
Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-5
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints
.......................................1-33
Air Bag System
.......................................1-63
Restraint System Check
............................1-75
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-20
Mirrors
....................................................2-32
OnStar
®System
......................................2-35
Storage Areas
.........................................2-36
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-17
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-23
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-41
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-29Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
................. 5-9
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-46
Rear Axle
...............................................5-47
Front Axle
...............................................5-48
Noise Control System
...............................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-55
Tires
......................................................5-56
Appearance Care
.....................................5-82
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-90
Electrical System
......................................5-91
Capacities and Speci cations
.....................5-97
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-100
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Index.................................................................1
2003 GMC Savana Owner ManualM
2003 - Savana Owner Manual 

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you willfind these notices:
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need helpfiguring out a specificnameofa
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv
2003 - Savana OM 

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-5
Horn .............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-6
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-16
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Climate Control System.................................3-17
Rear Heating System....................................3-18
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System.......3-19
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-23
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-24
Speedometer...............................................3-25
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-26
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-27
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-28
Charging System Light..................................3-29
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-30
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-31
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-32
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-32
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-33
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
.............................3-33Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-36
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-37
Security Light...............................................3-38
Cruise Control Light......................................3-38
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light...........3-39
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-39
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-39
Fuel Gage...................................................3-40
Audio System(s).............................................3-41
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-41
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-41
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-42
Radio with CD..............................................3-45
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-49
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-60
Rear Seat Audio (RSA).................................3-71
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios).......3-73
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios).............3-73
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-74
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-74
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-76
Care of Your CD Player................................3-76
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-76
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-76
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1
2003 - Savana OM 

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Instrument Panel Cluster
D. Shift Lever
E. Climate Control System
F. Audio SystemG. Headlamp and Parking Lamp Controls
H. Tow/Haul Mode Button
I. Rear Heating System (If Equipped)
J. Accessory Power Outlets/Cigarette Lighter
K. Storage Compartment
3-3
2003 - Savana OM 

If your vehicle has air conditioning, your heating/air
conditioning controls will look like this:
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
(Temperature Control):Turn the center knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside your vehicle.
A/C (Air Conditioning):This setting will begin to cool
and dehumidify the air inside of your vehicle.
MAX A/C (Maximum Air Conditioning):Turn the right
knob to MAX A/C for maximum cooling. This setting
cools the air the fastest, by recirculating the inside air.Rear Heating System
Your vehicle may have an optional rear heating system
that allows you to adjust the amount of airflowing into
the rear of the vehicle, from the front-seating area.
This feature works with the main climate-control system
in your vehicle.
AUX (Auxiliary Heating System):The thumbwheel for
this system is located to the right of the audio system.
9(Fan):Turn the thumbwheel up or down to increase
or decrease the amount of heated air sent to the
rear-seating area.
9(Off):Turn the thumbwheel to this position to turn
off the rear heating system.
3-18
2003 - Savana OM 

Audio System(s)
Notice:Before you add any sound equipment to
your vehicle–like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio–be sure you can add
what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it
properly. Added sound equipment may interfere
with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delphi
Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage
them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been added
improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get
the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with
itfirst. Find out what your audio system can do and
how to operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting
the most out of the advanced engineering that went
into it.
Your vehicle may have a feature called Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your
audio system even after the ignition is turned off.
See“Retained Accessory Power (RAP)”underIgnition
Positions on page 2-21.
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)
Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds.
Then press the HR (down) arrow until the correct hour
appears on the display. Press and hold the MIN (up)
arrow until the correct minute appears on the display.
The time may be set with the ignition on or off.
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS)
Your radio may have a button marked with an H or HR to
represent hours and an M or MN to represent minutes.
Press and hold the hour button until the correct hour
appears on the display. Press and hold the minute
button until the correct minute appears on the display.
The time may be set with the ignition on or off.
To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcasting
Radio Data System (RDS) information, press and hold
the hour and minute buttons at the same time until RDS
TIME appears on the display. To accept this time, press
and hold the hour and minute buttons, at the same time,
for another 2 seconds. If the time is not available from the
station, NO UPDAT will appear on the display instead.
RDS time is broadcast once a minute. Once you have
tuned to an RDS broadcast station, it may take a
few minutes for your time to update.
3-41
2003 - Savana OM 

Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your
favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM,
six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM FM to select AM, FM1 or FM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons
until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that
numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:To adjust the bass and the treble, press and
release the AUDIO button repeatedly until BAS or TRE
appears on the display. Then press and hold the up or the
down arrow to increase or to decrease. If a station is
weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select BAS
or TRE. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero
or T and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls to
the middle position,first end out of audio mode either by
pressing another button, causing the radio to perform that
function, or by waitingfive seconds for the display to
return to time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO
button for more than two seconds until you hear a beep.
CEN will appear on the display.
3-43
2003 - Savana OM 

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, press and release the AUDIO
button until BAL appears on the display. Then press and
hold the up or the down arrow to move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the AUDIO button until
FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the
up or the down arrow to move the sound toward
the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more
than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zero
or F and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls
to the middle position,first end out of audio mode
either by pressing another button, causing the radio to
perform that function, or by waitingfive seconds for
the display to return to time of day. Then press and hold
AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a
beep. CEN will appear on the display.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibration):Your audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that your radio has not
been configured properly for your vehicle and must
be returned to the dealership for service.
LOC (Locked):This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up. You must
return to the dealership for service.
3-44
2003 - Savana OM