GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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240 Driving and Operating
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness
Package
For vehicles equipped with
heavy-duty trailering, the harness
connector is mounted in the bumper.
For vehicles with the 5th wheel/
gooseneck trailer package, the
harness connector is mounted on
the inside of the pickup bed behind
the rear wheel.
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
.Green/Violet: Left Stop/Turn
Signal
. Yellow/Gray: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
. Gray/Brown: Taillamps/Parking
Lamps
. White: Ground
. White/Green: Back-up Lamps .
Red/Green: Battery Feed
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button, if equipped, at the end of the
shift lever. This will boost the
vehicle system voltage and properly
charge the battery. If the trailer is
too light for Tow/Haul Mode, or the
vehicle is not equipped with Tow/
Haul, turn on the headlamps as a
second way to boost the vehicle
system and charge the battery.
Camper/Fifth-Wheel Trailer Wiring
Package
For vehicles without the 5th wheel/
gooseneck tralier package,
seven-wire camper harness is under
the rear bumper, attached to the
frame near the rear crossmember.
A connector must be added to the
wiring harness that connects to the
camper.
The harness contains the following
camper/trailer circuits:
. Green/Violet: Left Stop/Turn
Signal
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Driving and Operating 241
.Yellow/Gray: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
. Gray/Brown: Taillamps/Parking
Lamps
. White: Ground
. White/Green: Back-up Lamps
. Red/Green: Battery Feed
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If the vehicle is equipped with the
heavy-duty trailering option, see
“Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness
Package” earlier in this section.
When the camper-wiring harness is
ordered without the heavy-duty
trailering package, a seven-wire
harness with a seven-pin connector
is at the rear of the vehicle and is
tied to the vehicle's frame.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. These
provisions are for an electric brake
controller. The harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
Tow/Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/
Haul Mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0199.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0231. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
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Driving and Operating 247
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0115.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 071 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 72.
For information on wiring auxiliary
switches, see www.gmupfitter.com
or contact your dealer.
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Caution
Do not exceed 64 km/h (40 mph)
with a snow plow mounted to the
vehicle. The vehicle could
overheat and be damaged.
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, here are some things you
need to know:
Caution
If the vehicle does not have the
snow plow prep package, adding
a plow can damage the vehicle,
and the repairs would not be
covered by warranty. Unless the
vehicle was built to carry a snow
plow, do not add one to the
vehicle. If the vehicle has the
snow plow prep package, called
RPO VYU, then the payload the
vehicle can carry will be reduced (Continued)
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Vehicle Care 251
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 252
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 252
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 261
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 261
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 264
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 265
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 270
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Power Steering Fluid (2500/ 3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . 277
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 280
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 282
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 282
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 283
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 284
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
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252 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure MonitorOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 325
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
WARNING: Most motor vehicles,
including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts
and systems, many fluids, and
some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
See
Battery - North America 0277
and Jump Starting - North America
0 326.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
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256 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0326.
2. Battery - North America 0277.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0266.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“How to Check the Automatic
Transmission Fluid” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) 0261
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed Transmission)
0 264.
6. Remote Negative (-) Location. See Jump Starting - North
America 0326.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 266.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258. 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 274.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0275.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
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258 Vehicle Care
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0326.
2. Battery - North America 0277.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0266.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0265.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “How to Check
the Automatic Transmission
Fluid” under Automatic
Transmission Fluid (6 Speed
Transmission) 0261 or
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(8 Speed Transmission) 0264.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0258.
8. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 266. 9. Remote Negative (–) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0326.
10. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering
Fluid (1500 Series) 0273 or
Power Steering Fluid (2500/
3500 Series) 0273.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 274.
12. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0275.
13. Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped). SeeBattery - North America
0 277.
14. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0285.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Engine Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement. To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0261.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
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Vehicle Care 277
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0255 for battery location.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. SeeCalifornia
Proposition 65 Warning 0252.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0326 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt. Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to
Maintenance Schedule
0 346 to determine when to check
the lubricant.
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