GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 325
Automatic Transmission
Fluid 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. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid
level dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid in
these vehicles. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. See Publication
Ordering Information 0 442 .
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
(Continued) Caution (Continued) not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 415 . Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .
Engine Air Filter Life
System When to Change the Engine
Air Filter
When the “ Replace at Next Oil
Change ” message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced
at the time of the next engine oil
change. When the “ Replace Engine
Air Filter Now ” message displays,
the engine air filter should be replaced as soon as possible. Reset
the engine air filter life system after
the engine air filter is replaced. See
your dealer for service and to reset
the system.
If equipped, this feature provides an
indication of when to change the
engine air filter. It is based on
driving conditions, which can cause
when to change to vary greatly. It is
possible an air filter change may not
be indicated for up to four years.
How to Reset the Engine Air
Filter Life System To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the
DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
3. Press
T to move to the Reset/
Disable display area. Select
Reset then press
V .
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
326 Vehicle Care 4. Press to confirm to reset.
5. If the vehicle is not equipped
with DIC buttons, depress the
thumbwheel or trip odometer
reset stem for several seconds
to reset the air filter life system.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see “ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ” in
the Duramax diesel supplement for
the correct inspection and
replacement procedures.
The engine air cleaner/filter is on
the driver side of the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0 316 .
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air filter, see
Maintenance Schedule 0 415 .
If equipped with the engine air filter
life system, see Engine Air Filter
Life System 0 325 . If driving in very dusty areas, follow
the engine air filter inspecting and
changing intervals. See
Maintenance Schedule 0 415 .
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air. To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
5.3L V8 Engine (L84) Shown, 2.7L
L4 Engine (L3B), 4.3L V6 Engine
(LV3), 5.3L V8 Engine (L82), and
6.2L V8 Engine (L87) Similar
1. Air Duct Clamp
2. Electrical Harness
Connector
3. Screws
1. Locate the air cleaner/filter
assembly. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0 316 .
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 3333. When it is safe to do so, pull off
the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and
the vehicle is equipped with an
engine driven cooling fan, push
down the accelerator until the
engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least
five minutes while the vehicle is
parked. If the warning is still there,
turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down. If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode If an overheated engine condition
exists and the ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED message displays, an
overheat protection mode which
alternates firing groups of cylinders
helps to prevent engine damage. In
this mode, a loss in power and
engine performance will be noticed.
This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place
in an emergency. Driving extended
distances and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode
should be avoided. CautionAfter driving in the overheated
engine protection operating
mode, the engine oil will be
severely degraded. Any repairs
performed before the engine is
cool may cause engine damage.
Allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the
oil, and reset the oil life system.
See Engine Oil 0 321 .
Engine Fan The vehicle has electric cooling
fan(s). The fans may be heard
spinning at low speed during most
everyday driving. The fans may turn
off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing,
high outside temperatures,
or operation of the air conditioning
system, the fans may change to
high speed and an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 335
Brakes Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{ WarningThe brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in Capacities and
Specifications 0 430 .
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Pad Life System When to Change Brake Pads This vehicle has a system that
estimates the remaining life of the
front and rear brake pads. Brake
pad life is displayed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), along with
a percentage for each axle. The
system must be reset every time the
brake pads are changed.
When the system has determined
that the brake pads need to be
replaced, a message will display,
which may include mileage
remaining.
Brake pads should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
How to Reset the Brake Pad
Life System
The system will automatically detect
when significantly worn brake pads
are replaced. When the ignition is
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
336 Vehicle Care turned on after new pads and wear
sensors are installed, a message
will display. Follow the prompts to
reset the system.
The brake pad life system can also
be manually reset:
1. Display Brake Pad Life on the
DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
2. Press the thumbwheel or the
trip odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons. Select front or rear
pads as appropriate.
3. Select YES on the confirmation
message, or press the trip
odometer reset stem on a base
level DIC. Repeat for pads on
the other axle if they were also
replaced. How to Disable the Brake Pad
Life System The brake pad life system can be
turned off. This may be necessary if
aftermarket brake pads without wear
sensors are installed. When the
system is turned off, the front and
rear brake pad life percentages will
not display. However, the built-in
wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when
the brake pads are worn can still
determine when the pads should be
replaced. See Brakes 0 335 .
To turn off the brake pad life system:
1. Display Brake Pad Life on the
DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system
back on, follow the above steps but
select ENABLE in Step 2. Brake Fluid The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0 316 for
the location of the reservoir.
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.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
346 Vehicle Care
Trunk
Liftgate Headlamp Aiming Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, or any bulb changing
procedure not listed in this section,
contact your dealer.
CautionDo not replace incandescent
bulbs with aftermarket LED
replacement bulbs. This can
cause damage to the vehicle
electrical system.
Halogen Bulbs
{ Warning
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 373See your dealer for service or to
purchase a relearn tool. A TPMS
relearn tool can also be purchased.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor
Activation Tool at
www.gmtoolsandequipment.com or
call 1-800-GM TOOLS
(1-800-468-6657).
There are two minutes to match the
first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all four
tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching
process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition on without
starting the vehicle.
3. Uplevel DIC Only: Make sure
the Tire Pressure info page
option is turned on. The info
pages on the DIC can be
turned on and off through the
Options menu. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 160 or Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 159 .
4. If the vehicle has an uplevel
DIC, use the DIC controls on
the right side of the steering
wheel to scroll to the Tire
Pressure screen under the DIC
info page.
If the vehicle has a base level
DIC, use the trip odometer
reset stem to scroll to the Tire
Pressure screen.
5. If the vehicle has an uplevel
DIC, press and hold the
thumbwheel located in the
center of the DIC controls on
the right side of the steering
wheel.
If the vehicle has a base level
DIC, press and hold the trip
odometer reset stem for about
five seconds. A message
asking if the process should
begin should appear. Select yes and press the trip
odometer reset stem to confirm
the selection.
The horn sounds twice to
signal the receiver is in relearn
mode and the TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
6. Start with the driver side
front tire.
7. Place the relearn tool against
the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button to
activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the
sensor identification code has
been matched to this tire and
wheel position.
8. Proceed to the passenger side
front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 7.
9. Proceed to the passenger side
rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 7.
10. Proceed to the driver side rear
tire, and repeat the procedure
in Step 7. The horn sounds two
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
376 Vehicle Care .
There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber..
The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or
fabric..
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split..
The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule 0 415 .
Tires are rotated to achieve a
uniform wear for all tires. The
first rotation is the most
important. Anytime unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible, check for proper tire
inflation pressure, and check for
damaged tires or wheels. If the
unusual wear continues after the
rotation, check the wheel
alignment.
See When It Is Time for New
Tires 0 377 and Wheel
Replacement 0 381 .
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires. Do not include the spare tire in
the tire rotation.
Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated.
See Tire Pressure 0 367 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0 209 .
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation 0 370 .
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “ Wheel
Nut Torque ” under Capacities
and Specifications 0 430 , and
“ Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire ” under
Tire Changing 0 385 .
{ Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
(Continued)