2023 GMC SIERRA ignition

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
142 Lighting
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 slight
delay 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 panelillumination 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 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
Lighting 147
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.
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 helps prevent the battery from
being drained, if the interior courtesy lamps
or reading lamps are accidentally left on.
If any of these lamps are left on, they
automatically turn off after 10 minutes,
if the ignition is off. The lamps will not
come back on again until one of the
following occurs:
.The ignition is turned on.
.The doors are closed and then re-opened.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about 10 minutes
after the vehicle 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 vehicle must be on or in
accessory mode.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
172 Infotainment System
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
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
0 182.
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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Infotainment System 177
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
ignition is on or in accessory mode. 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. Visit your brand
website for more information about
compatible mobile devices. See Online
Account 0398.
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 Overview0149.
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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Infotainment System 183
3. Touch to select the desired featuresetting.
4. Touch the options on the infotainment display to disable or enable a feature.
5. Touch
zto go to the top level of the
Settings menu.
System
The menu may contain the following:
Time / Date
Allows setting of the clock.
Language
Sets the display language used on the
infotainment display. It may also use the
selected language for voice recognition and
audio feedback.
Phones
Allows connecting to a different cell phone
or mobile device source, disconnect a cell
phone or media device, or delete a cell
phone or media device.
Wi-Fi Networks
Shows connected and available Wi-Fi
networks. If a 4G LTE data package is not active on the
vehicle, the infotainment system can be
connected to an external protected Wi-Fi
network, such as a mobile device or home
hotspot, to utilize connected services.
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Allows adjustment of different Wi-Fi
features.
Privacy
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
privacy settings.
Display
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
display.
Sounds
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
system sounds.
Voice
Allows adjustment of the infotainment voice
recognition features.
Favorites
Allows adjustment of the infotainment
favorite settings.
Updates
If equipped, the vehicle can download and
install select software updates over a
wireless connection. The system will prompt
for certain updates to be downloaded and
installed. There is also an option to check
for updates manually.
To manually check for updates, touch
Settings on the Home Page and select the
System tab. Go to the Vehicle Software
section and touch Updates. Follow the
on-screen prompts. The steps to check for,
download, and install updates may vary by
vehicle.
The vehicle can be used normally during the
software download. Once the download is
complete, there may be a prompt to accept
the installation of the update upon the next
ignition cycle or the next time the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park). For most updates, the
vehicle will be disabled and cannot be driven
during the installation. The system will
deliver messages indicating success or error
during and after the download and
installation processes.
Downloading Over-the-Air vehicle software
updates requires Internet connectivity, which
can be accessed through the vehicle’s
built-in 4G LTE connection, if equipped and

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Infotainment System 187
For a keyed ignition system:1. Start the vehicle.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For manual
transmissions, the vehicle must be
stopped with the parking brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Touch Setup Keys or Add/Remove Teen Driver Keys. The system displays
instructions for registering or
unregistering a key. A confirmation
message displays.
Manage Settings or Teen Driver Settings
Depending on the options of your vehicle,
the following menu items may be displayed:
Buckle to Drive : When turned ON, Buckle to
Drive prevents the driver from shifting out
of P (Park) for a period of time after the
brake pedal is pressed if the driver, or on
some vehicles the detected passenger, has
not buckled their seat belt. On some
vehicles, Buckle to Drive is always ON when
Teen Driver is active and is not configurable. Audio Volume Limit :
Allows a maximum
audio volume to be set. Turn the audio
volume limit on or off. Use the arrows to
choose the maximum allowable level for the
audio volume. On some infotainment
systems, touch Set Audio Volume Limit to
choose the maximum allowable audio
volume level.
Set Audio Volume Limit : Use the arrows to
choose the maximum allowable level for the
audio volume.
Teen Driver Speed Limiter : Limits the
maximum speed of the vehicle. When the
speed limiter is turned on and the vehicle is
started with a Teen Driver key, the DIC
displays a message that the top speed is
limited.
On certain vehicles, when the Speed Limiter
is turned ON, the vehicle’s maximum
acceleration will be limited. The DIC will
display a message that the acceleration is
limited.
Teen Driver Speed Warning : Displays a
warning in the DIC when exceeding a
selectable speed. Turn the speed warning on
or off and choose the desired speed warning
level. The speed warning does not limit the speed of the vehicle. On some infotainment
systems, touch Set Teen Driver Speed
Warning to set the warning speed.
Set Teen Driver Speed Warning :
Choose the
desired speed warning level. The speed
warning does not limit the speed of the
vehicle.
SiriusXM Explicit Content Filter : Allows the
SiriusXM Explicit Content Filter to be turned
ON or OFF. When ON, the teen driver will
not be able to listen to SiriusXM stations
that contain explicit content, and the Explicit
Content Filter selection in the Audio Settings
will be unavailable for change.
When Teen Driver is Active:
.If equipped, the radio will mute when the
driver seat belt, and in some vehicles the
front passenger seat belt, is not buckled.
The audio from any device paired to the
vehicle will also be muted.
.An object placed on the front passenger
seat, such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic
device, could cause the passenger sensing
system to falsely sense an unbuckled
front passenger and mute the radio.
If this happens, remove the object from
the seat. See Passenger Sensing System
0 70.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
Driving and Operating 203
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 204
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 219
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . 221
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . 223
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 227
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 229
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 230
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 238
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 257
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 260
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . 262
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Filling the Tank (Pickup Models) . . . . . . . 265
Filling the Tank (Chassis Cab and Box Delete Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . 268

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/9/22
Driving and Operating 211
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Ice conditions vary
greatly and the vehicle could fall through
the ice; you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could roll
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing water if it
is deep enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles, or exhaust pipe. Deep water can
damage the axle and other vehicle parts.If the standing water is not too deep, drive
through it slowly. At faster speeds, water
can get into the engine and cause it to stall.
Stalling can occur if the exhaust pipe is
under water. Do not turn off the ignition
when driving through water. If the exhaust
pipe is under water, the engine will not
start. When going through water, the brakes
get wet and it may take longer to stop. See
“Driving on Wet Roads”
later in this section.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These accumulations can
be a fire hazard. Reinstall underbody air
deflector and air dam if removed.
After operation in mud or sand, have the
brake linings cleaned and checked. These
substances can cause glazing and uneven
braking. Check the body structure, driveline,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and check the
fuel lines and cooling system for any
leakage.
More frequent maintenance service is
required. See theMaintenance Schedule
0 385.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop and
accelerate. Always drive slower in these
types of driving conditions and avoid driving
through large puddles and deep-standing or
flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick stop
and could cause pulling to one side. You
could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply
the brake pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through flowing water
could cause the vehicle to be carried
away. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.