2004 GMC SIERRA four wheel drive

Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Transfer Case Settings
Driving
Conditions2HIAUTO
4WD4HI 4LO N
Normal YES
Variable YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in
Tow*YES
*See ªRecreational Vehicle Towingº in the Index for
further information.
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 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 4HI when you need extra traction, such
a 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.
g(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may never need 4LO. 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.
2-40

Electronic Transfer Case
If your four-wheel-drive
vehicle has the electronic
transfer case, the
transfer case switches 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:
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Transfer Case Settings
Driving Conditions 2HI 4HI 4LO N
Normal YES
Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-54orTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-53for further
information.
h(2HI):This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two-wheel drive.
G(4HI):This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
2-44

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 4-70.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
·Pull the shift lever toward you.
2-49

·Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear ± not in
NEUTRAL (N).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
5. 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 (Automatic
Transmission Only)
{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.
If you have four-wheel drive with a manual
transfer case shift lever and 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 ± not
in NEUTRAL.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch ®re.
You or others could be injured. Don't leave
your vehicle with the engine running unless
you have to.
2-50

{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).
{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle 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. Always set your parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-49.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-70.
Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Pull the tab under the mirror toward you to reduce glare
from headlamps behind you after dark. Push the tab
away from you for normal daytime operation.
2-54

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-19
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-20
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-21
Climate Controls............................................3-21
Climate Control System.................................3-21
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-26
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-33
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators.............3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-34
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-35
Tachometer.................................................3-35
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-36
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-36Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-37
Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator.................3-40
Battery Warning Light....................................3-42
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-42
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-43
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-43
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-45
Traction Off Light..........................................3-45
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-46
Transmission Temperature Gage.....................3-47
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-49
Oil Pressure Gage........................................3-52
Cruise Control Light......................................3-53
Four-Wheel-Drive Light..................................3-53
Tow/Haul Mode Light....................................3-53
Overdrive Disable.........................................3-53
Fuel Gage...................................................3-54
Low Fuel Warning Light.................................3-54
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-55
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-55
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-66
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Button. See ªDome Lampsº under
Interior Lamps on page 3-19.
B. Exterior Lamp Controls. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. See ªClimate Controlsº in Section 3.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Electronic Transfer
Case/Traction Assist System (TAS). See
Four-Wheel
Drive on page 2-35.
E. Multifunction Lever. See
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-34.
G. Gearshift Lever (Automatic Transmission). See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
H. Tow/Haul Selector and Overdrive Disable (Allison
Transmission
žOnly) Button (If Equipped). SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26.
I. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-73.
J. Comfort Control System. See
Climate Control
System on page 3-21.
K. Instrument Panel Fuse Block.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-126.L. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-10.
M. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-55.
N. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block. See
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-126.
O. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-48.
P. Tilt Wheel Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on page 3-7.
Q. Lighter and Accessory Power Outlet. See
Accessory
Power Outlets on page 3-20, andAshtrays and
Cigarette Lighter on page 3-21.
R. Storage Area. See ªStorage Areasº in Section 2.
S. Ashtray. See
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
on page 3-21.
T. Manual Selectable Ride Control (If Equipped). See
Manual Selectable Ride on page 4-11.
U. 4WS Switch (If Equipped). See
QUADRASTEERŸ
on page 4-14.
V. Passenger Air Bag Off Switch. See
Air Bag Off
Switch on page 1-76.
W. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-66.
3-5

Cruise Control Light
The cruise light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control. See ªCruise
Controlº under
Turn
Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-7
.
Four-Wheel-Drive Light
The four-wheel drive
indicator will light up when
you shift a manual
transfer case into
four-wheel drive and the
front axle engages.
Some delay between shifting and the indicator's lighting
is normal.
See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-35for more
information.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
This light is displayed
when the Tow/Haul mode
has been activated.
For more information, see
Towing a Trailer on
page 4-70.
Overdrive Disable
This light will illuminate
when the overdrive disable
feature is activated. The
overdrive disable
feature will prevent your
vehicle from shifting
into ®fth (5) gear.
3-53