2009 GMC SIERRA ECO mode

N (Neutral):Shift to this setting only when the vehicle
needs to be towed. SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing
on page 4-45orTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-45.
2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
4
m(Four-Wheel-Drive High):Use this setting when
you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads
or in most off-road situations. This setting also engages
the front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best
setting to use when plowing snow.
You can shift from Two-Wheel-Drive High to
Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive High to
Two-Wheel-Drive High while the vehicle is moving.
In extremely cold weather, it may be necessary to stop
or slow the vehicle to shift into Four-Wheel-Drive High.
When Using the Manual Transfer Case

Shifting should be made using quick motions.
Shifting slowly may make it more difficult to shift.
You may notice that it is harder to shift when the
vehicle is cold. After the vehicle warms up the
shifting will return to normal.
While in Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel-Drive Low
you may experience reduced fuel economy.
Avoid driving in Four-Wheel Drive on clean, dry
pavement. It may cause your tires to wear faster,
make the transfer case harder to shift, and run
noisier.
If the transfer case shifter is in the N (Neutral)
position and you have difficulty reaching the selected
transfer case mode, with the engine running, shift the
transmission momentarily to drive and then back to
N (Neutral). This will realign the gear teeth in the
transfer case and allow you to complete the shift.
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Shifting Into Two-Wheel-Drive High
Turn the knob to the Two-Wheel-Drive High position.
This can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel-Drive Low. See Shifting Out of
Four-Wheel-Drive Low for more information.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive Low
When Four-Wheel-Drive Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph. Extended high-speed
operation in Four-Wheel-Drive Low may damage
or shorten the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low position, the
ignition must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in N (Neutral). The preferred method for
shifting into Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the vehicle
moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel-Drive Low position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing
and remain on before shifting the transmission in gear.Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop ashing before
shifting the transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from transfer case N (Neutral) with the
engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light will ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the vehicle
is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission
is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the transfer case
will shift to Four-Wheel-Drive High mode.
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Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel-Drive Low to
Four-Wheel-Drive High, or Two-Wheel-Drive High,
the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in N (Neutral)
and the ignition in ON/RUN. The preferred method for
shifting out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the
vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the
knob to the Four-Wheel-Drive High, or Two-Wheel-Drive
High position. You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Drive
High, or Two-Wheel-Drive High indicator light to stop
ashing and remain on before shifting the transmission
into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop ashing before shifting
the transmission into gear.It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from transfer case N (Neutral) with the
engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive High,
or Two-Wheel-Drive High switch position when the
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel-Drive
High, or Two-Wheel-Drive High indicator light will ash
for 30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the
transmission is in N (Neutral).
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Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and press and hold the
regular brake pedal. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-50for more information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel-Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral)
until it stops and hold it there until the Neutral light
starts blinking. This will take at least 10 seconds.
Then slowly release the dial to the four low position.
The N (Neutral) light will come on when the transfer
case shift to N (Neutral) is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify that the transfer
case is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will
turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift the transfer case out of N (Neutral) do the
following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular
brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off,
and shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to Two-Wheel-Drive High.
After the transfer case has shifted out of N (Neutral),
the N (Neutral) light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the mode
indicator lights to stop ashing before shifting the
transmission into gear.
5. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the
desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the
shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case
from possible damage and will only allow the transfer
case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer
case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes.
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Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob
is located next to the
steering column.
Use the dial to shift into and out of Four-Wheel Drive.
You can choose among ve driving settings:
Indicator lights in the dial show which setting you are in.
The indicator lights will come on briey when you turn on
the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not come
on, you should take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for
service. An indicator light will ash while shifting the
transfer case. It will remain illuminated when the shift is
complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot
make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen
setting.2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in Two-Wheel Drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive):This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front axle
is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent only to the
front and rear wheels automatically based on driving
conditions. Driving in this mode results in slightly lower
fuel economy than Two-Wheel-Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel-Drive High):Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction
is needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive the vehicle. This is the best setting to
use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low):This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending steep hills.
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Shifting Into Four-Wheel-Drive Low
When Four-Wheel-Drive Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph. Extended high-speed
operation in Four-Wheel-Drive Low may damage
or shorten the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low position, the
ignition must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in N (Neutral). The preferred method for
shifting into Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the vehicle
moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel-Drive Low position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting the transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop ashing before
shifting the transmission into gear.It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light will ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the vehicle
is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission
is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the transfer case
will shift to Four-Wheel-Drive High mode.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel-Drive Low to
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High, the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in N (Neutral) and
the ignition in ON/RUN. The preferred method for shifting
out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the vehicle
moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive High
position. You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Drive High,
AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive High indicator light to stop
ashing and remain on before shifting the transmission
into gear.
2-48

Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop ashing before shifting
the transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive
High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel-Drive High switch
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High indicator light will ash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless the vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in N (Neutral).
Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-50for more
information.3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral)
until it stops and hold it there until the N (Neutral)
light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release the dial to the
four low position. The N (Neutral) light will come
on when the transfer case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
7. If the engine is running, make sure that the transfer
case is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will
turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
2-49

2. Write down the eight to 12 switch settings from left
to right as follows:
When a switch is in the up position, write “Left.”
When a switch is in the down position,
write “Right.”
If a switch is set between the up and down
position, write “Middle.”
The switch settings written down in Step 2 now
become the button strokes to be entered into the
Universal Home Remote in Step 4. Be sure to
enter the switch settings written down in Step 2,
in order from left to right, into the Universal Home
Remote, when completing Step 4.
3. From inside your vehicle, rst rmly press all three
buttons at the same time for about three seconds.
Release the buttons to put the Universal Home
Remote into programming mode.4. The indicator lights will blink slowly. Enter each
switch setting from Step 2 into your vehicle’s
Universal Home Remote. You will have two and
one-half minutes to complete Step 4. Now press
one button on the Universal Home Remote for
each switch setting as follows:
If you wrote “Left,” press the left button in the
vehicle.
If you wrote “Right,” press the right button in the
vehicle.
If you wrote “Middle,” press the middle button in
the vehicle.
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