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
Storage Areas................................................2-41
Glove Box...................................................2-41
Overhead Console........................................2-42
Front Storage Area.......................................2-49
Assist Handles.............................................2-50
Garment Hooks............................................2-50Luggage Carrier...........................................2-50
Bed Rails
....................................................2-52
Sunroof
.........................................................2-52
Vehicle Personalization
...................................2-54
Memory Seat
...............................................2-54
Section 2Features and Controls
2-2
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.
2-22
2003 - Sonoma OM
Bed Rails
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has bed rails, they are there for
appearance only. If you try to tie down a load
with them, or to secure things in your truck,
not only can it damage the bed rails, but the
load can loosen. This could cause injury to
you or others. Secure loads by using the cargo
tie-down loops, inside the truck bed area.
Sunroof
If your vehicle has a
sunroof, the switch is
located between the
sun visors.
The sunroof switch will only work when the ignition is on
or when the ignition is off and retained accessory
power is active. See“Retained Accessory Power”under
Ignition Positions on page 2-20for more information.
2-52
2003 - Sonoma OM
To operate the sunroof using the power switch do the
following:
1. When vent opening the sunroof press and hold the
side of the switch with the roof symbol on it until the
roof is vented.
2. Press and hold the side of the switch with the roof
symbol on it again to fully open the roof. The roof
will stop when it is fully opened.
Releasing the switch at any time will stop the roof
at that position.
3. To close the sunroof press the side of the switch
opposite of the roof symbol and hold it until the
glass panel is seated.
Manually Closing the Sunroof
If you are unable to operate the sunroof using the
switch, check the fusible link under the dashboard.To manually close the sunroof do the following:
1. Use aflat bladed tool to remove the cover.
2-53
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
10
2003 - Sonoma OM
Stalling on an Incline.......................................4-24
Starter Switch Check.......................................6-28
Starting Your Engine.......................................2-22
Shifting Into................................................2-22
Starting Your VORTEC™2200 L4 Engine............ 6-4
Starting Your VORTEC™4300 V6 Engine..........2-23
Steering.......................................................... 4-8
Steering in Emergencies.................................... 4-9
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive
Axle Boot and Seal Inspection.......................6-31
Steering Tips................................................... 4-8
Storage
Garment Hooks...........................................2-50
Storage Areas
Front Storage Area......................................2-49
Glove Box..................................................2-41
Luggage Carrier..........................................2-50
Overhead Console.......................................2-42
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...............5-76
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow......................4-40
Sun Visors.....................................................2-16
Sunglasses Storage Compartment.....................2-46
Sunroof.........................................................2-52
Swing-Out Windows........................................2-16
T
Tachometer....................................................3-23
Tailgate.........................................................2-12Tailgate Lubrication Service..............................6-27
Taillamps.......................................................5-55
Temperature and Compass Display....................2-44
Testing the Alarm............................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-67
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-17
Content Theft-Deterrent
................................2-17
Passlock
®...................................................2-19
Third Door
.....................................................2-12
Throttle System Inspection
...............................6-32
Tilt Wheel
........................................................ 3-4
Time Delay
....................................................2-39
Tire Inflation Check
.........................................6-26
Tires
.....................................................5-58, 5-84
Buying New Tires
........................................5-62
Chains
.......................................................5-66
Changing a Flat Tire
....................................5-68
Compact Spare Tire
.....................................5-78
If a Tire Goes Flat
.......................................5-67
Inflation–Tire Pressure
...............................5-58
Inspection and Rotation
................................5-60
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.........................5-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................5-64
Wheel Replacement
.....................................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires
......................5-61
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
....................2-24
Top of the Instrument Panel
.............................5-81
Top Strap
......................................................1-41
14
2003 - Sonoma OM