2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 warning

Black plate (91,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-91
Rear Position–All Other Models
For all other models, position the
jack under the rear axle between
the spring anchor and the shock
absorber bracket.
If you have added a snow plow
to the front of your vehicle, lower
the snow plow fully before
raising the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack head is
positioned so that the rear axle
is resting securely between
the grooves that are on the
jack head.
{WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it
is jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when
it is supported only by a jack.
{WARNING
Raising the vehicle with the
jack improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle. 6. Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise to raise the vehicle.
Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit
under the wheel well.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts andtake off the flat tire.

Black plate (92,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-92 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, use a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. SeeIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 10‑84.
8. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
9. Install the spare tire.
{WARNING
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
10. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel.
11. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the wheel
wrench to tighten the nuts
until the wheel is held against
the hub.
12. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.

Black plate (93,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-93
{WARNING
If wheel studs are damaged, they
can break. If all the studs on a
wheel broke, the wheel could
come off and cause a crash.
If any stud is damaged because
of a loose-running wheel, it could
be that all of the studs are
damaged. To be sure, replace all
studs on the wheel. If the stud
holes in a wheel have become
larger, the wheel could collapse in
operation. Replace any wheel if
its stud holes have become larger
or distorted in any way. Inspect
hubs and hub‐piloted wheels
for damage. Because of loose
running wheels, piloting pad
damage may occur and require
replacement of the entire hub, for
proper centering of the wheels.
When replacing studs, hubs,
wheel nuts or wheels, be sure to
use GM original equipment parts.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts
in the proper sequence and to
the proper torque specification.
See Capacities and Specifications
on page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
13. Tighten the nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown
by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise.
For vehicles with dual wheels, have
a technician check the wheel nut
tightness of all wheels with a torque
wrench after the first 100 miles
(160 km) and then 1,000 miles
(1600 km) after that. Repeat
this service whenever you have
a tire removed or serviced. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2 for more information.

Black plate (94,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-94 Vehicle Care
When you reinstall the regular
wheel and tire, you must also
reinstall either the center cap,
or bolt-on hub cap, depending
on what your vehicle is equipped
with. For center caps, place the cap
on the wheel and tap it into place
until it seats flush with the wheel.
The cap only goes on one way.
Be sure to line up the tab on the
center cap with the indentation on
the wheel. For bolt-on hub caps,
align the plastic nut caps with the
wheel nuts and then tighten by
hand. Then use the wheel wrench
to tighten.Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
Notice: Storing an aluminum
wheel with a flat tire under your
vehicle for an extended period
of time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel
with the valve stem pointing
down and have the wheel/tire
repaired as soon as possible.
Store the tire under the rear of the
vehicle in the spare tire carrier.
A. Flat or Spare Tire (Valve Stem Pointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F. Hoist End of Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
H. Wheel Wrench
I. Jack Handle Extensions
J. Spare Tire Lock (If Equipped)

Black plate (98,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-98 Vehicle Care
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, seeBattery on
page 10‑34.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
If the vehicle's battery (or batteries)
has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure
to use the following steps to do it
safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
Notice: Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage
to the vehicle that would not be
covered by the warranty.
Trying to start the vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system. Notice:
Only use a vehicle
that has a 12-volt system with
a negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. If you have a vehicle with a diesel engine with two batteries,
you should know before you
begin that, especially in cold
weather, you may not be able
to get enough power from a
single battery in another vehicle
to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle has more than
one battery, using the battery
that is closer to the starter will
reduce electrical resistance.
This is located on the passenger
side, in the rear of the engine
compartment.

Black plate (100,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-100 Vehicle Care
For more information on
the location of the remote
positive (+) and remote
negative (−) terminals,
seeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6
{WARNING
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{WARNING
Using an open flame near a
battery can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you
need more light.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You do not need to add
water to the battery installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that
first. If you do not, explosive
gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{WARNING
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running. 6. Check that the jumper cables
do not have loose or missing
insulation. If they do, you could
get a shock. The vehicles could
be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables,
here are some basic things you
should know. Positive (+) will go
to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one. Negative (−) will go to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine
part or to a remote negative (−)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get a
short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts
too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the
dead battery because this
can cause sparks.

Black plate (104,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-104 Vehicle Care
Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If the vehicle is
towed with all four wheels
on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
tow the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive vehicles should
not be towed with all four wheels
on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being
towed.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to
dinghy tow a four-wheel-drive
vehicle:
1. Position the vehicle being towed
behind the tow vehicle and shift
the transmission to P (Park). 2. Turn the engine off and firmly set
the parking brake.
3. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the tow vehicle.
{WARNING
Shifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
4. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral). See “Shifting into
Neutral” underFour-Wheel Drive
on page 9‑54 for the proper
procedure to select the Neutral
position for the vehicle.

Black plate (106,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-106 Vehicle Care
Front Towing (Front Wheels Off
the Ground)–Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a four-wheel-drive vehicle from
the front:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the dolly. 3. Shift the transmission to
P (Park).
4. Firmly set the parking brake.
{WARNING
Shifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
5. Use an adequate clamping device designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position. 6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
7. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral). See “Shifting into
Neutral” underFour-Wheel Drive
on page 9‑54 for the proper
procedure to select the neutral
position for the vehicle.
8. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is
firmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
After towing, see “Shifting Out of
Neutral” underFour-Wheel Drive on
page 9‑54.