Black plate (26,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
1-26 In Brief
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑58.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and, on most vehicles, displays a
DIC message when it is necessary
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change. Resetting the Oil Life System
To reset the Engine Oil Life System
on most vehicles:
1. Display 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.
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%.
On all vehicles, the Engine Oil Life
System can be reset as follows:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds. 3. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC. If the display shows
100%, the system is reset.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑64. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑62.
Black plate (12,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
10-12 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
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 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 11‑11. 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 11‑11.
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 (3,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑56.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑62.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑25.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every
12 000 km/7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended
for the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑62.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑8 andEngine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑17.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑25.
Black plate (4,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
11-4 Service and Maintenance
.Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. SeeExterior
Care on page 10‑98. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑33.
.Check tire inflation pressures.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑56.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑62.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.
.Inspect brake system.
.Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damaged, loose,
or missing parts or signs of
wear. See Exterior Care on
page 10‑98.
.Check restraint system
components. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑29.
.Visually inspect fuel system for
damage or leaks.
.Visually inspect exhaust system
and nearby heat shields for
loose or damaged parts.
.Lubricate body components. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑98.
.Check starter switch. See Starter
Switch Check on page 10‑32.
.Check automatic transmission
shift lock control function. See
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check on
page 10‑32.
.Check ignition transmission lock.
See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑33.
.Check parking brake and
automatic transmission park
mechanism. See Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism Check on
page 10‑33.
.Check accelerator pedal for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.Visually inspect gas strut for
signs of wear, cracks, or other
damage. Check the hold open
ability of the strut. See your
dealer if service is required.
.Inspect sunroof track and seal,
if equipped. See Sunroof on
page 2‑22.
.Check hybrid low pressure
coolant level, if equipped.
Black plate (2,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
12-2 Technical Data
Vehicle Data
Capacities and Specifications
If your vehicle is a Hybrid, see the Hybrid manual for more information.
The following approximate capacities are given in metric and English conversions. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑11 for more information.
Application Capacities
Metric English
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a For the air conditioning system refrigerant charge
amount, see the refrigerant label located under the hood. See your dealer for more information.
Cooling System
5.3L V8 17.3 L 18.3 qt
6.0L V8 16.5 L 17.4 qt
Engine Oil with Filter 5.7 L 6.0 qt
Fuel Tank
Regular 98.4 L 26.0 gal
Extended 1500 Series 119.2 L 31.5 gal
Extended 2500 Series 147.6 L 39.0 gal
Black plate (1,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . . 9-29
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-86
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-86
Additional Information, OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-15
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
Airbag
Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42 Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-44
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . 3-32
Airbags Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-19
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Servicing Airbag-EquippedVehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Alarm System Anti-theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7 Antenna
Rear Side Window . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Alarm System Messages . . . . . 5-44
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-101
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-5
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Audio System Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Rear Seat (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2
Black plate (4,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
i-4 INDEX
DoorAjar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . 12-4
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . 1-27
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-13
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4 DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-86
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Emergency, OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Engine (cont'd)
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-39
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-30
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-76
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-14
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2
Black plate (5,1)GMC Yukon/Yukon XL Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-5
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-5
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-104
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-12
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Four-Wheel DriveTransfer Case . . . . . . . . . 9-37, 9-42
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Fog Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29, 9-37, 9-42 Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Front Fog Lamp
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 9-62
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-62
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 5-27
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-62
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Fuel Economy
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-87 Fuses
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-55
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-55
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Gauges Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11