2004 GMC SIERRA DENALI parking brake

Keys...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-4
Doors and Locks.............................................2-6
Door Locks....................................................2-6
Power Door Locks..........................................2-7
Delayed Locking.............................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-8
Rear Doors..................................................2-11
Tailgate.......................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-13
Power Windows............................................2-14
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-16
Passlock
ž....................................................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-18
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-18
Ignition Positions..........................................2-18
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-19
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-20
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-22
All-Wheel Drive............................................2-25
Parking Brake..............................................2-25Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-26
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-29
Engine Exhaust............................................2-29
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked. . . .2-30
Mirrors...........................................................2-31
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
ž, Compass and Temperature
Display....................................................2-31
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-34
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors.....................2-34
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-35
Outside Curb View Assist Mirrors....................2-35
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-36
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-36
OnStar
žSystem.............................................2-36
HomeLinkžTransmitter...................................2-38
Programming the HomeLinkžTransmitter.........2-38
Storage Areas................................................2-42
Glove Box...................................................2-42
Cupholder(s)................................................2-42
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-42
Tonneau Cover............................................2-43
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-45
Memory Seat...............................................2-45
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Automatic Transmission Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission
that features an electronic shift position indicator
located within the instrument panel cluster. This display
is powered anytime the shift lever is capable of being
moved out of PARK (P). See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 5-105.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle can't move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-26
. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-58.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
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 4-46.
2-22

When Tow/Haul is
activated the Tow/Haul
symbol will illuminate
on the instrument panel
cluster. See
Tow/Haul
ModeunderTowing
a Trailer on page 4-58for
more information.
All-Wheel Drive
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 adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ¯ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least
three seconds.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-58.
2-25

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. With
four-wheel drive, if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear Ð not
in NEUTRAL. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-58.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
·Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-26

·Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake ®rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is ®rmly set before you leave it. After you
move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without ®rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).
2-27

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may ®nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque
lock.º To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver's seat. To ®nd out how, see
Shifting Into
Park (P) on page 2-26.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
beforeyou release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK when
the ignition is in the LOCK position. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-22.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
move the shift lever into the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. There is no shift
interlock in this key position.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system ®xed as soon as you can.
2-28

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-29.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust Ð with CO Ð can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See
Winter Driving on page 4-42.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not 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 will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-26.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-58.
2-30

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Dome Lamp Override Button. See
Interior Lamps on
page 3-16.
B. Exterior Lamp Control. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-12.
C. Air Outlets. See ªClimate Controlsº in Section 3.
D. Multifunction Lever. See
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-5.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-28.
F. Gearshift Lever. See
Automatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-22.
G. Tow/Haul Selector Switch (If Equipped). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-22.
H. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-64.
I. Comfort Control System. See
Dual Automatic
Climate Control System on page 3-19.
J. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-105.K. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-9.
L. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped). See
Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-85.
M. Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block. See
Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-105.
N. Tilt Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on page 3-5.
O. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-25.
P. Compact Disc Changer (If Equipped). See
CD
Changer on page 3-82.
Q. Ashtray. See
Accessory Power Outlets on page 3-18.
R. Accessory Power Outlet. See
Accessory Power
Outlets on page 3-18.
S. Air Bag Off Switch, 4±Wheel Steer Button, Manual
Selectable Ride Switch. See
Air Bag Off Switch
on page 1-68,QUADRASTEERŸ on page 4-12.
T. Glovebox. See
Glove Box on page 2-42.
3-3