2003 GMC YUKON four wheel drive

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-3
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-22
Child Restraints
.......................................1-44
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-70
Restraint System Check
............................1-86
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-16
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-18
Mirrors
....................................................2-40
OnStar
®System
......................................2-48
HomeLink®Transmitter
.............................2-50
Storage Areas
.........................................2-54
Sunroof
..................................................2-57
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-58
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-37
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-53
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-71Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-54
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-49
Rear Axle
...............................................5-50
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-51
Front Axle
...............................................5-52
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-59
Tires
......................................................5-60
Appearance Care
.....................................5-88
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-96
Electrical System
......................................5-97
Capacities and Specications
...................5-106
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
....5-109
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
............................ 7-9
Index................................................................ 1
2003 GMC Yukon/Yukon XLM
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

In addition, your vehicle has“dual stage”frontal air bags,
which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash
severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags
inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more
severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front
of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t move
or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment
is about 10 to 16 mph (16 to 25 km/h), and the threshold
level for a full deployment is about 20 to 25 mph
(32 to 40 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however,
with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat
above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation
would not help the occupant.
Seat Position Sensors
Vehicles with dual stage air bags are also equipped with
special sensors which enable the sensing system to
monitor the position of both the driver and passenger
front seats. The seat position sensor provides
information which is used to determine if the air bags
should deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment.
Side Impact Air Bags
Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact air
bag. SeeAir Bag Systems on page 1-70. Side impact air
bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe
side crashes. A side impact air bag will inflate if
the crash severity is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.”The threshold level can vary with
specific vehicle design. Side impact air bags are
not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy
on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
Air Bag Systems
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle
of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact
air bags, inflation is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
The air bag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough
terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See Off-Road
Driving with Your Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle in the
Index for tips on off-road driving.
1-77
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Delayed Locking.............................................2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-9
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-11
Lockout Protection........................................2-12
Liftgate........................................................2-12
Windows........................................................2-14
Manual Windows..........................................2-14
Power Windows............................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-16
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-16
Passlock
®....................................................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-20
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater
..................................2-21Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-22
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-26
All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrak
®......................2-31
Parking Brake..............................................2-34
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-35
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-37
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-38
Engine Exhaust............................................2-38
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-39
Mirrors...........................................................2-40
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®, Compass and Temperature
Display....................................................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display..............2-43
Outside Manual Mirrors..................................2-45
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors.........................2-46
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-46
Outside Power Camper-Type Mirror.................2-47
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors.....................2-47
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-47
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors....................2-47
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-48
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-48
Section 2Features and Controls
2-1
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brakefirmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See“Shifting Into Park (P)”in the
Index. If you’re pulling a trailer, see“Towing a
Trailer”in the Index.
{CAUTION:
If you have four–wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll–even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P)–if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL.
So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear,
two-wheel high (2H) or four–wheel high (4H) or
four-wheel low (4L)–not in NEUTRAL. See
″Shifting into Park (P)″in the index.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your transmission.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-52.
2-23
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

When tow/haul mode is
selected the tow/haul
indicator light will
illuminate.
The tow/haul mode also interacts with the Autoride™
feature, if your vehicle is so equipped, to enhance
the ride when trailering or with a loaded vehicle. See
Autoride™on page 4-60.
Four-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read
the part that follows before using four-wheel drive. See
the appropriate text for the transfer case in your
vehicle.
Notice:Driving in the 4-WHEEL HIGH (4HI) or
4-WHEEL LOW (4LO) positions for a long time on
dry or wet pavement could shorten the life of
your vehicle’s drivetrain.
Front Axle Locking Feature
The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when
you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to
lock or unlock is normal.
Automatic Transfer Case
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See″Parking Brake″in the
Index.
2-26
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

The transfer case buttons are located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.You can choose among four driving settings:
h(2HI):This setting is used for driving in most street
and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two-wheel drive. This setting also provides the
best fuel economy.
AUTO 4WD:This setting is ideal for use when road
conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle
in AUTO 4WD, the front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle’s power is sent only to the rear wheels. When
the vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system
will automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy
than 2HI.
G(4HI):Use the 4HI position when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages your front
axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best setting
to use when plowing snow.
2-27
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

g(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may never need
this setting. It sends maximum power to all four wheels.
You might choose 4LO if you are driving off-road in
deep sand, deep mud, deep snow and climbing
or descending steep hills.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See″Parking Brake″in the
Index.
NEUTRAL:Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-55orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-54for more information.Indicator lights in the switches show which setting you
are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when you
turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights
do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light willash while
shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer
case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See″Service
4WD message″underDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-53.
Shifting into 4HI or AUTO 4WD
Press and release the 4 hi or AUTO 4WD switch. This
can be done at any speed (except when shifting
from 4LO), and the indicator light willash while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed.
Shifting into 2HI
Press and release the 2 hi switch. This can be done at
any speed (except when shifting from 4LO).
2-28
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL

All-Wheel Drive with Stabilitrak®
With this feature, engine power is sent to all four wheels
all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate
lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It
is fully automatic, and adjust itself as needed for
road conditions.
The transfer case buttons are located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.You can choose among three driving settings:d(Stabilitrak®):This button is used with the
Stabilitrak®system and is also used to shift the transfer
case into Neutral. For more information on using
Stabilitrak
®seeStabilitrak®System on page 4-12.
f(All-Wheel Drive):This setting delivers power to
all four wheels as needed depending on road and driving
conditions.
g(4LO):This setting delivers extra torque. You may
never need this setting. It sends maximum power to
all four wheels. You might choose 4LO if you are driving
off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow and
climbing or descending steep hills.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. See″Parking Brake″in the
Index.
2-31
2003 - Yukon/Yukon XL