Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
5853626) - 2014 - 3rd crc - 8/15/13
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 9-11
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-12
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-14
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-24
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25 Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 9-29
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Active Fuel Management
®. . . 9-32
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-34
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-54
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-70
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-70
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Black plate (70,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
5853626) - 2014 - 3rd crc - 8/15/13
9-70 Driving and Operating
Some gasolines that are not
reformulated for low emissions can
contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use
gasolines with MMT as they can
reduce spark plug life and affect
emission control system
performance. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on. If this
occurs, see your dealer for service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814. Some
gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See“Prohibited
Fuels" in Fuel on page 9-68.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5-22. If this occurs,
return to your authorized dealer for
diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of
fuel used, repairs may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If planning to drive in countries
outside the U.S. or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find.
Check regional auto club or fuel
retail brand websites for availability
in the country where driving. Never
use leaded gasoline, fuel containing
methanol, or any other fuel not
recommended. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel on
page 9-68.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of Fuel
System Treatment PLUS, part
number 88861013, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change, can
help. Fuel System Treatment PLUS
Black plate (71,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
5853626) - 2014 - 3rd crc - 8/15/13
Driving and Operating 9-71
is the only gasoline additive
recommended by General Motors.
It is available at your dealer.
Do not use additives with E85 or
FlexFuel.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow fuel cap can
use either unleaded gasoline or fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
All other vehicles should use only
the unleaded gasoline as described
inFuel on page 9-68.
The use of E85 or FlexFuel is
encouraged when the vehicle is
designed to use it. E85 or FlexFuel
is made from renewable sources.
To help locate fuel stations that
carry E85 or FlexFuel, the U.S.
Department of Energy has an
alternative fuels website. See
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/
stations.
E85 or FlexFuel should meet ASTM
Specification D 5798 or CAN/
CGSB–3.512 in Canada. Do not use the fuel if the ethanol content is
greater than 85%. Fuel mixtures that
do not meet ASTM or CGSB
specifications can affect driveability
and could cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to come on.
After refueling, the vehicle
calculates the composition of the
fuel. It is not recommended to
repeatedly switch between fuels.
If fuels are switched frequently, add
as much fuel as possible and do not
add less than 11 L (3 gal) when
refueling. Drive at least 11 km (7 mi)
immediately after refueling to allow
the vehicle to adapt to the change in
ethanol concentration.
Because E85 or FlexFuel has less
energy per liter (gallon) than
gasoline, the vehicle will need to be
refilled more often. See
Filling the
Tank on page 9-72.
{Caution
Some additives are not
compatible with E85 or FlexFuel
and can harm the vehicle's fuel
system. Do not add anything to
E85 or FlexFuel. Damage caused
by additives would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
{Caution
Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be
covered under the vehicle
warranty.
Black plate (5,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
5853626) - 2014 - 3rd crc - 8/15/13
INDEX i-5
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-4
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
FlexFuel
E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-105 Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-14
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . 6-5, 10-40
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . 9-39, 10-32
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . 5-25
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Heated and Cooled . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29 Fuel (cont'd)
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-73
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-72
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-70
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 5-28
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-70
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43 Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 10-47, 10-49
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-51Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70