2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI brake

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:
POSSIBLE /r
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR
COULD FLAME
'\Ir8
EXPLODE
BAlTERY LATCH BOTH LAP AND
SHOULDER BELTS TO
PROTECT OCCUPANT
48: @
DO NOT TWIST SAFm
BELT WHEN AlTACHING
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
MOVE SEAT FULLY
\v!
REARWARD* /g
SECURE
CHILD SEAT
PULL BELT
COMPLETELY
THEN SECURE CHILD
SEAT
DO NOT INSTALL
A REAR-FACING
CHILD RESTRAINT
@o
POSITION 8
IN THIS SEATING
DO NOT INSTALL
A
CHILD RESTRAINT p?
FORWARD-FACING IN THIS SEATING POSITION
8
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK SGHTING
- MASTER SWITCH B- / ,
SIGNALS @e
TURN
PARKING
PC
LAMPS
RUNNING
*:{io
DAYTIME LAMPS
LAMPS
#O
ENGINE
COOLANT
cc.
TEMP
CHARGING BAlTERY
SYSTEM
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
W&
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
FE E]
ACCESS
COOLANT
m-1
ENGINE FAN
OWNERS MANUAL
SERVICE
MANUAL
V

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with
a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do
so. If you have breathing problems but
can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or
a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After
they inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your
air bag system.
If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you in
another crash.
A new system will include air
bag modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal
sensors which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate and a more severe frontal
impact. Your vehicle is also equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which records
information about the frontal air bag system. The
module records information about the readiness of
the system and when the system commands
are bag inflation. It records the status of the driver’s
safety belt usage in a crash in which the air bag
deploys or a crash in which the air bag nearly
deploys. The module also records speed, engine
RPM, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, the bag
may not work properly.
You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel or both the
air bag module and the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
1-63

Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ............................................................... 2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System
......................... 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
........... 2-4
Doors and Locks
............................................. 2-6
Door Locks
.................................................... 2-6
Power Door Locks
.......................................... 2-7
Rear Doors
................................................... 2-8
Tailgate
........................................................ 2-8
Windows
........................................................ 2-10
Power Windows
............................................ 2-11
Swing-Out Windows
...................................... 2-11
Sun Visors
................................................... 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
.................................. 2.13
Content Theft-Deterrent
................................. 2.13
Passlock@
.................................................... 2.14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................ 2.15
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2.15
Ignition Positions
.......................................... 2.15
Starting Your Engine
..................................... 2.16
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2.17
Automatic Transmission Operation
................... 2.18
All-Wheel Drive
............................................ 2-21
Parking Brake
.............................................. 2-22
Shifting Into Park
(P) ..................................... 2-23 Shifting
Out
of Park (P) ................................. 2-25
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-26
Engine Exhaust
............................................ 2-26
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
.... 2-27
Mirrors
........................................................... 2-28
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStap, Compass and Temperature
Display
.................................................... 2-28
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-31
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
..................... 2-31
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
.................. 2-31
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors
.................... 2-32
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors
.................................. 2-32
Onstar@ System
............................................. 2-33
HomeLink@ Transmitter
................................... 2-35
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter
........... 2-35
Storage Areas
................................................ 2-39
Glove Box
................................................... 2-39
Cupholder(s)
................................................ 2-39
Center Console Storage Area
......................... 2-39
Tonneau Cover
............................................ 2-39
Vehicle Personalization
................................... 2-42
Memory Seat
............................................... 2-42
2- 1

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notices Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
* Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed - fast or slow - for
the first
500 miles (805 km). Don’t make
full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index for more information.
Ignition Positions
With your key in the ignition switch you can turn it to
four different positions.
c
A
~~~ ~
Notice: If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you
can’t turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force
it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of these works,
then your vehicle needs service.
2-1 5

It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P). See “Shifting
Into Park
(P)” in the Index. If you’re pulling a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
REVERSE
(R): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice
or sand without damaging your transmission, see
If You
Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-42.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRF’
lk’’ when your vehicle is beir- towed.
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine
is
“racing” (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot
is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Don’t
shift into a drive gear while your engine
is
racing.
Notice: Damage to your transmission caused by
shifting out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with
the engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and you’re:
0 Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
2-1 9

DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road
driving. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD
(3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD
(3): This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND
(2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes occasionally.
If you manually select SECOND
(2), the transmission
will drive in second gear. You may use this feature
for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are
trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery
road surfaces. FIRST
(1): This position
gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND
(2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud.
If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle
is moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: If your rear wheels won’t turn, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold your
vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal.
This could overheat and damage the transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into PARK (P) to hold
your vehicle in position on a hill.
On cold days, approximately
32°F (OOC) or colder, your
transmission is designed to shift differently until the
engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is
intended to improve heater performance.
2-20

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will flash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least
3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go
off.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
cause your rear brakes
to overheat. You may have
to replace them, and you could also damage
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-51.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge
of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
2-22

Shifting Into Park (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t
move, even when you’re
on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel
drive, if your transfer case
is in NEUTRAL,
your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your
shift lever is in PARK (P).
So, be sure the
transfer case is
in a drive gear - not in
NEUTRAL. If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer’’
in the Index.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
set
the parking brake.
/ 1
I.
Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-23