1999 GMC SONOMA Switch

1-47
6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If
you're using a forward
-facing child restraint, you may
find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the
child restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
If you were using a rear
-facing child restraint, turn on
the right front passenger's air bag when you remove the
rear
-facing child restraint from the vehicle unless the
person who will be sitting there is a member of a
passenger air bag risk group. See ªAIR BAG OFF
Switchº in the Index.
CAUTION:
If the right front passenger's air bag is turned off
for a person who isn't in a risk group identified
by the national government, that person won't
have the extra protection of an air bag. In a
crash, the air bag wouldn't be able to inflate and
help protect the person sitting there. Don't turn
off the passenger's air bag unless the person
sitting there is in a risk group. See ªAIR BAG
OFF Switchº in the Index for more on this,
including important safety information.

2-5 Power Door Locks (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has power door locks, the switch is
located on the armrest. Remove the ignition key and
press LOCK to lock all the doors at once.
To unlock the doors, press the raised area next to the
key symbol.
Lockout Prevention
To protect you from locking your key in the vehicle, this
feature stops the power door locks from locking when
the keys are in the ignition and a door is open.
If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open
and the key is in the ignition, all the doors will lock, and
the driver's door will unlock.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m)
away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied
with your vehicle.
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada.

2-10 Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks your transmission. Also
remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it's best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
glove box.
If your vehicle has a remote keyless entry system,
take the transmitter with you.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.
Content Theft-Deterrent
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Content
Theft
-Deterrent alarm system.
With this system, the
SECURITY light will flash
as you open the door
(if your ignition is off).
This light reminds you to activate the theft
-deterrent
system. Here's how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.

2-11
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes off.
If a door is opened without the key or the remote keyless
entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle's
headlamps will flash and the horn will sound for
110 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power.
Remember, the theft
-deterrent system won't activate if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that you
can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the
alarm has been set off.
Here's how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:

If you don't want to activate the theft
-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are locked.

Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other
way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door with the
key. You can also turn off the alarm by pressing UNLOCK on
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm won't stop if
you try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver's window
and open the driver's door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the
SECURITY light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
vehicle's headlamps flash, check to see if the horn
works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse,
see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.
If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle's headlamps
do not flash, the vehicle should be serviced by an
authorized service center.

2-13
Ignition Positions
Use the key to turn the ignition switch to
five different positions.
ACCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers when the
engine is off. Push in the key and turn it toward you.
Your steering wheel will remain locked, just as it was
before you inserted the key.
NOTICE:
Don't operate accessories in the ACCESSORY
position for long periods of time. Prolonged
operation of accessories in the ACCESSORY
position could drain your battery and prevent
you from starting your vehicle.
LOCK (B): This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It's a theft
-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK.

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OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. Use OFF if you must have
your vehicle in motion while the engine is off
(for example, if your vehicle is being towed).
RUN (D): This is the position for driving.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to OFF. Don't press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.

2-24 Electronic Transfer Case (If Equipped)
If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the transfer
case switches are located
to the right of the
steering wheel.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four
-wheel
drive. You can choose among three driving settings:
2HI: This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in
two
-wheel drive. When this lamp is lit, it is about
one
-half as bright as the others.
4HI: This setting engages your front axle to help drive
your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra traction, such
as on snowy or icy roads, or in most off
-road situations. 4LO: This setting also engages your front axle to give
you extra traction. You may never need 4LO. It sends
the maximum power to all four wheels. You might
choose 4LO if you were driving off
-road in sand, mud
or deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights
do not come on, you should take your vehicle in for
service. An indicator light will flash while shifting. It will
remain illuminated when the shift is completed.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI switch. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically.

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Shifting from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO
To shift from 2HI or 4HI to 4LO, the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) in vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission or the clutch pedal
engaged in vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission. The preferred method for shifting into
4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to
3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4LO switch. You must
wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop flashing and
remain illuminated before shifting your transmission
into gear or releasing the clutch pedal.
If the 4LO switch is pressed when your vehicle is in
gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will flash
for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and
the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch
pedal engaged.On automatic transmission equipped vehicles, if your
transfer case does not shift into 4LO, your transmission
indicator switch may require adjustment. With your
transmission in NEUTRAL (N), press and release the
4LO switch. While the 4LO indicator light is flashing,
shift your transmission into PARK (P). Wait until the
4LO indicator light remains illuminated before shifting
your transmission into gear. This will get you into 4LO,
but you should take your vehicle in for service to restore
normal operation.
Shifting from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI
To shift from 4LO to 4HI or 2HI, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch pedal
engaged. The preferred method for shifting out of 4LO is
to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h).
Press and release the 4HI switch. You must wait for the
4HI indicator light to stop flashing and remain illuminated
before shifting your transmission into gear or releasing the
clutch pedal.