2000 GMC SONOMA ignition

1-28
To turn off the right front passenger's air bag, insert
your ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the
switch to AIR BAG OFF.The AIR BAG OFF light will come on to let you know
that the right front passenger's air bag is off. The right
front passenger's air bag will remain off until you turn it
back on again, and the AIR BAG OFF light will stay on
to remind you that the air bag is off.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The right front passenger's air bag could inflate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, don't let anyone whom the national
government has identified as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the right front
passenger's position (for example, don't secure a
rear
-facing child restraint in your vehicle) until
you have your vehicle serviced.

1-29
To turn the right front passenger's air bag on again,
insert your ignition key into the switch, push in, and
move the switch to the ON position.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to two minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2
-4 Door Locks
2
-5 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-9 Tailgate
2
-9 Theft
2
-10 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-12 Passlock

2-12 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-13 Ignition Positions
2
-15 Starting Your Engine
2
-17 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-18 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-21 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-23 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-26 Parking Brake
2
-27 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)2
-29 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-30 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-31 Engine Exhaust
2
-31 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-32 Locking Rear Axle
2
-32 Windows
2
-34 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-35 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-41 Exterior Lamps
2
-44 Interior Lamps
2
-45 Mirrors
2
-47 Storage Compartments
2
-49 Accessory Power Outlets (If Equipped)
2
-50 Instrument Panel
2
-51 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-54 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-2
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-3
This vehicle has one
double
-sided key for the
ignition and door locks. It
will fit with either side up.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.
The key code number tells your dealer or a qualified
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you'll be able to have
new ones made easily using this number. Your selling
dealer should also have this number.NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have
extra keys.

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.