tow GMC YUKON DENALI 2003 User Guide

/r CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it
means that something may be wrong with the
air bag system. If this ever happens, have the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION:
u icle servicc- prom. y, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal air bag. See “Air Bag Readiness
Light”
in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.
Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
You may want to consider not using seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment
if your vehicle has the passenger
sensing system.
Stowing of articles under
th -3assenger’s seat
or between the passenger’s seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
1 -84

Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic locklunlock
feature which enables you
to program your vehicle’s
power door locks. You can program this feature through
the Driver Information Center (DIC), or by the following
method.
Programmable Locking Feature
The following is the list of available programming
options:
Mode 1: All doors lock when the transmission is shifted
into gear.
Mode 2: All doors lock when the vehicle speed is
greater than 8 mph (13 km/h).
Mode 3: No automatic door locking.
The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the
factory to lock all the doors when the transmission
is shifted into gear. The following instructions detail how
to program your door locks differently than the factory
setting. Choose one of the three programming
options listed above before entering the program mode.
To enter the program mode, do the following:
2.
3.
Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with
the key in
LOCK, release the turn
signaVmultifunction lever. Once you do this, you will
hear the lock switch lock and unlock, the horn
will chirp twice, and a
30 second program timer will
begin. You are now ready to program the
automatic door locks.
Select one of the three programming options listed
previously, and press the lock side
of the power door
lock switch
to cycle through the lock options. You will
have
30 seconds to begin programming. If you
exceed the
30 second limit, the locks will
automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp
twice to indicate that you have left the program
mode.
If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning
with Step
1 to re-enter the programming mode.
You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to
RUN (the locks will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice
to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode). If the locklunlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the current auto IocWunlock setting will not
be modified.
See your dealer for more information.
I. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2-1 0

Programmable Unlocking Feature
The following is the list of available programming
options:
Mode 1: Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission is
shifted into PARK
(P).
Mode 2: All doors unlock when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P).
Mode 3: All doors unlock when the key is removed
from the ignition.
Mode 4: No automatic door unlock.
The automatic door locks were pre-programmed at the
factory
to unlock the driver’s door once the transmission
is shifted
to PARK (P). The following instructions detail
how
to program your door locks differently than the
factory setting. Choose one of the four programming
options listed above before entering the program mode.
To enter the program mode, do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signaVmultifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2.
3.
Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with the
key in LOCK, release the turn signaVmultifunction
lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock switch
lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a
30-second
program iir-ner wiii begin.
You are now ready
to program the automatic door
locks. Select one of the four programming options
listed previously, and press the unlock side
of
the power door lock switch to cycle through the
unlocking options. You
will have 30 seconds
to begin programming. If you exceed the 30-secona
limit, the locks will automatically lock and unlock
and the horn will chirp twice
to indicate that
you have left the program mode.
If this occurs,
repeat the procedure beginning with Step
1
to re-enter the programming mode.
You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to
RUN. The locks will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice
to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode. If the IocWunlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the current auto IocWunlock setting
will not be
modified.
See your dealer for more information.
2-1 1

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.’’ But
it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
e
e
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed
- fast or
slow
- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new
brake linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for more information.
Ignition Positions
With your key in the ignition switch you can turn it to
four different positions.
I C
A-
A (LOCK): This position locks your ignition and
transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You
will only
be able
to remove your key when the ignition is
turned to
LOCK.
2-1 8

Automatic Transmission Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission
and features an electronic shift position indicator
located within the instrument panel cluster.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK
(P): This position locks your drive wheels. It’s
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your -1icle
c ’t move easily.
It is aangerous to get out of your venlcle il
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
CAUTION: (Continued)
o be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See “Shifting Into Park (P)” in the
Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Notices Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE
(R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-4 1.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
2-22

Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don’t shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
Notices Damage to your transmission caused by
shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with
the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
DRIVE (D):
This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you’re:
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
0 Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
You’ll shift down
to the next gear and have more power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving.
You may want
to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts
too often.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on
hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want
to
use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND
(2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature
for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are
trying
to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces. Once the vehicle
is moving, shift into
DRIVE
(D).
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power,
but lower fuel economy than SECOND
(2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST
(1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the vehicle won’t shift into first gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
2-23

Notice: If your wheels won’t turn, don’t try to drive.
This might happen
if you were stuck in very deep
sand or mud or were up against
a solid object. You
could damage your transmission. Also, if you
stop when going uphill, don’t hold your vehicle there
with only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat
and damage the transmission. Use your brakes
or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in
position on
a hill.
On cold days, approximately
32°F (OOC) or colder, your
transmission is designed
to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended
to improve heater performance.
Tow/HauI Mode
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow/haul mode. The
button is located on the end
of the column shift lever.
You can use this feature
to assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing
a Trailer on page 4-47 for more information.
The tow/haul mode also interacts with the AutorideTM
feature
to enhance the ride when trailering or with
a loaded vehicle. See AutorideTM on page
4-46.
2-24

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will flash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at
least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down.
Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol,
to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is releasea,
the brake system warning light will go
off.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see Towing a Trailer on page
4-47.
2-25

Shifting Into Park (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t
move, even when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.
If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-26

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
I
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.
And,
if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even catch fire.
You or others could be injured. Don’t leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P): hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
2-27