GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/15/22
106 Instruments and Controls
Horn
To sound the horn, pressaon the
steering wheel.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wipers are controlled by
turning the band with
Non it.
With the ignition on or in accessory mode,
turn the
Nband to select the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : If equipped with intermittent wipers
only, move the windshield wiper lever to
INT. Turn the band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off. 1x :
For a single wipe, briefly turn the
N
band down. For several wipes, hold the
band down.
L:PressLon the windshield wiper
control to spray windshield washer fluid and
activate the wipers. The wipers will continue
until
Lis released or the maximum wash
time is reached. When
Lis released,
additional wipes may occur depending on
how long the windshield washer had been
activated. See Washer Fluid0324 for
information on filling the windshield washer
fluid reservoir.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper blades
before using them. If frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be replaced. See
Wiper Blade Replacement 0331.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper
motor.
{Warning
In freezing weather, do not use the
washer until the windshield is warmed.
Otherwise the washer fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking your vision.
{Warning
Before driving the vehicle, always clear
snow and ice from the hood, windshield,
washer nozzles, roof, and rear of the
vehicle, including all lamps and windows.
Reduced visibility from snow and ice
buildup could lead to a crash.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are on LO, HI, or
3, they will
immediately stop.
If the windshield wiper control is ON then
moved to OFF before the driver door is
opened or within 10 minutes, the wipers will
restart and move to the base of the
windshield.
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.
Rain Sense
If equipped with Rain Sense and the feature
is turned on, a sensor near the top center of
the windshield detects the amount of water
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
314 Vehicle Care
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0376.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America 0376.
3. Battery - North America 0327.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0318.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0314.
6. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0319.
7. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0323.
8. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0314.
9. Auxiliary Battery. Battery - North
America 0327.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 326.
11. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0337.
12. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System 0319.
13. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0324.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine Oil”
in the Duramax diesel supplement.
To ensure proper engine performance and
long life, careful attention must be paid to
engine oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly and
maintain the proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate
time. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0316.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0313 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
324 Vehicle Care
is heard. A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
Wait for the power steering system to cool,
with the engine off, before checking the
fluid.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering fluid:1. Set the ignition off and let the engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be between the ADD and
FULL marks. If necessary, add only enough
fluid to bring the level up to the hashed
area between the ADD and FULL marks, do
not overfill. To prevent contamination of brake fluid,
never check or fill the power steering
reservoir with the brake master cylinder
cover off.
What to Use
Caution
Use of the incorrect fluid may damage
the vehicle and the damages may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0398.
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0398.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use
the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage
hoses and seals.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs to be
added, be sure to read the manufacturer's
instructions before use. Use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing in an
area where the temperature may fall below
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid message
on the DIC that comes on when the washer
fluid is low. The message is displayed for
15 seconds at the start of each ignition cycle.
When the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will need to
be added to the windshield washer fluid
reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview 0313 for
reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
Vehicle Care 325
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound means
that soon the brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash. When the
brake wear warning sound is heard, have
the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
linings could result in costly brake
repairs.
Some driving conditions or climates can
cause a brake squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up following several
applications. This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary
to help prevent brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect brake linings for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the proper
sequence to torque specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications 0402.
Brake pads should be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance can
change in many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Pad Life System
When to Change Brake Pads
This vehicle has a system that estimates the
remaining life of the front and rear brake
pads. Brake pad life is displayed in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), along with
a percentage for each axle. The system must
be reset every time the brake pads are
changed.
When the system has determined that the
brake pads need to be replaced, a message
will display, which may include mileage
remaining.