2021 GMC SIERRA ignition

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/6/20
142 Lighting
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to
AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on automatically.
There is a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Do not cover the sensor,
otherwise the headlamps will come on when
they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the headlamps
when driving through a parking garage or
tunnel.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the
automatic headlamp system comes on
immediately. If it is light outside when the
vehicle leaves the garage, there is a slightdelay before the automatic headlamp
system changes to the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). During that delay, the
instrument cluster may not be as bright as
usual. Make sure the instrument panel
illumination control is in the full bright
position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0145.
When it is bright enough outside, the
headlamps will turn off or may change
to DRL.
The automatic headlamp system turns off
when the exterior lamp control is turned to
Oor the ignition is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated in
daylight with the engine on, and the
exterior lamp control is in AUTO, the
headlamps, parking lamps, and other
exterior lamps come on. The transition time
for the lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are not
operating, these lamps turn off. Move the
exterior lamp control to
Oor;to disable
this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|: Press this button to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off.
Press again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on,
the vehicle's turn signals will not work.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/6/20
Lighting 143
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster flashes
in the direction of the turn or lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Partially raise or lower the lever for less
than one second until the arrow starts to
flash to signal a lane change. This causes
the turn signals to automatically flash three
times. It will flash six times if Tow/Haul
Mode is active. Holding the turn signal lever
for more than one second will cause the
turn signals to flash until the lever is
released.The lever returns to its starting position
whenever it is released.
If after signaling a turn or a lane change the
arrows flash rapidly or do not come on, a
signal bulb could be burned out. If equipped
with LED turn signals, see your dealer.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a bulb is
not burned out, check the fuse. See
Fuses
and Circuit Breakers 0353.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than
1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds at each
flash of the turn signal. A message may
appear in the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See Vehicle Messages 0130. To turn
the chime and message off, move the turn
signal lever to the off position.
Fog Lamps
If equipped, the fog lamp control is near the
exterior lamp control to the left of the
steering column.
The ignition must be on for the fog lamps
to come on.
#: Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light will come on in the instrument
cluster.
When the fog lamps are turned on, the
parking lamps automatically turn on.
When the headlamps are changed to high
beam, the fog lamps also go off. When the
high-beam headlamps are turned off, the fog
lamps will come on again.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/6/20
Lighting 145
If the vehicle is in P (Park), R (Reverse),
or N (Neutral) the Cargo Lamp Switch causes
the lights to cycle through the following
states for each button press:
- Initial Press:
- CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights - On
- Cargo Mirror Lights - On
- Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) - On
- Next Press: (if with in 5 seconds of the
previous button press):
- CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights - On
- Cargo Mirror Lights - Off
- Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) - On
- Next Press:
- CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights - Off
- Cargo Mirror Lights - Off
- Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) - Off
Become familiar with and follow all state
and local laws that apply to cargo lamp
operation.Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control
This feature adjusts the brightness of all
illuminated controls. The instrument panel
illumination control is next to the exterior
lamp control.
D:PressD+ to brighten orD− to
dim the lights.
This feature is functional at night, or when
the headlamps or parking lamps are ON.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamp controls are in the overhead
console.
To operate, press the following buttons:
jOFF : Press to turn off the dome
lamps when a door is open. An indicator
light on the button will turn on when the
dome lamp override is activated. Press
j
OFF again to deactivate this feature and the
indicator light will turn off. The dome lamps
will come on when any door is opened,
K
on the remote key is pressed, or when the
ignition is switched off.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/6/20
146 Lighting
+ON/OFF :Press to turn the dome lamps
on manually. Press again to turn the dome
lamps off.
Reading Lamps
There are reading lamps on the overhead
console and over the rear seats. These lamps
come on when any door is opened.
To operate, the ignition must be on, or in
ACC/ACCESSORY, or using Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).
Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are in the overhead
console. Press the lamp lenses to turn the front
reading lamps on or off.
Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps are over the rear
seats.
Press the lamp lens to turn the rear reading
lamps on or off.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
Some exterior lamps turn on briefly at
night, or in areas with limited lighting,
when
Kis pressed on the remote key. After
about 30 seconds the exterior lamps turn
off. When any door is opened or the remote
unlock is pressed, all interior lights turn on
and then interior lamps dim to off after
20 seconds. The entry lighting feature for exterior
lighting can be changed. See
“Vehicle
Locator Lights” underVehicle Personalization
0 131.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps come on at night, or in
areas with limited lighting, when the driver
door is opened after the ignition is turned
off. The dome lamp comes on when any
door is opened or after the ignition is
turned off. The exterior lamps and dome
lamp remain on after the door is closed for
a set amount of time, then automatically
turn off.
The exterior lamps turn off immediately by
turning the exterior lamp control off.
The exit lighting for exterior lights can be
changed. See Vehicle Personalization 0131.
Battery Load Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management
(EPM), which estimates the battery's
temperature and state of charge. It then
adjusts the voltage for best performance
and extended life of the battery.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/6/20
Lighting 147
When the battery's state of charge is low,
the voltage is raised slightly to quickly bring
the charge back up. When the state of
charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. The
voltmeter gauge or the voltage display on
the Driver Information Center (DIC),
if equipped, may show the voltage moving
up or down. This is normal. If there is a
problem, an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for
all vehicles. This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all the power that
is needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of
the following are on, such as: headlamps,
high beams, fog lamps, rear window
defogger, climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory
power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of
the battery. It does this by balancing the
generator's output and the vehicle's
electrical needs. It can increase engine idle
speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power
demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or
levels, without being noticeable. In rare
cases at the highest levels of corrective
action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might be
displayed and it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as much as
possible.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome and reading
lamps, if they are left on for more than
10 minutes after the ignition is turned off.
The cargo lamp shuts off after 20 minutes.
This prevents the battery from
running down.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned off, if the parking
lamps or headlamps have been manually
left on. This protects against draining the
battery. To restart the 10-minute timer, turn
the exterior lamp control to the
Oposition
and then back to the
;or2position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on or in
ACC/ACCESSORY.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Infotainment System 175
a location that is safe and has a clear view
of the sky and away from large
obstructions.
If the System Needs Service
If the navigation system needs service, see
your dealer.
Map Data Updates
The map data in the vehicle is the most
up-to-date information available when the
vehicle was produced. The map data is
updated periodically, provided that the map
information has changed and the vehicle has
a relevant service plan.
Over-the-Air-Vehicle Map Updates
If equipped, the infotainment system can
receive map updates over the air. Map
updates occur within a 161 km (100 mi)
radius around the home address on file. This
boundary will adjust over time based on
driving patterns. The vehicle uses a
Cloud-connected service to receive the date
and downloads it to the system’s onboard
SD card, if equipped. A data plan or
compatible mobile device hotspot is
required. The SD card is required for
navigation system function.When a map update is available, a prompt
will appear on the infotainment display.
Once the update is accepted, it will
download and run in the background
without interruption any infotainment
functions. The download will carry over
ignition cycles, stopping and starting where
it left off. The updates can be set to
download automatically.
See www.gmnavdisc.com for details on
ordering, purchasing, and installing a new or
replacement SD card. Features are subject to
change. For more information on this
feature, see my.gmc.com/learn.
Database Coverage Explanations
Coverage areas vary with respect to the
level of map detail available for any given
area. Some areas feature greater levels of
detail than others. If this happens, it does
not mean there is a problem with the
system. As the map data is updated, more
detail can become available for areas that
previously had limited detail. See
Map Data
Updates 0175.
Voice Recognition
If equipped, voice recognition allows for
hands-free operation within the navigation,
audio, phone, and weather applications. This
feature can be started by pressing
gon the
steering wheel or touching
gon the
infotainment display.
However, not all features within these areas
are supported by voice commands.
Generally, only complex tasks that require
multiple manual interactions to complete
are supported by voice commands.
For example, tasks that take more than one
or two touches, such as a song or artist to
play from a media device, would be
supported by voice commands. Other tasks,
like adjusting the volume or seeking up or
down, are audio features that are easily
performed by touching one or two options,
and are not supported by voice commands.
In general there are flexible ways to speak
commands for completing the tasks.
If your language supports it, try stating a
one-shot command, such as “Directions to
address province>.” Do not include the ZIP code
while stating the address during the

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
176 Infotainment System
command. Another example of a one-shot
Destination Entry command is,“Directions to
Place of Interest at .” If these
commands do not work, try saying, “Take
me to Place of Interest” or“Find address”
and the system will walk you through by
asking additional questions.
Hybrid Speech Recognition
If equipped, this feature helps distinguish
words by using Internet-based information
along with the system’s voice recognition
database. This allows you to speak more
naturally when using voice recognition.
Using Voice Recognition
Voice recognition becomes available once
the system has been initialized. This begins
when the ignition is turned on. Initialization
may take a few moments.
1. Press
gon the steering wheel controls
to activate voice recognition.
2. The audio system mutes and the system plays a prompt.
3. Clearly speak one of the commands described in this section.
A voice recognition system prompt can
be interrupted while it is playing by
pressing
gagain. Once voice recognition is started, both the
infotainment display and instrument cluster
show the selections and visual dialog
content. These displays can be turned on or
off in the Tutorial Mode under
Settings
0 186.
There are three voice prompt modes
supported:
.Informative verbal prompts: This type of
prompt will provide more information
regarding the supported actions.
.Short prompts: This type of prompt will
provide simple instructions about what
can be stated.
.Auto informative prompts: This type of
prompt plays during the first few speech
sessions, then automatically switches to
the short prompt after some experience
has been gained through using the
system.
If a command is not spoken, the voice
recognition system says a help prompt.
Prompts and Infotainment Displays
While a voice recognition session is active,
there may be corresponding options
showing on the displays. A selection can be
made by manually touching the option,
or by speaking the number for the option to select. Manual interaction in the voice
recognition session is permitted. Interaction
during a voice session may be completed
entirely using voice commands while some
manual commands may expedite a task. If a
selection is made using a manual control,
the voice recognition dialog will progress in
the same way as if the selection were made
using a voice command. Once the system
completes the task, or the session is
terminated, the voice recognition dialog
stops.
An example of this type of manual
intervention is touching an entry of a
displayed number list instead of speaking
the number associated with the entry
desired.
Canceling Voice Recognition
.Touch or say
“Cancel”or“Exit” to
terminate the voice recognition session
and show the display where voice
recognition was initiated.
.Pression the steering wheel controls
to terminate the voice recognition session
and show the display where voice
recognition was initiated.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Infotainment System 181
.Review the controls and operation of the
infotainment system.
.Pair mobile device(s) to the vehicle. The
system may not work with all mobile
devices. See“Pairing”later in this section.
Vehicles with a Bluetooth system can use a
Bluetooth-capable mobile device with a
Hands-Free Profile to make and receive
phone calls. The infotainment system and
voice recognition are used to control the
system. The system can be used while the
ignition is on or in ACC/ACCESSORY. The
range of the Bluetooth system can be up to
9.1 m (30 ft). Not all mobile devices support
all functions and not all mobile devices work
with the Bluetooth system. See my.gmc.com
for more information about compatible
mobile devices.
Controls
Use the controls on the center stack and the
steering wheel to operate the Bluetooth
system.
Steering Wheel Controls
g: Press to answer incoming calls and start
voice recognition on your connected
Bluetooth mobile device.
i: Press to end a call, decline a call,
or cancel an operation. Press to mute or
unmute the infotainment system when not
on a call.
Infotainment System Controls
For information about how to navigate the
menu system using the infotainment
controls, see Using the System 0152.
Audio System
When using the Bluetooth mobile device
system, sound comes through the vehicle's
front audio system speakers and overrides
the audio system. The volume level while on
a mobile device call can be adjusted by
pressing the steering wheel controls or the
volume control on the center stack. The
adjusted volume level remains in memory
for later calls. The volume cannot be
lowered beyond a certain level.
Bluetooth (Pairing and Using a
Phone)
Pairing
A Bluetooth-enabled mobile device must be
paired to the Bluetooth system and then
connected to the vehicle before it can be used. See the mobile device manufacturer's
user guide for Bluetooth functions before
pairing the device.
Pairing Information
.If no mobile device has been connected,
the Phone main page on the infotainment
display will show the Connect Phone
option. Touch this option to connect.
Another way to connect is to touch the
Phones tab at the top right of the display
and then touch Add Phone.
.A Bluetooth smartphone with music
capability can be paired to the vehicle as
a smartphone and a music player at the
same time.
.Up to 10 devices can be paired to the
Bluetooth system.
.The pairing process is disabled when the
vehicle is moving.
.Pairing only needs to be completed once,
unless the pairing information on the cell
phone changes or the cell phone is
deleted from the system.
.If multiple paired cell phones are within
range of the system, the system connects
to the paired cell phone that is set to
First to Connect. If there is no cell phone
set to First to Connect, it will link to the