2010 GMC SIERRA engine

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, the
GMC Truck Emblem, and the name SIERRA are
registered trademarks of General Motors.
This manual describes features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle either because they are
options that you did not purchase or due to changes
subsequent to the printing of this owner manual. Please
refer to the purchase documentation relating to your
specific vehicle to confirm each of the features found
on your vehicle. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
substitute the name“General Motors of Canada
Limited” for GMC Division wherever it appears in
this manual.
If the vehicle has the DURAMAX
®Diesel engine, refer
to the DURAMAX®Diesel supplement for additional and
specific information on this engine.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès du concessionnaire ou à l'adresse suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
Numéro de poste 6438 de langue française www.helminc.com
Index
To quickly locate information about the vehicle, use the
index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list
of what is in the manual and the page number where it
can be found.
iii
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25854759 A First Printing©2009 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

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
Instrument Panel (Base/Uplevel Version) . . . . . . . . 1-2
Instrument Panel (Premium Version) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21 Vehicle Features
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-30
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-31
StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-33
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-33
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-34
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-34
1-1

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 3‑10.
.Rear Door Security Locks on page 3‑10.
1-7

Transmission
Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch is located on the
shift lever. To enable the Range Selection feature,
move the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position.
The current range will appear next to the M. This is the
highest attainable range with all lower gears accessible.
As an example, when 4 (Fourth) gear is selected,
1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are available.Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering
column shift lever, to select the desired range of
gears for current driving conditions. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 3‑28.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise control and
the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when Range Selection
Mode is active. See Tow/Haul Mode on page 3‑34.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has Four-Wheel Drive, you can send the
engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Transfer Case Buttons
The vehicle will have one of these three styles of
transfer case controls. Use these controls to shift into
and out of the different Four-Wheel Drive modes.
1-21

Driver Information Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at the bottom of the
instrument panel cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems and enables access to the
personalization menu.
The DIC buttons are
located on the instrument
panel, next to the steering
wheel.
Some vehicles do not
have the buttons shown,
however some of the
menus can be viewed by
using the trip odometer
reset stem.
3:Press this button to display the odometer, trip
odometer, fuel range, average economy, fuel used,
timer, and transmission temperature. The compass
and outside air temperature will also be shown in the
display. The temperature will be shown in °F or °C
depending on the units selected.
T: Press this button to display the oil life, units, tire
pressure readings for vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), trailer brake gain and output
information for vehicles with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, engine hours, Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter programming, compass zone
setting, and compass recalibration.
U: Press this button to customize the feature settings
on your vehicle. See DIC Vehicle Customization (With
DIC Buttons)
on page 4‑75for more information.
V: Press this button to set or reset certain functions
and to turn off or acknowledge messages on the DIC.
For more information, see Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 4‑51.
1-27

Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS).
The Tire Pressure Monitor
alerts you when a
significant reduction in
pressure occurs in one or
more of the vehicle’s tires
by illuminating the low tire
pressure warning light on
the instrument cluster.
The warning light will remain on until the tire pressure is
corrected. The proper tire pressures for your vehicle are
listed on the Tire and Loading Information label located
on the driver side center pillar (B pillar). See Loading
the Vehicle
on page 5‑30.
You may notice during cooler conditions that the low tire
pressure warning light will appear when the vehicle is
first started and then turn off as you drive. This may be
an early indicator that your tire pressures are getting
low and the tires need to be inflated to the proper
pressure. Note:
The Tire Pressure Monitor can alert you about
low tire pressure, but it does not replace normal monthly
tire maintenance. It is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 6‑75and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 6‑76.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates engine oil life
based on vehicle use and, on most vehicles, displays a
DIC message when it is necessary to change the
engine oil and filter. The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
To reset the Engine Oil Life System on most vehicles:
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the vehicle does not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in P (Park) to access this display.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC, or the trip odometer reset stem if the vehicle does
not have DIC buttons, for more than five seconds.
The oil life will change to 100%.
1-32

On all vehicles, the Engine Oil Life System can be reset
as follows:1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within five seconds.
3. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the display shows 100%, the system is reset.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 6‑20.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 0),
the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code 3), the 6.0L V8 engine
(VIN Code J), or the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code 2) have
a yellow fuel cap and can use either unleaded gasoline
or ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
SeeGasoline Octane
on page 6‑7andFuel E85
(85% Ethanol) on page 6‑9.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control, if equipped.
.Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same TPC
Spec number molded into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
1-33