2011 GMC YUKON brake light

Black plate (44,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
5-44 Instruments and Controls
SERVICE SUSPENSION
SYSTEM
If your vehicle has the Autoride®
suspension system, this message
displays when the Autoride
suspension system is not operating
properly. Have your vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this
message displays when there is a
problem with the Traction Control
System (TCS). When this message
displays, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See your dealer for
service. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑52 for more information.
STABILITRAK OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this
message displays when you turn
off StabiliTrak, or when the stability
control has been automatically
disabled. To limit wheel spin and realize the full benefits of the
stability enhancement system, you
should normally leave StabiliTrak
on. However, you should turn
StabiliTrak off if your vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow
and you want to rock your vehicle
to attempt to free it, or if you
are driving in extreme off-road
conditions and require more wheel
spin. See
If the Vehicle is Stuck on
page 9‑22. To turn the StabiliTrak
system on or off, see StabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑52.
There are several conditions that
can cause this message to appear.
.One condition is overheating,
which could occur if StabiliTrak
activates continuously for an
extended period of time.
.The message also displays if
the brake system warning light is
on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 5‑23.
.The message could display if the
stability system takes longer
than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving
conditions.
.The message displays if an
engine or vehicle related
problem has been detected
and the vehicle needs service.
See your dealer.
.The message also displays
if the vehicle is shifted into
4LO (Two Speed Transfer
Case Only).
The message turns off as soon
as the conditions that caused the
message to be displayed are no
longer present.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this
message displays when the Traction
Control System (TCS) is turned off.
Adjust your driving accordingly. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑52
for more information.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-4 Driving and Operating
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5‑23.
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding
to push the brake pedal is
perception time. Actually doing
it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
three‐fourths of a second. But
that is only an average. It might be
less with one driver and as long as
two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and
eyesight all play a part. So do
alcohol, drugs, and frustration.
But even in three‐fourths of
a second, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between the
vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the
surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition
of the road, whether it is wet, dry,
or icy; tire tread; the condition of the
brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force
applied.
Avoid needless heavy
braking. Some people drive in
spurts
—heavy acceleration
followed by heavy braking —rather
than keeping pace with traffic. This
is a mistake. The brakes might not
have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out
much faster with a lot of heavy
braking. Keeping pace with the
traffic and allowing realistic
following distances eliminates
a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and
longer brake life. If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. If the brakes are pumped,
the pedal could get harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there will
still be some power brake assist but
it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is
used up, it can take longer to stop
and the brake pedal will be harder
to push.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑3.

Black plate (6,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is
only slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy. Ease
off the accelerator and then, if thereis nothing in the way, steer so that
the vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement. Turn the steering
wheel 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 in), about
one-eighth turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when the
three control systems
—brakes,
steering, and acceleration —do not
have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those
conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle's three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the
steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you
want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, the vehicle
may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.

Black plate (14,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-14 Driving and Operating
Exit on the uphill side and stay clear
of the path the vehicle would take if
it rolled downhill. If the vehicle has
a transfer case with a N (Neutral)
position, do not shift the transfer
case to Neutral when you leave the
vehicle. Leave it in some gear.
{WARNING
If the vehicle has the two‐speed
automatic transfer case, shifting
the transfer case to Neutral can
cause your vehicle to roll even if
the transmission is in P (Park).
This is because the Neutral
position on the transfer case
overrides the transmission. You
or someone else could be injured.
If you are going to leave your
vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift the transmission to
P (Park). But, if the vehicle has
a two‐speed automatic transfer
case, do not shift the transfer
case to Neutral.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you
downhill, consider:
.How steep is the downhill? Will
I be able to maintain vehicle
control?
.What is the surface like?
Smooth? Rough? Slippery?
Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
.Are there hidden surface
obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
.What is at the bottom of the hill?
Is there a hidden creek bank or
even a river bottom with large
rocks?
If you decide you can go down a
hill safely, try to keep the vehicle
headed straight down. Use a low
gear so engine drag can help the
brakes so they do not have to do all
the work. Descend slowly, keeping
the vehicle under control at all
times.
{WARNING
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a
serious accident. Apply the
brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
Things not to do when driving down
a hill:
.When driving downhill, avoid
turns that take you across the
incline of the hill. A hill that is not
too steep to drive down might be
too steep to drive across. The
vehicle could roll over.
.Never go downhill with the
transmission in N (Neutral),
called free-wheeling. The brakes
will have to do all the work and
could overheat and fade.

Black plate (18,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See
Tires on
page 10‑48.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (30,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-30 Driving and Operating
3. Come to a complete stop, shiftto P (Park), and turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the
shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑51.
The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle needs
service.
Notice: Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the way in,
and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by
hand, see your dealer. B (ACC/ACCESSORY):
This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
C (ON/RUN): This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. The transmission
is also unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time. D (START):
This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning tone will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF, and the key is in the
ignition.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.

Black plate (37,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out
of the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll. Do
not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
{WARNING
If the vehicle has a four-wheel
drive transfer case with a
N (Neutral) position, and the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle may roll, even if the
automatic transmission shift
lever is in P (Park). So, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive
gear—not in N (Neutral). Always
set the parking brake.
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑33.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑75.
Automatic
Transmission
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
If the vehicle is has an automatic
transmission, it has an electronic
shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. This
display comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ON/RUN
position.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
Heavy Duty 6-Speed Automatic
Transmission Shown (Light Duty Similar)
See “Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode on page 9‑41.

Black plate (42,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a Tow/Haul Mode.
The selector button is located on the
end of the column shift lever. You
can use this feature to assist when
towing or hauling a heavy load or if
there is a need to charge a battery
installed in a trailer. SeeTowing
Equipment on page 9‑84 for more
information.
When Tow/Haul Mode is selected
the tow/haul indicator light will
come on. The Tow/Haul Mode works with the
Autoride
®feature, if the vehicle
has this, to enhance the ride when
trailering or with a loaded vehicle.
See Continuous Damping Control
(CDC) on page 9‑55.
Grade Braking (Hydra-Matic®
6-Speed Automatic
Transmission)
The Grade Braking shift modes can
be activated by pressing the button
on the end of the shift control lever.
While in Range Selection Mode,
Grade Braking is deactivated
allowing the driver to select a
desired range of gears.
Grade Braking is only active while
the Tow/Haul Mode is selected and
you are not in the Range Selection
Mode. See “Tow/Haul Mode” listed
previously and Manual Mode on
page 9‑41 for more information on
the Range Selection Mode. Grade
Braking assists in maintaining
desired vehicle speeds when driving on downhill grades by automatically
implementing a shift schedule that
utilizes the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle. This reduces
wear on the braking system and
increases control of the vehicle.
Grade Braking monitors vehicle
speed, acceleration, engine torque
and brake pedal usage. Using this
information, it detects when the
truck is on a downhill grade and the
driver desires to slow the vehicle by
pressing the brake.
Also see
Towing Equipment on
page 9‑84 for more information.
Cruise Grade Braking
(Hydra-Matic®6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
Cruise Grade Braking assists
when driving on a downhill grade.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
schedule that uses the engine and
the transmission to slow the vehicle.