
Black plate (12,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-12 Instruments and Controls
Ashtrays
The vehicle may have a front
ashtray located near the center of
the instrument panel. Pull on the
door to open it. The ashtray may
have a cigarette lighter.
Notice:If papers, pins, or other
flammable items are put in the
ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage the
vehicle. Never put flammable
items in the ashtray.
To remove the ashtray, open the
door and pull the ashtray bin toward
you. To replace the ashtray, insert
the ashtray bin inside the ashtray
door and press down until it
engages.
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gauges
could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working. Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.

Black plate (23,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-23
WARNING (Continued)
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑20 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the word ON or the on symbol
is lit, it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag is enabled
(may inflate). See Airbag On-Off
Switch on page 3‑37 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the airbag
on-off switch. See your dealer for
service.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
If the vehicle has one of the
indicators pictured in the following
illustrations, then the vehicle has
a passenger sensing system for
the right front passenger position
unless there is an airbag off switch
located in the glove box. If there
is an airbag off switch, the vehicle
does not have a passenger system
system. See Airbag On-Off Switch
on page 3‑37.
The passenger airbag status
indicator is on the overhead
console. See Passenger Sensing
System on page 3‑40 for important
safety information.
In addition, if the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position, the
label on the vehicle's sun visor
refers to “ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag.

Black plate (24,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-24 Instruments and Controls
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger frontal airbag is
enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system.
See your dealer for service.{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑20 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly when
the ignition key is turned to START,
but the engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working. If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once
the engine starts. If it stays on,
or comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the
charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can also appear.
See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages on page 5‑41 for more
information. This light could indicate
that there are problems with a
generator drive belt, or that there
is an electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. If the vehicle
must be driven a short distance with
the light on, turn off accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
For vehicles with a Hybrid, see
the Hybrid Supplement for more
information.

Black plate (32,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-32 Instruments and Controls
Security Light
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle's security system,
seeAnti-Theft Alarm System on
page 2‑12.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑3 for more
information.
Front Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp lights come on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The lights go out when the fog
lamps are turned off. See Fog
Lamps on page 6‑6 for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light comes on
whenever the cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise
control is turned off. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑73 for more
information.

Black plate (54,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-54 Instruments and Controls
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to turn
off the automatic door unlocking
feature. It also allows you to select
which doors and when the doors will
automatically unlock. SeeAutomatic
Door Locks on page 2‑9 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: None of the doors will
automatically unlock.
DRIVER AT KEY OUT: Only the
driver door will unlock when the key
is taken out of the ignition.
DRIVER IN PARK: Only the driver
door will unlock when the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park) . ALL AT KEY OUT:
All of the doors
will unlock when the key is taken
out of the ignition.
ALL IN PARK (default): All of the
doors will unlock when the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park).
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback received when
locking the vehicle with the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
You will not receive feedback when
locking the vehicle with the RKE
transmitter if the doors are open.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3 for
more information. Press the customization button until
REMOTE DOOR LOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF:
There will be no feedback
when you press the lock button on
the RKE transmitter.
LIGHTS ONLY: The exterior lamps
will flash when you press the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN ONLY: The horn will sound
on the second press of the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN & LIGHTS (default): The
exterior lamps will flash when you
press the lock button on the RKE
transmitter, and the horn will sound
when the lock button is pressed
again within five seconds of the
previous command.

Black plate (55,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-55
NO CHANGE:No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select
the type of feedback received
when unlocking the vehicle with
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. You will not receive
feedback when unlocking the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter if
the doors are open. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3 for more
information. Press the customization button
until REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK
appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button once to access
the settings for this feature. Then
press the customization button to
scroll through the following settings:
LIGHTS OFF:
The exterior lamps
will not flash when you press
the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
LIGHTS ON (default): The exterior
lamps will flash when you press
the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. DELAY DOOR LOCK
On vehicles with a crew cab, this
feature turns the delayed door locks
on or off. When locking the doors
with the power door lock switch
and a door is open, this feature
will delay locking the doors until
five seconds after the last door is
closed. You will hear three chimes
to signal that the delayed locking
feature is in use. The key must be
out of the ignition for this feature to
work. You can temporarily override
delayed locking by pressing the
power door lock switch twice.
See
Delayed Locking on page 2‑8
for more information.

Black plate (56,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-56 Instruments and Controls
Press the customization button until
DELAY DOOR LOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF:There will be no delayed
locking of the vehicle's doors.
ON (default): The doors will not
lock until five seconds after the last
door is closed.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. EXIT LIGHTING
This feature allows you to select
the amount of time you want
the exterior lamps to remain on
when it is dark enough outside.
This happens after the key is turned
from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF.
Press the customization button
until EXIT LIGHTING appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF:
The exterior lamps will not
turn on.
30 SECONDS (default): The
exterior lamps will stay on for
30 seconds.
1 MINUTE: The exterior lamps will
stay on for one minute.
2 MINUTES: The exterior lamps will
stay on for two minutes. NO CHANGE:
No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
APPROACH LIGHTING
This feature allows you to select if
the exterior lights turn on briefly
during low light periods after
unlocking the vehicle using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
Press the customization button until
APPROACH LIGHTING appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The exterior lights will not
turn on when you unlock the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.

Black plate (57,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-57
ON (default):If it is dark enough
outside, the exterior lights will turn
on briefly when you unlock the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
The lights will remain on for
20 seconds, until the lock button
on the RKE transmitter is pressed,
or until the vehicle is no longer off.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3 for
more information.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. CHIME VOLUME
If available, this feature allows you
to select the volume level of the
chime.
Press the customization button until
CHIME VOLUME appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
NORMAL:
The chime volume will
be set to a normal level.
LOUD: The chime volume will be
set to a loud level.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
There is no default for chime
volume. The volume will stay at
the last known setting.
To select a setting, press the
set/reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. PARK TILT MIRRORS
If the vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to select if the outside
mirror(s) will automatically tilt down
when the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse). See
Park Tilt Mirrors
on page 2‑17 for more information.
Press the customization button until
PARK TILT MIRRORS appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF (default): Neither outside
mirror will be tilted down when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
DRIVER MIRROR: The driver
outside mirror will be tilted down
when the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse).