GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
Driving and Operating 185
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 196
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 197
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 199
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 208
Ignition Positions (KeylessAccess) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Ignition Positions (Key
Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 219
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 221
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . 232
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 233 Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 235
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 237
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 238
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 242
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Adaptive Cruise Control (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 255
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 257
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System (1500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
242 Driving and Operating
.When the vehicle is in forward
gear on a decline, the vehicle is
allowed to creep down the hill
when the brake pedal is
released without pressing the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will also creep forward on flat
ground.
. If the driver seat belt is removed
and the driver door is opened
while the vehicle is being held,
EPB will be engaged.
. EPB will engage if the vehicle is
held for an extended period.
Terrain Mode is only available on
vehicles equipped with the single
speed transfer case.
Terrain Mode can only be
active when:
. Vehicle speed is less than
80 km/h (50 mph).
. The transfer case is in 4
m.
Frequent use of this mode may
cause brake wear due to the light
braking. The vehicle will automatically exit
the mode if the brakes get too hot.
Terrain Mode can be turned back on
after the brakes have cooled.
When Terrain Mode is selected:
.
Auto Engine Start/Stop will be
disabled.
. The Terrain Mode indicator
displays on the instrument
cluster.
Limited-Slip Differential
If equipped, the limited-slip
differential can give more traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand, or gravel.
It works like a standard axle most of
the time, but when traction is low,
this feature allows the drive wheel
with the most traction to move the
vehicle. For vehicles with the
limited-slip differential, driven under
severe conditions, the rear axle fluid
should be changed. See
Maintenance Schedule 0441.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but
when traction is low, this feature will
allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
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
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 8/27/19
498 Index
TractionLimited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 242
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tow Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Trailer Towing App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 368U
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 402
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 161Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 457
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 142
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
Vehicle Security Steering Column Lock . . . . . . . . . . 37 Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
W
Warning
Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 276
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Warnings
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . 403
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 90
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Windshield
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119