Automatic Transmission
Fluid Level.................................................5-21Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-53
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-92
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-33
Infants and Young Children...........................1-29
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-39
Older Children.............................................1-27
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-44
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-38
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-86
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-89
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-91
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-90
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-86
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-88
3

Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-4
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving................4-16
Glove Box.....................................................2-33
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-4
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-7
Headlamps....................................................5-49
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-48
Electrical System.........................................5-95
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-48
One-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps...............5-51
Two-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps...............5-51
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-35
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-36
Hitches..........................................................4-59
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-5
How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid.......................................5-22How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-30
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-32
How to Check................................................5-67
How to Check Lubricant..........................5-46, 5-47
How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-36
How to Check the Automatic
Transmission Fluid.......................................5-20
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.......5-18
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-13
Hydroplaning..................................................4-31
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-27
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-26
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-30
If the Light Is On Steady.................................3-30
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard.........................4-40
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-42
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-56
Ignition Positions.............................................2-17
Ignition Transmission Lock Check......................6-28
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-29
Inflation - Tire Pressure...................................5-67
Inspection
Brake System.............................................6-31
Engine Cooling System................................6-30
7