2019 GMC SIERRA check engine light

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
160 Instruments and Controls
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. SeeImmobilizer Operation
0 56.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer 0181.
IntelliBeam Light
This light comes on when the
IntelliBeam system, if equipped, is
enabled. See Exterior Lamp
Controls 0179.
Front Fog Lamp Light
For vehicles with fog lamps, this
light comes on when the fog lamps
are on.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Instruments and Controls 161
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. SeeFog
Lamps 0184.
Lamps On Reminder
This light comes on when the
exterior lamps are in use. See
Exterior Lamp Controls 0179.
Cruise Control Light
For vehicles with cruise control, the
cruise control light is white when the
cruise control is on and ready, and
turns green when the cruise control
is set and active. The light turns off when the cruise
control is turned off. See
Cruise
Control 0255.
Door Ajar Light
This light comes on when a door is
open or not securely latched. Before
driving, check that all doors are
properly closed.
Information Displays
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level)
The DIC displays are shown in the
center of the instrument cluster. The
displays show the status of many
vehicle systems. The trip odometer
reset stem in the instrument cluster
is used to access the DIC menu
items.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for more information.
DIC Menu Items
Turn the trip odometer reset stem to
scroll through the following menu
items:
.
Digital Speedometer
. Trip 1/2
. Fuel Range
. Tire Pressure
. Remaining Oil Life

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Instruments and Controls 169
Clean the HUD lens with a soft cloth
sprayed with glass cleaner. Wipe
the lens gently, then dry it.
HUD Troubleshooting
Check that:
.Nothing is covering the
HUD lens.
. The HUD brightness setting is
not too dim or too bright.
. The HUD is adjusted to the
proper height.
. Polarized sunglasses are
not worn.
. The windshield and HUD lens
are clean.
If the HUD image is not correct,
contact your dealer.
The windshield is part of the HUD
system. See Windshield
Replacement 0350.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) indicate
the status of the vehicle or some
action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing the thumbwheel. The
messages that require immediate
action cannot be cleared until that
action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears,
see your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
.
Service Messages
. Fluid Levels .
Vehicle Security
. Brakes
. Steering
. Ride Control Systems
. Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle propulsion power is
reduced. A reduction in propulsion
power can affect the vehicle's ability
to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
208 Driving and Operating
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive through it slowly. At faster
speeds, water can get into the
engine and cause it to stall. Stalling
can occur if the exhaust pipe is
under water. Do not turn off the
ignition when driving through water.
If the exhaust pipe is under water,
the engine will not start. When going
through water, the brakes get wet
and it may take longer to stop. See
“Driving on Wet Roads” later in this
section.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody or
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
Re-install underbody air deflector
and air dam if removed. After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, driveline,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires,
and exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. See the
Maintenance
Schedule 0420.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Driving and Operating 245
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear noise or
feel vibration while the ABS is
operating.The Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak indicator light will flash to
indicate that ABS is active. When
ABS is active, it may indicate that
road surfaces are slippery. Braking
sooner may be required for driving
conditions.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The EPB can always
be activated, even if the ignition is
off. To prevent draining the battery,
avoid repeated cycles of the EPB
when the engine is not running.
The system has a
Yor PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light. See
Electric Parking Brake Light 0154
and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 154. There are also parking
brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages.
Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Yor PARK light to ensure that
the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
248 Driving and Operating
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. SeeTrailer
Sway Control (TSC) 0299.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak/ESC
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 0211
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section. When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in Four-Wheel Drive Low, the
stability system is automatically
disabled,
gcomes on, and the
appropriate message will appear on
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
Both traction control and StabiliTrak/
ESC 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/ESC 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
dcomes 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
dcomes 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
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
294 Driving and Operating
1. Left Turn/Brake
2. Taillamps
3. Reverse Lamps
4. Battery Feed
5. Right Turn/Brake
6. Electric Brakes
7. Ground
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications
for proper electrical connectivity.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
If the vehicle is not equipped with
an integrated trailer brake controller,
and the trailer has electric brakes, a
trailer brake controller needs to be
installed on the vehicle. The brake
controller should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
If equipped, there is a trailer brake
jumper harness provided with the
vehicle. The connector on the trailer
brake jumper harness is attached to
a mating connector to the left of the
steering wheel behind the knee
bolster. The four blunt cut wires on
the jumper harness need to be
connected to an aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller. The harness
contains the following circuits:Electric Trailer
Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Violet or
Red/Black
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue Ground Black
The fuse for the electric trailer brake
circuit is in the engine compartment
fuse block, but the wires may not be
connected. They should be
connected by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
Refer to the aftermarket electric
trailer brake controller owner's
manual to determine wire color
coding of the electric trailer brake
controller. The wire colors on the
brake controller may be different
from the vehicle.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
If equipped, the Trailering App will
monitor the RH turn/brake lamp
circuit, LH turn/brake lamp circuit,
running lamp circuit, and reverse
lamp circuits on the trailer. DIC
messages and Trailering App alerts
may be displayed if lighting circuit
issues are detected on the trailer.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Driving and Operating 299
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)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while
towing. If the vehicle is towing a
trailer and the TSC detects that
sway is increasing, the vehiclebrakes are selectively applied at
each wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway. If equipped
with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake system,
StabiliTrak/ESC may also apply the
trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/
ESC warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Reduce vehicle
speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer
sway continues, StabiliTrak/ESC
can reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned
off. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0247.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death,
even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from
the accelerator. Then pull over to
check the trailer and vehicle to
help correct possible causes,
including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0290 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Aftermarket Electronic Trailer
Sway Control Devices
Some trailers may come equipped
with an electronic device designed
to reduce or control trailer sway.