GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 249
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
If equipped, Hill Descent Control (HDC) sets
and maintains vehicle speed while driving
down steep grades in a forward or reverse
gear. The HDC switch is on the center stack,
below the climate controls.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC. Vehicle
speed must be below 50 km/h (31 mph).
When enabled, the HDC light displays on
the instrument cluster.
A blinking HDC light indicates the system is
actively applying the brakes to maintain
vehicle speed. HDC can maintain vehicle
speeds between 1 and 22 km/h (1 and
14 mph) on grades greater than or equal
to 10%.
If HDC is to be used for more than
three minutes or on grades steeper than
25%, the transfer case should be put into
Four-Wheel Drive Low (4
n) to reduce the
possibility of brake overheating. Noise from the Electronic Brake Control
Module (EBCM) is normal when HDC is
active.
When HDC is activated, the initial HDC
speed is set to the current driving speed.
It can be increased or decreased by pressing
+RES or SET- on the steering wheel, or by
applying the accelerator or brake pedal. This
adjusted speed becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between 30 and
60 km/h (19 and 37 mph); however, vehicle
speed cannot be set or maintained in this
range. HDC will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h (50 mph) or
above 60 km/h (37 mph) for at least
30 seconds.
5must be pressed again to re-enable HDC.
HDC may disable after an extended period
of use. If this happens, HDC will require
time to cool down. The length of time HDC
remains active depends on road conditions,
grade, set speed, vehicle loading, and
outside temperature.
When enabled, if the vehicle speed is above
30 km/h (19 mph) and below 60 km/h
(37 mph), a DIC message will display.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) allows the driver
to adjust the overall driving experience to
better suit preference by adjusting multiple
systems to fit specific driving needs. Drive
mode availability and affected vehicle
subsystems are dependent upon vehicle trim
level, region, and optional features.
Mode Activation
Two-Speed Transfer Case
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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252 Driving and Operating
Terrain Mode DriveSelect Expected Vehicle Behavior Ideal Terrain
Drive (L3-Lx) Minor deceleration when off
throttle and mild ability to
modulate throttle; mimics
performance of 4
nwithout torque
multiplication. Grassy fields,
mild two tracks,
rutted roads,
large rolling hills
L2 Moderate deceleration when off
throttle and moderate ability to
modulate throttle; will bring vehicle
to a stop in most cases. Mild rock crawling,
heavy ruts,
short, steeper grades
L1 Significant deceleration when off
throttle and significant ability to
modulate throttle; will bring vehicle
to a stop in most cases. Rock crawling downhill
Active Braking During Lift Throttle will
reduce the back and forth between the
accelerator and brake pedals.
Vehicle Hold Features:
.When the vehicle comes to a stop on an
incline grade in forward gear or on a
decline grade in reverse gear, Vehicle
Hold is engaged until the accelerator
pedal is pressed.
.When the vehicle is in forward gear on a
decline, the vehicle is allowed to creep
down the hill when the brake pedal is
released without pressing the accelerator
pedal. The vehicle will also creep forward
on flat ground.
.If the driver seat belt is removed and the
driver door is opened while the vehicle is
being held, Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
will be engaged.
.EPB will engage if the vehicle is held for
an extended period.
Terrain Mode is only available on vehicles
equipped with the single speed
transfer case.
Terrain Mode can only be active when:
.Vehicle speed is less than 80 km/h
(50 mph).
.The transfer case is in 4m.
Frequent use of this mode may cause brake
wear due to the light braking.
The vehicle will automatically exit the mode
if the brakes get too hot. Terrain Mode can
be turned back on after the brakes have
cooled.
When Terrain Mode is selected:
.Auto Engine Start/Stop will be disabled.
.The Terrain Mode indicator displays on
the instrument cluster.
Limited-Slip Differential
If equipped, the limited-slip differential can
give more traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most
of the time, but when traction is low, this
feature allows the drive wheel with the
most traction to move the vehicle. For
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
256 Driving and Operating
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.Press and hold +RES up until the desired
speed is reached, then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, press +RES up briefly. For
each press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 0109 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0110. The
increment value used depends on the units
displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.Press and hold SET– down until the
desired lower speed is reached, then
release it.
.To slow down in small increments, press
SET– down briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 0109 or Instrument Cluster (Uplevel)
0110. The
increment value used depends on the units
displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise
Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the
vehicle speed. When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow down to the
previously set cruise speed. While pressing
the accelerator pedal or shortly following
the release to override cruise control, briefly
pressing SET– will result in cruise control set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills
depends on the vehicle speed, the load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain vehicle speed.
While going downhill, cruise braking helps
maintain driver selected speed.
Cruise Grade Braking is enabled when the
vehicle is started and cruise control is active.
It is not enabled in Range Selection Mode.
It assists in maintaining driver selected
speed when driving on downhill grades by
using the engine and transmission to slow
the vehicle. For other forms of descent control, see
Hill
Descent Control (HDC) 0249, Automatic
Transmission (Mechanical Shifter) 0231 or
Automatic Transmission (Electronic Shifter)
0 233, and Tow/Haul Mode 0240.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
.To turn off cruise control, press5.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
5is pressed or the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera)
If equipped, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
allows the cruise control set speed and
following gap to be selected. Read this
entire section before using this system. The
following gap is the following time between
your vehicle and a vehicle detected directly
ahead in your path, moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is detected in your
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258 Driving and Operating
J:Press to turn the system on or off. The
indicator turns white on the instrument
cluster when ACC is turned on.
RES+ : Press briefly to resume the previous
set speed or to increase vehicle speed if ACC
is already activated. To increase speed by
about 1 km/h (1 mph), press RES+ briefly. To
increase speed to the next 5 km/h (5 mph)
mark on the speedometer, hold RES+.
SET– :Press briefly to set the speed and
activate ACC or to decrease vehicle speed if
ACC is already activated. To decrease speed
by about 1 km/h (1 mph), press SET– briefly.
To decrease speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
hold SET–.
*: Press to disengage ACC without erasing
the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap setting
for ACC of Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 0109 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0110. The
increment value used depends on the units
displayed. Switching Between ACC and Regular Cruise
Control
To switch between ACC and regular cruise
control, press and hold
*. A Driver
Information Display (DIC) message displays.
See Vehicle Messages 0136.
ACC Indicator (Base
Level)ACC Indicator (Uplevel)
Regular Cruise Control Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
oor\
indicator will be lit on the instrument cluster
and the following gap will be displayed.
When the regular cruise control is engaged, a green
Jindicator will be lit on the
instrument cluster; the following gap will
not display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the cruise
control mode will be set to the last mode
used before the vehicle was turned off.
{Warning
Always check the cruise control indicator
on the instrument cluster to determine
which mode cruise control is in before
using the feature. If ACC is not active, the
vehicle will not automatically brake for
other vehicles, which could cause a crash
if the brakes are not applied manually.
You and others could be seriously injured
or killed.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET–/RES+
could be pressed by mistake and engage
ACC when not desired. Keep
Joff when
cruise is not being used.
Select the set speed desired for ACC. This is
the vehicle speed when no vehicle is
detected in your path.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Driving and Operating 259
While the vehicle is moving, ACC will not set
at a speed below a minimum speed,
although it can be resumed. If equipped
with Super Cruise, this minimum speed is
5 km/h (3 mph), otherwise, it is 25 km/h
(15 mph). The minimum allowable set speed
is 25 km/h (15 mph).
To set ACC while moving:1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET–.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
After ACC is set, it may immediately apply
the brakes if a vehicle ahead is detected
closer than the selected following gap.
ACC can also be set while the vehicle is
stopped if ACC is on and the brake pedal is
applied.
The ACC indicator displays in the instrument
cluster and Head-Up Display (HUD),
if equipped. When ACC is turned on, the
indicator will be lit white. When the ACC is
active, the indicator turns green.
Be mindful of speed limits, surrounding
traffic speeds, and weather conditions when
selecting the set speed. Resuming a Set Speed
If the ACC is set at a desired speed and then
the brakes are applied, ACC is disengaged
without erasing the set speed from memory.
To begin using ACC again, press RES+ up
briefly.
.If the vehicle is moving more than 5 km/h
(3 mph), it returns to the previous set
speed.
.If the vehicle is stopped with the brake
pedal applied, press RES+ and release the
brake pedal. ACC will hold the vehicle
until RES+ or the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
A green ACC indicator and the set speed
display on the instrument cluster. The
vehicle ahead indicator may be flashing if a
vehicle ahead was present and moved. See
“Approaching and Following a Vehicle” later
in this section.
Once ACC has resumed, the vehicle speed
will increase to the set speed under the
following conditions:
.There is no vehicle ahead.
.The vehicle ahead is beyond the selected
following gap.
.The vehicle speed is not being limited
because of a sharp turn. Increasing Speed While ACC Is at a Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one of the
following:
.Use the accelerator to get to the higher
speed. Press SET–. Release SET–
and the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle will now
cruise at the higher speed.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed,
ACC will not brake because it is
overridden. The ACC indicator will turn
blue on the instrument cluster and HUD,
if equipped.
.Press and hold RES+ until the desired set
speed is displayed, then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in smaller
increments, press RES+ briefly. For each
press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
.To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, hold RES+. While holding
RES+, the vehicle speed increases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) step, then continues
to increase by 5 km/h (5 mph) at a time.
The set speed can also be increased while
the vehicle is stopped.
.If stopped with the brake pedal applied,
press RES+ until the desired set speed is
displayed.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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260 Driving and Operating
.If ACC is holding the vehicle at a stop and
there is another vehicle directly ahead,
pressing RES+ will increase the set speed.
.Pressing RES+ when there is no longer a
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is
pulling away and the brake is not applied
with cause the ACC to resume.
When it is determined that there is no
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is beyond
the selected following gap, then the vehicle
speed will increase to the set speed.
Reducing Speed While ACC Is at a Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one of the
following:
.Use the brake to get to the desired lower
speed. Release the brake and press SET–.
The vehicle will now cruise at the lower
speed.
.Press and hold SET– until the desired
lower speed is reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in smaller
increments, press SET− briefly. For each
press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in larger
increments, hold SET−. While holding SET
−, the vehicle speed decreases to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) step, then continues to
decrease by 5 km/h (5 mph) at a time.
The set speed can also be decreased while
the vehicle is stopped.
.If stopped with the brake applied, press
or hold SET− until the desired set speed is
displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
When a slower moving vehicle is detected
ahead within the selected following gap,
ACC will adjust the vehicle's speed and
attempt to maintain the follow distance gap
selected.
Press
[on the steering wheel to adjust
the following gap. Each press cycles the gap
button through three settings: Far, Medium,
or Near.
When pressed, the current gap setting
displays briefly on the instrument cluster
and HUD, if equipped. The gap setting will
be maintained until it is changed.
Far Gap Setting
Medium Gap Setting
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Driving and Operating 261
Near Gap Setting
If equipped, and a trailer is electrically
connected, the gap setting display will be as
follows:
Far Gap Setting with Trailer
Medium Gap Setting with Trailer
Near Gap Setting with Trailer
Since each gap setting corresponds to a
following time (Far, Medium, or Near), the
following distance will vary based on vehicle
speed. The faster the vehicle speed, the
further back your vehicle will follow a
vehicle detected ahead. Consider traffic and
weather conditions when selecting the following gap. The range of selectable gaps
may not be appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting automatically
changes the alert timing sensitivity (Far,
Medium, or Near) for the Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) feature. See
Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0293.
Courtesy Gap (if equipped with Super Cruise)
Press and hold
[on the steering wheel
when vehicle is moving to temporarily
increase the gap with the vehicle ahead to
allow for merging traffic.
Press and hold
[when stopped to cancel
ACC from resuming automatically (if the
stop is brief) and remain stationary. This can
be used to allow traffic to merge between
you and the vehicle ahead. Press RES+ or
the accelerator pedal to resume ACC.
Following distance gap will return to the
original selection after hold.
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262 Driving and Operating
Alerting the Driver
With Head-Up Display
Without Head-Up Display
If ACC is engaged, driver action may be
required when ACC cannot apply sufficient
braking because of approaching a vehicle
too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, the collision
alert symbol will flash on the windshield.
Either eight beeps will sound from the front,
or both sides of the Safety Alert Seat,
if equipped, will pulse five times. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0137.
See Defensive Driving 0206. Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD (if equipped).
It only displays when a vehicle is detected
in your vehicle’s path moving in the same
direction. If this symbol is not displaying,
ACC will not respond to or brake for vehicles
ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle down
and adjusts vehicle speed to follow a
detected vehicle ahead at the selected
following gap. The vehicle speed increases or
decreases to follow a detected vehicle in
front of your vehicle when that vehicle is
traveling slower than your vehicle set speed.
It may apply limited braking, if necessary.
When braking is active, the brake lamps will
come on. The automatic braking may feel or
sound different than if the brakes were
applied manually. This is normal.
Passing a Vehicle While Using ACC
If the set speed is high enough, and the left
turn signal is used to pass a vehicle ahead
in the selected following gap, ACC may
assist by gradually accelerating the vehicle
prior to the lane change.{Warning
When using ACC to pass a vehicle or
perform a lane change, the following
distance to the vehicle being passed may
be reduced. ACC may not apply sufficient
acceleration or braking when passing a
vehicle or performing a lane change.
Always be ready to manually accelerate
or brake to complete the pass or lane
change.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to stopped
or slow-moving vehicles ahead of you. For
example, the system may not brake for a
vehicle it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or when a
vehicle suddenly appears due to a vehicle (Continued)