
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

Q:If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A:You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
accident–even one that isn’t your fault–you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good
driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond
your control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km)
of home. And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
Howto Wear Safety Belts Properly
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different
rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be
riding in your vehicle, seeOlder Children on page 1-33
orInfants and Young Children on page 1-36. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to
wear it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight.
To see how, see“Seats”in the Index.
1-14
2003 - Savana OM

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, seeDriver Position on page 1-14.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt—except for one
thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out
all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking
feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all
the way and start again.
Center Passenger Position
(2nd Row)
If your vehicle has a second row bench seat, someone
can sit in the center position. When you sit in the
center position in the second row bench seat, you have
a lap-shoulder belt which works the same way as the
rear seat outside passengers’belts. To learn how
to wear a lap-shoulder belt see,“Lap-Shoulder Belt”
underRear Seat Passengers on page 1-26.
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2003 - Savana OM

1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way
you will engage the child restraint locking feature.
If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way
and start again.If the belt is not long enough, seeSafety Belt
Extender on page 1-32.
Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
1-27
2003 - Savana OM

1. Put the restraint on the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of
the retractor to set the lock.
1-55
2003 - Savana OM

Doors and Locks
Door Locks
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers — especially children — can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle won’t open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors aren’t locked.
So, wear safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
If your vehicle is equipped with keyless entry, see
Remote Keyless Entry System on page 2-4for more
information.
From the outside, use your key.
To lock the door from the
inside, slide the manual
lever on your door down.
To unlock the door, slide
the manual lever up.
2-8
2003 - Savana OM

Rear Doors
{CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers—especially children—can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle won’t open it. You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle
in a crash if the doors aren’t locked.
So, wear safety belts properly and lock
the doors whenever you drive.
Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by extreme heat and can
suffer permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle
whenever you leave it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or
stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can
help prevent this from happening.To open the rear doors from the outside, pull the handle
toward you to open the passenger’s side rear doorfirst.
2-15
2003 - Savana OM

Capacities......................................................5-98
Capacities and Specifications............................5-97
Carbon Monoxide...........................4-24, 4-31, 2-30
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-85
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-74
Your CD Player...........................................3-76
Your CDs ...................................................3-76
Cargo Door Relocking....................................... 2-9
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models
with an Air Bag Off Switch............................1-48
Cargo Vans and Cab and Chassis Models
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-47
Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and
an Air Bag Off Switch, Passenger Vans and
Cab and Chassis Models..............................1-36
Cargo Vans with a Passenger Air Bag and
without an Air Bag Off Switch........................1-39
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-57
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-12
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-57
Center High Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) ............................................3-14, 5-54
Center Passenger Position,
Safety Belts........................................1-23, 1-24
Chains, Tires..................................................5-65
Charging System Light....................................3-29Check
Engine Light...............................................3-33
Gages Warning Light...................................3-39
Check Engine Light.........................................3-33
Checking Brake Fluid......................................5-38
Checking Coolant............................................5-24
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................... 5-9
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-75
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-88
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-42
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-52
Older Children.............................................1-33
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...................................1-56, 1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-58
Top Strap...................................................1-49
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-50
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-45
3
2003 - Savana OM