2002 GMC SIERRA headlamp

2-41
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps or the
last chosen headlamp setting that was used.
When you turn the exterior lamp control to off,
the headlamps will go off, and your DRL lamps will
illuminate, provided it is not dark outside.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the
parking brake, before starting the vehicle. Shifting the
transmission into PARK (P) will also allow you to idle
the vehicle with the DRL off. The DRL will stay off
until you release the parking brake or shift the
transmission out of PARK (P).
The following procedure applies only to vehicles first
sold in the United States.
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 headlamps 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.
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.
Puddle Lamps
Your vehicle is equipped with puddle lamps to help you
see the area near the base of the front doors when it is
dark out. The puddle lamps will illuminate when a door
is opened or when you press the UNLOCK button on the
keyless entry transmitter. You can program the puddle
lamps not to come on if you wish. See ªSecondary
Information Centerº in the Index for more information.

2-42 Fog Lamps
You can use your vehicle's fog lamps for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions.
The fog lamp button is
located on the left side of
your instrument panel.
Your parking lamps and/or low
-beam headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.Press the button to turn the fog lamps on while the
headlamps are on. Press the button again to turn them
off. An indicator light will glow in the button when the
fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use the fog lamps in the
dark without turning on the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever the high
-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off,
the fog lamps will come on again.
The fog lamps will be cancelled after the ignition is
turned off. If you still want to use the fog lamps after
you restart the vehicle, press the fog lamp button again.

2-43
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to the
exterior lamp control.
Turn the thumbwheel up to adjust the instrument panel
lights and return the radio display to full brightness
when the headlamps or parking lamps are on. To turn on
the dome lamps, with the vehicle doors closed, turn the
thumbwheel all the way up.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lamps will
not come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is
pressed in.
Illuminated Entry
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps and puddle
lamps will come on if the DOME OVERRIDE button is
in the out position. If the DOME OVERRIDE button is
pressed in, the lamps will not come on.
Front Reading Lamps
Your vehicle has front
reading lamps located
in the overhead console.
Press the round button
located next to the lamp
to turn the lamp on.
The lamps can be adjusted
to point in the direction
you want them to go.
Press the button again to turn the lamp off.

2-48 Power Outside Rearview Mirrors
The controls are located on the driver's door armrest.
Move the upper selector switch to the left or right to
choose the mirror you want to adjust; then use the
arrows located on the four
-way control pad to adjust
the mirror.
The mirrors include ground illumination lamps (puddle
lamps) in the base of the mirror. For more information
on these lamps, see ªPuddle Lampsº in the Index.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex mirror's
surface is curved so you can see more from the driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other vehicles)
look farther away than they really are. If you cut too
sharply into the right lane, you could hit a vehicle on
your right. Check your inside mirror or glance over
your shoulder before changing lanes.
Heated Outside Rearview Mirrors
The outside rearview mirrors have a defrost mode.
To turn on the defrost feature, press the rear window
defogger button. See ªRear Window Defoggerº in the
Index for further information.
Driver's Outside Auto-Dimming
Rearview Mirror
The driver's outside mirror will adjust for the glare of any
headlamps behind you. This feature is controlled by the
on and off settings on the electrochromic mirror. See
ªElectrochromic Mirror Operationº earlier in this section.

2-85
Remote Unlock Feedback

Horn: Horn chirps on second press of the UNLOCK
button on the keyless entry transmitter.

Lamps: Parking lamps flash on each press of the
UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter.

Horn and Lamps: Parking lamps flash on each
press, horn chirps on the second press of the
UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter.

None: No horn or lamp feedback will occur when
the UNLOCK button on the keyless entry transmitter
is pressed.
Headlamp Delay

None: Headlamps do not stay on after the ignition is
turned to OFF.

10/20/30/60/120/180 Seconds: Amount of time
headlamps stay on after the ignition is turned to
OFF when it is dark (switch must be in auto
headlamp position).Perimeter Lamps

Enabled: Parking lamps, headlamps and puddle
lamps turn on for 40 seconds with the UNLOCK
button on the keyless entry transmitter. This feature
only operates when it is dark.

Disabled: Feature disabled, no perimeter lamps
will come on.
Alarm Warning

Horn: Horn will sound when alarm is active.

Lamps: Headlamps and parking lamps will cycle
on and off when alarm is activated.

Horn and Lamps: Horn and lamps will alternate
when the alarm is activated.

None: No alarm warning will come on.
Language

English: All information displayed in English.

French: All information displayed in French.

Spanish: All information displayed in Spanish.

Arabic: All information displayed in Arabic.

2-86
Display Units

English: Units displayed in English units.

Metric: Units displayed in metric units.
Day/Date/Time

The RESET button will enable the operator to reset
the day/date/time. Each press of the RESET button
will scroll through the following: set year, set month,
set day, set hour, set minutes and set AM/PM.

Whichever is currently selected (i.e. year, month,
day, etc.) will flash. The arrow button is then used to
adjust the value. Each press of the arrow button will
change the value by one. If the arrow button is
pushed and held, the value will keep changing until
the button is released.

While in menu mode, the SIC will display the
day/date if no buttons have been pressed for more
than 15 seconds.Language and Personalization Reset
1. Press and hold the MENU button. After two seconds,
the display will begin cycling through the languages
at one second intervals. Release the MENU button
when the desired language is displayed.
2. The previous action will also reset the personalization
values to their factory default settings which are
as follows:

Automatic Door Lock: Disabled

Automatic Door Unlock: All

Remote Lock Feedback: Horn

Remote Unlock Feedback: Lamps

Headlamp Delay: 30 seconds

Perimeter Lamps: Enabled

Alarm Warning: Horn and Lamps

Display Units: English

4-20 Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you
need to take some special steps.

Use a low gear and get a firm grip on the
steering wheel.

Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain
your speed. Don't use more power than you need,
because you don't want your wheels to start spinning
or sliding.

Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to
find another route.
CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can be
dangerous. You could lose traction, slide
sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills,
always try to go straight up.

Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of
the hill.

Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible
to approaching traffic on trails or hills.

Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to
let opposing traffic know you're there.

Use your headlamps even during the day. They make
you more visible to oncoming traffic.
CAUTION:
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can
cause an accident. There could be a drop
-off,
embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed. As you near
the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.

4-29
Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively.

Don't drink and drive.

Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.

Since you can't see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.

Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.

In remote areas, watch for animals.

If you're tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50
-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20
-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you're
driving, don't wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot
of things invisible.You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn't lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it's easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren't even aware of it.