2003 GMC SIERRA ride

Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door
and the dome override button is in the out position.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning
the thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamps
control, all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps
will remain on whether the doors are opened or
closed.
E:You can use the dome override button, located
below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when the doors are opened,
or to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
to the in position. With the button in this position, the
dome lamps will remain off when the doors are open.
To return the lamps to automatic operation, press
the button again and return the button to the out
position. With the button in this position, the dome lamps
will come on when you open a door.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, reading, glove box, and
underhood lamps if they are left on for more than
10 minutes when the ignition is turned off. The cargo
lamp will shut off after 20 minutes. This will keep
your battery from running down.
Accessory Power Outlets
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
other devices designed to operate with vehicle electrical
systems.
Your vehicle is equipped with several accessory power
outlets. The front outlet is located next to thefloor
console. Lift up on the door to access the outlet.
The second outlet is located in the center console. Press
the button on the side of the console door to access
the outlet. SeeCenter Console Storage Area on
page 2-39for more information.
There is also one accessory power outlet located on the
rear of the center console. Lift up on the doors to
access the outlets.
3-16
2003 - Sierra Denali

The passenger’s temperature setting can be set to
match the driver’s temperature setting by pressing and
holding the AUTO button for four seconds. Both the
driver and passenger arrows will be displayed.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):When automatic operation is
active the system will control the inside temperature, the
air delivery, and the fan speed.
Use the steps below to place the entire system in
automatic mode:
1. Press the AUTO button.
When AUTO is selected, the display will change to
show the current driver’s set temperature, delivery
mode and fan speed. Press the AUTO button again
withinfive seconds to display the passenger’s set
temperature.
If the driver and passenger’s temperature settings
are not the same, the opposite side temperature
setting will be displayed for an additionalfive
seconds. To make the passenger’s temperature the
same as the driver’s press and hold the AUTO
button for about four seconds.
When auto is selected, the air conditioning operation
and air inlet will be automatically controlled. The
air conditioning compressor will run when the
outside temperature is over about 40°F(4°C).The air inlet will normally be set to outside air. If it’s
hot outside, the air inlet may automatically switch
to recirculate inside air to help quickly cool
down your vehicle. The light on the button will
illuminate in recirculation.
2. Set the driver’s and passenger’s temperature.
Tofind your comfort setting, start with a 74°F (23°C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes
for the system to regulate. Turn the driver’sor
passenger’s side temperature knob to adjust the
temperature setting as necessary. If you choose the
temperature setting of 60°F (15°C) the system
will remain at the maximum cooling setting. If you
choose the temperature setting of 90°F (32°C)
the system will remain at the maximum heat setting.
Choosing either maximum setting will not cause
the vehicle to heat or cool any faster.
Be careful not to cover the sensor located on the
top of the instrument panel near the windshield. This
sensor regulates air temperature based on sun
load, and also turns on your headlamps.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the
system will delay turning on the fan until warm air is
available. The length of delay depends on the
engine coolant temperature. Pressing the fan switch
will override this delay and change the fan to a
selected speed.
3-19
2003 - Sierra Denali

CD Adapter Kits
It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit
with your cassette tape player after activating the bypass
feature on your tape player.
To activate the bypass feature, perform the following
steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE DISC button forfive
seconds. The radio will display READY and the
tape symbol on the display willflash, indicating the
feature is active.
4. Insert the adapter into the cassette tape slot. It will
power up the radio and begin playing.
The override feature will remain active until the eject
symbol is pressed.
Playing a Compact Disc
Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The
player will pull it in and the disc should begin playing.
The display will show the CD symbol. If you want
to insert a compact disc with the ignition off,first press
DISP or the eject symbol.
If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced
due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been recorded and the way theCD-R has been handled. You may experience an
increase in skipping, difficulty infinding tracks and/or
difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occur
try a known good CD.
Do not add paper labels to discs, they could get caught
in the CD player.
Do not play 3 inch discs without a standard
adapter disc.
If an error appears on the display, see“Compact Disc
Messages”later in this section.
1 PREV (Previous):Press this pushbutton to go to the
previous track if the current track has been playing
for less than eight seconds. If pressed when the current
track has been playing for more than eight seconds,
it will go to the beginning of the current track. TRACK
and the track number will appear on the display. If
you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the
player will continue moving back through the disc.
2 NEXT:Press this pushbutton to go to the next track.
TRACK and the track number will appear on the
display. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than
once, the player will continue moving forward through
the disc.
3-68
2003 - Sierra Denali

The radio system can also communicate with your
navigation system to broadcast announcements
on traffic, weather and emergency alert communications.
For information on how to use this system, see the
“Navigation/Radio System Supplement”.
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
This feature allows rear seat passengers to listen to any
of the audio sources: radio, cassette tapes, CDs,
DVDs, XM™(USA only, if equipped) depending on your
vehicles options. However, the rear seat passengers
can only control the music sources that the front
seat passengers are not listening to. For example, rear
seat passengers may listen to a cassette tape through
headphones while the driver listens to the radio through
the front speakers. The rear seat passengers have
control of the volume for each set of headphones.
The front seat audio controls always override the RSA
controls.
Rear Seat Audio Controls
The following functions are controlled by the RSA
system buttons:
P(Power):Press this button to turn the rear seat
audio system on or off. The rear speakers will be muted
when the power is turned on unless your vehicle is
equipped with the Bose
®audio system. You may
operate the rear seat audio functions even when the
primary radio power is off.
3-71
2003 - Sierra Denali

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Manual Selectable Ride...................................4-9
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-10
Steering......................................................4-10
QUADRASTEER™........................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-16
Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off
Paved Roads............................................4-18
Driving at Night
............................................4-30
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
..................4-32City Driving..................................................4-35
Freeway Driving...........................................4-36
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-37
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-38
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-38
Winter Driving..............................................4-40
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow........4-44
Towing..........................................................4-46
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-46
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-47
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-47
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................4-50
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-52
Pickup Conversion to
Chassis Cab.............................................4-52
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-53
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1
2003 - Sierra Denali

means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC
level than a man of her same body weight will when
each has the same number of drinks.
The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and
throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent.
In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For
example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany.
The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United
States is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six
drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it
depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how
quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills
of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night.
All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above
0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in
a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a
BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level
of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of
having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the
chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times
greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is
25 times greater!
The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol
in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold
showers will speed that up.“I’ll be careful”isn’t the rightanswer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take
sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able
to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.
There’s something else about drinking and driving that
many people don’t know. Medical research shows
that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash
injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal
cord or heart. This means that when anyone who
has been drinking—driver or passenger—is in a
crash, that person’s chance of being killed or
permanently disabled is higher than if the person had
not been drinking.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol.You can have a serious—or
even fatal—collision if you drive after drinking.
Please don’t drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking.Ride home in a
cab; or if you’re with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
4-4
2003 - Sierra Denali

Manual Selectable Ride
The main function of this system is to provide superior
ride comfort while trailering or fully loaded, as well
as for unloaded driving. This system also helps
to provide:
Improved trailering stability
Improved handling response when trailering or fully
loaded
This button is located on
the center of the
instrument panel near the
radio. Press it to activate
the selectable ride
setting as desired.
An indicator light near the
button will illuminate
whenever the system is
active.
It is recommended to use this system as follows:
For optimum ride comfort in an unloaded vehicle
the button should be out and the indicator light
will not be illuminated. This switch position indicates
NORMAL levels of ride control or damping.
For optimum ride comfort when trailering, fully
loaded, driving off-road, or when personal
preferences demand more control the button should
be pressed in with the indicator light illuminated.
This switch position indicates FIRM levels of
ride control or damping.
The following guide can also be used to help determine
the best setting.
NORMAL:The indicator light will be off when the
system is in this setting. Use for normal city and highway
driving. Provides a smooth, soft ride when the vehicle
is unloaded.
FIRM (Unloaded):Press the switch to activate this
setting, the indicator light will illuminate. Use this setting
when road conditions or personal preference demand
more control. Provides more“feel″or response to
the road conditions.
FIRM (Loaded):Press the switch to activate this
setting, the indicator light will illuminate. Use this setting
to minimize trailer inputs to the vehicle or when the
vehicle is fully loaded. This setting is also appropriate
for off-road driving.
You can select a setting at any time based on road and
trailering conditions to provide the best ride and
handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
4-9
2003 - Sierra Denali

Surface Obstacles:Unseen or hidden obstacles can
be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle
you if you’re not prepared for them. Often these
obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even
the rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some
things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
(There’s more discussion of these subjects later.)
Will you have to stop suddenly or change direction
quickly?
When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a
rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or
other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands if you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you can’t control
the vehicle as well or at all.Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits or
signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment
about what is safe and what isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the
very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You
could have a serious—or even fatal—accident if you
drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been
drinking. SeeDrunken Driving on page 4-2.
4-22
2003 - Sierra Denali