2006 GMC SIERRA ignition

Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor located on
the top of the instrument panel in the defroster grille.
Be sure it is not covered, or the system will be on
whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees
a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once you
leave the garage, it will take approximately one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if it is
bright enough outside. During that delay, your instrument
panel cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure
your instrument panel brightness control is in the full
bright position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on
page 3-18.To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the control to the off position.
You may be able to turn off your Automatic Headlamp
System. SeeDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) on
page 3-15for more information.
Your headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. You can program this feature using the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-64.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need them.
3-16

Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has fog lamps, use them for better vision
in foggy or misty conditions.
The fog lamp button is
located on the left side
of the instrument panel.
Your parking lamps and/or low-beam headlamps must
be on for your fog lamps to work.Press the button to turn the fog lamps on. Press the
button again to turn them off. An indicator light will glow
in the button when the fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as much
light as your headlamps. Never use your fog lamps
in the dark without turning on your headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever your high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off,
the fog lamps will come on again.
The fog lamps will be cancelled after the ignition is
turned off. If you still want to use the fog lamps after you
restart the vehicle, you will need to press the fog
lamp button again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
3-17

Dome Lamp Override
E(Dome Lamp Override):You can use the dome
override button, located below the exterior lamps control,
to set the dome lamps to come on automatically when a
door is opened, or to remain off. To turn the lamps off,
press the button into the in position. With the button in
this position, the dome lamps will remain off when the
doors are open. To return the lamps to automatic
operation, press the button again and return it to the
out position. With the button in this position, the dome
lamps will come on when you open a door.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry
feature.
When the doors are opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the dome override button is in the out position. If the
dome override button is pressed in, the lamps will not
come on.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lights will
not come on if the dome override button is pressed in.
Front Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console.
To turn on the reading lamps, press the button located
next to each lamp. To turn them off, press the button
again.
The lamps can be adjusted to point in the direction
you want.
Your vehicle may also have reading lamps in other
locations. To turn the lamps on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp. The lamps are xed and cannot
be adjusted.
Cargo Lamp
The cargo lamp button is
located on the left side of
the instrument panel. Press
the button to turn the cargo
lamp on. Press the button
again to turn it off.
An indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will
illuminate when the cargo lamp is turned on, and the
ignition key is turned to RUN.
3-19

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Engine Hour Meter Display
The Driver Information Center (DIC) can also display
the number of hours the engine has run. To display the
hour meter, turn the ignition off, press and hold the
reset button for at least four seconds. The hour meter
will be displayed for up to 30 seconds, or until the
ignition is turned on. SeeDIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-53for more information.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has
been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
Press the reset button, located on the instrument panel
cluster next to the trip odometer display, to toggle
between the trip odometer and the regular odometer.
Holding the reset button for approximately one second
while the trip odometer is displayed will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.
SeeDIC Operation and Displays on page 3-53for more
information.
3-33

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system, your
rearview mirror will have a passenger airbag status
indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to RUN or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF,
or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a
system check.Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator will
light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag.
Your vehicle may have a label on your sun visor that
says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.”
This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so
great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is failsafe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in the rear seat,
even if the airbag is off.
Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in the right
front passenger seat the unless passenger airbag status
indicator shows off. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – United States
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator – Canada
3-37

Battery Warning Light
If this light is displayed
when the engine is running,
you may have a problem
with your charging system.
The battery display will also stay on while the key is in
RUN until the engine is started.
If the light stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or some
other charging system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving with this light displayed could drain your
battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories,
such as the radio and the air conditioner.
Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is not
running, but the ignition is
in RUN, this gage shows
your battery’s state of
charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The gage may
transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher
reading, this is normal. Readings between the low and
high warning zones indicate the normal operating range.
The voltmeter gage may also read lower when in fuel
economy mode. This is normal.
3-40

Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating
in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power at
engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create maximum power.
You can only drive for a short time with the reading
in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle
serviced as soon as possible.
Up-Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
This light is used on
some models with
manual transmissions.
The shift indicator light will show you when to shift to
the next highest gear, and will help you get the best fuel
economy.
Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning light will
ash when you set the parking brake. The light will ash if
the parking brake doesn’t release fully. If you try to drive
with the parking brake engaged, a chime will sound when
the vehicle speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on and a chime sounds there
could be a brake problem. Have your brake system
inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
United StatesCanada
3-41

Traction Off Light
If you have the Traction
Assist System, this light
should come on briey
when you turn the ignition
to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, the system may
require service; have it xed so it will be there to warn
you if the system is turned off.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you are driving,
there may be a problem with your Traction Assist System
and your vehicle may need service. When this light is on,
the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle
is working. During a majority of the operation, the gage
will read 210°F (100°C) or less. If you are pulling a
load or going up hills, it is normal for the temperature
to uctuate and approach the 250°F (122°C) mark. If
the gage reaches the 260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-37.
United StatesCanada
3-43