GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
Driving and Operating 183
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 193
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 193
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 195
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 201
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Ignition Positions (Key
Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 211
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 213
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 225
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 228
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . 229
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Automatic Level Control . . . . . . 229
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 232
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 240
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 242
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 250
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 251
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Recommended Fuel (L83 5.3L V8 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
214 Driving and Operating
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, seeIf
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0195.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down. Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode
when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills,
or driving off-road. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts
too often.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See
“Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0187.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
424 Index
DrivingAssistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 245
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . 184
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 193
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 195
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 315
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320, 323 Electrical System (cont'd)
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .411
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 286
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 130
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 212
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 408
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 164
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 166
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
F
FanEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 168
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Floor Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . 111
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Fluid AutomaticTransmission . . . . . . . . . . . 292, 295
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
430 Index
Seats (cont'd)Second Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Third Row Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Securing Child
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . .103, 105, 106
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 283
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 391
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 401
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Shift Lock Control Function
Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Shifting (cont'd)
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . 249
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Special Application Services . . . . 384
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
StabiliTrak
OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Steering Column Lock . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Steps Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Storage
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Storage Areas Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Storage Areas (cont'd)
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . 109
Struts Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Sunglass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System
Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174, 409
Noise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Systems Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 399
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 36Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Third-Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60