2002 GMC SIERRA Secondary information center

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
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-7 Keyless Entry System
2
-10 Rear Doors
2
-11 Tailgate
2
-12 Theft
2
-13 Content Theft-Deterrent
2
-15 Passlock

2-15 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-16 Ignition Positions
2
-17 Starting Your Engine
2
-18 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-19 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-23 Parking Brake
2
-24 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-26 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-27 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-27 Engine Exhaust
2
-28 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-29 Locking Rear Axle
2
-29 All-Wheel Drive
2
-29 QUADRASTEER (4WS)
2
-33 Tilt Wheel
2
-33 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-38 Exterior Lamps
2
-43 Interior Lamps
2
-45 Mirrors
2
-54 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-57 HomeLink
Transmitter
2
-60 The Instrument Panel - Your
Information System
2
-62 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-64 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-77 Message Center
2
-82 Secondary Information Center (SIC)

2-7 Power Door Locks
Press the raised side of the
switch, marked L on either
front door, to lock all the
doors at once.
Press the recessed side of the switch marked U to unlock
all the doors at once.
The power door locks will operate at any time without
the ignition being on.
The power door locks can be programmed to
automatically lock and unlock depending on the settings
you have chosen in the secondary information center.
See ªSecondary Information Centerº in the Index for
more information.
Operating the power locks may interact with the
theft
-deterrent system. See ªContent Theft-Deterrentº
in the Index.
Keyless Entry System
You can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet
(1 m) up to 100 feet (30 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.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.

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At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.

Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.

Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions that follow.

If you're still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.Operation
UNLOCK: Pressing this button once will unlock the
driver's door. The interior lamps will come on. Pressing
UNLOCK again within three seconds will cause the
remaining doors to unlock.
You can choose different feedback options for each
press of the UNLOCK button. See ªSecondary
Information Centerº in the Index for more information.
LOCK: Pressing this button once will lock all of the
doors. You can choose different feedback options for
each press of the LOCK button. See ªSecondary
Information Centerº in the Index for more information.
Operating the keyless entry transmitter may interact
with the theft
-deterrent system. See ªContent-Theft
Deterrentº and ªSecondary Information Centerº in the
Index for more information.
Remote Panic Alarm
When the horn symbol on the keyless entry transmitter
is pressed, the horn will sound and the headlamps and
taillamps will flash for up to 30 seconds. This can be
turned off by pressing the horn button again, waiting for
30 seconds, or starting the vehicle.

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Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle is equipped with a content theft-deterrent
alarm system. You can disable the system or personalize
it to suit your needs. See ªSecondary Information
Centerº in the Index for more information.
With this system,
the SECURITY message
on the cluster will flash
as you open the door
(if your ignition is off).
This message 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
message should come on and stay on. If you are
using the remote keyless entry transmitter, the door
does not need to be open.3. Close all of the doors. The SECURITY message
should go off after approximately 15 seconds.
The alarm is not armed until the SECURITY
message goes off.
Once the system is armed, if a door is opened without the
key or the remote keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will
go off. Depending on how you have programmed the
alarm in the secondary information center, the horn may
sound, the headlamps may flash or both the headlamps
and the horn will activate. See ªSecondary Information
Centerº in the Index for more information.
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.

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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 closed.

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 the system has
been armed.
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 or by
placing the key in the ignition and turning it to START.
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 message 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 and the headlamps
do not flash, you may have the feature turned off.
See ªSecondary Information Centerº in the Index for
more information.

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The exterior lamp control has three positions:
(OFF): Turning the control to this position turns off
all lamps, except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
It also puts the system into automatic headlamp mode.
(Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this
position turns on the parking lamps, together with
the following:

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Roof Marker Lamps (If Equipped)
(Headlamps): Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
You can switch your headlamps from high to low
-beam
by pulling on the turn signal/multifunction lever.
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 be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a headlamp off delay,
which will keep the headlamps on for a short time after
the ignition is turned to OFF. For more information see
ªSecondary Information Centerº in the Index.
Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel in the defroster grille. 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.

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.

2-53
Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
other devices designed to operate with vehicle
electrical systems.
Your vehicle is equipped with four accessory power
outlets. The front outlet is located next to the
Secondary Information Center (SIC) on the floor
console. Lift up on the door to access the outlet.
The second outlet is located in the center console.
Press the button on the side of the console door to
access the outlet. See ªCenter Console Storage Areaº
earlier in this section for more information.
There are also two accessory power outlets located on
the rear of the center console. Lift up on the doors to
access the outlets.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlets and could result in
blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem, see your dealer for additional information
on accessory power outlets.NOTICE:
Adding some electrical equipment to your vehicle
can damage it or keep other things from working
as they should. This wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Check with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment, and never use anything that
exceeds the amperage rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow
the proper installation instructions included with
the equipment.
NOTICE:
Power outlets are designed for accessory plugs
only. Do not hang any type of accessory or
accessory bracket from the plug. Improper use
of the power outlet can cause damage not covered
by your warranty.