2003 GMC YUKON DENALI maintenance schedule

The 2003 GMC Yukon DenaIiNukon XL Denali
Owner Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
............................................. 1-25
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-48
Air Bag Systems
...................................... 1-72
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-86
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
................................................. 2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-1 6
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
....... 2-18
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-31
Onstar@
S stem ...................................... 2-36
HomeLink
J Transmitter ............................. 2-38
Storage Areas
......................................... 2-42
Sunroof
.................................................. 2-46
Vehicle Personalization
............................. 2-47
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
......... 3-28
Driver Information Center (DIC)
.................. 3-43
Climate Controls
...................................... 3-1 9
Audio System(s)
....................................... 3-58
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
................................................... 4-44
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................ 5-46
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-48
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-49
Tires
...................................................... 5-55
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-78
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-86
Electrical System
...................................... 5-87
Capacities and Specifications
..................... 5-96
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
...... 5-98
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Index ................................................................ 1
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-54
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1

A temporary solution to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be
to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures
on a frequent basis, see
Scheduled Maintenance
on page
6-5 for the proper transmission maintenance
intervals.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with
a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD
II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner
environment. The Check Engine light comes on
to
indicate that there is a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more
serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also
designed to
assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
be as good and your engine may not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may
not be covered by your warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result
in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during
a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing - A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center
diagnosis and service may be required.
3-38

Fuel Range GM Oil Life System
Press the fuel information button until RANGE appears
to display the remaining distance you can drive
without refueling. It’s based on fuel economy and the
fuel remaining in the tank. The display will show LOW
if
the fuel level is low.
The fuel economy data used
to determine fuel range is
an average of recent driving conditions. As your
driving conditions change, this data is gradually updated. Fuel range cannot be reset.
Average Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until AVG ECON
appears in the display. Average fuel economy is how
many miles per gallon your vehicle is getting based on
current and past driving conditions.
Press and hold the select button for two seconds while
AVG ECON is displayed to reset the average fuel
economy. Average fuel economy will then be calculated
starting from that point. If the average fuel economy is not
reset, it will be continually updated each time you drive.
Instant Fuel Economy
Press the fuel information button until INST ECON
appears in the display. Instant fuel economy is how
many miles per gallon your vehicle is getting at
the particular moment in time. The instant fuel economy
cannot be reset. Press the fuel information button until
ENGINE OIL LIFE
appears in the display. The GM Oil Life System shows
an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life.
It will show
100% when the system is reset after an oil change.
It will alert you to change your oil on a schedule
consistent with your driving conditions.
Always reset the engine oil life after an oil change.
To reset the Oil Life System press and hold the select
button for five seconds while ENGINE OIL LIFE is
displayed. OIL LIFE RESET will appear on the display
for
10 seconds to let you know the system is reset.
The DIC does not replace the need
to maintain
your vehicle as recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual.
Also, the oil change reminder
will not detect dusty conditions or engine malfunctions
that may affect the oil.
Also, the oil change reminder
does not measure how much oil you have in your
engine.
So, be sure to check your oil level often.
See
Engine Oil on page 5- 13.
3-46

FUEL LEVEL LOW
If the fuel level is low, this message will appear on the
DIC and you will hear a chime. Refuel as soon as
possible. Pressing the select button will acknowledge
this message immediately and clear it from the DIC
display. It will also clear itself after
10 seconds until the
next ignition cycle. The low fuel light near the fuel
gage will still remain on in either case.
CHECK WASHER FLUID
If the washer fluid level is low, this message will appear
on the DIC. Adding washer fluid will clear the message.
Pressing the select button will acknowledge this
message and clear it from the DIC display. This
message will clear itself after
10 seconds until the next
igntion cycle.
TRANSMISSION HOT
If the transmission fluid temperature becomes high, the
message center will display this message.
When the transmission enters the protection mode, you
may notice a change in the transmission shifting
patterns. When the transmission fluid temperature
returns
to normal, the display will turn off and the
transmission shifting patterns will return
to normal.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with the
transmission
TRANS FLUID HOT message
displayed, you can damage the transmission. This
could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered
under your warranty.
The following situations can cause the transmission to
operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
@ Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Low transmission fluid level
High transmission fluid level
Restricted air flow to the radiator.
A temporary solution
to hotter transmission operating
temperatures may be
to let the transmission cool down.
If the transmission is operated at higher temperatures
on a frequent basis, see Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-5 for the proper transmission maintenance
intervals.
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE
If the transmission fluid in the vehicle gets hot, this
message will appear on the DIC along with a continuous
chime. Driving with the transmission fluid temperature
high can cause damage
to the vehicle.
3-55

Driving in Water
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water
is before you drive through
it. If it’s deep enough to cover your wheel hubs, axles
or exhaust pipe, don’t try
it - you probably won’t
get through. Also, water that deep can damage your
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the water isn’t too deep, drive slowly through it. At
faster speeds, water splashes on your ignition system
and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur
if you
get your tailpipe under water. And, as long as your
tailpipe is under water, you’ll never be able to start your
engine. When you go through water, remember that
when your brakes get wet, it may take you longer
to stop.
I
- - - - -ng through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle
downstream and you and your passengers
i could drown. If it’s only shallow water, it can
still wash away the ground from under your
tires, and you could lose traction and roll the
vehicle over. Don’t drive through rushing water.
I I
See Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 4-29 for
more information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust
system for damage.
Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
4-27

Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch loads from the Cargo
Weight Rating (CWR). CWR is the maximum weight of
the load your vehicle can carry.
It doesn’t include
the weight of the people inside. But you can figure about
150 Ibs. (68 kg) for each seat. The total cargo load
must
not be more than your vehicle’s CWR.
Weigh your vehicle with the trailer attached,
so that you
won’t
go over the GVWR or GAWR. If you are using
a weight-distributing hitch, weigh the vehicle without the
spring bars in place.
You’ll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and
if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-47.
Towing a Trailer
Is
IOU don’_ Ase e correct equipment anc-
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well
-- or even
at all.
You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only
if you have
followed all the steps
in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Nofice: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result
in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice
in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle. Additional rear axle maintenance
is required for a vehicle used to tow a trailer. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
4-47

Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
PARK
(P) yet.
wheels.
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
5. Release the regular brakes.
parking brake
and shift into PARK
(P).
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Each
of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
4-55

I
1. To remove the engine air cleaner/filter, loosen the
screws on the cover.
2. Lift the cover upward and remove the engine air
cleaner/filter
out of the air cleaner housing. Care
should be taken to dislodge as little dirt as possible.
3. Clean the filter sealing surface and the housing.
4. Install the new engine air cleanedfilter. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to replace the engine air cleanedfilter. See
Part 5:
Owner Checks and Services on page 6- 10.
Operating L.L engine _____. the air cleaner/filter
off can cause you or others to be burned. The
air cleaner not only cleans the air,
it stops
flame if the engine backfires.
If it isn’t there
and the engine backfires, you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working
on the engine with the air cleanedfilter
off.
Notice: If the air cieaner/filter is off, a backfire can
cause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt can
easily get into your engine, which will damage
it.
Always have the air cleanedfilter in place when
you’re driving.
5. Install the cover and tighten the screws.
5-1 9