2003 GMC SONOMA mirror

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving”those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues—such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a“mirrored surface”—and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired—by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow
down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if
you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may
cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is:
Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth trafficow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
theow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the trafficow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in
your“blind”spot.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as“highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can
leave the road inless than a second,and you could
crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving inat or rolling terrain.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brake–and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Your trailer’s brake system can tap into the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system only if:
The trailer parts can withstand 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
The trailer’s brake system will use less than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) ofuid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won’t work well. You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, then make the brake
uid tap at the port on the master cylinder that
sendsuid to the rear brakes. But don’t use copper
tubing for this. If you do, it will bend andnally break off.
Use steel brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Fuse Usage
W/W PMP Not Used
HORN Horn
BTSI Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System
B/U LP Back Up Lamps
IGN B Column Feed,Ignition 2, 3, 4
STARTER Starter
RAP Retained Accessory Power
LD LEV Not Used
OXYSEN Oxygen Sensor
IGN E Engine
MIR/LKS Mirrors, Door Locks
FOG LP Fog Lamps
IGN A Starting and Charging Ignition 1
STUD #2 Accessory Feeds, Electric Brake
PARKLP Parking Lamps
LR PRK Left Rear Parking Lamps
LIFTGLASS Liftglass
IGN C Starter Solenoid, Fuel Pump,
PRNDL
HTDSEAT Heated SeatFuse Usage
HVAC Heating,Ventilation, Air Cooling
System
TRCHMSL Trailer Center High Mount Stop Light
RRDFOG Rear Defogger
TBC Truck Body Computer
CRANK Clutch Switch, NSBU Switch
CHMSL Center High Mounted Stoplamp
HAZLP Hazard Lamps
VECHMSL Vehicle Center High-Mounted
Stop Lamp
RR DEFOG Rear Defogger
HTDMIR Heated Mirror
ATC Transfer Case (Four-Wheel Drive)
STOPLP Stop Lamps
RR W/W Rear Window Wiper
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-82
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-68
Your CD Player...........................................3-69
Your CDs ...................................................3-69
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-54
Cassette Tape Player Service...........................6-26
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-54
Center Passenger Position, Safety Belts.............1-23
Chains, Tires..................................................5-66
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-29
Gages Warning Light
...................................3-34
Checking Brake Fluid
......................................5-40
Checking Coolant
............................................5-26
Checking Engine Oil
........................................5-13
Checking the Fluid Level
..................................5-21
Checking Things Under the Hood
....................... 5-8
Checking Your Restraint Systems
......................1-64
Chemical Paint Spotting
...................................5-85
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems
...............................1-36
Infants and Young Children
...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)
..........................1-44
Older Children
.............................................1-30Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position...........................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position...............................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-49
Top Strap...................................................1-41
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-43
Where to Put the Restraint...................1-39, 1-40
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-16
Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-79
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-82
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-85
Weatherstrips..............................................5-82
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-83
Cleaning the Mirror.........................................2-39
Cleaning the Photocells...................................2-39
Climate Control System...................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-19
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-24
Compact Disc Messages.................3-46, 3-56, 3-67
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-78
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-17
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-29
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-4
Manual Seats................................................... 1-3
Manual Transmission.......................................2-22
Fluid..........................................................5-23
Operation...................................................2-28
Manual Transmission Check.............................6-27
Manual Windows............................................2-15
Manually Closing the Sunroof...........................2-53
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Memory Seat.................................................2-54
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico
and U.S. Virgin Islands)................................. 7-4
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-39
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-39
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-40
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-41
Outside Manual Mirror..................................2-39
Outside Power Mirrors
..................................2-40
Model Reference
................................................ vi
MyGMLink.com
................................................ 7-3
N
New Vehicle Break-In
......................................2-20
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
............5-96
O
Odometer......................................................3-23
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-23
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-10
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-13
Pressure Gage............................................3-32
Older Children, Restraints................................1-30
One-Piece Composite Headlamp System............5-50
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
Off Paved Roads.........................................4-13
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-4
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-19
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-40
Heated Mirrors............................................2-41
Manual Mirror.............................................2-39
Power Mirrors.............................................2-40
Overhead Console..........................................2-42
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
Owner’s Information........................................7-10
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-33
Shifting Out of............................................2-35
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2003 - Sonoma OM