Black plate (2,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
2011 GMC Sierra Owner ManualM
Vehicle Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-103
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . 10-108
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . . 11-8
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-12 Technical Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-16
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
Black plate (5,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
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)
%: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 Gauge
+:Fuses
3: 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
Black plate (17,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-17
SeeManual Mirrors on page 2‑15 or
Power Mirrors on page 2‑16.
If the vehicle has towing mirrors,
they can be adjusted for a clearer
view of the objects behind you.
Manually pull out the mirror head to
extend it for better visibility when
towing a trailer. See Trailer-Tow
Mirrors on page 2‑15.
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, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward,
to return to its original position.
See Folding Mirrors on page 2‑16.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.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑18 for 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 up or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Black plate (19,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-19
Reading Lamps
For vehicles with reading lamps in
the overhead console, press the
button located next to the lamp to
turn it on or off.
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.
For more information about interior
lamps, see:
.Dome Lamps on page 6‑8.
.Reading Lamps on page 6‑9.
.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
O:Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp
control to the off position again to
turn the automatic headlamps or
DRL back on. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the off position will only work when
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
AUTO:
Automatically turns on
the headlamps, parking lamps,
taillamps, instrument panel lights,
roof marker lamps (if equipped)
and license plate lamps.
;: Turns on the parking lamps,
taillamps, instrument panel lights,
roof marker lamps (if equipped)
and license plate lamps.
Black plate (20,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-20 In Brief
5:Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, taillamps, instrument
panel lights, roof marker lamps
(if equipped) and license plate
lamps.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑4.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑6.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
8: Single wipe, turn to8, then
release. Several wipes, hold the
band on
8longer.
9: Turns the windshield
wipers off.
6: Turn the band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes.
6: Slow wipes.
?:Fast wipes.
L:Push the paddle at the top of
the lever to spray washer fluid on
the windshield.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
Climate Controls
These systems control the heating,
cooling, and ventilation.
Black plate (12,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
2-12 Keys, Doors and Windows
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
it impossible to steal.
Anti-Theft Alarm System
This vehicle may have a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
This is the security light.
To arm the theft-deterrent system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the RemoteKeyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
The security light should flash. If the delayed locking feature
is active, the alarm will not be
activated until all doors are
closed and the security light
goes off.
3. Close all doors. The security light will stop flashing and go off
after approximately 30 seconds.
The system is armed when the
security light goes off.
If a locked driver door is opened
without using the RKE transmitter,
a 10 second pre-alarm will occur.
The horn will chirp and the lights
will flash. If the key is not placed
in the ignition and turned to START
or the door is not unlocked by
pressing the unlock button on
the RKE transmitter during the
10 second pre-alarm, the alarm
will go off. The vehicle's headlamps
will flash and the horn will sound
for about 30 seconds, then will turn
off to save the battery power. The theft-deterrent system will not
activate if the doors are locked
with the key or the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use
the power door lock switch or the
RKE transmitter. The vehicle can
be started with the correct key if
the alarm is set off.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.If you do not want to activate
the theft-deterrent system, the
vehicle should be locked with
the door key after the doors are
closed.
.Always unlock a door with the
RKE transmitter.
If the alarm is set off, press unlock
on the RKE transmitter or place
the key in the ignition and turn it
to START.
Black plate (13,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-13
Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. Lower the driver window andopen the driver door.
2. Press lock on the RKE transmitter.
3. Close the door and wait for the security light to go out.
4. Reach in through the window, unlock the door with the manual
door lock, and open the door.
This should set off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound when
it should but the headlamps flash,
check to see if the horn works. The
horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 10‑50.
If the alarm does not sound or the
headlamps do not flash, see your
dealer for service.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑19 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has PASS-Key®III+
(Personalized Automotive Security
System) theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key III+ is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed
when the key is removed from the
ignition.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the key is turned
to ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY,
or START from the LOCK/OFF
position. You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The security light will come on if
there is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
When the PASS-Key III+ system
senses that someone is using the
wrong key, it prevents the vehicle
from starting. Anyone using a
trial-and-error method to start the
vehicle will be discouraged because
of the high number of electrical key
codes.
If the engine does not start and
the security light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when trying
to start the vehicle, there may be
a problem with the theft-deterrent
system. Turn the ignition off and
try again.
Black plate (17,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-17
Manual Foldaway
Manually fold the mirrors inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward,
to return to its original position.
Automatic Dimming
If equipped with an automatic
dimming mirror, the driver outside
mirror adjusts for the glare of
the headlamps behind you.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑18.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may also have a
turn signal indicator on the mirror.
An arrow on the mirror flashes in the
direction of the turn or lane change.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors. If the
vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated.
The lower convex part of the towing
mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle's features,
see “Rear Window Defogger”
under Climate Control Systems
(with Air Conditioning) on page 8‑1
or Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) on page 8‑4 orDual
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5 for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the passenger and/or
driver mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This feature lets the
driver view the curb when parallel
parking. The mirror(s) return to the
original position when the vehicle
is shifted out of R (Reverse),
or the ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeVehicle Personalization (with
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑52 for more
information.