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238 Driving and Operating
6. Turn the transfer case knobclockwise to N (Neutral) until it
stops and hold it there until the
N (Neutral) light starts blinking.
This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly
release the knob to the 4
n
position. The N (Neutral) light
will come on when the transfer
case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
7. With the engine running, verify that the transfer case is in
N (Neutral) by shifting the
transmission to R (Reverse),
then shift the transmission to
D (Drive). There should be no
movement of the vehicle while
shifting the transmission.
8. Turn the engine off, and the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park). See
Recreational Vehicle Towing
0362.
10. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. Shifting Out of N (Neutral)
To shift out of N (Neutral):
1. Set the parking brake and apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
3. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
4. Turn the transfer case knob to the desired setting.
After the transfer case has
shifted out of N (Neutral), the
N (Neutral) light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the
desired gear.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and it may even be noticed that
the brake pedal moves a little. This
is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 147.
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246 Driving and Operating
pressing SET–will result in cruise
control set to the current vehicle
speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends on the vehicle
speed, the load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, Cruise Grade Braking
helps maintain the driver selected
speed.
Cruise Grade Braking is enabled
when the vehicle is started and
cruise control is active. It is not
enabled in Range Selection Mode.
It assists in maintaining driver
selected speed when driving on
downhill grades by using the engine
and transmission to slow the
vehicle.
To disable and enable Cruise Grade
Braking for the current ignition key
cycle, press and hold the Tow/Haul
button for five seconds. A DIC
message displays. See
Transmission Messages 0169. For other forms of Grade Braking,
see
Automatic Transmission 0229
andTow/Haul Mode 0234.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
. Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. To turn off cruise control,
press
5.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
5is pressed
or if the ignition is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows for selecting
the cruise control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system.
ACC uses a camera and radar
sensors to detect other vehicles. See
Radio Frequency Statement
0 403. The following gap is the
following time (or distance) between
your vehicle and a vehicle detected
directly ahead in your path, moving
in the same direction. If no vehicle
is detected in your path, ACC works
like regular cruise control.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can speed up the vehicle or
apply limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or electronic stability control system
activates while ACC is engaged,
ACC may automatically disengage.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0241. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
electronic stability control system is
disabled.
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270 Driving and Operating
.The trailer must be equipped
with brakes adequate for the
intended use. A loaded trailer
weighing more than 900 kg
(2,000 lb) must be equipped with
its own brake system, with
brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian
Standards Association (CSA)
requirement CAN3-D313, or its
equivalent, is recommended.
. Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing. .
Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.
. The Forward Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off
when towing. See Forward
Automatic Braking (FAB) 021.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0228.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
The structure, tires, and brakes of
the trailer must be rated to carry the
load. Inadequate trailer equipment
can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe
manner.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. Get familiar with
the handling and braking of the rig.
If the trailer has electric brakes, start
the combination moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes work.
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Driving and Operating 271
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing, use the Tow/Haul
Mode to prevent damage to the
engine or transmission. See
Tow/
Haul Mode 0234.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, see Engine Overheating 0302.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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272 Driving and Operating
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park). 5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake
pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0376.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip. Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See
New Vehicle Break-In 0217.
Before towing a trailer, see
"Hands-Free Operation" under
Liftgate 044.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the
vehicle may not stop as expected.
The driver and passengers could
be seriously injured. The vehicle
may also be damaged; the
resulting repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pull a trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been followed.
(Continued)
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278 Driving and Operating
.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.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric-over-hydraulic trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to
the trailer brakes is based on the
amount of brake pressure being
applied by the vehicle’s brake
system, and on the type of trailer
brakes detected. This available
power output to the trailer brakes
can be adjusted to a wide range of
trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’ s brake, antilock brake,
and StabiliTrak systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
antilock brake or StabiliTrak
systems to activate, power sent to
the trailer's brakes will be
automatically adjusted to minimize
trailer wheel lock-up. This does not
imply that the trailer has StabiliTrak.
If the vehicle’s brake, antilock brake,
or StabiliTrak systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC system may not be fully functional
or may not function at all. Make sure
all of these systems are fully
operational to ensure full
functionality of the ITBC system.
The ITBC system is powered
through the vehicle's electrical
system. Turning the ignition off will
also turn off the ITBC system. The
ITBC system is fully functional only
when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an
air brake system may result in
reduced or complete loss of trailer
braking. There may be an
increase in stopping distance or
trailer instability which could
result in personal injury or
damage to the vehicle, trailer,
or other property. Use the ITBC
system only with electric or
electric over hydraulic trailer
brakes.
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284 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 285
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 285
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 294
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 297
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 298
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 302
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Battery - North America . . . . . . 307
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 309
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 310
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 311
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 312
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 313
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 313
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 315
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 316
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
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Vehicle Care 289
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America
0358.
2. Battery - North America 0307.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0299.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0298.
5. Automatic Transmission Dipstick. See “How to Check
Automatic Transmission Fluid”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid (6-Speed Transmission)
0 294 orAutomatic
Transmission Fluid (8-Speed
Transmission) 0297.
6. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump
Starting - North America 0358.
7. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 299.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0291. 9. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0291.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 304.
11. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0306.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0317.