2002 GMC SONOMA window

2-16 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
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still 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.
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.

2-17
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 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 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.

2-19
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn it to five
different positions.
A (ACCESSORY): This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers and power
windows (if equipped) 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.

2-21 Key Release Button
The key cannot be
removed from the ignition
of manual transmission
vehicles unless the key
release button is used.
To remove the key on manual transmission vehicles,
turn the key to OFF. Then turn the key to LOCK while
pressing the key release button down at the same time.
Pull the key straight out.
On automatic transmission vehicles, turn the key to
LOCK and pull it straight out.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
on your vehicle to continue to work for up to 20 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to OFF.
Your radio and power windows will work when the
ignition key is in RUN or ACCESSORY. Once the key
is turned from RUN to OFF, these features will continue
to work for up to 20 minutes or until a door is opened.

2-38
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
Engine Exhaust
CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can't see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:

Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.

Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.

Repairs weren't done correctly.

Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:

Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and

Have your vehicle fixed immediately.

2-44 Windshield Washer
There is a paddle marked with the windshield washer
symbol on the top of the multifunction lever. To spray
washer fluid on the windshield, push the paddle. The
wipers will clear the window and then either stop or
return to your preset speed.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
If you have an automatic transmission and you apply
your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
If you have a manual transmission and you apply your
brakes or push the clutch pedal, the cruise control will
shut off.

3-5 Air Conditioning (If Equipped)
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This reduces the time it takes for your
vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed
for the air conditioner to work its best.
For quick cool
-down on very hot days, use MAX A/C
with the temperature knob turned counterclockwise.
This setting should be used to keep odors and/or dust
from entering the vehicle. For normal cooling on hot
days, use A/C with the temperature knob turned
counterclockwise.
On cool but sunny days, use bi
-level to deliver warm
air to the floor and cooler air to the instrument
panel outlets.
If you have the VORTEC 4300 V6 engine, when the air
conditioner is on, you may sometimes notice slight
changes in your vehicle's engine speed and power. This
is normal because the system is designed to cycle the
compressor on and off to keep the desired temperature.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it. On cold days, use the floor outlets with
the temperature knob turned clockwise. Blend is useful
in cool weather when you have fog or ice on the
windshield or side windows.
If you use the optional engine coolant heater before
starting your engine, your heating system will produce
warmer air faster to heat the passenger compartment in
cold weather. See ªEngine Coolant Heaterº in the Index.

3-6 Defogging and Defrosting
On cool, humid days, use blend to keep the windshield
and side windows clear.
Use defrost to remove fog or ice from the windshield
quickly in extreme humid or cold conditions. Turn the
temperature knob clockwise and turn the fan control
toward high.
If you have the heated outside mirror feature, you can
use it to defog or defrost your outside mirrors. For more
information, see ªHeated Outside Mirrorsº in the Index.
Ventilation System
Your vehicle's ventilation system supplies outside air to
the inside of your vehicle when it is moving. When the
vehicle is not moving, you can get outside air to flow
through by selecting any mode and any fan speed.
You will find air outlets in the center and on the sides of
your instrument panel.
You can direct the airflow side
-to-side by moving the
thumbwheel located in the center of the vent. The vent
can be tilted up and down also. To control the amount of
airflow through the outlets, move the thumbwheel below
the vent.