GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Vehicle Care 349
Automatic Coolant Service Fill
Instructions (L3B Engine)
See 3.0L Duramax Diesel
supplement for the diesel engine
procedure.
If equipped, this feature assists in
filling and removing air from the
cooling system after service of
components or when coolant is
added after being too low.
To activate the fill and air removal
process:1. With a cold system, add coolant to the indicated mark
on the surge tank.
2. Replace the cap on the surge tank.
3. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
4. Set the ignition to Service or Accessory Mode. See Ignition
Positions (Keyless Access)
0 208 or
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
0 210.
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
two 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
(Continued)
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Vehicle Care 353
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.
If the engine or transmission detects
an impending hot fluid condition,
then the transmission may force
upshifts to limit temperatures.
Downshifts may also be prevented
in this instance. Normal operation
may continue unless the display
indicates there is a hot condition
and engine should be idled.
Caution
After 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.
SeeEngine Oil 0339.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has the Duramax
diesel engine, see the Duramax
diesel supplement.
All Engines Except 6.6L
V8 Engine (L8T)
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
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans
may run after the engine has been
turned off. This is normal and no
service is required.
6.6L V8 Engine (L8T) Only
The vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan. When the clutch is
engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine.
In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the
clutch is not fully engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing, and/or high
outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully
engages, so an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making
extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan
will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the
clutch partially disengages.
This fan noise may be heard when
starting the engine. It will go away
as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
394 Vehicle Care
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
times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
11. Turn the vehicle off. 12. Set all four tires to the
recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Trailer Tire Pressure
Monitoring Operation
If equipped, the Trailer Tire
Pressure Monitoring System
(TTPMS) is designed to monitor the
pressure of the trailer tires and warn
the driver when a low pressure
condition exists. TTPMS sensors for
four tires are provided. The system
can accommodate a trailer with up
to six tires if additional sensors are
purchased from the dealer. Also, the
system can be paired with up to five
individual trailers.
Prior to use, the vehicle must learn
the sensors by following the
learning process. See Trailering App
0 310.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Vehicle Care 407
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change
a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
1. Jack
2. Jack Knob
3. Tool Kit
4. Wing Nut Retaining Tool Kit
5. Wheel Blocks6. Wing Nut Retaining Wheel
Blocks
The equipment is under the second
row seats, if equipped, or behind the
front row seats on regular cab
models.
1. Turn the knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the
jack head to release the jack
from its holder.
2. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise to remove the
wheel blocks and the wheel
block retainer.
3. Turn the wing nut used to retain the storage bag and
tools counterclockwise to
remove it.
Use the jack handle extensions and
the wheel wrench to remove the
underbody-mounted spare tire.
1. Spare Tire (Valve Stem Pointed 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
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
412 Vehicle Care
Rear Position All Other ModelsFor all other models, position
the jack under the rear axle
between the spring anchor and
the shock absorber bracket.
If a snow plow has been added
to the front of the vehicle, lower
the snow plow fully before
raising the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack head is
positioned so that the rear axle
is resting securely between the
grooves that are on the
jack head.
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack,
you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle
when it is supported only by
a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle.
Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is
enough room for the spare tire
to fit under the wheel well.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts andtake off the flat tire.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on
the parts to which it is
fastened, can make wheel
nuts become loose after time.
The wheel could come off and
cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where
the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, a
(Continued)
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
470 Customer Information
Insuring the Vehicle
Protect your investment in the GM
vehicle with comprehensive and
collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the
quality of coverage afforded by
various insurance policy terms.
Many insurance policies provide
reduced protection to the GM
vehicle by limiting compensation for
damage repairs through the use of
aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will not
specify aftermarket collision parts.
When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you ensure that the
vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts.
If such insurance coverage is not
available from your current
insurance carrier, consider switching
to another insurance carrier.
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing
company may require you to have
insurance that ensures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) parts or
Genuine Manufacturer replacementparts. Read the lease carefully, as
you may be charged at the end of
the lease for poor quality repairs.
If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call
emergency services for help. Do not
leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of.
Move the vehicle only if its position
puts you in danger, or you are
instructed to move it by a police
officer.
Give only the necessary information
to police and other parties involved
in the crash.
For emergency towing see
Roadside Assistance Program
0
466.
Gather the following information:
. Driver name, address, and
telephone number
. Driver license number
. Owner name, address, and
telephone number
. Vehicle license plate number .
Vehicle make, model, and
model year
. Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
. Insurance company and policy
number
. General description of the
damage to the other vehicle
Choose a reputable repair facility
that uses quality replacement parts.
See “Collision Parts” earlier in this
section.
If the airbag has inflated, see What
Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? 076.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that the vehicle requires
damage repairs, GM recommends
that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined
repair facility of choice, take the
vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any
required replacement collision parts
be original equipment parts, either
new Genuine GM parts or recycled
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
490 Index
DiagnosticsConnected Services . . . . . . . . . . 486
Differential, Limited-Slip . . . . . . . . 242
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 461
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 255
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147, 148
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . 144
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 268
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . 186
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 197
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 199
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Driving (cont'd)
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 233
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 140
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 370
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374, 376
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344 Engine (cont'd)
Check Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 332
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 132
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 220
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 343
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 474
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Index 493
Lamps (cont'd)On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 274
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 278
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 142
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 172
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 139 Lights (cont'd)
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Check Engine (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 144
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 140
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . 144
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 145
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 167
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . 141
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . 141
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 135
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 Lights (cont'd)
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 242
Lock Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 145
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 441