GMC 2001 Sonoma User manual

Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
1-800-GMC-8782
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-GMC-8782
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
Courtesy
Transportation
Trip Routing
Every
2001 Sonoma
under warranty is
backed with the
following
services:

2001 GMC Sonoma
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number X2108 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry (If Equipped)
Tailgate
Automatic Transmission (If Equipped)
Manual Transmission Operation (If Equipped)
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar
®
System (If Equipped)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Off-Road Driving
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5
Your Driving and the Road
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
iii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Brakes
Bulb Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
iv

v
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.
You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual)
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC,
the GMC Emblem and the name SONOMA are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for GMC whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so
the new owner can use it.
We support voluntary
technician certification.

vii
How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.

viii
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

ix
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BATTERY
ACID COULD
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR
FLAME
COULD
EXPLODE
BATTERY
These symbols
are important for
you and your
passengers
whenever your
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

x
Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Regular Cab Pickup
Crew Cab
R
Extended Cab Pickup

Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Fuel
See Section 6
Cooling System
See Section 5
Hood Release
See Section 6
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
Battery
See Section 6
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Sections 5, 6

1- 1-1
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2 Seats and Seat Controls
1-7 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-11 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-12 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-12 Driver Position
1-19 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-20 Right Front Passenger Position
1-20 Air Bag System
1-30 Center Passenger Position
1-32 Rear Seat Passengers (Extended Cab
Jump Seats)
1-33 Rear Seat Passengers
1-37 Children
1-41 Restraint Systems for Children
1-55 Older Children
1-58 Safety Belt Extender
1-58 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-58 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down.
Manual Front Seat
CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving. Move the lever under the front of the manual seat up to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then
release the lever and try to move the seat with your body
to make sure the seat is locked into place.

1-3
Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped)
If you have this feature,
there will be a knob on the
outside of the driver’s
bucket seat.
Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support and toward the rear of the vehicle to
decrease lumbar support.
Reclining Seatbacks (Bucket Seats or
60/40 Bench)
To adjust the front seatback,
lift the lever on the outside
of the seat.
Release the lever to lock the seatback where you
want it. Pull up on the lever and the seat will go to an
upright position.

1-4
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.

1-5
Seatback Latches (Regular or Extended
Cab Only)
The front seatback folds
forward to let people get
into the rear seat or to
access the storage area
behind the seat.
To fold the front seatback forward, push the lever on the
side of the seat rearward and pull the seatback forward.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push the
seatback all the way back until the latch catches. If the
seatback was reclined before being folded forward, it
will return to the reclined position.
CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there.
Always press rearward on the seatback to
be sure it is locked.

1-6
Easy Entry Seat (Extended Cab Models)
The right front bucket or split-bench seat of your vehicle
makes it easy to get in and out of the rear vehicle area.
D Tilt the right front seatback completely forward and
the whole seat will slide forward.
D Move the seatback to its original position after
someone gets into the rear seat area. Then move the
seat rearward until it locks.
CAUTION:
If an easy entry right front seat isn’t locked, it
can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the person
sitting there could be injured. After you’ve used
it, be sure to push rearward on an easy entry seat
to be sure it is locked.
D Tilt the seatback completely forward again to
get out.
Jump Seat (Extended Cab Models)
Your extended cab pickup
has a jump seat in the
rear area.
To fold the jump seat down, pull down on the pull tab on
the bottom of the seat until the seat is in place, then
move the seatback to a vertical position. To store the
seat, fold the seatback down on the cushion, then push
the entire seat up until it is flush with the trim panel.
Don’t let the safety belts be damaged by the hinges or
the latches. Safety belts should be folded and stored
between the seat cushion and seatback.

1-7
Rear Seat (Crew Cab
R
)
To tilt the rear seat forward, pull forward on the lever
located at the base of the seatback.
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the air bag system.
CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the Index.
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.