GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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266 Driving and Operating
Following Distance Indicator
The following distance to a moving vehicle
ahead in your path is indicated in following
time in seconds on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDriver Information Center
(DIC) 0123. The minimum following time is
0.5 seconds away. If there is no vehicle
detected ahead, or the vehicle ahead is out
of sensor range, dashes will be displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary alerts for
turning vehicles, vehicles in other lanes,
objects that are not vehicles, or shadows.
These alerts are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to operate
properly, this may correct the issue:
.Clean the outside of the windshield in
front of the rearview mirror.
.Clean the entire front of the vehicle.
.Clean the headlamps.
For cleaning instructions, see “Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care 0378.
System operation may also be limited under
snow, heavy rain, or road spray conditions.
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
If equipped, the AEB system may help avoid
or reduce the harm caused by front-end
crashes. AEB also includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA). When the system detects a
vehicle ahead in your path that is traveling
in the same direction that you may be
about to crash into, it can provide a boost
to braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This can help avoid or lessen the
severity of crashes when driving in a
forward gear. Depending on the situation,
the vehicle may automatically brake
moderately or hard. This automatic
emergency braking can only occur if a
vehicle is detected. This is shown by the FCA
vehicle ahead indicator being lit. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System 0264.
The system works when driving in a forward
gear between 8 km/h (5 mph) and 80 km/h
(50 mph), or on vehicles with Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), above 4 km/h (2 mph).
It can detect vehicles up to approximately
60 m (197 ft).
{Warning
AEB is an emergency crash preparation
feature and is not designed to avoid
crashes. Do not rely on AEB to brake the
vehicle. AEB will not brake outside of its
operating speed range and only responds
to detected vehicles.
AEB may not:
.Detect a vehicle ahead on winding or
hilly roads.
.Detect all vehicles, especially vehicles
with a trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
.Detect a vehicle when weather limits
visibility, such as in fog, rain, or snow.
.Detect a vehicle ahead if it is partially
blocked by pedestrians or other
objects.
Complete attention is always required
while driving, and you should be ready to
take action and apply the brakes and/or
steer the vehicle to avoid crashes.
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278 Driving and Operating
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. If your
visibility is limited or restricted while
towing, install extended side view mirrors
on your vehicle, even if not required.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first
800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to
prevent damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
.Perform the first oil change before heavy
towing.
.Do not drive over 800 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle during
the first 800 km (500 mi) of trailer
towing.
.Tow in D (Drive). Tow/Haul Mode is
recommended for heavier trailers. See
Driver Mode Control0217. If the
transmission downshifts too often, a
lower gear may be selected using Manual
Mode. See Manual Mode 0207.
If equipped, the following driver assistance
features should be turned off when towing
a trailer:
.Park Assist
.Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
.Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) If equipped, the following driver assistance
features should be turned to alert or off
when towing a trailer, unless equipped with
Super Cruise:
.Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
.Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert (LCA),
the LCA detection zones that extend back
from the side of the vehicle do not move
further back when a trailer is towed. Use
caution while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic Alert RIM
(RCTA, RTCB, and RAB), these features will be
disabled when towing a trailer.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust gases
may collect at the rear of the vehicle and
enter if the liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window is open.
When towing a trailer:
.Do not drive with the liftgate, trunk/
hatch, or rear-most window open.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Also adjust the climate control system
to a setting that brings in only outside
air. See“Climate Control Systems” in
the Index.
For more information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust 0203.
Towing a trailer requires experience. The
combination of the vehicle and trailer is
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle
itself. Get used to the handling and braking
of the combination by driving on a level
road surface before driving on public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts
and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing Equipment 0285. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally check
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Driving and Operating 281
Pulling the Trailer from the Water1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0388. It is especially important to
check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and bolts on
the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling when Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0321.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
tow a trailer correctly, follow the
directions in this section and see your
dealer for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle. Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity for
your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, dimensions of the front of the
trailer, and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.
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288 Driving and Operating
MeasurementHeight Example 1500 (mm)
H1 1000
H2 1050
H2-H1 50
(H2-H1)/2 25
H2- [(H2-H1)/2] 1025
Towing with the Four Corner Air Suspension
System 1. Adjust the vehicle air suspension to "Normal Ground Clearance Height."
2. Position the truck so that the trailer is ready to connect (Keep trailer detached).
3. Enable air suspension ‘Service Mode’in
the center infotainment screen under
Settings/Vehicle/Suspension.
4. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening at the fender to the
ground (H1). 5. Attach the vehicle to the trailer, do not
attach weight distribution bars at
this time.
6. Measure the height of the top of the front wheel opening on the fender to
the ground (H2).
7. Install and adjust the tension in the weight distributing bars per the
manufacturers’ recommendations so that
the height of the front fender is
approximately H2- [(H2-H1)/3] (1/3
between the two measured ride heights,
below the secondary ride height {H2}). 8. Disable air suspension air suspension
"Service Mode."
9. Air suspension will automatically adjust ride height following step 8.
10. Visually inspect the trailer and weight-distributing hitch to ensure that
the manufacturers’ recommendations
have been met.
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Driving and Operating 291
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or the bulbs
are burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul
mode, seeDriver Mode Control 0217.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of the
vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See “Maximum Trailer Weight”
under Trailer Towing 0281.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when towing
a heavy trailer or carrying a large or
heavy load:
.through rolling terrain
.in stop-and-go traffic
.in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode
when lightly loaded or not towing will not
cause damage; however, it is not
recommended and may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Integrated Trailer Brake Control System
The vehicle may have an Integrated Trailer
Brake Control (ITBC) system for use with
electric trailer brakes or most electric over
hydraulic trailer brake systems. These
instructions apply to both types of electric
trailer brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake Control
Panel on vehicles with an ITBC system. The
power output to the trailer brakes is
proportional to the amount of vehicle
braking. This available power output to the
trailer brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with the
vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake, and
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
systems. In trailering conditions that cause
the vehicle’s anti-lock brake or StabiliTrak/
ESC systems to activate, power sent to the
trailer's brakes will be automatically adjusted to minimize trailer wheel lock-up.
This does not imply that the trailer has
StabiliTrak/ESC.
If the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
or StabiliTrak/ESC systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC system may
not function fully or at all. Make sure all of
these systems are fully operational to allow
the ITBC system to function properly.
The ITBC system is powered through the
vehicle's electrical system. Turning the
ignition off will also turn off the ITBC
system. The ITBC system is fully functional
only when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an air brake
system may result in reduced or
complete loss of trailer braking, including
increased stopping distance or trailer
instability which could result in serious
injury, death, or property damage. Only
use the ITBC system with electric or
electric over hydraulic trailer brake
systems.
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Driving and Operating 295
Warning (Continued)
configuration, or improperly inflated or
incorrect vehicle or trailer tires. See
Towing Equipment0285 for trailer
ratings and hitch setup recommendations.
Aftermarket Electronic Trailer Sway
Control Devices
Some trailers may come equipped with an
electronic device designed to reduce or
control trailer sway. Aftermarket equipment
manufacturers also offer similar devices that
connect to the wiring between the trailer
and the vehicle. These devices may interfere
with the vehicle’s trailer brake systems or
other systems, including integrated
anti-sway systems, if equipped. Messages
related to trailer connections or trailer
brakes could appear on the DIC. The effects
of these aftermarket devices on vehicle
handling or trailer brake performance is not
known.
{Warning
Use of aftermarket electronic trailer sway
control devices could result in reduced
trailer brake performance, loss of trailer (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
brakes, or other malfunctions, and result
in a crash. You or others could be
seriously injured or killed. Before using
one of these devices:
.Ask the device or trailer manufacturer
if the device has been thoroughly
tested for compatibility with the
make, model, and year of your vehicle
and any optional equipment installed
on your vehicle.
.Before driving, check the trailer brakes
are working properly, if equipped.
Drive the vehicle with the trailer
attached on a level road surface that
is free of traffic at about 32-40 km/h
(20-25 mph) and fully apply the
manual trailer brake apply lever. Also,
check the trailer brake lamps and
other lamps are functioning correctly.
.If the trailer brakes are not operating
properly at any time, or if a DIC
message indicates problems with the
trailer connections or trailer brakes,
carefully pull the vehicle over to the
side of the road when traffic
conditions allow.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from vehicle
tires. Trailer tires are designed with stiff
sidewalls to help prevent sway and to
support heavy loads. These features can
make it difficult to determine if the trailer
tire pressures are low only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire pressures before
each trip when the tires are cool. Low trailer
tire pressure is a leading cause of trailer tire
blow-outs.
If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer tire
pressure monitoring system, see the trailer
tire pressure monitoring system description
and the trailering app.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The trailer
tire sidewall will show the week and year
the tire was manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend replacing tires
more than six years old.
Overloading is another leading cause of
trailer tire blow-outs. Never load your trailer
with more weight than the tires are
designed to support. The load rating is
located on the trailer tire sidewall.
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296 Driving and Operating
Always know the maximum speed rating for
the trailer tires before driving. This may be
significantly lower than the vehicle tire
speed rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed rating is
not shown, the default trailer tire speed
rating is 105 km/h (65 mph).
Trailering App
Trailer Lights App
If equipped, the Trailer Lights App is on the
home page of the infotainment screen.
Touch Start to cycle the trailer lamps on and
off to determine if they are working. The
test follows this sequence:1. The running lights turn on first and remain on throughout the sequence.
2. The brake lights turn on for about two seconds.
3. The left turn signal light flashes three times.
4. The right turn signal light flashes three times.
5. The reverse lights turn on for about two seconds. 6. Steps 2–5 repeat for approximately
one minute and 45 seconds, or until the
test deactivates.
Touch Stop to stop the test. The test will
automatically end after one minute and
45 seconds.
The sequence deactivates when any of the
following occur:
.The vehicle is turned off.
.The transmission is shifted out of P (Park).
.The brake pedal is pressed.
.The turn signal is activated.
.The hazard warning lights are activated.
Trailering App
If equipped, the Trailering App is on the
home page of the infotainment screen.
If equipped, this feature allows profiles for
connected trailers to be created to view
status, to store and track trailer usage
information, and to set up towing assist
features.
The Trailering App welcome page will appear
when the Trailering App is opened for the
first time from the Home Page. When a trailer is electrically connected and
a trailer profile has not been created, there
will be an option to create a profile, use a
guest profile, or select Accessory/No trailer.
When a trailer is electrically connected and
after a Trailer Profile has been created, the
trailer detection pop-up will appear with a
list of all of the custom Trailer Profiles made
on the vehicle. To load an existing Trailer
Profile, select one of the Trailer Profiles
listed, or load the Guest Trailer Profile by
selecting GUEST TRAILER. Touching
Accessory/No trailer will select Accessory/No
trailer as the active Trailer Profile and will
dismiss the pop-up. Shifting the vehicle from
P (Park) selects Guest Trailer as the active
Trailer Profile and will dismiss the pop-up.
Create a Trailer Profile
Touch Add Trailer on the trailer detection
pop-up or touch + Add Trailer in the
Trailering App.
Follow on-screen instructions to set up
profile.
After a profile is created, set up for
additional features may become available,
such as Tow/Haul mode reminder, Trailer
Tire Pressure Monitoring System,
maintenance reminders, or towing assist.
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Driving and Operating 297
Import a Trailer Profile
Touch Import on the trailer detection pop-up
or touch Import in the Trailering App.
Follow on-screen instructions to import
profile.
After a profile is imported, it can be selected
from the trailer list. If equipped, the Tow/
Haul mode reminder, Brake Gain Setting,
and Trailer Tire Pressure sensor learning do
not import.
Trailer Feature Setup
Tow/Haul Mode Reminder
To turn the Tow/Haul Mode Reminder
setting on, touch Yes. To turn it off,
touch No.
Trailer Tire Pressure Setup
If the Trailer Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TTPMS) is detected, touch the Tire
Pressure Monitoring icon to set up tire
pressure monitoring.
The trailer tire pressure sensors transmits up
to 7 m (23 feet) from the hitch receiver of
the vehicle.
A trailer must be electrically connected to
the vehicle before starting the
sensor-to-vehicle learn process.After selecting Start from the Learn Sensors
screen, use the Tool Method or the Manual
Method (described below) to learn each tire
sensor, during which the current tire number
will be highlighted.
Each sensor has a maximum of two minutes
to learn. After a sensor is learned, a
checkmark appears next to the tire, the
vehicle horn will sound, the vehicle’s brake
lamps will flash, and all working trailer
lamps will flash. It then moves to the next
sensor.
To cancel the process, touch Stop.
The recommended tire pressure must be
entered for the trailer tires. This allows the
vehicle to alert when the tire pressure is
high or low.
TTPMS must learn the location of the
installed tire sensors to show correct air
pressure and temperature for each tire. To
set up, use one of the following options or
see a tire or trailer dealer for service. The
learning process must be repeated when the
trailer tires are rotated or replaced.
Tool Method: A TTPMS activation tool can
be purchased separately to learn the sensor
locations.
Manual Method: Without the tool, the air
pressure can be increased or decreased in
each tire for 10 seconds. Do not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure found on the
tire sidewalls. Make sure to re-adjust tire
pressure to the recommended level when
the process is complete.
Sensor Learning Steps
To complete the sensor-to-vehicle learn
process:
1. Touch Start on the Learn Sensors screen. The horn chirps twice and the Learning
Active screen appears on the
infotainment display.
2. Start with the driver side front trailer tire.
3. Activate the tool near the valve stem or adjust the air pressure of this tire until
the horn chirps and all working vehicle
and trailer lights flash.
The process stops without saving the
sensor locations if this step takes more
than two minutes.
4. Move to the next tire and repeat Step 3 for each sensor. The horn chirps twice
when all sensors are completed.
5. Return to the vehicle to complete the setup.