2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 turn signal

Black plate (93,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-93
Passing
More passing distance is
needed when towing a trailer.
The combination will not accelerate
as quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to
the right, move your hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with
the vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal.
Do this so the trailer will not strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky
or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
panel will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear beforestarting down
a long or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down,
the brakes might get hot and no
longer work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or
hilly conditions.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used
if the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑51.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil
at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle may show
signs similar to engine overheating.

Black plate (115,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-115
Heavy-DutyTrailer Wiring Harness
Package
For vehicles equipped with heavy
duty trailering, the harness is
connected to a bracket on the hitch
platform. The seven-wire harness
contains the following trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed*
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuses for these two circuits
are installed in the underhood
electrical center, but the wires are
not connected. They should be
connected by your dealer or a
qualified service center. The fuse
and wire for the ITBC is factory
installed and connected if the
vehicle is equipped with an ITBC.
The fuse for the battery feed is
not required if the vehicle has an
auxiliary battery. If the vehicle does
not have an auxiliary battery, have
your dealer or authorized service
center install the required fuse. If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button, if equipped, located at
the end of the shift lever. This will
boost the vehicle system voltage
and properly charge the battery.
If the trailer is too light for Tow/
Haul Mode, or the vehicle is not
equipped with Tow/Haul, turn on
the headlamps as a second way
to boost the vehicle system and
charge the battery.

Black plate (116,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-116 Driving and Operating
Camper/Fifth-Wheel Trailer Wiring
Package
The seven-wire camper harness
is located under the front edge of
the pickup box on the driver side
of the vehicle, attached to the
frame bracket. A connector must
be added to the wiring harness
which connects to the camper.
The harness contains the following
camper/trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If the vehicle is equipped with the
“Heavy-Duty Trailering”option,
please refer to “Heavy-Duty Trailer
Wiring Package” earlier in this
section.
When the camper-wiring harness
is ordered without the heavy-duty
trailering package, an eight-wire
harness with a seven-pin connector
is located at the rear of the vehicle
and is tied to the vehicle's frame.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are
included with the vehicle as part
of the trailer wiring package. These
provisions are for an electric brake
controller. The instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires behind the
steering column for the trailer brake
controller. The harness contains the
following wires:
.Dark Blue: Brake Signal to
Trailer Connector
.Red/Black: Battery
.Light Blue/White: Brake Switch
.White: Ground
The harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (4-Speed
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-19
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22 Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-25
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-29
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Noise Control System . . . . . . 10-38
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-39
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-40
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-41
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Pick-Up Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Taillamps (Chassis Cab Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-48
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54

Black plate (45,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-45
A. Sidemarker Lamp
B. Low Beam Headlamp
C. High Beam Headlamp
D. Turn Signal Lamp/Parking Lamp 4. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
5. Unplug the electrical connector from the old bulb by releasing
the clips on the bulb socket.
6. Replace it with a new bulb socket.
7. Plug in the electrical connector to the new bulb socket.
8. Reinstall the new bulb socket into the headlamp assembly and
turn it clockwise to secure.
Pick-Up Box Identification
and Fender Marker
Lamps
The pick-up box identification lamps
are LEDs. For replacement of the
LED lighting assembly contact your
dealer.
To replace a pickup box fender
marker lamp bulb:
1. Press the tab from the back to
remove the lamp.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove
from the lamp assembly.
3. Gently pry the bulb from the socket.
4. Install the new bulb in socket.
5. Reinstall socket into lamp assembly.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly.

Black plate (46,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-46 Vehicle Care
Taillamps (Chassis
Cab Models)
A. Backup Lamp
B. Stoplamp/Taillamp/TurnSignal Lamp To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Remove the four screws.
2. Lift the lens off the lamp
assembly.
3. Turn the old bulb counterclockwise and
pull the it straight out
from the socket.
4. Install a new bulb into the socket, turn it clockwise, and
press it in until it is tight.
5. Reinstall the lens and the four screws.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the tailgate. See Tailgate
on page 2‑10 for more
information.
2. Remove the two rear lamp assembly screws near the
tailgate latch strikerpost and pull
rearward until disengaging the
two outer pins on the taillamp
assembly from the vehicle.

Black plate (47,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-47
A. Stoplamp/TurnSignal/Taillamp
B. Back-up Lamp
C. Sidemarker Lamp
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp assembly.
4. Pull the old bulb straight out from the socket.
5. Press a new bulb into the socket and turn the socket clockwise
into the taillamp assembly.
6. Reinstall the taillamp assembly.
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Remove the two screws and lift off the lamp assembly.
A. Cargo Lamp
B. Center High-MountedStoplamp (CHMSL) Bulb 2. On the reverse side of the lamp
assembly, remove the bulb
socket by turning it one quarter
turn counterclockwise and pull it
straight out.
3. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out of the socket.
4. Install the bulb by pushing the bulb straight into the socket.
5. Install the bulb socket into the lamp asembly by turning it
one quarter turn clockwise.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly and tighten the screws.

Black plate (48,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-48 Vehicle Care
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Reach under the rear bumper forthe bulb socket.
2. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull
the bulb socket out of the
lamp assembly.
3. Pull the old bulb straight out from the bulb socket.
4. Install the new bulb.
5. Reverse Steps 1 and 2 to reinstall the bulb socket.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-up Lamp 921
Back-up Lamp* 1156
Cargo Lamp
and Center
High-Mounted
Stoplamp
(CHMSL) 912
Fender Marker W5WLL
High-Beam
Headlamp 9005
Low-Beam
Headlamp H11Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
License
Plate Lamp 168
Stoplamp/Taillamp/
Turn Signal Lamp 3047K
Sidemarker Lamp 194
Stoplamp/Turn
Signal Lamp/
Taillamp* 1157
* Chassis Cab Models
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.