GMC 2003 Sonoma User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-11
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31
Air Bag System ....................................... 1-55
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-66
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Windows ................................................. 2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-18
Mirrors .................................................... 2-37
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-40
Sunroof .................................................. 2-50
Vehicle Personalization ............................. 2-52
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-2
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-19
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ......... 3-23
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-40
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-45
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-52
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-52
Front Axle ............................................... 5-53
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-60
Tires ...................................................... 5-62
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-84
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-92
Electrical System ...................................... 5-93
Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-99
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts .... 5-101
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-10
Index .................................................................1
2003 GMC Sonoma Owner Manual M

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.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. X2308 A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/27/02 All Rights Reserved
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
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 will find
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what
is in the manual, and the page number where you will
find it.
ii

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.
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.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will 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.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the
following topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v

Model Reference
This manual covers these models:
Regular Cab Pickup
Extended Cab Pickup
Crew Cab
®
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Seats ................................................1-3
Power Seats ..................................................1-4
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-4
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-5
Heated Seats .................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-8
Rear Seats .......................................................1-9
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-9
Jump Seat ...................................................1-10
Safety Belts ...................................................1-11
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-11
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16
Driver Position ..............................................1-17
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-23
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24
Center Passenger Position .............................1-24
Rear Seat Passengers (Extended Cab
Jump Seat) ..............................................1-26
Rear Seat Passengers (Crew Cab
®
) ................1-27
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30
Child Restraints .............................................1-31
Older Children ..............................................1-31
Infants and Young Children ............................1-33
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint (Regular Cab
and Extended Cab Pickup) .........................1-40
Where to Put the Restraint (Crew
Cab
®
Pickup) ............................................1-41
Top Strap ....................................................1-42
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-43
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System ....................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position ................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position ............................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position ....................................1-49
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Air Bag System ..............................................1-55
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-57
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-59
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-59
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-59
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? ...1-60
Air Bag Off Switch ........................................1-61
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-64
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-65
Restraint System Check ..................................1-66
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-66
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-66
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual Seats
This section tells you about the seats – how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down.
{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 located under the front of a manual seat
up to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it
and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your
body to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-3

Power Seats
If your vehicle has this feature, there will be a control on
the outboard side of the front seat(s).
Horizontal Control: Raise or lower the front of the seat
by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control.
Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering
the rear edge of the control. Move the seat forward or
rearward by moving the whole control toward the front or
the rear of the vehicle.
Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowers
the whole seat.
Vertical Control: Move the reclining front seatback
forward or rearward by moving the control toward
the front or rear of the vehicle.
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, there will be a
knob located on the
outboard side of the
driver’s seat.
Turn the knob counterclockwise to increase lumbar
support and clockwise to decrease lumbar support.
1-4

Power Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, there will be a
control located on
the outboard side of the
front seat(s).
Press and hold the front of the control until you have
the desired lumbar support. To decrease lumbar
support, press and hold the rear of the control.
Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the outboard
side of the front seats.
This feature will quickly heat the lower cushion and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats
for added comfort.
Press the lower part of the switch to turn the heater on
low. Press the upper part of the switch to turn the
heater on high. Put the switch in the center position to
turn the heater off.
The passenger’s safety belt must be engaged for the
heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.
1-5

Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a manual
seatback, lift the lever on
the outboard side of
the seat.
Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want
it. To return the seat to an upright position, pull up
on the lever without pushing on the seatback.
If your vehicle is equipped with the vertical power seat
control described in
Power Seats on page 1-4 ,
pressing it rearward allows the seatback to recline.
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
1-6

{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.
Head Restraints
Head restraints are fixed on some models and
adjustable on others. Slide an adjustable head restraint
up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest
to the top of your head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.
1-7

Seatback Latches
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.
1-8

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
The rear seatback can be tilted forward to let you reach
the area behind it.
The rear seatback can be
tilted forward to let you
reach the area behind it.
To tilt the seatback forward, lift up on the lever located
at the base of the seatback on the driver’s or
passenger’s side and then push the seatback forward.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push
the seatback rearward until it latches. After returning the
seatback to its upright position, try to pull the seatback
forward to make sure it is locked.
{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.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
1-9

Jump Seat
If your vehicle has an
extended cab pickup, there
is 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.
1-10

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are 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.
{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.
1-11

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-26
.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work .
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
1-12

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.
1-13

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-14