
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
The coolant surge tank
pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant
surge tank.
Notice:Your pressure cap is a pressure-type cap
and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss
and possible engine damage from overheating.
See“Capacities and Specifications”for more
information.
Engine Overheating
You willfind a coolant temperature gage on your
vehicle’s instrument panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-36. In addition, you will
find a LOW COOLANT, ENGINE OVERHEATED and a
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message in the DIC on
the instrument panel. SeeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 3-42.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is displayed, an
overheat protection mode which alternatesfiring
groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In
this mode, you will notice a loss in power and engine
performance. This operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset the oil
life system. See“Engine Oil”in the Index.
5-26
2003 - Sierra Denali 

Cleaning the Windshield and Wiper Blades.........5-86
Cleaning Tires................................................5-87
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-83
Cleaning Wood Panels....................................5-84
Climate Control System
Dual Automatic............................................3-18
Compact Disc Changer Errors..........................3-75
Compact Disc Messages..................................3-70
Compass Calibration.......................................2-30
Compass Variance..........................................2-29
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-13
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-36
Heater, Engine............................................2-18
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-26
Cooling System..............................................5-29
Cruise Control.................................................. 3-8
Cruise Control Light........................................3-40
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-39
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-10
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation
.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users
....................................................... 7-3
Customer Assistance Offices
........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities
................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors
...... 7-9Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government.............................................. 7-9
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government.............................................. 7-8
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information......... 7-9
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-13
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-22
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dome Lamps .................................................3-16
Door
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-7
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-7
Rear Doors.................................................. 2-9
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-12
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.....................................3-56
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-42
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-42
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-51
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-30
City ...........................................................4-35
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
4
2003 - Sierra Denali 

Driving (cont.)
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-36
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-38
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-32
Winter........................................................4-40
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-27
Driving Downhill..............................................4-25
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-28
Driving in Water..............................................4-29
Driving On Grades..........................................4-59
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-23
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-40
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-34
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-34
Driving Uphill..................................................4-24
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-58
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-18
E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-42
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-91
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-91
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-91
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-91
Electrochromic Mirror Operation........................2-28
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-39Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
.........................................5-18
Battery
.......................................................5-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light
............3-37
Compartment Overview
................................5-12
Coolant
......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater
............................................2-18
Coolant Temperature Gage
...........................3-36
Cooling System Inspection
............................6-14
Exhaust
.....................................................2-26
Fan Noise
..................................................5-34
Oil
.............................................................5-13
Overheating
................................................5-26
Starting
......................................................2-17
ENGINE COOLANT HOT
.................................3-52
Engine Coolant Level Check
.............................6-10
Engine Hour Meter Display
...............................3-26
Engine Oil Additives
........................................5-16
Engine Oil Level Check
...................................6-10
ENGINE OVERHEATED
..................................3-52
Entry Lighting
.................................................3-15
Environmental Concerns
..................................4-20
Erasing HomeLink
®Buttons
..............................2-38
Exit Lighting
...................................................3-15
Express-Down Windows
...................................2-12
Extender, Safety Belt
.......................................1-28
Exterior Lamps
...............................................3-11
5
2003 - Sierra Denali 

M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts..........5-100
Maintenance Schedule
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-10
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-10
Brake System Inspection..............................6-15
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-14
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-14
Fuel System Inspection................................6-14
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-10
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections......6-14
PartD-Recommended Fluids and Lubricants....6-15
PartE-Maintenance Record........................6-17
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-5
Steering and Suspension Inspection...............6-14
Transfer Case and Front Axle (All-Wheel
Drive) Inspection......................................6-15
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-60Making Turns.................................................4-59
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-37
Manual Selectable Ride..................................... 4-9
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-5
Memory Seat.................................................2-41
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-51
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands)....................................................... 7-4
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-28
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-32
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-32
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors...................2-32
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-32
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-31
MyGMLink.com
................................................ 7-3
N
Navigation/Radio System
..................................3-70
New Vehicle Break-In
......................................2-15
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
...........5-100
9
2003 - Sierra Denali 

Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-16
Door Locks.................................................. 2-7
Electrical System.........................................5-91
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-34
Windows....................................................2-12
Power Steering...............................................4-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................. 2-7
Programming the HomeLink
®Transmitter...........2-35
Puddle Lamps................................................3-13
Q
QUADRASTEER™..........................................4-12
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-11
R
Radio Data System (RDS)...............................3-57
Radio Messages.............................................3-63
Radios..........................................................3-56
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-77
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-78
Care of Your CDs ........................................3-78
CD Changer...............................................3-73
Navigation/Radio System..............................3-70Radios (cont.)
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-57
Rear Seat Audio..........................................3-71
Setting the Time..........................................3-57
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-75
Understanding Reception..............................3-76
RDS Messages..............................................3-62
Rear Axle......................................................5-46
Locking......................................................4-10
Rear Doors...................................................... 2-9
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-26
Rear Seat Audio Controls.................................3-71
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)....................................3-71
Rear Seat Operation......................................... 1-6
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions.............1-23
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-23
Rear Seat Top Strap Anchors...........................1-41
Rear Window Defogger....................................3-23
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display..................2-28
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-4
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-47
REDUCED ENGINE POWER...........................3-52
Remote Alarm.................................................. 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation
............ 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
..................................................5-68
11
2003 - Sierra Denali 

T
Tachometer....................................................3-26
Tailgate.........................................................2-10
Tailgate Removal............................................2-10
Taillamps.......................................................5-54
Temperature and Compass Display....................2-28
Testing the Alarm............................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-75
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-13
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-13
Passlock
®...................................................2-15
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-5
Tire Inflation Check.........................................6-10
Tires.............................................................5-56
Buying New Tires........................................5-60
Chains.......................................................5-64
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-65
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-64
Inflation -- Tire Pressure...............................5-57
Inspection and Rotation................................5-58
Spare Tire..................................................5-82
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-61
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................5-62
Wheel Replacement
.....................................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires
......................5-59
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
....................2-18
Tonneau Cover
...............................................2-39
Top Strap
......................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location
...............................1-40Torque Lock...................................................2-25
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-56
Tow/Haul Mode ...............................................2-21
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-41
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-47
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-53
Your Vehicle...............................................4-46
Traction
Manual Selectable Ride................................. 4-9
TRACTION ACTIVE........................................3-55
Trailer
Recommendations.......................................4-52
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-57
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................4-61
Transfer Case................................................5-45
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-20
Temperature Gage.......................................3-36
TRANSMISSION HOT.....................................3-55
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-19
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit
Repair Manual............................................7-10
Transportation Options...................................... 7-7
Traveling to Remote Areas...............................4-20
Trip Information Button....................................3-43
Trip Odometer
................................................3-26
Truck-Camper Loading Information
....................4-50
Turn and Lane Change Signals
.......................... 3-6
TURN SIGNAL ON
.........................................3-54
14
2003 - Sierra Denali