2010 GMC SIERRA DENALI ignition

Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system turns on the headlamps at the normal
brightness, along with the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps, and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then
release it. For vehicles first sold in Canada, the
transmission must be in the P (Park) position, before the
automatic headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel in the defroster grille that regulates
when the automatic headlamps turn on. Do not cover
the sensor or the headlamps will come on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the 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 lightsdoes not affect the system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system is only affected when the light sensor
detects a change in lighting lasting longer than the
delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once the
vehicle leaves the garage, it takes approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is bright enough outside. During that
delay, the instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure the instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position. See
Instrument
Panel Brightness on page 4‑13.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic headlamp system
off, turn the control to the off position.
The headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. This feature can be programmed using the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See DIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 4‑67.
The regular headlamp system can be turned on when
needed.
4-12

Puddle Lamps
If the vehicle has puddle lamps, they come on when the
unlock button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
Transmitter is pressed. The lamps time out or turn off
once the engine is started.
Fog Lamps
Fog lamps provide better visibility in foggy or misty
conditions.
The fog lamp button is located on the left side of the
instrument panel.
The parking lamps and/or low-beam headlamps must
be on for the fog lamps to work.
#:Press to turn the fog lamps on or off. An indicator
light comes on when the fog lamps are in use.
The fog lamps go off whenever the high-beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams turn off, the
fog lamps come on again.
The fog lamps are cancelled after the ignition is turned
off. If you still want to use the fog lamps after the
vehicle is restarted, press the fog lamp button again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
Instrument Panel Brightness
D (Instrument Panel Brightness) : This feature
controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights
and is located next to the exterior lamp control.
Push the knob to extend out and then it can be turned.
Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to brighten
or dim the instrument panel lights. Turning the knob to
the farthest clockwise position turns on the dome lamps.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps come on when any door is opened.
They turn off after all the doors are closed.
The dome lamps can also be turned on by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob, located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering column,
clockwise to the farthest position. In this position, the
dome lamps remain on whether a door is opened or
closed.
4-13

Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is located next to the
exterior lamps control.
k(Dome Off):Press the button in and the dome
lamps remain off when a door is opened. Press the
button again to return it to the extended position so that
the dome lamps come on when a door is opened.
Entry Lighting
The vehicle has an illuminated entry feature.
When a door is opened, the dome lamps and puddle
lamps come on if the dome override feature is not in
use. If the dome override feature is used, the lamps do
not come on.
Exit Lighting
The interior lamps come on when the key is removed
from the ignition. They turn off automatically in
20 seconds. The lights do not come on if the dome
override button is pressed in.
Reading Lamps
For vehicles with reading lamps, they 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 vehicle may also have reading lamps in other
locations. To turn the lamps on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp.
If the vehicle has a DVD Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) system, press the lamp lenses to turn the lamps
on or off.
The lamps are fixed and cannot be adjusted.
Cargo Lamp
The cargo lamps come on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control knob to the farthest clockwise
position. This knob is located on the instrument panel
and also turns on the dome lamps.
The cargo lamp can be used if more light is needed in
the cargo area of the vehicle or in the top-box storage
units.
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Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery's temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gage or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW
BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads
as much as possible. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑57.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome and reading lamps,
if they are left on for more than 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned off. The cargo lamp shuts off after
20 minutes. This prevents the battery from
running down.
4-15

Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to connect
auxiliary electrical equipment, such as a cellular
telephone.
There are two accessory power outlets on the
instrument panel, one inside the center floor console
and one on the rear of the center floor console.
To access the accessory power outlet inside the center
floor console, press the button on the side of the
console door. SeeCenter Console Storage
on
page 3‑58for more information.
To use an accessory power outlet, remove the
protective cap. When not in use, always cover the
accessory power outlet with the protective cap.
Notice: If electrical devices are left plugged into a
power outlet, the battery may drain causing the
vehicle not to start or damage to the battery. This
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always unplug all electrical devices when turning
off the vehicle.
Certain electrical accessories are not compatible with
the accessory power outlets and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem,
see your dealer/retailer for additional information on
accessory power outlets. The accessory power outlets are powered, even when
the ignition is in LOCK/OFF. Continuing to use power
outlets while the ignition is in LOCK/OFF may cause the
vehicle's battery to run down.
Notice:
Adding any electrical equipment to the
vehicle can damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not use
equipment exceeding maximum amperage rating of
20 amperes. Check with your dealer/retailer before
adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment.
Notice: Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.
4-16

?(Recirculation):Press to turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light comes on to show that
recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to quickly cool the air
inside the vehicle. It can be used to help prevent
outside air and odors from entering the vehicle.
The recirculation mode cannot be used with floor, defog
or defrost modes. If recirculation is selected with one of
these modes, the indicator light flashes three times and
then turns off. While in recirculation mode the windows
may fog when the weather is cold and damp. To clear
the fog, select either the defog or defrost mode and
increase the fan speed.
The recirculation mode can be turned off by pressing
the outside air button, or by turning off the ignition.
# (Air Conditioning) : Press to turn the air conditioning
system on or off. An indicator light comes on to show
that the air conditioning is on. The air conditioning can
be selected in any mode as long as the fan switch is on.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.Rear Window Defogger
For vehicles with a rear window defogger, a warming
grid is used to remove fog from the rear window.
< (Rear) : Press to turn the rear window defogger on
or off. An indicator light on the button comes on to show
that the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only works when the ignition
is in ON/RUN. The rear window defogger stays on for
approximately 10 minutes after the button is pressed,
unless the ignition is turned to ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF. The defogger can also be turned off by
turning off the engine.
Notice: Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.
4-19

@(Recirculation):Press to turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light comes on to show that the
recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to quickly cool the air
inside the vehicle. It can be used to help prevent
outside air and odors from entering the vehicle.
The recirculation mode cannot be used with floor, defog,
or defrost modes. If recirculation is selected with one of
those modes, the indicator light flashes three times and
then turns off. The air conditioning compressor also
comes on when this mode is activated. While in
recirculation mode the windows may fog when the
weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, select either
the defog or defrost mode and increase the fan speed.
The recirculation mode can be turned off by pressing
the outside air button, or by turning off the ignition.
;(Outside Air): Press to turn the outside air mode
on. An indicator light on the button comes on to show
that outside is on. When selected, air from outside the
vehicle circulates throughout the vehicle. The outside
air mode can be used with all modes, but it cannot be
used with the recirculation mode.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger): For vehicles with this
feature, press to turn the defogger on or off.
It automatically turns off several minutes after it has
been activated. The defogger can also be turned off by
turning the engine off. Do not drive the vehicle until all
the windows are clear.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Heated Mirror : For vehicles with heated outside
rearview mirrors, the mirrors heat to help clear fog or
frost from the surface of the mirror when the rear
window defog button is pressed. See Outside Power
Mirrors on page 3‑40.
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Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer shows how far the 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
engine hours, turn the ignition off, press and hold the
reset button for at least four seconds. The hour meter
displays for up to 30 seconds, or until the ignition is
turned on. SeeDIC Operation and Displays (Using Trip
Odometer Reset Stem)
on page 4‑44or DIC Operation
and Displays (Using DIC Buttons)on page 4‑48for
more information.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer shows how far the vehicle has been
driven since the trip odometer was last set to zero.
Press the reset button, located on the instrument panel
cluster next to the voltmeter, 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.
See
DIC Operation and Displays (Using Trip Odometer
Reset Stem)
on page 4‑44or DIC Operation and
Displays (Using DIC Buttons)on page 4‑48for more
information.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice: If the engine is operated with the
tachometer in the solid red area, the vehicle could
be damaged. The damages would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not operate the engine in
the solid red area.
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