
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Climate Controls 243
Climate Controls Climate Control Systems Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Climate Control Systems (with
Air Conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Air Vents Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Maintenance Passenger Compartment Air
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Climate Control Systems Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only) With this system, the heating and ventilation can be controlled.
1. Fan Control
2. Air Recirculation
3. Air Delivery Mode Controls 4. Defrost
5. TEMP (Temperature Control)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
250 Climate Controls
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.
.
Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn 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. Maintenance Passenger Compartment
Air Filter The filter reduces the dust, pollen,
and other airborne irritants from
outside air that is pulled into the
vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
See Maintenance Schedule 0 455 .
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts 0 466 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Climate Controls 2511. Open the lower glove box door
completely.
2. Remove the four screws from
around the lower glove box.
The door does not need to be
removed to access the screws.
3. Close the lower glove box door
and pull it from its frame to
remove the entire unit. 4. Release the two tabs holding
the service door. Open the
service door and remove the
old filter.
5. Install the new air filter.
6. Close the service door and
secure the tabs.
7. Reverse the steps to reinstall
the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed. Service All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system
should only be serviced by trained
and certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should
never be repaired or replaced by
one from a salvage vehicle.
It should only be replaced by a new
evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants
should be reclaimed with proper
equipment. Venting refrigerants
directly to the atmosphere is harmful
to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite,
or other health-based concerns.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Vehicle Care 355
Vehicle Care General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 356
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . . . 357
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 367
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 368
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(8 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 371
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 371
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 376
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378 Power Steering Fluid (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Power Steering Fluid (2500/
3500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Battery - North America . . . . . . 383
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 386
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 387
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 388
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 388
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 389
Headlamp Aiming Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390 LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Electrical System High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Electrical System Overload . . . 392
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 402
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
360 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 435 .
2. Battery - North America 0 383 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 372 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 371 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) 0 368
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed Transmission)
0 371 .
6. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 435 .
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 372 .
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 . 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 .
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 381 .
11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 380 .
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 393 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
362 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 435 .
2. Battery - North America 0 383 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 372 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 371 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) 0 368
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed Transmission)
0 371 .
6. Remote Negative ( – ) Location
(Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0 435 .
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 372 .
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 . 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 .
10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 380 .
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 381 .
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 393 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
364 Vehicle Care 1. Positive (+) Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North America
0 435 .
2. Battery - North America 0 383 .
3. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0 372 .
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0 371 .
5. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (If Equipped). See
“ How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid ” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) 0 368
or Automatic Transmission
Fluid (8 Speed Transmission)
0 371 .
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“ Checking Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 .
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When
to Add Engine Oil ” under
Engine Oil 0 364 .
8. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of
View). See Cooling System
0 372 . 9. Remote Negative ( – ) Location.
See Jump Starting - North
America 0 435 .
10. Power Steering Fluid
Reservoir.
See Power Steering Fluid
(1500 Series) 0 379 or Power
Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) 0 379 .
11. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Adding Washer
Fluid ” under Washer Fluid
0 380 .
12. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
Brake Fluid 0 381 .
13. Auxiliary Battery (If Equipped).
See Battery - North America
0 383 .
14. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0 393 .
If the vehicle has a diesel engine
and/or an Allison Transmission, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.
For an eAssist vehicle, see the
Silverado/Sierra 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 0 367 .
.
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “ What to Do with
Used Oil ” in this section.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
368 Vehicle Care 3. Display the OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the DIC. If the
display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6 Speed
Transmission) 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 service department and have
it repaired before driving the vehicle
further.
CautionUse of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
automatic transmission fluid listed
in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 464 .
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 455 . Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 464 . How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
CautionToo 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:
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