GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
156 Infotainment System
hold. SeeApple CarPlay and
Android Auto (Base Radio) 0177 or
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
(Uplevel Radio) 0179.
2.O(Power)
.Press to turn the power on.
.Press and hold to turn the
power off.
.Press to mute/unmute the system
when on.
.Turn to decrease or increase the
volume.
Home Page
The Home Page is where vehicle application
icons are accessed. Some applications are
disabled when the vehicle is moving.
Swipe left or right across the display to
access the pages of icons.
Card view is located on the right side of the
screen. Scroll up and down through the
different cards. Individual cards cannot be
added or deleted. For most of the apps in
the cards, an open card view app will
temporarily not be shown in card view.
Managing Home Page Icons 1. Touch and hold any of the Home Page icons to enter edit mode. 2. Continue holding the icon and drag it to
the desired position.
3. Release your finger to drop the icon in the desired position.
Move an Icon to Another Page 1. Drag the icon to the edge of the display toward the desired page.
2. Continue dragging and dropping application icons as desired.
Move an Icon to the Application Tray
To move an icon to the application tray on
the left side of the screen, drag the icon to
the applications tray.
Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, some audio controls can be
adjusted at the steering wheel.
g: Press to answer an incoming call or
start voice recognition. See Bluetooth
(Pairing and Using a Phone for Uplevel
Radio) 0171 or
Bluetooth (Pairing and Using a Phone for
Base Radio) 0174 or
Bluetooth (Overview) 0170.
c:Press to decline an incoming call or
end a current call. Press to mute or unmute
the infotainment system when not on a call.
The favorites and volume switches are on
the back of the steering wheel.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
182 Infotainment System
Apps
The menu may contain the following:
Android Auto
Allows interacting directly with a mobile
device on the infotainment display. See
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Base
Radio)0177 or
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Uplevel
Radio) 0179.
Apple CarPlay
This feature allows you to interact directly
with your mobile device on the infotainment
display. See Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
(Base Radio) 0177 or
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Uplevel
Radio) 0179.
Audio
Adjusts different audio settings.
Phone
Adjusts different phone settings.
Vehicle
The menu may contain the following:
Rear Seat Reminder
Allows for a chime and a message when the
rear door has been opened before or during
operation of the vehicle.
Climate and Air Quality
Adjusts different climate settings.
Collision/Detection Systems
Adjusts different driver assistance system
settings.
Comfort and Convenience
Adjusts different comfort and convenience
settings.
Lighting
Adjusts different lighting settings.
Power Door Locks
Adjusts different door lock settings.
Remote Lock, Unlock, and Start
Adjusts different remote lock settings.
Ride Height
Adjusts different ride height settings. Power Assist Steps
Adjusts different running board settings.
Seating Position
Adjusts different seat settings.
Suspension
Adjusts different suspension settings.
Trailering
Adjusts different trailering settings.
Teen Driver
See
Teen Driver 0185.
Valet Mode
This will lock the infotainment system and
steering wheel controls. It may also limit
access to vehicle storage locations,
if equipped.
To enable valet mode: 1. Enter a four-digit code on the keypad.
2. Select Enter to go to the confirmation screen.
3. Re-enter the four-digit code.
Touch Lock or Unlock to lock or unlock the
system. Touch Back to go back to the
previous menu.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
198 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 199
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 214
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 220
Vehicle Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 222Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 223
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 241
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems . . . 252
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 263
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . 270
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Filling the Tank (Pickup Models) . . . . . . . 273
Filling the Tank (Chassis Cab and Box Delete Models) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 276
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
200 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 057.
.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 or a brake fault
occurs, the brakes may lose power assist.
More effort will be required to stop the
vehicle. It may take longer to stop.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
Driving and Operating 201
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.
Hydraulic Power Steering (2500/3500
Series)
(2500/3500 Series–All Regular Cab, Double
Cab/Crew Cab with Base Interior)
The power steering system may require
maintenance. See Power Steering Fluid
0 323.
If power steering assist is lost because the
engine stops or the system malfunctions,
the vehicle can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
(2500/3500 Series –Double Cab/Crew Cab
with Uplevel Interior)
The vehicle has a power steering system
that varies the amount of effort required to
steer the vehicle. Less steering effort is
required at slower speeds. At faster speeds,
the required steering effort increases. The
system helps the steering wheel return to
center at low speeds. Pressing the Tow/Haul
mode button adjusts steering effort for
driving conditions described in Tow/Haul
Mode 0227.
The power steering system may require
maintenance. See Power Steering Fluid
0 323. If power steering assist is lost because the
engine stops or the system malfunctions,
the vehicle can be steered but may require
increased effort. See your dealer.
{Warning
Do not hold the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal at the same time.
Damage may occur to the power steering
and power brake systems which could
lead to reduced performance, up to and
including loss of steering and brake
assist.
Caution
Do not hold the steering wheel at full
rotation for more than 15 seconds and/or
at an elevated RPM. Damage may occur
to the power steering system and there
may be loss of power steering assist.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
Driving and Operating 209
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow. See“Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out” later in this section.
The Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0236. If TC/ESC cannot free
the vehicle, see “Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out” following.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire chains on
the vehicle, see Tire Chains0363.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get It Out
Caution
Do not hold the steering wheel at full
rotation for more than 15 seconds and/or
at an elevated RPM. Damage may occur
to the power steering system and there
may be loss of power steering assist.
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Then
make sure the wheels are pointed straight
ahead. For four-wheel-drive vehicles, shift
into Four-Wheel Drive High. Turn the TCS
off. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as
little as possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning
before shifting gears. Slowly spinning the
wheels in the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the vehicle out
after a few tries, it might need to be towed
out. See Transporting a Disabled Vehicle
0 379. Recovery hooks can be used, if the
vehicle has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks from the
side. The hooks could break and you and
others could be injured. When using
recovery hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Caution
Never use recovery hooks to tow the
vehicle. The vehicle could be damaged,
and the repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
Driving and Operating 217
near a strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Keyless Access system.
SeeRemote Key Operation 015.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle must be
on 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 vehicle will
turn off, and Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0220.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the vehicle
will return to accessory mode and display
the message SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). When the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park), the vehicle will turn off. The vehicle may have an electric steering
column lock. The lock is activated when the
ignition is turned off and driver 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.
Unless an emergency exists, do not turn the
engine off when the vehicle is moving. This
will cause a loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable the
airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. If the vehicle cannot be pulled over, and must be shut off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP button for
longer than two seconds, or press twice
in five seconds.
2. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This
may deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force. 3. 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.
4. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and make sure engine is off.
The shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the vehicle off.
5. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0234.
{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.
Accessory Mode (Amber Indicator Light) :
This mode allows some electrical accessories
to be used when the engine is off.
With the vehicle off, pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button one time without the
brake pedal applied will place the vehicle in
accessory mode.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
228 Driving and Operating
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive engages the
front axle for extra traction. The transfer
case control panel is to the left of the
instrument panel. SeeInstrument Panel
Overview 05.
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 shift
lever 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 4
n— or set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral).
See Shifting Into Park 0220.
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 0236.
Automatic Transfer Case
Two-Speed Transfer Case
Work Truck Shown, All Other Models Similar
If equipped, the transfer case controls are
used to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.
To shift the transfer case, press the desired
button. The indicator in the instrument
cluster will flash while a shift is in progress.
The indicator displayed will change to
indicate the setting requested.