GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-13690468) - 2021 - crc - 8/14/20
146 Infotainment System
Availability of apps and connectivity varies
by vehicle, conditions, and location. Data
plan rates apply. Features are subject to
change. For more information, see
www.my.gmc.com/learn.
OnStar Services
If equipped, touch the OnStar Services icon
to display the OnStar Services and Account
pages. SeeOnStar Overview 0410 and
OnStar System 0155.
Camera
If equipped, touch the Camera icon to access
the camera application. See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing 0262.
Shortcut Tray
The shortcut tray is near the bottom of the
display. It shows up to four applications.
Infotainment Display Features
Infotainment display features show on the
display when available. When a feature is
unavailable, it may gray out. When a
feature is touched, it may highlight.
Haptic Feedback
If equipped, haptic feedback is a pulse that
occurs when an icon or option is touched on
the display or when controls on the center
stack are pressed.
Infotainment Gestures
Use the following finger gestures to control
the infotainment system.
Touch/Tap
Touch/tap is used to select an icon or
option, activate an application, or change
the location inside a map. Touch and Hold
Touch and hold can be used to start another
gesture, or to move or delete an application.
Drag
Drag is used to move applications on the
Home Page, or to pan the map. To drag the
item, it must be held and moved along the
display to the new location. This can be
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Infotainment System 181
The name must be precisely spoken.
Nicknames or short names for the
businesses will not likely be found. Lesser
known businesses might have to be located
by category, such as fast food, hotels,
or banks.
“Navigate to Contact”:Begin a dialog to
enter a specific destination contact name.
“Cancel Route” :End route guidance.
“Take Me Home” :Create a route to a
stored home location.
Voice Recognition for the Phone
“Call
stored contact. The command may include
location if the contact has location numbers
stored.
“Call
Mobile,” or“On Other” :Initiate a call to a
stored contact and location at home, at
work, on mobile device, or on another
phone.
“Call
to a cell phone number of seven digits, 10
digits, or three digit emergency numbers.
“Pair Phone” :Begin the Bluetooth pairing
process. Follow the instructions on the
infotainment display. “Redial”
:Initiate a call to the last dialed
number.
“Switch Phone” :Select a different
connected cell phone for outgoing calls.
“Voice Keypad” :Begin a dialog to enter
special numbers like international numbers.
The numbers can be entered in groups of
digits with each group of digits being
repeated back by the system. If the group
of digits is not correct, the command
“Delete” will remove the last group of digits
and allow them to be re-entered. Once the
entire number has been entered, the
command “Call”will start dialing the
number.
Phone Assistant Voice Recognition
Press and holdgon the steering wheel
controls to pass through and launch Google
phone assistant or Siri.
For the low radio, whether connected by
Bluetooth or phone projection, the only
available voice recognition is either Siri
(iPhone) or the Google Assistant (Android).
Phone
Bluetooth (Overview)
The Bluetooth-capable system can interact
with many mobile devices, allowing:
.Placement and receipt of calls in a
hands-free mode.
.Sharing of the device’s address book or
contact list with the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction, before
driving, and with the vehicle parked:
.Become familiar with the features of the
mobile device. Organize the phone book
and contact lists clearly and delete
duplicate or rarely used entries.
If possible, program speed dial or other
shortcuts.
.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
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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212 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 213
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 229
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 231
Dynamic Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 232
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Four Corner Air Suspension System . . . 248
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 253
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 267
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Recommended Fuel (5.3L Engine) . . . . . . 277
Recommended Fuel (6.2L Engine) . . . . . . 277
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 279
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 280
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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214 Driving and Operating
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 053.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious —or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is
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Driving and Operating 215
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Electric Power Steering
This vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an extended
period of time while the vehicle is not
moving, power assist may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is held in
that position for an extended period of time,
power steering assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:
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Driving and Operating 227
interference to the Keyless Access system.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 08.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition must be
on or in Service Mode, and the brake pedal
must be applied.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while moving may
cause loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags. While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF (No Indicator
Lights) : When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the ignition will
turn off, and Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0229.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the ignition
will return to ACC/ACCESSORY and display
the message SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). When the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park), the ignition system will
turn off. The vehicle may have an electric steering
column lock. The lock is activated when the
ignition is turned off and either front door is
opened. A sound may be heard as the lock
actuates or releases. The steering column
lock may not release with the wheels turned
off center. If this happens, the vehicle may
not start. Move the steering wheel from left
to right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the vehicle
needs service.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is moving.
After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply
the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Hold the brake pedal down and shift to P (Park). The
vehicle must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition off.
4. Continue to hold the brake pedal down. 5. Set the parking brake. See
Electric
Parking Brake 0240.
6. Press ENGINE START/STOP once to turn the ignition off.
7. Release the brake pedal.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over, and
must be shut off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator Light) :
This mode allows some electrical accessories
to be used when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the button
one time without the brake pedal applied
will place the ignition system in ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to off after five minutes to
prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator Light) : This
mode is for driving and starting. With the
ignition off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the button once will turn the
ignition on. Once engine cranking begins,
release the button. Engine cranking will
continue until the engine starts. See Starting
the Engine 0228.
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236 Driving and Operating
hills or mountain grades, when towing,
or when hauling heavy loads. SeeDriver
Mode Control 0245 to activate Tow/
Haul Mode.
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking is only
enabled while the Tow/Haul Mode is
selected and the vehicle is not in the Range
Selection Mode. See Manual Mode0235.
Tow/Haul Mode Grade Braking assists in
maintaining desired vehicle speeds when
driving on downhill grades by using the
engine and transmission to slow the vehicle.
See Towing Equipment 0287.
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive engages the
front axle for extra traction.
Read the appropriate section for transfer
case operation before using.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in 4
mand 4n(if equipped) for an extended
period of time. These conditions may
cause premature wear on the vehicle’s
powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in 4
mor 4
nmay:
.Cause a vibration to be felt in the
steering system.
.Cause tires to wear faster.
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll if the transfer
case is in N (Neutral), even when the
transmission is in P (Park). You or
someone else could be seriously injured.
Be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear —2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the transfer
case in N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
0 230.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in 4n
may damage or shorten the life of the
drivetrain.
An engagement noise and bump is normal
when shifting between 4
nand 4mor
N (Neutral), with the engine running.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction Control
and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) off. See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0242.
Automatic Transfer Case
Two-Speed Transfer Case
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Before leaving the vehicle, check the red
parking brake status light to ensure that the
parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the red parking brake status light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a problem with
the EPB. A DIC message will display. Release
the EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps flashing,
have the vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the red parking brake status light
is flashing. See your dealer.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, press the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer. If the EPB is applied while the vehicle is
moving, the vehicle will decelerate as long
as the switch is pressed. If the switch is
pressed until the vehicle comes to a stop,
the EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply the EPB
in some situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to
periodically check the correct operation of
the EPB system, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by pressing and
holding the EPB switch. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake status
light is off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a
hill, see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0280.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if the
vehicle is running, placed into gear, and an
attempt is made to drive away. Avoid rapid
acceleration when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System (ABS) if
the brake pedal is not pushed hard enough
to activate ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue to