2021 GMC SIERRA climate settings

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
102 Instruments and Controls
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are performing wipes due to windshield
washing, the wipers continue to run until
they reach the base of the windshield.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass display on
the Driver Information Center (DIC). The
compass receives its heading and other
information from the Global Positioning
System (GPS) antenna, Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), and vehicle speed information.
The compass system is designed to operate
for a certain number of miles or degrees of
turn before needing a signal from the GPS
satellites. When the compass display shows
CAL, drive the vehicle for a short distance in
an open area where it can receive a GPS
signal. The compass system will
automatically determine when a GPS signal
is restored and provide a heading again.
Clock
Set the time and date using the
infotainment system. See "Time / Date"
underSettings 0186.
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be used to plug
in electrical equipment, such as a cell phone
or MP3 player.
Rear of Front Center Console
The vehicle has one accessory power outlet
under the climate control system and one
accessory power outlet on the rear of the
center console, if equipped, or on the rear of
the bench seat, if equipped.
Lift the cover to access and replace when
not in use.
{Warning
Power is always supplied to the outlets.
Do not leave electrical equipment
plugged in when the vehicle is not in use
because the vehicle could catch fire and
cause injury or death.
Caution
Leaving electrical equipment plugged in
for an extended period of time while the
vehicle is off will drain the battery.
Always unplug electrical equipment when
not in use and do not plug in equipment
that exceeds the maximum 15 amp
rating.
Certain power accessory plugs may not be
compatible with the accessory power outlet
and could overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure
to follow the proper installation instructions
included with the equipment. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment 0318.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Instruments and Controls 131
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle's
propulsion power is reduced. A reduction in
propulsion power can affect the vehicle's
ability to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your destination.
Under certain conditions the performance
may be reduced the next time the vehicle is
driven. The vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum acceleration
and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays repeatedly,
the vehicle should be taken to your dealer
for service as soon as possible.Under certain operating conditions,
propulsion will be disabled. Try restarting
after the ignition has been off for
30 seconds.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the vehicle speed
has been limited to the speed displayed. The
limited speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems, such as
lubrication, thermal, brakes, suspension,
Teen Driver if equipped, or tires.
Vehicle Personalization
The following are all possible vehicle
personalization features. Depending on the
vehicle, some may not be available.
For System, Apps, and Personal features and
functions, see
Settings0186.
To access the vehicle personalization menu: 1. Touch the Settings icon on the Home Page of the infotainment display.
2. Touch Vehicle to display a list of available options.
3. Touch to select the desired feature setting. 4. Touch
9orRto turn a feature off or on.
5. Touch
zto go to the top level of the
Settings menu.
The menu may contain the following:
Rear Seat Reminder
This allows for a chime and a message when
the rear door has been opened before or
during operation of the vehicle.
Touch Off or On.
Climate and Air Quality
Touch and the following may display:
.Auto Fan Speed
.Auto Defog
.Auto Rear Defog
Auto Fan Speed
This setting specifies the amount of airflow
when the climate control fan setting is
Auto Fan.
Touch Low, Medium, or High.
Auto Defog
This setting automatically directs air to the
windshield to assist in defogging, based on
temperature and humidity conditions.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
206 Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
1. Driver and Passenger TemperatureControls
2. MAX Defrost
3. Air Delivery Mode Controls
4. A/C (Air Conditioning)
5. SYNC (Synchronized Temperature) 6. Recirculation
7. Power Button
8. Fan Control
9. Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped) or
Heated Mirrors (If Equipped)
10. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
Climate Control Display
1. Driver and Passenger Temperature Settings
2. Fan Control
3. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
4. Sync (Synchronized Temperature)
5. Recirculation
6. Air Delivery Mode Controls
7. Auto (Automatic Operation)
8. A/C (Air Conditioning)
9. On/Off (Power)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Climate Controls 207
The fan, air delivery mode, air conditioning,
driver and passenger temperatures, and Sync
settings can be controlled by touching
CLIMATE on the infotainment Home Page or
the climate button in the climate control
display application tray. A selection can then
be made on the front climate control page
displayed.
Climate Control Status Display
The climate control status display appears
briefly when the center stack climate
controls are adjusted.Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls the fan
speed, air delivery, air conditioning, and
recirculation in order to heat or cool the
vehicle to the desired temperature.
When AUTO is lit, all four functions operate
automatically. Each function can also be
manually set and the selected setting is
displayed. Functions not manually set will
continue to be automatically controlled,
even if the AUTO indicator is not lit.
For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Adjust the temperature
as needed for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to cool the
vehicle faster, recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm weather.
The recirculation light will not come on
when automatically controlled. See@
under “Manual Operation” for more details.
Manual Operation
9:Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed. Press the
knob to turn the fan off. When off is selected, a small amount of air may still
come out of the outlets depending on
vehicle speed. If any buttons are pressed or
knobs are turned, the climate control system
will turn on and operate at the current
setting.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Driver and Passenger Temperature Control :
The temperature can be adjusted separately
for the driver and passenger.
Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the driver or
passenger temperature setting. The driver
side or passenger side temperature display
shows the temperature setting increasing or
decreasing.
SYNC :
Press to link the passenger
temperature setting to the driver setting.
The SYNC indicator light will turn on. When
the passenger setting is adjusted, the SYNC
indicator light will turn off.
Air Delivery Mode Control : Press
z,Y,
or
[to change the direction of the
airflow. Any combination of the three
controls can be selected. An indicator light
comes on in the selected mode button.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
212 Driving and Operating
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 288
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 288
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . 320
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Driving and Operating 233
When the low fuel warning light 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 or 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 key or button 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.Stop/Start System
This vehicle has a Stop/Start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. It has
components designed for the increased
number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start feature
causes the engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit the vehicle
before shifting to P (Park). The vehicle
may restart and move unexpectedly.
Always shift to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the vehicle
is at a complete stop, the engine may turn
off. When stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. See Tachometer0110. When the brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart.
To maintain vehicle performance, other
conditions may cause the engine to
automatically restart before the brake pedal
is released.
Auto Stops may not occur and/or Auto
Starts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require the
engine to be running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery charge is low.
.The vehicle battery has recently been
disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not been
reached since the last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at the
required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in the
required operating range.
.The vehicle is in any gear other than
D (Drive).
.Tow/Haul Mode or other driver modes
have been selected.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or grade.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Index 457
S
Safety Defects ReportingCanadian Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 55
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Center Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Heated, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Seats (cont'd)
Underseat Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88, 92
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 323
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . 408
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 118
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415
Servicing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Snow Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Steering Column Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Steps Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Storage Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Underseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96