
Black plate (27,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and
local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle
emission control equipment.
For the inspection, the emission
system test equipment is connected
to the vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off.
.The critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed by
the system. This can happen
if the battery has recently
been replaced or if the battery
has run down. The diagnostic
system evaluates critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection, your dealer can
prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
With the ignition on, the brake
system warning light comes on
when the parking brake is set. If the
vehicle is driven with the parking
brake engaged, a chime sounds
when the vehicle speed is greater
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
The vehicle brake system
consists of two hydraulic circuits.
If one circuit is not working, the
remaining circuit can still work to
stop the vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
If the warning light comes on and
a chime sounds there could be a
brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.

Black plate (28,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-28 Instruments and Controls
This light can also come on due to
low brake fluid. SeeBrake Fluid on
page 10‑32 for more information.
MetricEnglish
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition key is turned to ON/RUN.
If it does not come on then, have it
fixed so it is ready to warn if there is
a problem.
{WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal might be harder to push
or might go closer to the floor. It can
take longer to stop. If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑103.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the ABS light
stays on, or comes on again while
driving, the vehicle needs service.

Black plate (29,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-29
If the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the vehicle still has
brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is
a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5‑27.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), see Brake
System Messages on page 5‑42 for
all brake related DIC messages.
For vehicles with a Hybrid, see
the Hybrid Supplement for more
information.Four-Wheel-Drive Light
The four-wheel-drive light
comes on when a vehicle with
a manual transfer case is shifted
into four-wheel drive and the front
axle engages.
Some delay between the shifting
and the light coming on is normal.
See Four-Wheel Drive on page 9‑54
for more information.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
For vehicles with the Tow/Haul
Mode feature, this light comes on
when the Tow/Haul Mode has been
activated.
For more information, see Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑51.

Black plate (30,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-30 Instruments and Controls
StabiliTrak®Indicator
Light
For vehicles with the StabiliTrak
system, this light comes on briefly
while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays
on while driving, there could be a
problem with the StabiliTrak system
and the vehicle might need service.
When this warning light is on, the
StabiliTrak system is off and does
not limit wheel spin. The light flashes if the system is
active and is working to assist the
driver with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
See
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑70 for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS. When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more
of the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A tire pressure message can
accompany the light. See
Tire
Messages on page 5‑49 for more
information. Stop as soon as
possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See Tire Pressure on page 10‑66
for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may be
a problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System. The light flashes
for about a minute and stays on
steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence
repeats with every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑69 for
more information.

Black plate (31,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-31
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.Notice:
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally the indicator light then
goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and it might
have some other system problem.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light, under the fuel gauge,
comes on briefly while the engine is
being started.
This light and a chime comes on
when the fuel tank is low on fuel.
The Driver Information Center also
displays a “FUEL LEVEL LOW”
message. See Fuel System
Messages on page 5‑46 for more
information. When fuel is added this
light and message should go off. If it
does not, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.

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 (42,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-42 Instruments and Controls
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem
with the battery charging system.
Under certain conditions, the
charging system light may also turn
on in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeCharging System Light on
page 5‑24. Driving with this problem
could drain the battery. Turn off all
unnecessary accessories. Have the
electrical system checked as soon
as possible. See your dealer.
Brake System Messages
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with
the brake system warning light if
there is a problem with the brake
system. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑27. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem with
the brake system. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service. See your
dealer.
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE
SYSTEM
On vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
this message displays and a chime
may sound when there is a problem
with the ITBC system.
When this message displays, power
is no longer available to the trailer
brakes.

Black plate (46,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-46 Instruments and Controls
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays and a
chime may sound if the fuel level
is low. Refuel as soon as possible.
SeeFuel Gauge on page 5‑15
and Fuel on page 9‑84 for more
information.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message may display along
with the check engine light on
the instrument panel cluster if the
vehicle's fuel cap is not tightened
properly. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5‑25. Reinstall
the fuel cap fully. See Filling the
Tank on page 9‑88. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with
the cap properly installed should
turn this light and message off.
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays if a Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
battery is low. The battery needs
to be replaced in the transmitter.
See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime
sounds if a turn signal is left on for
1.2 km (0.75 mile). Move the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the off
position.
Object Detection System
Messages
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
this message displays if there is
something interfering with the park
assist system. See Ultrasonic
Parking Assist on page 9‑76 for
more information.
PARK ASSIST OFF
If the vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
after the vehicle has been started,
this message displays to remind the
driver that the URPA system has
been turned off. Press the set/reset
button or the trip odometer reset
stem to acknowledge this message
and clear it from the DIC display.
To turn the URPA system back on,
see Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑76.