
2010 GMC Sierra Denali Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Seats and Restraint System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-56
Restraint System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-73
Features and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Doors and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39 Object Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43
Universal Home Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-61
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44
Audio System(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-76
Driving Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Service and Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-49
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-50

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i: Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v

Section 1 In Brief
Instrument Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17 Vehicle Features
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-24
StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
1-1

Initial Drive Information
This section provides a brief overview about some of
the important features that may or may not be on your
specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer to each of the
features which can be found later in this owner manual.
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
The RKE transmitter is used to remotely lock and
unlock the doors from up to 60 m (195 feet) away from
the vehicle.
PressKto unlock the
driver door. Press
K
again within five seconds
to unlock all remaining
doors.
Press
Qto lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be personalized.
Press
Land release to locate the vehicle.
Press
Land hold for three seconds to sound the panic
alarm.
Press
Lagain to cancel the panic alarm.
See Keys
on page 3‑3andRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation on page 3‑4.
1-4

Remote Vehicle Start
With this feature the engine can be started from outside
of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press
Q.
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
/until the turn signal lamps flash.
When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn on
and remain on as long as the engine is running. The
doors will be locked and the climate control system may
come on.
The engine will continue to run for 10 minutes. Repeat
the steps for a 10-minute time extension. Remote start
can be extended only once.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press
and hold
/until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Turn the ignition on and then back off.
See Remote Vehicle Start on page 3‑7.
Door Locks
There are several ways to lock and unlock the vehicle.
From outside, use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter or the key in the driver door. From inside,
use the power door locks or the manual door locks. To
lock or unlock the door with the manual locks, push
down or pull up on the manual lock knob.
Power Door Locks
If available, these switches are located on the front
doors.
K:Press to unlock the doors.
Q:Remove the key from the ignition and press to lock
the doors.
For more information, see:
.Programmable Automatic Door Lockson
page 3‑11.
.Rear Door Security Locks on page 3‑12.
1-5

Power Foldaway Mirrors
To fold the mirrors:1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out to the driving position.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors in to the folded position.
Manual Foldaway Mirrors
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.
Interior Mirror
Vehicles with a manual rearview mirror can be adjusted
to see clearly behind the vehicle. Hold the mirror in the
center to move it up or down and side to side. To
reduce headlamp glare during nighttime use, push the
tab forward for daytime use and pull it for nighttime use.
Vehicles with the automatic dimming feature will
automatically reduce the glare of lights from behind the
vehicle. The dimming feature comes on and the
indicator light illuminates each time the vehicle is
started.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
on page 3‑39for more information.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
The tilt lever is located on the lower left side of the
steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Hold the steering wheel and pull the lever.
2. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable position.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
See Tilt Wheel on page 4‑3.
1-12

Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment
On vehicles with this feature, you can change the
position of the throttle and brake pedals.
The switch used to adjust the pedals is located on the
instrument panel below the climate control system.
Press the arrow at the bottom of the switch to move the
pedals closer to your body. Press the arrow at the top of
the switch to move the pedals away from your body.
SeeAdjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 3‑26.
Interior Lighting
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.
k:The dome lamp override button is located next to
the exterior lamps control.
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.
1-13

Setting the Clock
To set the time and date for the radio with CD, DVD,
and USB Port:1. Turn the ignition key to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, then press
O, to turn the radio on.
2. Press
Gto display HR, MIN, MM, DD, YYYY
(hour, minute, month, day, and year).
3. Press the softkey located under any one of the labels to be changed.
4. To increase or decrease the time or date, turn
fclockwise or counter‐clockwise.
For detailed instructions on setting the clock for the
vehicle's specific audio system, see Setting the Clock
on page 4‑77.
Satellite Radio
XM is a satellite radio service that is based in the
48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian
provinces. XM satellite radio has a wide variety of
programming and commercial-free music,
coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the XM service.
For more information, refer to:
.www.xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.www.xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
See “XM Satellite Radio Service” underRadio(s)
on
page 4‑79.
Portable Audio Devices
This vehicle may have an auxiliary input located on the
radio faceplate and a USB port located in the center
console or the dashboard. External devices such as
iPod
®, laptop computers, MP3 players, CD changers,
USB storage device, etc. can be connected to the
auxiliary port using a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) input jack or the
USB port depending on the audio system.
See “Using the Auxiliary Input Jack” and“Using the
USB Port” underRadio(s) on page 4‑79.
1-19