Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-30
Air Bag System
.......................................1-54
Restraint System Check
............................1-64
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-20
Mirrors
....................................................2-39
Storage Areas
.........................................2-41
Sunroof
..................................................2-52
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-54
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-17
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-20
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-36
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-42Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
................. 5-8
Rear Axle
...............................................5-47
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-48
Front Axle
...............................................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-56
Tires
......................................................5-58
Appearance Care
.....................................5-79
Vehicle Identification
.................................5-87
Electrical System
......................................5-88
Capacities and Specifications
.....................5-94
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-96
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-8
Index................................................................ 1
2003 GMC Sonoma Owner ManualM
2003 - Sonoma Owner Manual
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.
Right Front Passenger Position
To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety
belt properly, seeDriver Position on page 1-16.
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as the driver’s safety belt—except for one
thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out
all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking
feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all
the way and start again.
Center Passenger Position
Lap Belt
If your vehicle has a front bench seat, someone can
sit in the center position. If your vehicle is a Crew
Cab
®model, someone can sit in the center rear
position.
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2003 - Sonoma OM
Medical Condition. A passenger has a
medical condition which, according to his
or her physician:
•
causes the passenger air bag to pose a special risk
for the passenger; and
•makes the potential harm from the passenger air
bag in a crash greater than the potential harm
from turning off the air bag and allowing the
passenger, even if belted, to hit the dashboard or
windshield in a crash.
{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s air bag is turned
off for a person who isn’t in a risk group
identi ed by the national government, that
person won’t have the extra protection of an
air bag. In a crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able
to in ate and help protect the person sitting
there. Don’t turn off the passenger’s air bag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. See “Air Bag Off Switch” in the Index.To turn off the right front passenger’s air bag, insert
your ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the
switch to AIR BAG OFF.
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2003 - Sonoma OM
The AIR BAG OFF light will come on to let you know
that the right front passenger’s air bag is off. The
right front passenger’s air bag will remain off until you
turn it back on again, and the AIR BAG OFF light
will stay on to remind you that the air bag is off.
{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the air bag, it means
that something may be wrong with the air bag
system. The right front passenger’s air bag
could in ate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, don’t let anyone whom
the national government has identi ed as a
member of a passenger air bag risk group
sit in the right front passenger’s position
(for example, don’t secure a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced.To turn the right front passenger’s air bag on again,
insert your ignition key into the switch, push in,
and move the switch to the on position.
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2003 - Sonoma OM
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-9.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still in ate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an air bag
when it in ates. Avoid wires wrapped with
yellow tape or yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
quali ed to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:If I add a push bumper or a bicycle rack to the
front of my vehicle, will it keep the air bags
from working properly?
A:As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is
attached to your vehicle so that the vehicle’s
basic structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep
the air bags from working properly in a crash.
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front of the
vehicle that could keep the air bags from
working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, front end sheet metal or
height, they may keep the air bag system
from working properly. Also, the air bag system
may not work properly if you relocate any of the air
bag sensors. If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance
are in Step Two of theCustomer Satisfaction
Procedure on page 7-2.
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2003 - Sonoma OM
Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-11
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-11
Third Door...................................................2-12
Tailgate.......................................................2-12
Windows........................................................2-14
Manual Windows..........................................2-15
Power Windows............................................2-15
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-16
Sliding Rear Window.....................................2-16
Sun Visors...................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-17
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-17
Passlock
®....................................................2-19Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-20
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-20
Ignition Positions..........................................2-20
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-22
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-24
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-25
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-28
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-29
Parking Brake..............................................2-32
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-33
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-35
Parking Your Vehicle.....................................2-36
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-36
Engine Exhaust............................................2-37
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-38
Mirrors...........................................................2-39
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-39
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-39
Outside Manual Mirror...................................2-39
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-40
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-40
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-41
Section 2Features and Controls
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2003 - Sonoma OM
Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don’t leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
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2003 - Sonoma OM
This vehicle has one
double-sided key for the
ignition and door locks. It
will fit with either side up.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.
The key code number tells your dealer or a qualified
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you’ll be able to have
new ones made easily using this number. Your dealer
should also have this number.
Notice:Your vehicle has a number of features that
can help prevent theft. You can have a lot of trouble
getting into your vehicle if you ever lock your keys
inside. You may even have to damage your vehicle
to get in. So be sure you have spare keys.If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle call the
GM Roadside Assistance Center. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 7-5
Remote Keyless Entry System
If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
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2003 - Sonoma OM