2006 GMC SIERRA 1500 tow

SERVICE 4WD (Four-Wheel-Drive)
If a problem occurs with the four-wheel-drive system,
this message will appear on the DIC. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message is still displayed
or appears again when you begin driving, the
four-wheel-drive system needs service. See your
GM dealer.
SERVICE AIRBAG
If there is a problem with the airbag system, this message
will be displayed on the DIC. Have your GM dealer
inspect the system for problems. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-35andAirbag System on page 1-70for
more information. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons
will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display. If your vehicle does not have the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the SERVICE BRAKE BOOSTER
message is displayed.
If the brake system warning light is also on,
you should have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-41.
If the brake system warning light is not on, you
still have brakes, but the supplemental brake
assist system on vehicles with rear disc brakes
may not operate properly. In the event of a
vacuum loss, you may not have vacuum power
assist for braking. The brake pedal will be
harder to push and it will take longer to stop.
If you continue to drive with this message
displayed it can lead to a crash. Have the
brake system serviced as soon as possible.
If your vehicle has vacuum assist power brakes, this
message will be displayed on the DIC when there is a
problem with the Supplemental Brake Assist system.
3-61

Do not drive your vehicle with overheated
transmission uid or while the transmission
temperature warning is displayed.
If the transmission uid in the vehicle gets hot, this
message will appear on the DIC along with a continuous
chime. Driving with the transmission uid temperature
high can cause damage to the vehicle. Stop the vehicle
and let it idle to allow the transmission to cool. This
message will clear and the chime will stop when the uid
temperature reaches a safe level. SeeTransmission
Temperature Gage on page 3-44.
TRANSMISSION HOT
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed on
the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you can
damage the transmission. This could lead to costly
repairs that would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle with overheated
transmission uid or while the transmission
temperature warning is displayed.
If the transmission uid temperature becomes high,
this message will appear on the DIC display.When the transmission enters the protection mode,
you may notice a change in the transmission shifting
patterns. When the transmission uid temperature
returns to normal, the display will turn off and the
transmission shifting patterns will return to normal.
If the vehicle has the Tow/Haul mode, use this feature
if the transmission is operating at higher temperatures
and/or the following situations exist, which can cause
the transmission to operate at higher temperatures:
Towing a trailer
Hot outside air temperatures
Hauling a large or heavy load
Over-loading
Low transmission uid level
High transmission uid level
Restricted air ow to the radiator and the auxiliary
transmission oil cooler
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, seeScheduled Maintenance (Gasoline
Engine) on page 6-4for the transmission your vehicle is
equipped with for the proper transmission maintenance
intervals. Also seeTransmission Temperature Gage on
page 3-44for more information.
3-63

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, press and release AUDIO until
BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up
or the down arrow to move the sound toward the right
or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release AUDIO until FAD appears
on the display. Then press and hold the up or the down
arrow to move the sound toward the front or the rear
speakers.
To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select
BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep. L (balance) and a
zero or F and a zero will appear on the display.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, rst end out of audio mode by pressing another
button, causing the radio to perform that function or by
waiting ve seconds for the display to return to time
of day. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear
on the display.
Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular cab
model.
Radio Messages
CAL (Calibrated):The audio system has been
calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL
appears on the display it means that the radio has not
been congured properly for your vehicle and must be
returned to your GM dealer for service.
LOC (Locked):This message is displayed when the
THEFTLOCK
®system has locked up. Take the vehicle
to your GM dealer for service.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be
corrected, contact your GM dealer.
3-74

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:Push and release the AUDIO knob until BASS
or TREB appears on the display. Turn the knob to
increase or to decrease. The display will show the bass
or treble level. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease
the treble.
To adjust the bass or treble to the middle position, while it
is displayed, push and hold the AUDIO knob. The radio
will produce one beep and adjust the display level to the
middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear
on the display, you will hear a beep, and the display level
will be adjusted to the middle position.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
Selecting CUSTOM or changing bass or treble,
returns the EQ to the manual bass and treble settings.
The radio will save separate AUTO EQ settings for
each preset and source.
If the radio is equipped with the Bose
®audio system,
the equalization settings are either CUSTOM or TALK.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO
knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob to
move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound
toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or fade to the middle position,
while it is displayed, push the AUDIO knob, then push it
again and hold it until the radio produces one beep. The
balance or fade will be adjusted to the middle position
and the display will show the speaker balance.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear
on the display, you will hear a beep, and the display level
will be adjusted to the middle position.
3-78

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO
knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob
to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound
toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or fade to the middle position while
it is displayed, push the AUDIO knob, then push it again
and hold it until the radio produces one beep. The
balance or fade will be adjusted to the middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or
speaker control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear
on the display, you will hear a beep, and the display level
will be adjusted to the middle position.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the TYPE button to activate program type
select mode. TYPE and a PTY will appear on the
display.
2. Turn the TYPE knob or press and release the
TYPE button to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press and
release either the TYPE or the SEEK arrows to
select and to take you to the PTY’s rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY, press the
TYPE button then, press either the TYPE or the
SEEK arrows once.
5. Press either the TYPE or the SEEK arrows twice to
exit program type select mode.
If the radio cannot nd the desired program type, NONE
will appear on the display and the radio will return to the
last station you were listening to.
3-89

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
AUDIO:Push and release the AUDIO knob until BASS
or TREB appears on the display. Turn the knob to
increase or to decrease. The display will show the bass
or treble level. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease
the treble.
To adjust the bass or treble to the middle position while it
is displayed, push and hold the AUDIO knob. The radio
will produce one beep and adjust the display level to the
middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or
speaker controls are displayed. ALL CENTERED will
appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
The radio will save separate AUTO EQ settings for
each preset and source.
If the radio is equipped with the Bose
®audio system,
the equalization settings are either CUSTOM or TALK.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right
and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO
knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob
to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and rear
speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FAD
appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the
sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or fade to the middle position
while it is displayed, push and hold the AUDIO knob.
The radio will produce one beep and adjust the display
level to the middle position.
To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone
or speaker controls are displayed. ALL CENTERED
will appear on the display and you will hear a beep.
3-103

Problem Recommended Action
Sometimes the wireless
headphone audio cuts out
or buzzes.Check for obstructions,
low batteries, reception
range, and interference
from cellular telephone
towers or by using your
cellular telephone in the
vehicle.
Check that the
headphones are facing
the front of the vehicle.
I lost the remote and/or
the headphones.See your dealer for
assistance.
The DVD is playing,
but there is no picture
or sound.Check that the DVD player
is in DVD mode.
The audio/video skips or
jumps.The DVD or CD could
be dirty, scratched, or
damaged.
The audio from the radio
for the Radio with Six-Disc
CD and XM™ has taken
over the audio from the
DVD or CD when using
the wired headphones.The RSE is working
correctly.
Use the wireless
headphones or have the
front seat passengers
listen to another audio
source.DVD Messages
The following errors may be displayed on the video
screen:
Disc Format Error:This message will be displayed if a
disc is inserted upside down, if the disc is not readable,
or if the format is not compatible with the DVD player.
Load/Eject Error:This message will be displayed if the
disc is not properly loaded or ejected.
Disc Play Error:This message will be displayed if the
DVD player cannot play the disc. Scratched or damaged
discs will cause this error.
Region Code Error:This message will be displayed if
the region code of the DVD is not compatible with the
region code of the DVD player.
No Disc:This message will be displayed if any of the
buttons on the DVD faceplate or remote control are
pressed and no disc is present in the DVD player.
3-126

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Assist System (TAS)...........................4-8
Manual Selectable Ride.................................4-10
Locking Rear Axle........................................4-11
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-15
Off-Road Driving...........................................4-16
Driving at Night............................................4-32
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-33
City Driving..................................................4-36
Freeway Driving...........................................4-37Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-38
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-39
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-40
Winter Driving..............................................4-42
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-46
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-46
Recovery Hooks...........................................4-47
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-48
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.......4-54
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................4-59
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab..................4-61
Towing..........................................................4-62
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-62
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-62
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-67
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-96
Power Take-Off (PTO)...................................4-97
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1