Gas tank GMC SONOMA 2004 Owner's Manual

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, misfiring, 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 to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that may have
developed.Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help your
vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE
ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light is on or not
working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.
3-31

Check Gages Warning Light
The CHECK GAGES light
will come on briefly when
you are starting the
engine.
If this light comes and stays on while you are driving,
check your coolant temperature and engine oil pressure
gages to see if they are in the warning zones.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have remaining.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
•At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
•It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the gage
indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more or
less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the tank.
•The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
•The gage doesn’t go back to empty when you turn
off the ignition.
United StatesCanada
3-34

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-3
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-4
Gasoline Octane............................................5-4
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-5
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-6
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.......................5-9
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-10
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-26
Cooling System............................................5-28
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-35
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-35Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-36
Brakes........................................................5-37
Battery........................................................5-40
Jump Starting...............................................5-41
Rear Axle.......................................................5-46
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-46
Front Axle......................................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-48
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-48
Headlamps..................................................5-49
One-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps................5-51
Two-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps................5-51
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-52
Taillamps.....................................................5-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-54
Tires..............................................................5-57
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-69
Buying New Tires.........................................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-72
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Be careful not to spill fuel. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. SeeCleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicle on page 5-89. When filling the tank
do not overfill by squeezing in much more fuel after the
pump shuts off.
When you put the fuel cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make
sure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-29.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get the wrong type, it may not t properly.
This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage your fuel tank and emissions
system. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 3-29.Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to
you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or
on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
5-9

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