
GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
222 Infotainment System
The Recent Calls menu allows you
to access the phone numbers from
the Incoming Calls, Outgoing Calls,
and Missed Calls menus on the cell
phone to make a call.
To make a call using the
Contacts menu:1. From the Home Page, turn the MENU knob, then press to
select the PHONE screen
button.
2. Turn the MENU knob to highlight Contacts and press to
select.
3. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the letter group and
press to select.
4. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the contact and press
to select.
5. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the desired number,
then press the MENU knob to
call the contact. To make a call using the Recent
Calls menu:
1. From the Home Page, turn the MENU knob, then press to
select the PHONE screen
button.
2. Turn the MENU knob to highlight Recent Calls and
press to select.
If necessary, select between
Missed, Recent, and Sent calls
by pressing the button below
the appropriate screen button.
3. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the contact or the
phone number.
4. Press the MENU knob to call the contact.
Making a Call Using the
Keypad
To make a call:
1. From the Home Page, turn the MENU knob, then press to
select the PHONE screen
button. 2. Turn the MENU knob and
press to select Keypad.
3. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the first digit and
press to select. Continue this
process through the number.
To call, press the button just
below the CALL screen button.
Accepting or Declining a Call
When an incoming call is received,
the infotainment system mutes and
a ring tone is heard in the vehicle.
Accepting a Call
To accept a call, do one of the
following:
.Press the button just below the
ANSWER screen button.
. Press
gon the steering wheel
controls.
Declining a Call
To decline a call, do one of the
following:
. Press the button just below the
IGNORE screen button.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Infotainment System 223
.Pression the steering wheel
controls.
. Do nothing.
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on
the Bluetooth phone and enabled by
the wireless service carrier to work.
Accepting a Call Waiting Call
To accept a call waiting call, do one
of the following:
.Press the button just below the
SWITCH screen button.
. Press
gon the steering wheel
controls.
Declining a Call Waiting Call
To decline a call waiting call, do one
of the following:
. Press the button just below the
IGNORE screen button.
. Press
ion the steering wheel
controls.
. Do nothing.
Ending a Call
To end a call, do one of the
following:
.Press the button just below the
END screen button.
. Press
ion the steering wheel
controls.
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
(DTMF) Tones
The in-vehicle Bluetooth system can
send numbers during a call. This is
used when calling a menu-driven
phone system.
1. When a call is active, press the button just below the KEYPAD
screen button.
2. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the first digit and
press to select.
If not initially in the phone
application, from the Home Page,
turn the MENU knob, then press to
select the PHONE screen button.
From the PHONE main menu, turn
the MENU knob to highlight Active
Call and press to select.
Bluetooth (Voice
Recognition - Base
Radio)
Using Voice Recognition
To use voice recognition, pressg
on the steering wheel. Use the
commands below for the various
voice features. For additional
information, say “Help”while you
are in a voice recognition menu.
Pairing
Pairing a Phone
1. Press
g. The system responds
“Ready,” followed by a tone.
2. Say “Bluetooth.”
3. Say “Pair.”The system
responds with instructions and
a four-digit Personal
Identification Number (PIN).
The PIN is used in Step 5.
4. Start the pairing process on the cell phone that you want to
pair. For help with this process,
see your cell phone
manufacturer's user guide.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Infotainment System 229
When the Bluetooth device and
infotainment system are
successfully paired, the phone book
is downloaded automatically. This is
dependent on the type of the phone
paired. If the automatic download
does not occur, proceed with the
phone book download on the
phone.
Pairing a Phone - SSP and No
Paired Device
When there is no paired device on
the infotainment system and Simple
Secure Pairing (SSP) is supported:1. Press
{.
2. Touch PHONE, press
#on the
faceplate, or press
gon the
steering wheel without OnStar.
3. Touch Search Device.
4. Touch the desired device to pair on the searched list
screen.
5. Touch Yes on the pop-up screen of the Bluetooth device
and infotainment system. 6. When the Bluetooth device and
infotainment system are
successfully paired, the phone
screen is displayed on the
infotainment system.
Pairing a Phone - SSP and Paired
Device
When a paired device is on the
infotainment system and SSP is
supported:
1. Press
{.
2. Touch Settings.
3. Touch Bluetooth, then Device Management.
4. Touch the desired device to pair. When the Bluetooth
device and infotainment system
are successfully paired,
Z/5
is displayed on the pair device
screen. If no desired device is
available go to Step 5.
5. Touch Search Device to search for the desired device.
6. Touch the desired device to pair on the searched list
screen. 7. Touch Yes on the pop-up
screen of the Bluetooth device
and infotainment system.
. The connected phone is
highlighted by
5.
.
Z/5indicates the hands-free
and phone music functions are
enabled.
.
5indicates only the hands-free
function is enabled.
.
Zindicates only Bluetooth
music is enabled.
Pairing a Phone - No SSP and No
Paired Device
When there is no paired device on
the infotainment system and SSP is
not supported:
1. Press
{.
2. Touch PHONE, press
#on the
faceplate, or press
gon the
steering wheel without OnStar.
3. Touch Search Device.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Climate Controls 253
Some vehicles may have the
exterior temperature sensor in the
passenger side mirror instead of the
front grille area.
The climate control system uses the
information from these sensors to
maintain comfort settings by
adjusting the outlet temperature, fan
speed, and the air delivery mode.
The system may also supply cooler
air to the side of the vehicle facing
the sun. The recirculation mode will
also be used as needed to maintain
cool outlet temperatures.Air Vents
Use the air vents in the center and
on the side of the instrument panel
to direct airflow. Use the
thumbwheels near the air vents to
open or close off the airflow.
Air vents blow warm air on the side
windows in cold weather. If Floor,
Defog, or Defrost modes are
selected, a small amount of air will
come from the vents close to the
window. If the airflow is shut off
using the thumbwheels, warm air
will be directed to the other
instrument panel vents. This is
normal operation.
Use the thumbwheels to turn vent
airflow on or off based on the mode
selected.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle. .
Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
256 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 265
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 266
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 268
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 277
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 281
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . 285
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 286
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 302
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 305
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 309
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 309
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) (2500/3500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 319
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 257
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 348
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
. Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions. .
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 259
Steering
Electric Power Steering (1500
Series)
If the vehicle has electric power
steering, it does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is
held in that position for an extended
period of time, power steering assist
may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underSteering System
Messages 0159.
Hydraulic Power Steering
(2500/3500 Series)
(2500/3500 Series –All Regular
Cab, Double Cab/Crew Cab
without Digital Steer Assist)
The power steering system may
require maintenance. See Power
Steering Fluid (1500 Series) 0378
or Power Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) 0378.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
system malfunctions, the vehicle
can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
(2500/3500 Series –Double Cab/
Crew Cab with Digital Steer
Assist)
The vehicle has a Digital Steer
Assist power steering system that
varies the amount of effort required
to steer the vehicle. Less steering
effort is required at slower speeds.
At faster speeds, the steering effort
increases. The system helps the
steering wheel return to center at
low speeds. Pressing the Tow/Haul button adjusts steering effort for
driving conditions described in
Tow/
Haul Mode 0292.
The power steering system may
require maintenance. See Power
Steering Fluid (1500 Series) 0378
or Power Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) 0378.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
system malfunctions, the vehicle
can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
260 Driving and Operating
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.