2003 GMC SIERRA DENALI hood release

Hazard Warning Flashers The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Override Button
9. Exterior Lamp Control
C. Air Outlets
D. Storage Compartment
E. Multifunction Lever
F. Instrument Panel Cluster
G. Shift Lever
H. Tow/Haul Selector Switch (If Equipped)
I. Audio System
J. Comfort Control System
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
L. Hood Release
M. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
N. Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block
0. Tilt Lever
P. Parking Brake Release
Q. Compact Disc Changer (If Equipped)
R. Ashtray
S. Accessory Power Outlet
1. Air Bag Off Switch and 4-Wheel Steer Button
U. Glovebox Your hazard
warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
3-3

Q: Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if it
* Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
happens
going downhill, here’s what to do.
Apply the parking brake.
Shift to PARK (P) and, while still braking, restart the
Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
engine.
and
drive straight down.
0 If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to
decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here
are some things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight up or
down a hill, the length of the wheel bas (the distance
from the front wheels to the rear wheels) reduces the
likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end. But
when you drive across an incline, the much more
narrow track width (the distance between the left and
right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle from tilting
and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline puts
more wight on the downhill wheels. This could cause
a downhill slide or a rollover.
0
0
Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that
will trip it (a rock,
a rut, etc.) and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse.
If you drive across a rock with the
uphill wheels, or
if the downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.
For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because the
trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean you hat to drive
it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
Driving across an incline that’s too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed.
If you have any
doubt about the steepness
of the incline, don’t
drive across it. Find another route instead.
4-25

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
Service ............................................................ 5.3
Doing Your Own Service Work
......................... 5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
........................................... 5-4
Fuel
................................................................ 5.5
Gasoline Octane
............................................ 5.5
Gasoline Specifications
.................................... 5.5
California Fuel
............................................... 5.6
Additives
....................................................... 5.6
Fuels in Foreign Countries
................. ....... 5.7
Filling Your Tank
......................................... 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
.................... 5-9
the Hood
............................................. 5.10
Hood Release
........................................ ,.5-10
Engine Compartment Overview
....................... 5.12
Checking
Things Under
Engine Oil
................................................... 5.13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
................................ 5.19
Engine Coolant
............................................. 5.24
Engine Overheating
....................................... 5.27
Cooling System
............................................ 5.30
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
........................ -5-21
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
.................. 5-27 Engine
Fan Noise
......................................... 5.36
Power Steering Fluid
..................................... 5.37
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................ 5-38
Brakes
........................................................ 5.39
Battery
........................................................ 5.42
Jump Starting
............................................... 5.43
All-Wheel Drive
......................... .............. 5-49
Rear Axle
....................................................... 5-50
Front Axle
...................................................... 5-51
Bulb Replacement
.......................................... 5-52
Halogen Bulbs
.............................................. 5-52
Headlamps
................................................. -5-52
Roof Marker Lamps
...................................... 5-54
Cargo Lamp
............................................. 5-56
Taillamps
..................................................... 5-58
Replacement Bulbs
....................................... 5-59
Front
Turn Signal, Sidemarker
and Daytime
Running Lamps
......................................... 5-53
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Pickup
Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps
..................................................... 5-58
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............. 5-60
5-
1

Checking Things Under
1-eH
od
Things ti.-- burn c2.. get on hot engine parts
and start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
Hood Release
To open the hood do the following:
1. Pull the handle inside
the vehicle located
under and to the left
of
the steering wheel.
5-1 0

2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on
the secondary hood release located near the
center of the grill.
3. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood,
be sure all filler caps are
on properly. Pull down the hood and close it firmly.
5-1 1

At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts
replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag
system does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace
blade inserts that appear worn or damaged or that
streak or miss areas of the windshield.
Also see
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-88.
Spare Tire Check
At least twice a year, after the monthly inflation check of
the spare tire determines that the spare is inflated to
the correct tire inflation pressure, make sure that
the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try
to rotate or turn the tire. If it moves, use the wheel
wrenchhatchet to tighten the cable. See
Changing a Flat
Tire on page 5-69.
Weatherstrip
Silicone grease on
longer, seal better,
Lubrication
weatherstrips will make them last
and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very -cold,
damp weather more frequent application may be
required. See
Part D: Recommended Fluids and
lubricants on page
6- 16.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 5-27. A fluid loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door hinges, hood latch assembly,
secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor, release
pawl, tailgate hinge, tailgate linkage, tailgate handle
pivot points, latch bolt, fuel door hinge, locks and folding
seat hardware. Part
D tells you what to use. More
frequent lubrication may be required when exposed to a
corrosive environment.
6-1 1

Headlamps (cont.) Halogen Bulbs
............................................ 5-52
Pickup Box Identification and Fender
Marker Lamps
......................................... 5-58
Roof Marker Lamps
..................................... 5-54
Heated Seats
................................................... 1-3
Highway Hypnosis
........................................... 4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads
.................................. 4-36
Hitches
.......................................................... 4-55
HomeLink@ Transmitter
.................................... 2-35
Hood Checking Things Under
................................ 5-10
Release
..................................................... 5-1 0
Horn ............................................................... 3-4
How to Add Coolant
to the Coolant
Surge Tank
................................................. 5-32
How
to Add Fluid ............................................ 5-23
How
to Check ........................................ 5-21, 5-62
How to Check Lubricant
................................... 5-50
How to Use This Manual
.............. ......... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-1 3
HomeLink@ Transmitter, Programming
................ 2-35
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
.................. 5-37
Hydroplaning
.................................................. 4-32
I
if No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
................................................ 5-29
If Steam
Is Coming From Your Engine ............... 5-28
If the Light is Flashing ..................................... 3-39
If the Light is On Steady
................................. 3-39
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
....... 4-42
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer ..................... 4-51
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard ........................... 4-40
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
...................... 6-13
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors
......................... 2-12
infants and Young Children, Restraints
............... 1-32
Inflation
- Tire Pressure ................................... 5-62
inspection Ignition Positions
............................................. 2-15
Brake System
............................................. 6-15
Exhaust System
.......................................... 6-14
Fuel System
............................................... 6-14
Engine Cooling System
................................ 6-14
Part
C - Periodic Maintenance ....................... 6-14
Steering and Suspension
.............................. 6-14
Cluster
....................................................... 3-25
Overview
..................................................... 3-2
Instrument Panel
7