
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 335
3. Connect the vehicle to abattery charger.
4. Turn the ignition on for Key Access vehicles or to Service
Only for Keyless Access
vehicles. See Ignition Positions
(Key Access) 0220 or
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0222.
5. Turn off the air conditioning.
6. Set the parking brake.
7. At the same time, press the accelerator and the brake for
automatic transmission
vehicles for two seconds, then
release.
At the end of the cycle, check the
coolant level in the surge tank and
add coolant if it is low. Turn off the
vehicle, allow the Electronic Control
Module (ECM) to go to sleep, about
2 minutes, and repeat Steps 3-7.
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control valves
while watching the level of the
coolant in the surge tank. If the tank
empties, turn the ignition off, carefully remove the surge tank cap,
refill to the indicated mark, and
repeat Steps 3-6. The fill and air
removal process will run for
approximately 10 minutes.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank for
Gasoline Engines Except L3B
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see
“Cooling System” in the
Duramax diesel supplement for the
proper coolant fill procedure.
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such
as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. With
plain water or the wrong mixture,
the engine could get too hot but
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 343
Vehicles with the Stop/Start system
have an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
12-volt battery. Installation of a
standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life. When
using a 12-volt battery charger on
the 12-volt AGM battery, some
chargers have an AGM battery
setting on the charger. If available,
use the AGM setting on the charger
to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
Follow the charger manufacturer’s
instructions.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle. See
California Proposition
65 Warning 0318 and the back
cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0400 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Negative Battery Cable
Disconnection
{Warning
Before disconnecting the negative
battery cable, turn off all features,
turn the ignition off, and remove
the key, if equipped, from the
vehicle. If this is not done, you or
others could be injured, and the
vehicle could be damaged.
Caution
If the battery is disconnected with
the ignition on or the vehicle in
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP), the OnStar back-up
battery will be permanently
discharged and will need to be
replaced.
1. Make sure the lamps, features, and accessories are turned off.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key, if equipped.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
348 Vehicle Care
Insulation:
Removal of the noise shields or any
underhood insulation.
Engine:
Removal or rendering the engine
speed governor, if equipped,
inoperative so as to allow engine
speed to exceed manufacturer
specifications.
Fan and Drive:
.Removal of the fan clutch,
if equipped, or rendering the
clutch inoperative.
. Removal of the fan shroud,
if equipped.
Air Intake:
. Removal of the air cleaner
silencer.
. Modification of the air cleaner.
Exhaust:
. Removal of the muffler and/or
resonator.
. Removal of the exhaust pipes
and exhaust pipe clamps.Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
If equipped with Key Access
ignition, while parked, and with the
parking brake set, try to turn the
ignition off in each shift lever
position. The ignition should turn to
off only when the shift lever is in
P (Park).
The ignition key should come out
only when the ignition is off. Contact
your dealer if service is required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 391
1. Spare Tire (Valve StemPointed Down)
2. Tire/Wheel Retainer
3. Hoist Cable
4. Hoist Assembly
5. Hoist Shaft
6. Jack Handle Extensions
7. Wheel Wrench
8. Spare Tire Lock (If Equipped)
9. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
10. Hoist End of Extension Tool
1. Open the spare tire lock cover on the bumper and use the
ignition key to remove the
spare tire lock (8). To remove
the spare tire lock, insert the
ignition key, turn, and pull
straight out.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench (7)and the two jack handle
extensions (6), as shown.
3. Insert the hoist end (open
end) (10) of the extension
through the hole (9) in the rear
bumper.
Do not use the chiseled end of
the wheel wrench.
Be sure the hoist end of the
extension (10) connects to the
hoist shaft. The ribbed square
end of the extension is used to
lower the spare tire.
4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground.
Continue to turn the wheel wrench until the spare tire can
be pulled out from under the
vehicle.
5. Pull the spare tire out from under the vehicle.
6. Tilt the tire toward the vehiclewith some slack in the cable to
access the tire/wheel retainer.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
406 Vehicle Care
5. With the engine running,release the parking brake and
verify that the transfer case is
in N (Neutral) by shifting the
transmission to D (Drive) and
then to R (Reverse). There
should be no movement while
shifting the transmission.
6. Shift the transmission to D (Drive).
7. If equipped with an ignition key, turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If equipped with
Keyless Access, turn the
engine off. Disregard the Shift
to P (Park) DIC message. See
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
0220 or
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0222.
{Warning
To avoid death, serious injury,
or property damage, before
dinghy towing the vehicle, always
disconnect and secure the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
negative battery cable and cover
the negative battery post and
cable with a non-conductive
material. If the battery is left
connected or the battery cable
contacts the post, the Electric
Parking Brake may activate
during towing, which could cause
a crash.
8. Disconnect the negative (–) battery cable. See “Negative
Battery Cable Disconnection”
in Battery - North America
0 342.
9. Shift the transmission to P (Park).
Caution
If the steering column is locked,
vehicle damage may occur. 10. Move the steering wheel to
make sure the steering column
is unlocked.
11. If the vehicle has an ignition key, keep it in the towed
vehicle in ACC/ACCESSORY
to prevent the steering column
from locking. If the vehicle is
equipped with Keyless Access,
keep the RKE transmitter
outside of the vehicle and
manually lock the doors.
Access the vehicle by using
the key in the door lock. See
Door Locks 045.
Disconnecting the Towed Vehicle
Before disconnecting from the tow
vehicle: 1. Park on a level surface. Secure the vehicle with wheel blocks.
2. Re-connect the negative (–) battery. See Battery - North
America 0342.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 407
3. Turn on the ignition with theengine off. For vehicles with a
key, turn the ignition to ON/
RUN with the engine off. If the
vehicle is equipped with
Keyless Access, with your foot
off the brake pedal, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for
five seconds until the green
light comes on in the button.
See Ignition Positions (Key
Access) 0220 or
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0222.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0245.
5. Disconnect from the tow vehicle.
6. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
7. Shift the transfer case to 2
m
(Two-Wheel Drive High). When
the shift to 2
m(Two-Wheel
Drive High) is complete, the
light in the instrument cluster
will stop flashing and stay lit.
See Four-Wheel-Drive Light
0 155. 8. Start the engine. Check that
the vehicle is in 2
m
(Two-Wheel Drive High) by
starting the engine and shifting
the transmission to D (Drive)
and then to R (Reverse). There
should be movement of the
vehicle while shifting.
9. Shift the transmission to P (Park) and turn off the
ignition.
10. Release the parking brake and remove the wheel blocks.
11. Reset any lost presets. The outside temperature
display will default to 0 °C
(32 °F) but will reset with
normal usage.
Dolly Towing

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 413
Control arm ball joints on 1500
series vehicles are
maintenance-free.
Caution
Lubrication of applicable
suspension points should not be
done unless the temperature is
−12 °C (10 °F) or higher,
or damage could result.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
hood hinges, liftgate hinges, and the
steel fuel door hinge unless the
components are plastic. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
Underbody Maintenance
At least twice a year, spring and fall,
use plain water to flush any
corrosive materials from the
underbody. Take care to thoroughly
clean any areas where mud and
other debris can collect. If equippedwith power assist steps, extend
them and then use a high pressure
wash to clean all joints and gaps.
Do not directly power wash the
transfer case and/or front/rear axle
output seals. High pressure water
can overcome the seals and
contaminate the fluid. Contaminated
fluid will decrease the life of the
transfer case and/or axles and
should be replaced.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining the
vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Quickly repair minor chips and
scratches with touch-up materials
available from your dealer to avoid
corrosion. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer's body and paint shop.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted vehicle surfaces
causing blotchy, ring-shaped
discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint
surface. Refer to
“Finish Care”
previously in this section.
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions,
regularly clean the vehicle's interior.
Immediately remove any soils.
Newspapers or dark garments can
transfer color to the vehicle’s
interior.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove
dust from knobs and crevices on the
instrument cluster. Using a mild
soap solution, immediately remove
hand lotions, sunscreen, and insect
repellent from all interior surfaces or
permanent damage may result.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
422 Service and Maintenance
.Check ignition transmission lock.
See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check 0348.
. Check parking brake and
automatic transmission park
mechanism. See Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism Check
0 348.
. Check accelerator pedal for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
. Visually inspect gas strut for
signs of wear, cracks, or other
damage. Check the hold open
ability of the strut. If the hold
open is low, service the gas
strut. See Gas Strut(s) 0350.
. Inspect sunroof track and seal,
if equipped. See Sunroof066.
. Verify spare tire key lock
operation and lubricate as
needed. See Tire Changing
0 390. .
Verify the spare tire is tightly
stowed under the vehicle.
Tighten as needed. See "Storing
a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools" in
Tire Changing 0390.
. Visually inspect the spare tire to
ensure that it is tightly stowed
under the vehicle. Push, pull,
and try to turn the tire. If the
spare tire moves, tighten as
necessary. SeeTire Changing
0390.