GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
114 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 115
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 116
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 116
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 116
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Transmission Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 133
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 134
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 135
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 136
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . 139
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 139
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 140
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 140
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 142
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 142 Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 143
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 143
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 143
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 144
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 147
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 151
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 152
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 152
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
118 Instruments and Controls
whenzAUTO is turned on or off,
a message may display indicating if
Rainsense was turned on or off.
If the ignition is in on and
z
FRONT is not in one of the
sensitivity settings when
zAUTO
is turned on, a message may
display indicating that the wiper
band must be in one of the
sensitivity settings for Rainsense to
operate.
Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the windshield wiper lever to
OFF. This disables the automatic
Rainsense windshield wipers.
With Rainsense, if the transmission
is in N (Neutral) and the vehicle
speed is very slow, the wipers will
automatically stop at the base of the
windshield.
The wiper operations return to
normal when the transmission is no
longer in N (Neutral) or the vehicle
speed has increased.
Windshield Washer
L m:Push the paddle marked with
the windshield washer symbol at the
top of the turn signal lever to spray
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
The wipers will continue until the
paddle is released or the maximum
wash time is reached. When the
paddle is released, additional wipes
may occur depending on how long
the windshield washer had been
activated. See Washer Fluid0302
for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
Rear Window Wiper/
Washer
The rear wiper control is on the turn
signal lever.
To turn the rear wiper on, slide the
lever to a wiper position. OFF :
Turns the wiper off.
INT : Turns on the rear wiper with a
delay between wipes.
ON : Turns on the rear wiper.
=REAR : Press this button on the
end of the lever to spray washer
fluid on the rear window. The wipers
will clear the rear window and either
stop or return to your preset speed.
For more washer cycles, press and
hold the button.
The rear window wiper/washer will
not operate if the liftgate or liftglass
is open or ajar. If the liftgate or
liftglass is opened while the rear
wiper is on, the wiper returns to the
parked position and stops.
Rear Wiper Arm Assembly
Protection
When using an automatic car wash,
move the rear wiper control to OFF
to disable the rear wiper. In some
vehicles, if the transmission is in
N (Neutral) and the vehicle speed is
very slow, the rear wiper will
automatically park under the rear
spoiler.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
206 Driving and Operating
If the key is left in ON/RUN with the
engine off, the battery could drain
and the vehicle may not start. The
transmission can be shifted in this
position.
3 (START) :This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
returns to ON/RUN for driving.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 280.
Starting Procedure (Key
Access)
1. With your foot off the
accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go
down as the engine gets warm.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the
oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
When the low fuel warning
lamp is on and the FUEL
LEVEL LOW message is
displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC), hold
the ignition switch in the
START position to continue
engine cranking.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there
while holding the key in START
for up to 15 seconds. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to allow the cranking motor
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
Driving and Operating 207
to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Starting Procedure (Keyless
Access)
1. With the Keyless Accesssystem, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE battery is low, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will
display a message.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by trying to start
the engine immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor,
and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to let the cranking motor
cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you press ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the button, and
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops
again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Engine Heater
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
If equipped, the engine heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
260 Driving and Operating
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and follow
all state and local laws that
apply to trailer towing. These
requirements vary from state to
state.
. State laws may require the use
of extended side view mirrors.
Even if not required, you should
install extended side view
mirrors if your visibility is limited
or restricted while towing.
. Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) of vehicle
use to prevent damage to the
engine, axle, or other parts.
. It is recommended to perform
the first oil change before heavy
towing.
. During the first 800 km (500 mi)
of trailer towing, do not drive
over 80 km/h (50 mph) and do
not make starts at full throttle. .
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Tow/Haul Mode is recommended
for heavier trailers. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0218. If the
transmission downshifts too
often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode.
See Manual Mode 0216.
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned off when towing a trailer:
. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned to alert or off when towing a
trailer:
. Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) .
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that
extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer: (Continued)
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
262 Driving and Operating
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. 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 Overheating
0300.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.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
264 Driving and Operating
2. Start the engine and shift intoa gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into
the drive mode that is
appropriate for the road
conditions.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin
and the vehicle begins to slide
toward the water, remove your
foot from the accelerator pedal
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0379. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling when Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 300.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature,
dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13566587) - 2020 - CRC - 4/15/19
Vehicle Care 281
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 282
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 283
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 291
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . 292
Automatic Transmission Fluid (10-Speed Transmission) . . . 295
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 296
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 300
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Battery - North America . . . . . . 305
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 306
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 308
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 309
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 309
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 310
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 310
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 314
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 314
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 315
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
(Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340