2003 GMC SONOMA ignition

Rear Door Security Locks
If you have the Crew Cab®model, your vehicle may be
equipped with rear door security locks. With this
feature, you can lock the rear doors so they can’tbe
opened from the inside by passengers.
The security lock lever is
located on the inside edge
of each rear door.
To use the security locks, do the following:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Slide the lever up to the lock symbol to engage
the lock.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the opposite rear door.If you want to open the rear door when the security lock
is on, unlock the door and open the door from the
outside. To return the rear doors to normal use,
disengage the locks by sliding the lever to the unlock
symbol.
Lockout Protection
This feature protects you from locking your key in the
vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door
is open.
If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door is
open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors
will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Manual Windows
Turn the hand crank on each door to raise or lower your
manual side door windows.
Power Windows
If you have power windows, the controls are located on
the armrests on each of the side doors. The switches
operate the windows when the ignition is in RUN,
ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. See“Retained Accessory Power (RAP)”
underIgnition Positions on page 2-20. The driver’s
door has a switch for the passengers windows as well.Press the side of the switch with the down arrow to
lower a window. Press the side of the switch with the up
arrow to raise the window.
Express Down Window
The driver’s window has an express-down feature that
allows you to lower it without holding the window switch.
Press the down arrow on the switch marked AUTO
located on the driver’s door briefly to activate the
express-down feature. Lightly tap the switch to open the
window slightly. The express-down feature can be
interrupted at any time by pressing the up arrow on
the switch.
Window Lockout
Four-door vehicles have a lockout feature to prevent
passengers from operating the power windows. It
is located on the driver’s door armrest. Press LOCK
to activate this feature. Press NORM and the windows
will return to normal operation.
The driver will still be able to activate all the windows
when LOCK is active.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Content
Theft-Deterrent alarm system.
With this system, the
SECURITY light willflash
as you open the door
if your ignition is off.This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent
system. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
the remote keyless entry transmitter. The
SECURITY light should come on and stay on.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after approximately 30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the SECURITY light goes off.
If a door is opened without the key or the remote keyless
entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle’s
headlamps willflash and the horn will sound for
110 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power.
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Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate if
you lock the doors with a key or use the manual
door lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock
switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless
entry transmitter. You should also remember that
you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if
the alarm has been set off.
Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
•If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
keyafterthe doors are closed.
•Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any
other way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door
with the key. You can also turn off the alarm by pressing
UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
The alarm won’t stop if you try to unlock a door any
other way.
Testing the Alarm
The alarm can be tested by following these steps:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window
and open the driver’s door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the
power door lock switch while the door is open, or
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for
the SECURITY light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door
with the manual door lock and open the door. This
should set off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when it should but the
vehicle’s headlampsflash, check to see if the horn
works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, seeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-89.
If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle’s headlamps
do notflash, the vehicle should be serviced by an
authorized service center.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Passlock®
Your vehicle is equipped with the
Passlock®theft-deterrent system.
Passlock
®is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock®enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.
During normal operation, the SECURITY light will
go off approximatelyfive seconds after the key is turned
to RUN.
If the engine stalls and the SECURITY lightflashes,
wait about 10 minutes until the light stopsflashing before
trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the
key from START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.If the engine is running and the SECURITY message
comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if
you turn the engine off. However, your
Passlock
®system is not working properly and must be
serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected
by Passlock
®at this time. You may also want to check
the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-89.
See your dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: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 the key in the ignition, you can turn it tofive
different positions.
Notice:Don’t operate accessories in the
ACCESSORY position for long periods of time.
Prolonged operation of accessories in the
ACCESSORY position could drain your battery and
prevent you from starting your vehicle.
A (ACCESSORY):This position lets you use things like
the radio and the windshield wipers when the engine
is off. Push in the key and turn it toward you. Your
steering wheel will remain locked, just as it was before
you inserted the key.
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{CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the
key to LOCK will lock the steering column and
result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle.
This could cause a collision. If you need to
turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key only to OFF. Don’t press the key
release button while the vehicle is moving.
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? If it is, then turn the steering
wheel left and right while you turn the key hard. Turn
the key only with your hand. Using a tool to force it
could break the key or the ignition switch. If none of
this works, then your vehicle needs service.
B (LOCK):This position locks your ignition, steering
wheel and transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
You will only be able to remove your key when the
ignition is turned to LOCK.C (OFF):This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. Use OFF if you must
have your vehicle in motion while the engine is off
(for example, if your vehicle is being towed).
D (RUN):This is the position for driving.
E (START):This position starts your engine.
Key Release Button
The key cannot be
removed from the ignition
of manual transmission
vehicles unless the
key release button is
pressed.
To remove the key, turn the ignition switch to OFF.
Then turn the key to LOCK while pressing the key
release button. Pull the key straight out.
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Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features of
your vehicle to continue to work for up to 20 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to OFF.
Your radio, power windows, sunroof and overhead
console will work when the ignition key is in RUN or
ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from RUN
to OFF, these features will continue to work for up to
20 minutes or until a door is opened.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your
engine won’t start in any other position–that’s a safety
feature. To restart when you’re already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to thefloor
and start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if the clutch
pedal is not all the way down–that’s a safety feature.
Starting Your VORTEC™2200 L4
Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15
seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn’t start, wait about 15 seconds and try
again to start the engine by turning the ignition
key to START. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
When your engine has run about 10 seconds to
warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Don’t
“race”your engine when it’s cold.
If the weather is below freezing (32°For0°C), let
the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.
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