2004 GMC Sonoma Owner Manual M
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Towing
................................................... 4-45
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Child Restraints
....................................... 1-27
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Air Bag System
....................................... 1-46
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Restraint System Check
............................ 1-53
Checking Things Under the Hood
............... 5-10
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Rear Axle
............................................... 5-46
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Four-Wheel Drive
..................................... 5-46
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Front Axle
............................................... 5-47
Windows
................................................. 2-12
Bulb Replacement
.................................... 5-48
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................ 2-14
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
......... 5-54
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
........... 2-16
Tires
...................................................... 5-57
Mirrors
.................................................... 2-31
Appearance Care
..................................... 5-86
Storage Areas
......................................... 2-33
Vehicle Identification
................................. 5-94
Sunroof
.................................................. 2-42
Electrical System
...................................... 5-94
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Capacities and Specifications
................... 5-101
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Climate Controls
...................................... 3-18
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
......... 3-21
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Audio System(s)
....................................... 3-35
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
........................... 7-10
Index ................................................................ 1

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Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French copy of this manual from your
dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, the
How to Use This Manual
GMC Emblem and the name SONOMA are registered
trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
you do this, it will help you learn about the features and
after that time without further notice. For vehicles first
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find
sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of
that pictures and words work together to explain things.
Canada Limited” for GMC whenever it appears in this
manual.
Index
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what
new owner can use it.
is in the manual, and the page number where you will
find it.
Litho in U.S.A.
© Copyright General Motors Corporation 06/12/03
Part No. X2408 A First Edition
All Rights Reserved
ii

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Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
this book. This safety
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about
symbol means “Don’t,”
things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t let
warning.
this happen.”
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you
or others could be hurt.
iii

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Vehicle Damage Warnings
Vehicle Symbols
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
Notice: These mean there is something that could
are shown along with the text describing the operation
damage your vehicle.
or information relating to a specific component, control,
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
message, gage or indicator.
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the
topics:
damage.
• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in
• Features and Controls in Section 2
different words.
• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
• Climate Controls in Section 3
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
• Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
• Audio System(s) in Section 3
• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

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These are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v

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Model Reference
This manual covers this model:
Crew Cab®
vi

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Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-38
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers
Power Seats ..................................................1-3
for Children (LATCH System) ......................1-39
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
the LATCH System (Rear) ..........................1-41
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-5
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Head Restraints .............................................1-6
Outside Seat Position ................................1-41
Rear Seats .......................................................1-7
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-7
Seat Position ............................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Safety Belts .....................................................1-8
Right Front Seat Position ............................1-44
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-8
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-12
Air Bag System ..............................................1-46
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-13
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-48
Driver Position ..............................................1-14
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-49
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-20
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-50
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-21
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-50
Center Passenger Position .............................1-21
What Will You See After an
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-23
Air Bag Inflates? .......................................1-50
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-26
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-52
Adding Equipment to Your Air
Child Restraints .............................................1-27
Bag-Equipped Vehicle ................................1-53
Older Children ..............................................1-27
Infants and Young Children ............................1-29
Restraint System Check ..................................1-53
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-33
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-53
Where to Put the Restraint (Crew Cab) ............1-36
Replacing Restraint System Parts
Top Strap ....................................................1-37
After a Crash ............................................1-54
1-1

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Front Seats
Manual Seats
This section tells you about the seats – how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down.
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
Move the lever located under the front of a manual seat
when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s
up to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your
body to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2

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Power Seats
Horizontal Control: Raise or lower the front of the seat
by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control.
If your vehicle has this feature, there will be a control on
Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering
the outboard side of the front seat(s).
the rear edge of the control. Move the seat forward or
rearward by moving the whole control toward the front or
the rear of the vehicle.
Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowers
the whole seat.
Vertical Control: Move the reclining front seatback
forward or rearward by moving the control toward
the front or rear of the vehicle. See Reclining Seatbacks
on page 1-5 for more information.
1-3

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Power Lumbar
Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this
If your vehicle has this
feature, there will be a
feature, the controls are
control located on
located on the outboard
the outboard side of the
side of the front seats.
front seat(s).
Press and hold the front of the control until you have
This feature will heat the lower cushion and lower back
the desired lumbar support. To decrease lumbar
of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.
support, press and hold the rear of the control.
Press the lower part of the switch to turn the heater on
low. Press the upper part of the switch to turn the
heater on high. Put the switch in the center position to
turn the heater off.
The passenger’s safety belt must be engaged for the
heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.
1-4

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Document Outline

• GMC Sonoma Book TOC
• Seats and Restraint Systems
  • Front Seats
    • Manual Seats
    • Power Seats
    • Power Lumbar
    • Heated Seats
    • Reclining Seatbacks
    • Head Restraints
  • Rear Seats
    • Rear Seat Operation
  • Safety Belts
    • Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
    • Questions and Answers About Safety Belts
    • How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
    • Driver Position
    • Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
    • Right Front Passenger Position
    • Center Passenger Position
    • Rear Seat Passengers
    • Safety Belt Extender
  • Child Restraints
    • Older Children
    • Infants and Young Children
    • Child Restraint Systems
    • Where to Put the Restraint (Crew Cab)
    • Top Strap
    • Top Strap Anchor Location
    • Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)
    • Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System (Rear)
    • Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position
    • Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat Position
    • Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position
  • Air Bag System
    • Where Are the Air Bags?
    • When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
    • What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
    • How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
    • What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?
    • Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
    • Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
  • Restraint System Check
    • Checking Your Restraint Systems
    • Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
• Features and Controls
  • Keys
    • Remote Keyless Entry System
    • Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
  • Doors and Locks
    • Door Locks
    • Power Door Locks
    • Programmable Automatic Door Locks
    • Rear Door Security Locks
    • Lockout Protection
    • Leaving Your Vehicle
    • Tailgate
  • Windows
    • Manual Windows
    • Power Windows
    • Sliding Rear Window
    • Sun Visors
  • Theft-Deterrent Systems
    • Content Theft-Deterrent
    • Passlock®
  • Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
    • New Vehicle Break-In
    • Ignition Positions
    • Starting Your Engine
    • Engine Coolant Heater
    • Automatic Transmission Operation
    • Four-Wheel Drive
    • Parking Brake
    • Shifting Into Park (P)
    • Shifting Out of Park (P)
    • Parking Over Things That Burn
    • Engine Exhaust
    • Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
  • Mirrors
    • Manual Rearview Mirror
    • Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
    • Outside Manual Mirror
    • Outside Power Mirrors
    • Outside Convex Mirror
    • Outside Heated Mirrors
  • Storage Areas
    • Glove Box
    • Overhead Console
    • Front Storage Area
    • Assist Handles
    • Garment Hooks
    • Luggage Carrier
    • Bed Rails
  • Sunroof
• Instrument Panel
  • Instrument Panel Overview
    • Hazard Warning Flashers
    • Other Warning Devices
    • Horn
    • Tilt Wheel
    • Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
    • Exterior Lamps
    • Interior Lamps
    • Accessory Power Outlets
    • Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
  • Climate Controls
    • Climate Control System
    • Outlet Adjustment
  • Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
    • Instrument Panel Cluster
    • Speedometer and Odometer
    • Trip Odometer
    • Tachometer
    • Safety Belt Reminder Light
    • Air Bag Readiness Light
    • Charging System Light
    • Voltmeter Gage
    • Brake System Warning Light
    • Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
    • Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
    • Malfunction Indicator Lamp
    • Oil Pressure Gage
    • Security Light
    • Service Four-Wheel Drive Warning Light
    • Check Gages Warning Light
    • Fuel Gage
    • Low Fuel Warning Light
  • Audio System(s)
    • Setting the Time for Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS)
    • Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS)
    • AM-FM Radio
    • Radio with CD
    • Radio with Cassette and CD
    • Radio with Six-Disc CD
    • Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios)
    • Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios)
    • Understanding Radio Reception
    • Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
    • Care of Your CDs
    • Care of Your CD Player
    • Fixed Mast Antenna
    • XM’ Satellite Radio Antenna System (48 Contiguous US States)
• Driving Your Vehicle
  • Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
    • Defensive Driving
    • Drunken Driving
    • Control of a Vehicle
    • Braking
    • Locking Rear Axle
    • Steering
    • Off-Road Recovery
    • Passing
    • Loss of Control
    • Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
    • Driving at Night
    • Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
    • City Driving
    • Freeway Driving
    • Before Leaving on a Long Trip
    • Highway Hypnosis
    • Hill and Mountain Roads
    • Winter Driving
    • If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
  • Towing
    • Towing Your Vehicle
    • Recreational Vehicle Towing
    • Loading Your Vehicle
    • Truck-Camper Loading Information
    • Trailer Recommendations
    • Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab
    • Towing a Trailer
• Service and Appearance Care
  • Service
    • Doing Your Own Service Work
    • Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle
  • Fuel
    • Gasoline Octane
    • Gasoline Specifications
    • California Fuel
    • Additives
    • Fuels in Foreign Countries
    • Filling Your Tank
    • Filling a Portable Fuel Container
  • Checking Things Under the Hood
    • Hood Release
    • Engine Compartment Overview
    • Engine Oil
    • Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
    • Automatic Transmission Fluid
    • Engine Coolant
    • Radiator Pressure Cap
    • Engine Overheating
    • Cooling System
    • Engine Fan Noise
    • Power Steering Fluid
    • Windshield Washer Fluid
    • Brakes
    • Battery
    • Jump Starting
  • Rear Axle
  • Four-Wheel Drive
  • Front Axle
  • Bulb Replacement
    • Halogen Bulbs
    • Headlamps
    • One-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps
    • Two-Piece Front Turn Signal Lamps
    • Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
    • Taillamps
    • Replacement Bulbs
  • Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
  • Tires
    • Inflation - Tire Pressure
    • Tire Inspection and Rotation
    • When It Is Time for New Tires
    • Buying New Tires
    • Uniform Tire Quality Grading
    • Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
    • Wheel Replacement
    • Tire Chains
    • If a Tire Goes Flat
    • Changing a Flat Tire
    • Compact Spare Tire
  • Appearance Care
    • Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
    • Care of Safety Belts
    • Weatherstrips
    • Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
    • Sheet Metal Damage
    • Finish Damage
    • Underbody Maintenance
    • Chemical Paint Spotting
    • Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
  • Vehicle Identification
    • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
    • Service Parts Identification Label
  • Electrical System
    • Add-On Electrical Equipment
    • Headlamps
    • Windshield Wiper Fuses
    • Power Windows and Other Power Options
    • Fuses and Circuit Breakers
  • Capacities and Specifications
• Maintenance Schedule
  • Maintenance Schedule
    • Introduction
    • Maintenance Requirements
    • Your Vehicle and the Environment
    • How This Section is Organized
    • Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
    • Using Your Maintenance Schedule
    • Selecting the Right Schedule
    • Short Trip/City Scheduled Maintenance
    • Long Trip/Highway Scheduled Maintenance
    • Part B: Owner Checks and Services
    • At Each Fuel Fill
    • At Least Once a Month
    • At Least Twice a Year
    • At Least Four Times a Year
    • At Least Once a Year
    • Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections
    • Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection
    • Exhaust System Inspection
    • Fuel System Inspection
    • Engine Cooling System Inspection
    • Throttle System Inspection
    • Transfer Case and Front Axle (Four-Wheel Drive) Inspection
    • Brake System Inspection
    • Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
    • Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
    • Engine Drive Belt Routing
    • Part E: Maintenance Record
• Customer Assistance and Information
  • Customer Assistance and Information
    • Customer Satisfaction Procedure
    • Online Owner Center
    • Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users
    • Customer Assistance Offices
    • GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities
    • Roadside Assistance Program
    • Courtesy Transportation
    • Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Records
  • Reporting Safety Defects
    • Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government
    • Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government
    • Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors
    • Service Publications Ordering Information
• Index

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