2009 GMC SIERRA 1500 ignition

Parking Brake
For vehicles with a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down,
then pushing down the parking brake pedal.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 3-42.
A chime sounds and the warning light ashes when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 5 mph (8 km/h).
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then pull the bottom edge of the lever with
the parking brake symbol, located above the parking
brake pedal.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53.
2-50

For vehicles without a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down,
then pushing down the parking brake pedal.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 3-42.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push down momentarily on the parking
brake pedal until you feel the pedal release. Slowly
pull your foot up off the park brake pedal. If the parking
brake is not released when you begin to drive, the
brake system warning light will ash and a chime will
sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-53.
2-51

Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even if
the shift lever is in P (Park). So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear — not in
N (Neutral). If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-53.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking
brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-50for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by
pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not
in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the
engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and the transfer case is
in N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even if
the shift lever is in P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear — not in N (Neutral).
CAUTION: (Continued)
2-52

Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in P (Park) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brake pedal
is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-46for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever all the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the
vehicle serviced soon.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under the vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that
can burn.
2-54

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Hold the inside rearview mirror in the center to move it
for a clearer view behind your vehicle. Adjust the
mirror to avoid glare from the headlamps behind you.
Push the tab forward for daytime use and pull it for
nighttime use.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three additional control
buttons for the OnStar®system. See your dealer/retailer
for more information about OnStar®and how to
subscribe to it. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-70for
more information about the services OnStar®provides.
O(On/Off):Press to turn the dimming feature on or off.
The vehicle may also have a Rear Vision Camera (RVC).
SeeRear Vision Camera (RVC) on page 2-64for more
information.
If the vehicle has RVC, the
Obutton may not be
available.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Automatic dimming reduces the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature comes on and the indicator light illuminates
each time the ignition is turned to start.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror.
Use a soft towel dampened with water.
Outside Manual Mirrors
Adjust the outside mirror so that the side of the vehicle
and the area behind are seen.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To fold,
push the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror
outward, to return to its original position.
Using hood-mounted air deectors and add-on convex
mirror attachments could decrease mirror performance.
2-57

Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory package, the passenger
and/or driver mirror tilts to a preselected position when
the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This feature lets the driver
view the curb when parallel parking. The mirror(s)
return to the original position when the vehicle is shifted
out of R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 3-75for more information.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things, like other
vehicles, look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could
hit a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror
or glance over your shoulder before changing
lanes.The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Outside Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger):Press to heat the
mirrors. Only the upper glass of the mirror is heated.
The lower convex part of the mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle’s features, see “Rear Window
Defogger” under,Climate Control System (With Heater
Only) on page 3-24orClimate Control System (With
Air Conditioning) on page 3-25orDual Automatic
Climate Control System on page 3-27for more
information.
2-60

Sunroof
On vehicle with a power sliding sunroof, the ignition
needs to be turned to RUN, or the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) must be activated to open or close the
sunroof. When RAP is active, the sunroof will work for
10 minutes after the ignition is turned off, or until
the driver’s door is opened. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 2-23for more information.
Extended Cab
If your vehicle is an
extended cab, the sunroof
switch is located on the
headliner above the
rearview mirror.
Vent:From the closed position, press and hold the rear
of the switch to vent the sunroof. To close the sunroof,
press and hold the front of the switch.Open:From the vent position, the sunroof can be fully
opened either manually or by using the express-open
feature. To open manually, press the rear of the switch
to the rst depression and hold until the sunroof
has reached the desired position. To open using
express-open, press the rear of the switch fully and
release. The sunroof will move to the full open position.
To stop the sunroof partway, press the switch a
second time.
Close:From the vent, or open position, press and hold
the front of the switch to close the sunroof.
The sunroof also has a roller sunshade that can be
used to block the rays of the sun. The roller sunshade
can be manually operated with the sunroof in an open or
closed position. To open the sunshade, press and
unlatch it, and roll it back. To close, pull it forward and
latch it into the closed position.
When the sunroof is opened, an air deector will
automatically raise. The air deector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
2-84

Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce the vehicle speed while using cruise control:
Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, press the
SET– button on the steering wheel briey. Each
time this is done, the vehicle goes about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will
slow down to the previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. While going up steep hills, you might have to step on
the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
While going downhill, you might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed down. When the
brakes are applied the cruise control turns off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press[on the steering wheel.
PressTon the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased, when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
3-15