warning 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

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see reflections
from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine’s air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If
you can not avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. If you try to drive through owing
water, as you might at a low water crossing,
your vehicle can be carried away. As little as
six inches of owing water can carry away a
smaller vehicle. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore
police warning signs, and otherwise be very
cautious about trying to drive through
owing water.
4-31

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
•Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
•Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-57.
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
•Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
•Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You will save time and energy.
SeeFreeway Driving on page 4-33.
•Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
4-32

Winter DrivingHere are some tips for winter driving:
•Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
•You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red
cloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a
small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
4-38

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add
only DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
•Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
•Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protect against rust and corrosion.
•Help keep the proper engine temperature.
•Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-23

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

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-71

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
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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
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