2009 GMC SIERRA 1500 brake

At Least Once a Year
Starter Switch Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular
brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-50.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to
turn off the engine immediately if it starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle
should start only in P (Park) or N (Neutral). If the
vehicle starts in any other position, contact your
dealer/retailer for service.
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle
could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or
others could be injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough
room around the vehicle. It should be parked on a
level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-50.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
but do not start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of P (Park) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact your dealer/retailer
for service.
6-13

Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position.
The ignition should turn to LOCK/OFF only
when the shift lever is in P (Park).
The ignition key should come out only in
LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission P (Park) Mechanism
Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, the vehicle could
begin to move. You or others could be injured and
property could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it begins to roll.
Be ready to apply the regular brake at once
should the vehicle begin to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability:
With the engine running and the transmission
in N (Neutral), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
To check the P (Park) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to P (Park). Then
release the parking brake followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care
to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other
debris can collect.
6-14

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
This maintenance section applies to vehicles with a
gasoline engine. If your vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the maintenance schedule section in the
DURAMAX
®Diesel manual.
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets
GM Standard GM6094M and
displays the American Petroleum
Institute Certied for Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol.
To determine the proper viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine,
seeEngine Oil on page 5-17.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-32.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377967,
in Canada 89021320).
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241,
in Canada 10953474).
Floor Shift
LinkageLubriplate Lubricant Aerosol
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346293,
in Canada 992723) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2
Category LB or GC-LB.
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985,
in Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Front Axle
(1500 Series) –
Four-Wheel
DriveSAE 80W-90 Axle Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021671,
in Canada 89021672).
6-15

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin
contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and
service of your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
7-16

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts
were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded
by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the
type of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment
is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have access
to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for
GM research needs or may be made available to others
for research purposes, where a need is shown and the
data is not tied to a specic vehicle or vehicle owner.
7-18

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-4
Accessory Power............................................2-23
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-22
Active Fuel Management™...............................2-28
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-40
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-90
Additional Required Services, Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-7
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-8
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-123
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-26
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-24, 3-25
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-37
Airbag System................................................1-72
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-90
Airbag Off Switch........................................1-81
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-79
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-84
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-89
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-79Airbag System (cont.)
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-80
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-77
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-75
Airbags
Off Light.....................................................3-38
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-40
Antenna
Fixed Mast................................................3-142
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-142
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Warning Light.............................................3-43
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-120
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-118
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-122
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-119
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-116
Finish Care...............................................5-119
Finish Damage..........................................5-121
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-117
Interior Cleaning........................................5-115
Leather....................................................5-117
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-121
1

Appearance Care (cont.)
Tires........................................................5-121
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-122
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-118
Weatherstrips............................................5-118
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-120
Ashtray.........................................................3-23
Assistance Program, Roadside........................... 7-7
Audio System.................................................3-84
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-140
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-118
Setting the Clock.........................................3-85
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-142
Audio System(s).............................................3-87
Audio Systems
Radio Reception........................................3-141
Rear Seat (RSA).......................................3-138
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-140
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-18
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..................................................5-24, 5-27
Operation...................................................2-28
Auxiliary
Roof Mounted Lamp....................................3-19
Axle, Rear.....................................................5-51B
Battery..........................................................5-45
Electric Power Management..........................3-21
Run-Down Protection...................................3-22
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................6-18
Bluetooth
®....................................................3-118
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Pedal and Adjustable Throttle........................2-26
Brake Fluid....................................................5-41
Brakes..........................................................5-41
Antilock....................................................... 4-5
Parking......................................................2-50
System Warning Light..................................3-42
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-22
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-66
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
and Cargo Lamp......................................5-62
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-19
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-61
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-58
Headlamps.................................................5-61
2

Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-14
Release.....................................................5-14
Horn ............................................................... 3-8
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-22
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-41
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-76
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-20
Cluster.......................................................3-34
Overview...............................................3-4, 3-6
Storage Area..............................................2-81
Introduction...................................................... 6-2
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-46
K
Keyless Entry, Remote Operation........................ 2-5
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-68
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-45
Lamps
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp........................3-19
Cargo........................................................3-21
Daytime Running (DRL)................................3-17
Dome ........................................................3-20
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-20
License Plate..............................................5-65
Puddle.......................................................3-19
Reading.....................................................3-21
Lap Belt........................................................1-36
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-30
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-49
Latches, Seatback..........................................1-13
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-20
Exit...........................................................3-20
Lights
Airbag Off..................................................3-38
Airbag Readiness........................................3-37
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-43
Brake System Warning.................................3-42
Charging System.........................................3-41
Cruise Control.............................................3-50
8