2003 GMC SONOMA radio

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

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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2003 - Sonoma OM

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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2003 - Sonoma OM

Use this memory function to save your seat cushion and
seatback settings by using the following procedure:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat to a safe and comfortable
driving position.
2. Press the SET button and then press and hold
button 1 (for Driver 1) for three seconds. A chime
will sound to let you know that the position has been
stored.
A second seating can be programmed by repeating
the procedure with a second driver and pressing
button 2 for three seconds.
When your vehicle is in PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission or the parking brake is engaged for
a manual transmission, press and release the numbered
memory button you just stored. The seat will move to
the set position. You will hear one chime.
Pressing the UNLOCK button of a keyless entry
transmitter will adjust the seat to the corresponding
stored memory position. You will hear one chime.Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to readjust the seat. The
transmitter need not be reprogrammed unless it needs
to correspond to the other numbered memory button.
If there is a third driver, use the seat adjuster switch to
adjust the seat.
Pressing any of the seat adjuster switches, the SET
button or pressing the desired memory button twice will
cause the seat to stop moving.
If you press the numbered button to adjust the seat and
start the vehicle while the seat is still adjusting,
adjustment will pause while the ignition is in START.
Adjustment will resume after the ignition is in RUN.
Setting the seat memory function for a particular driver
will also personalize the radio station presets that have
been selected. Each time the driver sets this function, the
respective radio station presets will also be retained.
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Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-3
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn .............................................................3-4
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-5
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-10
Interior Lamps..............................................3-14
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-15
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-16
Climate Controls............................................3-17
Climate Control System.................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-19
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-20
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-21
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-23
Trip Odometer..............................................3-23
Tachometer.................................................3-23
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-23
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-24
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-24
Charging System Light..................................3-26
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-26
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-27
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-27Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-28
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-29
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-29
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-32
Security Light...............................................3-33
Service Four-Wheel Drive Warning Light..........3-34
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-34
Fuel Gage...................................................3-35
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-35
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-37
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-37
Radio with CD..............................................3-40
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-47
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-56
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios).......3-67
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios).............3-67
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-67
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-68
Care of Your CDs
.........................................3-69
Care of Your CD Player
................................3-69
Fixed Mast Antenna
......................................3-69
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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2003 - Sonoma OM

;(Parking Lamps):Turning the exterior lamps
control to this position turns on the parking lamps
together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
O(Headlamps):Turning the exterior lamps control to
this position turns on the headlamps, together with
the previously listed lamps and lights.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, your automatic
headlamp system will turn on your headlamps at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and the
instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel under the radio speaker grill.
Be sure it is not covered or the system will be on
whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems so
that driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
automatic headlamp system will only be affected when
the light sensor sees a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, set the parking brake while the ignition is off.
Then start your vehicle. The automatic headlamp
system will stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamps when you need them.
You may be able to turn off your automatic headlamp
system. See“Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)”later
in this section for more information.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See“Instrument
Panel Brightness Control”underInterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
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Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open any door.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
instrument panel brightness thumbwheel, located next to
the exterior lamps control, all the way up to the
second notch. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
You can use the DOME OVERRIDE button, located
below the exterior lamps control, to set the dome lamps
to come on automatically when any door is opened,
or to remain off. To turn the lamps off, press the button
in. With the button in, the dome lamps will remain off
when any door is opened. To return the lamps to
automatic operation, press the button again and return
it to the out position. With the button in this position,
the dome lamps will come on when you open any door.
This will override the illuminated entry feature, unless
you use your remote keyless entry transmitter
(if equipped) to unlock the vehicle.
Battery Rundown Protection
This feature shuts off the dome, courtesy, vanity,
reading, glove box, cargo and underhood lamps if they
are left on for more than 20 minutes when the ignition
is off. This will keep your battery from running down.If the battery rundown protection shuts off the interior
lamps, it may be necessary to do one of the following to
return it to normal operation:
Shut off all lamps and close all doors, or
turn the ignition key to RUN.
Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle may be equipped with an accessory
power outlet.
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
There may be an accessory power outlet located near
the center of the vehicle on the lower part of the
instrument panel. A small cap must be pulled down to
access an accessory power outlet. When not using
an outlet be sure to cover it with the protective cap.
Notice:When using an accessory power outlet,
maximum electrical load must not exceed 20 amps.
Always turn off any electrical equipment when
not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain your battery.
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2003 - Sonoma OM

Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition,
but the engine is not
running, as a check to
show you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a
problem with the charging system. It could indicate
that you have problems with a generator drive belt,
or another electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on (in RUN), this gage
shows your battery’s state
of charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. Readings between the
low and high warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power
at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
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