Black plate (46,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
5-46 Instruments and Controls
Several conditions may cause this
message to appear. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑62 for more information.
If the warning comes on and stays
on, there may be a problem with the
TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the system
is re-learning the tire positions on
your vehicle. The tire positions must
be re-learned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection on page 10‑65,
Tire Rotation on page 10‑65, Tire
Pressure Monitor System on
page 10‑60, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑58 for more information.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low. This message also displays LEFT FRT (left front),
RIGHT FRT (right front), LEFT RR
(left rear), or RIGHT RR (right rear)
to indicate the location of the low
tire. The low tire pressure warning
light will also come on. See
Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑27. You
can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To
read the other messages that may
have been sent at the same time,
press the set/reset button or the
trip odometer reset stem. If a tire
pressure message appears on the
DIC, stop as soon as you can. Have
the tire pressures checked and set
to those shown on the Tire Loading
Information label. See Tires on
page 10‑50, Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑58. The DIC also shows
the tire pressure values. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑30.
Transmission Messages
SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
If the vehicle has four-wheel
drive, this message may display
if a problem occurs with the
four-wheel-drive system. If this
message appears, stop as soon as
possible and turn off the vehicle.
Make sure the key is in the LOCK/
OFF position for at least one minute
and then 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
four-wheel-drive system needs
service. See your dealer.
Black plate (49,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Instruments and Controls 5-49
Press the customization button until
the PRESS
VTO DISPLAY IN
ENGLISH screen appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to display all DIC
messages in English.
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
This feature allows you to select
the language in which the DIC
messages will appear.
Press the customization button until
the DISPLAY LANGUAGE screen
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:
ENGLISH (default): All messages
will appear in English.
FRANCAIS: All messages will
appear in French.
ESPANOL: All messages will
appear in Spanish. 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.
You can also change the language
by pressing the trip odometer
reset stem. See “Language”under
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑30 for more information.
AUTO DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select
when the vehicle's doors will
automatically lock. See Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO 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:
SHIFT OUT OF PARK (default):
The doors will automatically lock
when the vehicle is shifted out of
P (Park).
AT VEHICLE SPEED:
The doors
will automatically lock when the
vehicle speed is above 13 km/h
(8 mph) for three seconds.
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.
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. See Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Black plate (101,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Driving and Operating 9-101
Trailer Brake Control Panel
A. Manual Trailer Brake ApplyLever
B. Trailer Gain Adjustment Buttons
The ITBC system has a control
panel located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
column. See Instrument Panel
(Premium Version) on page 1‑6 or
Instrument Panel (Base/Uplevel
Version) on page 1‑2 for more
information. The control panel
allows adjustment to the amount of
output, referred to as trailer gain, available to the electric trailer
brakes and allows manual
application of the trailer brakes. The
Trailer Brake Control Panel is used
along with the Trailer Brake Display
Page on the DIC to adjust and
display power output to the trailer
brakes.
Trailer Brake DIC Display Page
The ITBC system displays
messages on the vehicle’s Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑30
for more information.
The display page indicates Trailer
Gain setting, power output to the
electric trailer brakes, trailer
connection, and system operational
status.
The Trailer Brake Display Page can
be displayed by performing any of
the following actions:
.Scrolling through the DIC menu
pages using the odometer
trip stem or the DIC Vehicle
Information button (if equipped).
.Pressing a Trailer Gain
button—If the Trailer Brake
Display Page is not currently
displayed, pressing a Trailer
Gain button will first recall the
current Trailer Gain setting. After
the Trailer Brake Display Page
is displayed, each press and
release of the gain buttons will
then cause the Trailer Gain
setting to change.
.Activating the Manual Trailer
Brake Apply lever.
.Connecting a trailer equipped
with electric trailer brakes.
All DIC warning and service
messages must first be
acknowledged by the driver by
pressing the odometer trip stem or
the DIC Vehicle Information button
(if equipped) before the Trailer
Brake Display Page can be
displayed and Trailer Gain can be
adjusted.
Black plate (10,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
10-10 Vehicle Care
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on
to indicate that an oil change is
necessary. SeeEngine Oil
Messages on page 5‑42. Change
the oil as soon as possible within
the next 1 000 km (600 mi). It is
possible that, if driving under the best conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change is
not necessary for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be
changed at least once a year and,
at this time, the system must be
reset. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is
needed when the OIL LIFE
REMAINING percentage is near
0%. Your dealer has trained service
people who will perform this work
and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the system on most vehicles:
1. Display the OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the DIC.
If the vehicle does not have
DIC buttons, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) to access this
display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑30.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
Black plate (14,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
10-14 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6-Speed
Transmission)
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The
only reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further.
Notice:Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12. Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Notice: Too much or too
little fluid can damage the
transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts,
starting a fire. Too little fluid
could cause the transmission
to overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if checking the
transmission fluid. Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle as follows:
1. Start the engine and park the
vehicle on a level surface. Keep
the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, move the
shift lever back to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle (500 –800 rpm) for at least
1 minute. Slowly release the
brake pedal.
5. Keep the engine running and press the Trip/Fuel button or
trip odometer reset stem until
TRANS TEMP (Transmission
Temperature) displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
Black plate (64,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
10-64 Vehicle Care
The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next
ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tire/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service or to
purchase a relearn tool.
There are two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching
process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN withthe engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter's LOCK
and UNLOCK buttons at the
same time for approximately
five seconds. The horn sounds twice to signal the receiver
is in relearn mode and TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
If the vehicle does not have
RKE, press the Driver
Information Center (DIC) vehicle
information button until the
PRESS
VTO RELEARN TIRE
POSITIONS message displays.
The horn sounds twice to signal
the receiver is in relearn mode
and TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.
If the vehicle does not have RKE
or DIC buttons, press the trip
odometer reset stem located on
the instrument panel cluster until
the PRESS
VTO RELEARN
TIRE POSITIONS message
displays. The horn sounds twice
to signal the receiver is in
relearn mode and TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen. 4. Start with the driver side
front tire.
5. Place the relearn tool against the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button to
activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the
sensor identification code has
been matched to this tire and
wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger side rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
8. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and repeat the procedure in
Step 5. The horn sounds two
times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
Black plate (73,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.Notice:
The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim,
bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and
chassis.
Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt,
or wheel nut is replaced on a dual
wheel setup, check the wheel
nut torque after 160, 1 600 and
10 000 km (100, 1,000 and 6,000 mi)
of driving. For proper torque,
see “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑75 for more information. Used Replacement Wheels{WARNING
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Black plate (16,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2012 - CRC - 11/15/11
11-16 Service and Maintenance
Maintenance Records
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service, and the
type of services performed in the boxes provided. Retain all maintenance receipts.Date Odometer
Reading Serviced By Services Performed