check engine light GMC SONOMA 2004 User Guide

Low Fuel Warning Light
This light comes on briefly
when you start your
engine.
This light comes on when the fuel tank is low on fuel.
To turn if off, add fuel to the fuel tank. SeeFilling Your
Tank on page 5-7.
Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle – like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio – be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to
do it properly. Added sound equipment may
interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine,
radio or other systems, and even damage them.
Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been added
improperly.So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with
it first. Figure out which radio you have in your vehicle,
find out what your audio system can do and how to
operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio
system even after the ignition is turned off. See
“Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” underIgnition
Positions on page 2-17.Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears on the
display. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute
appears on the display. To display the time with
the ignition off, press RCL, HR, or MIN and the time will
appear on the display for a few seconds. There is an
initial two-second delay before the clock goes into
time-set mode.
3-35

Anti-lock Brake System
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-28.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
4-7

Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your “blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to
move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are
going slower than you actually are.Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you
will find experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They will be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
•Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
•Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
•Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
•Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
4-34

{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You can not see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as
possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help
keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do
some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until
help comes.
4-41

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

Driving (cont.)
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-36
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-29
Winter........................................................4-38
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-22
Driving Downhill..............................................4-21
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-25
Driving in Water..............................................4-26
Driving On Grades..........................................4-62
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-18
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-39
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-31
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-31
Driving Uphill..................................................4-19
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-60
E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-94
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Headlamps.................................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-95
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-95
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs.................................3-31Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-18
Battery.......................................................5-40
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-29
Coolant......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater............................................2-19
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-28
Cooling System Inspection............................6-30
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-35
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-29
Fan Noise..................................................5-35
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-26
Starting......................................................2-18
Engine Compartment Fuse Block......................5-98
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-25
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-16
Engine Oil Level Check...................................6-25
Engine Speed Control.....................................2-19
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Environmental Concerns..................................4-15
Event Data Records (EDR)................................ 7-9
Exit Lighting...................................................3-15
Express Down Window....................................2-13
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-26
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-11
5

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-18
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station...............3-52
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™).................................3-42, 3-63
Finding a Station....................3-37, 3-40, 3-50, 3-61
Finish Care....................................................5-90
Finish Damage...............................................5-92
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-76
Flash-to-Pass Feature....................................... 3-7
Flat Tire........................................................5-74
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-75
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-19
Power Steering...........................................5-35
Windshield Washer......................................5-36
FM Stereo.....................................................3-74
Fog Lamps....................................................3-14
Following Distance..........................................4-61
Footnotes................................................6-7, 6-17
Four-Wheel Drive....................................2-22, 5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Front Map Lamps...........................................3-15
Front Storage Area.........................................2-40Fuel............................................................... 5-4
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-34
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-4
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-35
System Inspection.......................................6-30
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-95
G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..........................3-34
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-28
Fuel..........................................................3-34
Oil Pressure...............................................3-32
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Voltmeter Gage...........................................3-26
Garment Hooks..............................................2-40
6

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

Inspection (cont.)
Exhaust System..........................................6-30
Fuel System...............................................6-30
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-30
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal.........................................6-30
Throttle System...........................................6-31
Transfer Case and Front Axle
(Four-Wheel Drive)...................................6-31
Installing a Garage Door Opener.......................2-34
Instrument Panel
Cluster.......................................................3-22
Overview..................................................... 3-2
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-15
Instrument Panel Fuse Block............................5-96
Interior Lamps................................................3-15
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-41
K
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-27
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps
Exterior......................................................3-11
Interior.......................................................3-15
Lamps On Reminder.......................................3-13
Lap Belt........................................................1-21
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-14
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-39
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-41
Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running . . . 2-27
Light
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-25
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
Charging System.........................................3-26
Check Gages Warning.................................3-34
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-35
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-29
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-24
Security.....................................................3-33
Service Four-Wheel-Drive Warning Light.........3-33
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-45
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving..........4-14
8

Locking Rear Axle............................................ 4-8
Lockout Protection..........................................2-10
Locks
Door........................................................... 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-10
Power Door.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Long Trip/Highway Definition.............................. 6-6
Long Trip/Highway Intervals............................... 6-6
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance........6-17
Loss of Control...............................................4-13
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-35
Luggage Carrier..............................................2-40
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................. 1-4
M
Maintenance Schedule
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-25
At Least Four Times a Year..........................6-27
At Least Once a Month................................6-25
At Least Once a Year..................................6-27
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-26
Brake System Inspection..............................6-31
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-30
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-30Maintenance Schedule (cont.)
Fuel System Inspection................................6-30
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance.....6-17
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-34
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-25
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections......6-30
Part D - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants...............................................6-32
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-36
Selecting the Right Schedule.......................... 6-5
Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance............. 6-6
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..........................6-30
Throttle System Inspection............................6-31
Transfer Case and Front Axle (Four-Wheel
Drive) Inspection......................................6-31
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-63
Making Turns.................................................4-61
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-29
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Manual Windows............................................2-12
Manually Closing the Sunroof...........................2-43
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-5
9