2001 GMC SONOMA instrument panel

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 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-14 Tailgate
2
-15 Theft
2
-16 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-18 Passlock

2-18 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-19 Ignition Positions
2
-21 Starting Your Engine
2
-23 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-24 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-27 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-29 Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
2
-32 Parking Brake
2
-33 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)2
-35 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-36 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-37 Engine Exhaust
2
-37 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-38 Locking Rear Axle
2
-38 Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
2
-39 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-45 Exterior Lamps
2
-48 Interior Lamps
2
-50 Mirrors
2
-53 Storage Compartments
2
-61 Accessory Power Outlets (If Equipped)
2
-65 Instrument Panel - Your Information System
2
-66 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-69 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

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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. If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake hold the regular brake
pedal down.
Pull the BRAKE RELEASE lever fully. It is located on
the bottom of the driver's side of the instrument panel.
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 you must park on a hill,
see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

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Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:

Turn and Lane Change Signals

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Flash
-to-Pass

Windshield Wipers

Windshield Washer

Cruise Control (If Equipped)
Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up
or down. When the turn is finished, the lever
will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don't
flash but just stay on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs.

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Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signal lever
to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low to high beam or high
to low beam, pull the multifunction lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high-beam
headlamps are on, this
indicator light on the
instrument panel cluster
will also be on.
Flash-To-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps
to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are in the
automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not
so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on
low beam, your high
-beam headlamps will turn on.
They'll stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you
and the high
-beam indicator on the dash will come on.
Release the lever to return to normal operation.

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Exterior Lamps
Your parking lamp and headlamp knob is on the driver's
side of your instrument panel.
Turn the knob clockwise to the parking lamps symbol to
manually turn on the following:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel LightsTurn the knob clockwise to the master lamps symbol to
turn on all the lamps listed as well as the headlamps.
Turn the knob all the way counterclockwise to turn off
your lamps and put the system in auto headlamp mode.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will also dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the radio speaker grill.
Be sure it is not covered or the system will be on
whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so that
driving under bridges or bright overhead street lights does
not affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees
a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.

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To idle an automatic transmission vehicle with the DRL
off, put the transmission in PARK (P). To idle a manual
transmission vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The DRL will stay off until you shift out of
PARK (P) or release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
You may be able to turn off your Automatic Headlamp
System. See ªDaytime Running Lamps (DRL)º later in
this section for more information.
Lamps On Reminder
A reminder chime will sound when your headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on and your ignition is
in OFF, LOCK or ACCESSORY. To turn the chime off,
turn the headlamp knob all the way counterclockwise to
the automatic position or turn the instrument panel dimmer
down to the fully dimmed position. In the automatic mode,
the headlamps turn off once the ignition key is in OFF.
Daytime Running Lamps (If Equipped)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running lights are required on
all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
reduced brightness when the following conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp knob is in automatic headlamp mode,

the light sensor detects daytime light,

an automatic transmission is not in PARK (P), and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be on.
The instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular headlamps.
The DRL system on some vehicles may turn off
temporarily while the turn signals are activated.
To idle an automatic transmission vehicle with the DRL
off, put the transmission in PARK (P) or set the parking
brake. To idle a manual transmission vehicle with the DRL
off, set the parking brake. The DRL will stay off until you
shift out of PARK (P) or release the parking brake.

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The following does not apply to vehicles first sold
in Canada.
When necessary, you may turn off the automatic
headlamp system and the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) feature by following these steps. When the
system is turned off, the headlights will not
automatically come on when it becomes dark outside.
1. Turn the ignition to RUN.
2. Press the DOME OVERRIDE button four times
within six seconds. After the fourth press of the
button, a chime will sound informing you the
system is off.
3. The system will revert back to the automatic mode
when the DOME OVERRIDE button is again pushed
four times within six seconds (a chime will sound),
or when the ignition is turned off and on again.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps or low
-beam headlamps
must be on for your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamp switch is on the instrument panel under
the headlamps knob. Press the switch to turn the fog
lamps on. Press the switch again to turn them off. A
light will glow in the switch when the fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps will go off whenever your high
-beam
headlamps come on. When the high
-beam headlamps
go off, the fog lamps will come on again.

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Interior Lamps
Brightness Control
Turn the thumbwheel next to the headlamp knob up to
make your instrument panel lights brighter. Turn the
thumbwheel all the way up to turn on the interior lamps.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated
entry feature.
When any door is opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is in the ªoutº
position. If your vehicle is equipped with Remote
Keyless Entry and all the doors are closed, or the front
door handles are lifted and released, the lamps will
stay on for a short period of time and will turn off
automatically. If you use your keyless entry transmitter
to unlock the vehicle, the interior lights will come on for
a short time whether or not the DOME OVERRIDE
button is in the ªoutº position.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you see
while exiting the vehicle. These lights will stay on for a
short period of time and then will go out, if the DOME
OVERRIDE button is in the ªoutº position.
Front Map Lamps (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has front map lamps, they are located
on the inside rearview mirror. They will automatically
come on for approximately 40 seconds when the doors
are unlocked with the keyless entry transmitter
(if equipped) or until the ignition key is turned to RUN
or ACCESSORY. The lamps will also stay on for
approximately 40 seconds after you exit the vehicle, unless
you lock the doors with the keyless entry transmitter.
You can also turn the lamps on and off by pressing the
switch near each lamp.