2018 GMC YUKON XL check engine light

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/20/17
Instruments and Controls 147
Traction Off Light This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
turns off.
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button.
This light and the StabiliTrak OFF
light come on when StabiliTrak is
turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited. Adjust driving accordingly.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 229 . StabiliTrak OFF Light This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If StabiliTrak and TCS are off, the
system does not assist in controlling
the vehicle. Turn on the TCS and
the StabiliTrak systems, and the
warning light turns off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 229 .Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
message may display. Check the
DIC messages to determine which
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service.
If the light is on and flashing, the
TCS and/or the StabiliTrak system
is actively working.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/20/17
Instruments and Controls 149
Engine Oil Pressure Light CautionLack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check
the oil level as soon as possible.
Add oil if required, but if the oil
level is within the operating range
and the oil pressure is still low,
have the vehicle serviced. Always
follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer. If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light is near the fuel gauge and
comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is
working.
It also comes on when the fuel tank
is low on fuel. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced. Security Light The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See Immobilizer Operation
0 51 .
High-Beam On Light

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
230 Driving and Operating intended path. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. See Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) 0 273 .
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0 200
and “ Turning the Systems Off and
On ” later in this section.
When the transfer case is in
Four-Wheel Drive Low, the stability
system is automatically disabled,
g comes on, and the appropriate
message will appear on the DIC.
Both traction control and StabiliTrak
are automatically disabled in this
condition.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.
Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
.
Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
d comes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
d comes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
d comes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 255Prohibited Fuels
CautionDo not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so
may damage the vehicle and void
its warranty:
.
For vehicles which are not
FlexFuel, fuel labeled
greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level
ethanol blends (16 – 50%
ethanol), E85, or FlexFuel.
.
Fuel with any amount of
methanol, methylal, and
aniline. These fuels can
corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and
rubber parts.
.
Fuel containing metals such
as methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT), which can damage
the emissions control
system and spark plugs.
(Continued) Caution (Continued) .
Fuel with a posted octane
rating of less than the
recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel
economy and performance,
and may decrease the life of
the emissions catalyst.
California Fuel
Requirements If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
may not pass a smog-check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0 143 . If this occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see “ Prohibited
Fuels ” in Fuel 0 254 .
Fuel Additives To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel 0 254 .
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 2733. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the
ignition back to RUN.
4. If the CHECK TRAILER
WIRING message reappears,
the electrical fault is on the
vehicle side.
If the CHECK TRAILER
WIRING message only
reappears when connecting the
trailer wiring harness to the
vehicle, the electrical fault is on
the trailer side.
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE
SYSTEM: This message will display
when there is a problem with the
ITBC system. If this message
continues over multiple ignition
cycles, there is a problem with the
ITBC system. Have the vehicle
serviced.
If either the CHECK TRAILER
WIRING or SERVICE TRAILER
BRAKE SYSTEM message displays
while driving, the ITBC system may
not be fully functional or may not
function at all. When traffic
conditions allow, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of the road
and turn the ignition off. Check the wiring connection to the trailer and
turn the ignition back on. If either of
these messages continues, either
the vehicle or trailer needs service.
A GM dealer may be able to
diagnose and repair problems with
the trailer. However, any diagnosis
and repair of the trailer is not
covered under the vehicle warranty.
Contact your trailer dealer for
assistance with trailer repairs and
trailer warranty information.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If TSC detects
that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle's brakes are automatically
applied. When TSC is applying the brakes,
the TCS/StabiliTrak indicator light
flashes to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak is
turned off. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0 229 .
Electronic Trailer Sway Control
Devices Some trailers may come equipped
with an electronic device designed
to reduce or control trailer sway.
Aftermarket equipment
manufacturers also offer similar
devices that connect to the wiring
between the trailer and the vehicle.
These devices may interfere with
the vehicle ’ s trailer brake or other
systems, including integrated
anti-sway systems, if equipped.
Messages related to trailer
connections or trailer brakes could
appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). The effect that these
devices may have on vehicle
handling or trailer brake
performance is unknown.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
274 Driving and Operating
{ WarningUse of electronic trailer sway
control devices could result in
reduced trailer brake
performance, loss of trailer
brakes, or other malfunctions, and
could cause a crash. You or
others could be injured or killed.
Before using one of these
devices:
.
Ask the device or trailer
manufacturer if the device
has been thoroughly tested
for compatibility with the
make, model, and year of
the vehicle as well as
optional equipment installed
on the vehicle.
.
Before driving on the open
roads, check that the trailer
brakes are working properly.
Drive the vehicle with the
trailer attached on a level
road surface that is free of
traffic at about 32-40 km/h
(20-25 mph) and fully apply
(Continued) Warning (Continued) the manual trailer brake
apply lever. Also check that
the trailer brake lamps and
other lamps are functioning
correctly.
.
If the trailer brakes are not
operating properly at any
time, or if a DIC message
indicates problems with the
trailer connections or trailer
brakes, carefully pull the
vehicle over to the side of
the road when traffic
conditions allow. Conversions and
Add-Ons Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{ WarningThe Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0 143 .
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.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/20/17
276 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . . . 278
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 285
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(6 Speed Transmission) . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission Fluid
(8 and 10 Speed
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 290
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 294
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Battery - North America . . . . . . 298
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 301
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 302
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 303
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 303
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 304
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 304
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Headlamp Aiming Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Bulb Replacement Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 308 Electrical System Electrical System Overload . . . 309
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 309
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/20/17
298 Vehicle Care Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.
Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
.
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system. { WarningIf too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0 145 .
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0 370 .
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0 379 .{ WarningThe 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 GM approved brake fluid.
CautionIf 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
0 280 for battery location.