GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner ’s
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
u:
Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly
P: Do Not Apply High Pressure
Water
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
H:Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R: Fuse Block Cover Lock
Location
+: Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/13/19
44 Keys, Doors, and Windows
2. Press and slide the batterydown toward the pocket of the
transmitter in the direction of
the key ring. Do not use a
metal object
3. Remove the battery.
4. Insert the new battery, positive side facing up. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
5. Push together the transmitter back cover top side first, and
then the bottom toward the
key ring.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped with the remote start
feature, the climate control system
will come on when the vehicle is
started remotely, depending on the
outside temperature.
The rear defog and heated and
ventilated seats, if equipped, may
also come on. See Heated and
Ventilated Front Seats 076 and
Vehicle Personalization 0170.
If equipped, the automatic heated
steering wheel may also come on.
See Heated Steering Wheel 0133.
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
Check local regulations for any
requirements on remote starting of
vehicles.
Do not use remote start if the
vehicle is low on fuel. The vehicle
may run out of fuel.
The vehicle cannot be remote
started if:
. The RKE transmitter is inside
the vehicle. .
The hood is not closed.
. There is an emission control
system malfunction and the lamp
is on.
. The ignition is in any mode other
than off.
. The hazard warning flashers
are on.
. Two remote starts or a remote
start with an extension have
been used.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
The engine will turn off during a
remote vehicle start if:
. The coolant temperature gets
too high.
. The oil pressure gets low.
The RKE transmitter range may be
reduced while the vehicle is running.
Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System 034.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Instruments and Controls 131
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 132
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 133
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 133
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 133
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 149
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 149
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 151
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 151
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . 155
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 155
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 156
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 156
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 156
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Traction Control System (TCS)/ Electronic Stability Control
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . 158
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Engine Oil Pressure Light (Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 160
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 160
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 160
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 161
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 161
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel) . . . . . . 163
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 169
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 170
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 170
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 175
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Instruments and Controls 147
Uplevel English Shown, BaseLevel and Midlevel Similar
The engine oil pressure gauge
shows the engine oil pressure
in kPa (kilopascals) or psi (pounds
per square inch) when the engine is
running.
Oil pressure can vary with engine
speed, outside temperature, coolant
temperature, and oil viscosity.
On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according
to engine needs. Oil pressure may
change quickly as the engine speed
or load varies. This is normal. If the
oil pressure warning light or Driver Information Center (DIC) message
indicates oil pressure outside the
normal operating range, check the
vehicle's oil as soon as possible.
See
Engine Oil 0326.
Caution
Lack 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.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Uplevel Metric Shown, Base Level and Midlevel Similar
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
148 Instruments and Controls
Uplevel English Shown, BaseLevel and Midlevel Similar
This gauge measures the
temperature of the vehicle's engine
coolant.
While driving under normal
operating conditions, if the needle
moves into the red warning area,
the engine is too hot. Pull off the
road, stop the vehicle, and turn off
the engine as soon as possible.
Voltmeter Gauge
Uplevel Shown, Base Level and Midlevel Similar
When the ignition is on, this gauge
indicates the battery voltage.
When the engine is running, this
gauge shows the condition of the
charging system. The gauge can
transition from a higher to lower or a
lower to higher reading. This is
normal. If the vehicle is operating
outside the normal operating range,
the charging system light comes on.
See Charging System Light 0151. The voltmeter gauge may also read
lower when in fuel economy mode.
This is normal.
Readings outside the normal
operating range can also occur
when a large number of electrical
accessories are operating in the
vehicle and the engine is left idling
for an extended period. This
condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to
provide full power at engine idle. As
engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as
higher engine speeds allow the
charging system to create maximum
power.
The vehicle can only be driven for a
short time with the readings outside
the normal operating range. If the
vehicle must be driven, turn off all
accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
Readings outside the normal
operating range indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon
as possible.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
158 Instruments and Controls
This light comes on when the ESC
system is turned off. If ESC is off,
the Traction Control System (TCS)
is also off.
If the ESC and TCS are off, the
system does not assist in controlling
the vehicle. Turn on the TCS and
the ESC systems and the warning
light turns off.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0247.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle. If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving
with this light on can damage the
engine and it may not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. See
Engine Overheating
0336.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens, pull over and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating 0336.
Driver Mode Control Light
This light comes on when Sport
Mode is selected.
This light comes on when Snow
Mode is selected.
This light comes on when Terrain
Mode is selected.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
284 Driving and Operating
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating0336.
Viewing Systems
If equipped, the viewing systems on
the vehicle can improve visibility
while hitching, backing, and driving
with a trailer. See Driver Assistance
Systems 0258.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Launching and Retrieving
a Boat
Backing the Trailer into the Water
{Warning
.Have all passengers get out
of the vehicle before
backing onto the sloped part
of the ramp. Lower the
driver and passenger side
windows before backing
onto the ramp. This will
(Continued)
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
312 Driving and Operating
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment
Caution
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph)
with a snow plow mounted to the
vehicle. The vehicle could
overheat and be damaged.
Before installing a snow plow on the
vehicle, follow these guidelines:
Caution
If the vehicle does not have the
snow plow prep package, RPO
VYU, adding a plow can damage
the vehicle, and the repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Unless the vehicle was
built to carry a snow plow, do not
add one to the vehicle. If the
vehicle has RPO VYU, then the
payload the vehicle can carry will
be reduced when a snow plow is (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
installed. The vehicle can be
damaged if either the front or rear
axle ratings or the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) are
exceeded.
The plow the vehicle can carry
depends on many things, such as:
. The options the vehicle came
with, and the weight of those
options.
. The weight and number of
passengers to be carried.
. The weight of items added to the
vehicle, like a tool box or
truck cap.
. The total weight of any
additional cargo to be carried.
For example, if the snow plow
weighs 318 kg (700 lb), the total
weight of all occupants and cargo
inside the cab should not exceed
135 kg (300 lb). This means that you
may only be able to carry one
passenger. Even this may be too much if there is other equipment
already adding to the weight of the
vehicle.
To safely carry a snow plow on the
vehicle:
.
Follow all aftermarket snow plow
manufacturer ’s instructions for
the operation and transportation
of the snow plow.
. With a snow plow attached, the
engine coolant temperature
gauge may show a higher
temperature than while driving
without one. The snow plow
could block the airflow to the
radiator. This could be more
noticeable as vehicle speed
increases. At speeds above
72 km (45 mph), this may cause
the engine coolant to overheat.
. To increase the airflow, move the
snow plow blade postion.
. If driving more than 24 km
(15 mi), angle the plow blade
position.