2015 GMC SIERRA DENALI towing

Black plate (23,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
Driving and Operating 9-23See your dealer for more
information on curb weights,
cargo weights, Cargo Weight
Rating, and the correct center of
gravity zone.
Starting and
Operating New Vehicle Break-In
{ CautionThe vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines: .
Keep the vehicle speed at
88 km/h (55 mph) or less for
the first 805 km (500 mi). .
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle. .
Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
(Continued) Caution (Continued) broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings. .
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
on page 9-71 for the trailer
towing capabilities of the
vehicle and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal If equipped, the position of the
throttle and brake pedals can be
changed.

Black plate (30,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
9-30 Driving and Operating
Shifting Into Park
{ WarningIt can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. 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, use the steps
that follow. 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 will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-68 . 1. Hold the brake pedal down, then
set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9-47 .
2. Move the shift lever into the
P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with
you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{ Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
(Continued) Warning (Continued) if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear — not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you

Black plate (33,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
Driving and Operating 9-33Warning (Continued) .
There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: .
Drive it only with the windows
completely down. .
Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation. Running the Vehicle
While Parked It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park on page 9-30
and Engine Exhaust on page 9-32 .
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-68 .Automatic
Transmission If equipped, there is an electronic
shift lever position indicator within
the instrument 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, Others
Similar
See “ Range Selection Mode ” under
Manual Mode on page 9-36 .
P (Park): This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position to
use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily. When parked on a hill,

Black plate (34,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
9-34 Driving and Operating especially when the vehicle has a
heavy load, you might notice an
increase in the effort to shift out of
P (Park). See “ Torque Lock ” under
Shifting Into Park on page 9-30 .
{ WarningIt is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the 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. 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).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-30 and Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
on page 9-68 . { WarningIf you have four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll — even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) — if
the transfer case is in N (Neutral).
So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low — not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
on page 9-30 .
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{ Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-14 .
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.
{ WarningShifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.

Black plate (35,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
Driving and Operating 9-35
{ CautionShifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are: .
Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down. .
Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts
down to the next gear and has
more power. Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode
when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills,
or driving off-road. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts
too often.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “ Skidding ” under
Loss of Control on page 9-5 .
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear. In some cases, this could appear to
be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. The adaptive shift
control process continually
compares key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored
in the transmission ’ s computer. The
transmission constantly makes
adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when the
temperature changes. During this
adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best
settings.
When temperatures are very cold,
the transmission's gear shifting
could be delayed providing more
stable shifts until the engine warms
up. Shifts could be more noticeable
with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.

Black plate (36,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
9-36 Driving and Operating M (Manual Mode): This position
allows selection of a range of gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions. If equipped, see “ Range
Selection Mode ” under Manual
Mode on page 9-36 .
{ CautionSpinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
If equipped with a gasoline engine
and an automatic transmission,
Normal Mode Grade Braking is
enabled when the vehicle is started,
but is not enabled in Range
Selection Mode. It assists in
maintaining desired vehicle speeds when driving on downhill grades by
using the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle. The first time
the system engages for each
ignition key cycle, a DIC message
will be displayed. See Transmission
Messages on page 5-39 .
To disable or enable Normal Mode
Grade Braking within the current
ignition key cycle, press and hold
the Tow/Haul button for
five seconds. When the button is
released, the requested mode
change is made. A DIC message
displays. See Transmission
Messages on page 5-39 .
For other forms of grade braking,
see Tow/Haul Mode on page 9-39
and Cruise Control on page 9-52 .
Kickdown Mode
The accelerator pedal provides an
additional downshift after pressing
through the kickdown feature.
It requires extra pedal pressure near
the end of its travel to engage. Manual Mode Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Mode
helps control the vehicle's
transmission and vehicle speed
while driving downhill or towing a
trailer by letting you select a desired
range of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to
M (Manual Mode).
2. Tap the plus/minus buttons on
the shift lever to select the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions.

Black plate (39,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
Driving and Operating 9-39Low Traction Mode If equipped, Low Traction Mode
assists in vehicle acceleration when
road conditions are slippery, such
as with ice or snow. While the
vehicle is at a stop, select M2 using
Range Selection Mode. This will
limit torque to the wheels and help
to prevent the tires from spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a Tow/Haul Mode.
The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern to reduce shift cycling, providing increased
performance, vehicle control, and
enhanced transmission and engine
cooling when driving down steep
hills or mountain grades, towing,
or hauling heavy loads.
The selector button is on the end of
the shift lever. Turn the Tow/Haul
Mode on and off by pressing the
button. When the Tow/Haul Mode is
enabled, a light on the instrument
cluster will come on.
See Tow/Haul Mode Light on
page 5-22 and Hill and Mountain
Roads on page 9-11 .
Also see “ Tow/Haul Mode ” under
Towing Equipment on page 9-78 .
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking is
only enabled while the Tow/Haul
Mode is selected and the vehicle is
not in the Range Selection Mode.
See “ Tow/Haul Mode ” listed
previously and Manual Mode on
page 9-36 . Tow/Haul Mode Grade
Braking assists in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when driving
on downhill grades by using the
engine and transmission to slow the
vehicle.
On vehicles with a gasoline engine,
to disable or enable Tow/Haul
Grade Braking within the current
ignition key cycle, press and hold
the Tow/Haul button for
five seconds. When the button is
released, the requested mode
change is made. A DIC message is
displayed. See Transmission
Messages on page 5-39 .
On vehicles with a diesel engine,
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking can
be enabled or disabled by pressing
the Tow/Haul Mode button. Use the
exhaust brake and Tow/Haul Mode
for maximum grade braking.
See Towing Equipment on
page 9-78 .
For other forms of grade braking,
see Automatic Transmission on
page 9-33 and Cruise Control on
page 9-52 .

Black plate (41,1)GMC 2015i Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431500) - 2015 - crc - 6/20/14
Driving and Operating 9-41turned on, and one will stay on.
If the lights display momentarily
when the ignition is in ON/RUN, but
none stay on, the knob may have
been turned while the vehicle was
off. To see the indicator, turn the
knob to another position so that it
matches the actual transfer case
setting. If no lights display, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
An indicator light flashes while
shifting and until the shift is
complete.
If the transfer case cannot complete
a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting. Turn the control
back to the previous setting to see
the indicator light.
{ Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode
indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case. The settings are:
N (Neutral): Shift the transfer case
to N (Neutral) only when towing the
vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10-91 or Towing the
Vehicle on page 10-91 .
2
m (Two-Wheel Drive High): Use
for driving on most streets and
highways. The front axle is not
engaged. This setting provides the
best fuel economy.
4
n (Four-Wheel Drive Low): This
setting engages the front axle and
delivers extra torque. Choose 4
n if
driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, or deep snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
When engaged, keep vehicle speed
below 72 km/h (45 mph).
Shifting into 4
n will turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control on page 9-49 . 4
m (Four-Wheel Drive High): Use
when extra traction is needed. The
front axle engages and helps when
driving on snowy or icy roads, when
off-roading, or when plowing snow.
The vehicle can be shifted from 2
mto 4
m while the vehicle is moving.
Shifting Into 4
m Turn the knob to 4
m at any speed
up to 121 km/h (75 mph), except
from 4
n . The indicator light will flash
while shifting and will remain on the
selected setting.
Shifting Into 2
m Turn the knob to 2
m at any speed,
except when shifting from 4
n .