2007 GMC SIERRA CLASSIC Owners Manual

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
If the vehicle has Retained Accessory Power
(RAP), certain features will continue to operate for
up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned
to LOCK unless a door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Your vehicle has a Starter Motor Control. This
feature assists in starting the engine and protects
the electrical system. This feature may cause
the engine to crank even after the ignition key is
not in START.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any
other position — that is a safety feature. To restart
when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N)
only. If you have a diesel engine refer to the
diesel supplement for the starting procedure.Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could
damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P)
only when your vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N) and
the parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch
pedal to the oor and start the engine. Your
vehicle will not start if the clutch pedal is not all
the way down — that is a safety feature.
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Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn
the ignition key to START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go
down as your engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Your vehicle has a Computer-Controlled
Cranking System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects the electrical
system. If the ignition key is turned to the
START, and then released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine will continue
cranking until the vehicle starts or until
it exceeds the maximum cranking time allowed,
approximately 15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear damage,
this system also prevents cranking if the
engine is already running. The engine cranking
can be stopped by turning the ignition switch
to the ACCESSORY or LOCK.Notice:Holding your key in START for longer
than 15 seconds at a time will disengage
the starter motor, cause your battery to be
drained much sooner, and add excessive heat
that can damage your starter motor. Try not
to hold the key in START for longer than
15 seconds and wait about 15 seconds
between each try to help avoid draining your
battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it does not start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the oor,
while you hold the ignition key in START.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and
let up on the accelerator pedal. Wait about
15 seconds between each try.
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When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or−18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn
the ignition key to START and hold it there up
to 15 seconds. When the engine starts, let
go of the key.
2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but
then stops, it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all
the way to the oor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for about three seconds.
When the engine starts, let go of the key and
accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey but then
stops again, do the same thing, but this time
keep the pedal down for ve or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you add
electrical parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, your engine might not
perform properly. Any resulting damage would
not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.Engine Coolant Heater
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can help. You will get easier
starting and better fuel economy during engine
warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should
be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to
starting your vehicle. At temperatures above
32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not
required. Your vehicle may also have an internal
thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This
will prevent operation of the engine coolant
heater when the temperature is at or above
0°F (−18 C°) as noted on the cord.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical
cord. The cord is located on the driver’s
side of the engine compartment, near
the power steering uid reservoir. If you have
a diesel engine, refer to diesel supplement
for location.
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3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC
outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded
outlet could cause an electrical shock.
Also, the wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a re. You
could be seriously injured. Plug the cord
into a properly grounded three-prong
110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not
reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts. If you do
not, it could be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater
plugged in? The answer depends on the outside
temperature, the kind of oil you have, and
some other things. Instead of trying to list
everything here, we ask that you contact yourdealer in the area where you will be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best
advice for that particular area.
Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission,
it features an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster. This display
must be powered anytime the shift lever is moved
out of PARK (P). SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 600.
There are several different positions for your shift
lever.
Automatic Transmission
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See “Range Selection Mode” later in this section.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It
is the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily. If
your vehicle has the Allison Transmission
®, with the
Power Take-Off (PTO), use PARK (P) when
starting. The Allison Transmission
®has a park pawl
that is designed to hold the weight of commercial
medium duty trucks. Therefore, the Allison
Transmission
®uses larger parts than other
automatic transmissions. These larger parts may
sometimes make a clunking noise when the
selector lever is moved from DRIVE (D) or
REVERSE (R) to PARK (P). This is normal and
there is no damage occurring during these shifts.
When parked on a hill, especially with a heavy load,you may notice an increase in the effort to shift out
of Park. See Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
underShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 170for more information.
{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. 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).
SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 170. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 429.
Allison Transmission®
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{CAUTION:
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle
will be free to roll — even if your shift
lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer
case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear, two-wheel
high (2H) or four-wheel high (4H) or
four-wheel low (4L) — not in NEUTRAL.
SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 170.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up. If your
vehicle has the Allison Transmission
®,theRonthe
shift display, may blink if the shift inhibitor is active.
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, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 406.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is
being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high
speed may damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at high
speed when shifting your vehicle.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle. If
you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the
next gear and has more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 371
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for
off-road driving. You may want to shift the
transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts too often.
If your vehicle has the Allison Transmission
®, it will
shift into rst range when DRIVE (D) is selected.
As vehicle speed increases, the transmission
will upshift automatically through each available
range up to SIXTH (6). As the vehicle slows,
the transmission will downshift automatically.The Allison Transmission
®uses a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission shifting to
the current driving conditions in order to reduce
rapid upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to determine
before making an upshift if the engine will be able
to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things
such as throttle position, vehicle load, and
hill grade. If the shift stabilization feature
determines that current vehicle speed cannot be
maintained, the transmission does not upshift
and instead holds the current gear. In some cases,
this may appear to be a delayed shift, however
the transmission is operating normally.
The Allison Transmission
®also uses adaptive shift
controls. Adaptive shift controls continually
compares key shift parameters to pre-programmed
ideal shift conditions. The Allison Transmission
®
constantly makes adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to the way the vehicle is
being used, such as with a heavy load. During this
adaptive shift controls process, some shifts may
feel different as the transmission determines
optimum settings for a particular shift.
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MANUAL MODE (M):This position, is available
on vehicles with the Allison Transmission®.It
lets drivers select the range of gears appropriate
for current driving conditions. If your vehicle
has this feature, see Range Select Mode (Allison
Transmission
®) later in this section.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed
more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes.
You might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D)
when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears and when going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than THIRD (3) without using your
brakes. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) in an
automatic transmission, the transmission will start
in second gear. You can use this feature for
reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you
are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on
slippery road surfaces.For an Allison Transmission
®, see Low Traction
Mode later in this section.
FIRST (1):For an automatic transmission, this
position reduces vehicle speed even more than
SECOND (2) without using your brakes. You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If
the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is
moving forward, the transmission will not shift into
rst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
For an Allison Transmission
®, This position reduces
vehicle speed, without using your brakes. You can
use it for major/sever downgrades and off-road
driving where the vehicle would otherwise
accelerate due to steepness of grade. When you
shift to FIRST (1) it will provide the lowest gear
appropriate to your current road speed and will
continue to downshift as the vehicle slows,
eventually downshifting to FIRST (1) gear.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. The repair will not be covered by
your warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin
the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
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