2018 GMC SIERRA towing

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Vehicle Care 433
6. Check that the vehicle is inTwo-Wheel Drive High by
shifting the transmission to
R (Reverse) and then to D
(Drive). There should be
movement of the vehicle while
shifting.
7. Shift the transmission to P (Park) and turn off the
ignition.
8. Disconnect the vehicle from the tow vehicle.
9. Release the parking brake.
10. Reset any lost presets. The outside temperature
display will default to 0 °C
(32 °F) but will reset with
normal usage.Dolly Towing
Front Towing (Front Wheels Off
the Ground) –Two-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles
Caution
If a two-wheel-drive vehicle is
towed with the rear wheels on the
ground, the transmission could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Never tow the vehicle
with the rear wheels on the
ground. Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not
be towed with the rear wheels on
the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being
towed.
To dolly tow a two-wheel-drive
vehicle, the vehicle must be towed
with the rear wheels on the dolly.
See
“Rear Towing (Rear Wheels Off
the Ground)” later in this section.
Front Towing (Front Wheels Off
the Ground) –Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
434 Vehicle Care
To dolly tow a four-wheel-drive
vehicle from the front:1. Attach the dolly to the tow vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the dolly.
3. Shift the transmission to P (Park).
4. Set the parking brake.
{Warning
Shifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or others could
be injured. Set the parking brake
before shifting the transfer case
to N (Neutral). 5. Use a clamping device
designed for towing to ensure
that the front wheels are locked
into the straight position.
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly following the manufacturer's
instructions.
7. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral). See “Shifting into
N (Neutral)” underFour-Wheel
Drive 0272 for the proper
procedure.
8. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle being towed is
firmly attached to the tow
vehicle.
9. Turn the ignition off.
Rear Towing (Rear Wheels Off
the Ground)
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
To dolly tow a two-wheel-drive
vehicle from the rear: 1. Drive the rear wheels onto the dolly.
2. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0281.
3. Put the transmission in P (Park).
4. Secure the vehicle to the dolly following the manufacturer's
instructions.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Vehicle Care 435
5. Use a clamping devicedesigned for towing to ensure
that the front wheels are locked
into the straight position.
6. Turn the ignition off.
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
{Warning
Shifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or others could
be injured. Set the parking brake
before shifting the transfer case
to N (Neutral). To dolly tow a four-wheel-drive
vehicle from the rear:
1. Drive the rear wheels onto the dolly.
2. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0281.
3. Put the transmission in P (Park).
4. Secure the vehicle to the dolly following the manufacturer's
instructions.
5. Use a clamping device designed for towing to ensure
that the front wheels are locked
into the straight position.
6. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral). See “Shifting into
N (Neutral)” underFour-Wheel
Drive 0272 for the proper
procedure.
7. Turn the ignition off.
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory.
Use a de-icing agent only when
absolutely necessary, and have the
locks greased after using. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0456.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
{Warning
Do not power wash any part of
the vehicle’s interior, including the
vinyl floor covering. This could
damage safety and other systems
in the vehicle, which would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Service and Maintenance 447
Caution (Continued)
approved by GM could damage
the vehicle, requiring expensive
repairs that are not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
The Tire Rotation and Required
Services are the responsibility of the
vehicle owner. It is recommended to
have your dealer perform these
services every 12 000 km/7,500 mi.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions.
Because of the way people use
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
There may need to be more
frequent checks and services. The
Additional Required Services -
Normal are for vehicles that:
. Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits
0 248. .
Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
. Use the recommended fuel. See
Fuel 0299.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services -
Severe are for vehicles that are:
. Mainly driven in heavy city traffic
in hot weather
. Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain
. Frequently towing a trailer
. Used for high speed or
competitive driving
. Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services - Severe chart.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can
be dangerous and can cause
serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools,
and equipment are available.
If they are not, see your dealer to
have a trained technician do the
work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work 0344.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
470 Customer Information
.Lock-Out Service: Service to
unlock the vehicle if you are
locked out. A remote unlock may
be available if you have OnStar.
For security reasons, the driver
must present identification
before this service is given.
. Emergency Tow from a Public
Road or Highway: Tow to the
nearest GMC dealer for warranty
service, or if the vehicle was in a
crash and cannot be driven.
Assistance is not given when the
vehicle is stuck in the sand,
mud, or snow.
. Flat Tire Change: Service to
change a flat tire with the spare
tire. The spare tire, if equipped,
must be in good condition and
properly inflated. It is the owner's
responsibility for the repair or
replacement of the tire if it is not
covered by the warranty.
. Battery Jump Start: Service to
jump start a dead battery. .
Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: If your trip is
interrupted due to a warranty
event, incidental expenses may
be reimbursed within the
Powertrain warranty period.
Items considered are reasonable
and customary hotel, meals,
rental car, or a vehicle being
delivered back to the customer,
up to 500 miles.
Services Not Included in
Roadside Assistance
. Impound towing caused by
violation of any laws
. Legal fines
. Mounting, dismounting,
or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices
Service is not provided if a vehicle
is in an area that is not accessible
to the service vehicle or is not a
regularly traveled or maintained
public road, which includes ice and
winter roads. Off-road use is not
covered.
Services Specific to
Canadian-Purchased Vehicles
. Fuel Delivery: Reimbursement
is up to 7 L. Diesel fuel delivery
may be restricted. Propane and
other fuels are not provided
through this service.
. Lock-Out Service: Vehicle
registration is required.
. Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: Must be over
150 km from where your trip
was started to qualify.
Pre-authorization, original
detailed receipts, and a copy of
the repair orders are required.
Once authorization has been
received, the Roadside
Assistance advisor will help to
make arrangements and explain
how to receive payment.
. Alternative Service: If
assistance cannot be provided
right away, the Roadside
Assistance advisor may give
permission to get local
emergency road service. You will
receive payment, up to $100,

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Customer Information 473
Aftermarket collision parts are also
available. These are made by
companies other than GM and may
not have been tested for the vehicle.
As a result, these parts may fit
poorly, exhibit premature durability/
corrosion problems, and may not
perform properly in subsequent
collisions. Aftermarket parts are not
covered by the GM New Vehicle
Limited Warranty, and any vehicle
failure related to such parts is not
covered by that warranty.
Repair Facility
GM also recommends that you
choose a collision repair facility that
meets your needs before you ever
need collision repairs. Your dealer
may have a collision repair center
with GM-trained technicians and
state-of-the-art equipment, or be
able to recommend a collision repair
center that has GM-trained
technicians and comparable
equipment.
Insuring the Vehicle
Protect your investment in the GM
vehicle with comprehensive and
collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the
quality of coverage afforded by
various insurance policy terms.
Many insurance policies provide
reduced protection to the GM
vehicle by limiting compensation for
damage repairs through the use of
aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will not
specify aftermarket collision parts.
When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you ensure that the
vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts.
If such insurance coverage is not
available from your current
insurance carrier, consider switching
to another insurance carrier.
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing
company may require you to have
insurance that ensures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) parts or
Genuine Manufacturer replacementparts. Read the lease carefully, as
you may be charged at the end of
the lease for poor quality repairs.
If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call
emergency services for help. Do not
leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of.
Move the vehicle only if its position
puts you in danger, or you are
instructed to move it by a police
officer.
Give only the necessary information
to police and other parties involved
in the crash.
For emergency towing see
Roadside Assistance Program
0
469.
Gather the following information:
. Driver name, address, and
telephone number
. Driver license number
. Owner name, address, and
telephone number
. Vehicle license plate number

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
494 Index
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 472
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 478
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 477
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Diagnostics
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 464
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 288
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158, 160
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 292
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Driving (cont'd)
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 33
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 245
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 247
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 381
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385, 386
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358 Engine (cont'd)
Check Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 345
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 143
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 265
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 477
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 176

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349177) - 2018 - CRC - 10/17/17
Index 495
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 178
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 180
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 126
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444
Fluid AutomaticTransmission . . . . . . . . . . . 354, 357
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Four-Wheel Drive Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365 Fluid (cont'd)
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 294
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 272, 370
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . . . 153
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 156
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 264
Requirements, California . . . . . 300 Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Fuses
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 381
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385, 386
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 143
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Transmission Temperature . . . . 145
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 446
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303