GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
Driving and Operating 203
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be used for
off-road driving. Vehicles without four-wheel
drive and vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR) tires must
not be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. For contact information about
the original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful off-road
driving is to control the speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily
throw you out of position. This could
cause you to lose control and crash. You
and your passengers should always wear
seat belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance and
service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels, and check
inflation pressure in all tires, including the
spare, if equipped.
.Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
.Remove any underbody air deflector,
if equipped. Re-attach the air deflector
after off-road driving.
.Know the local laws that apply to off-road
driving.
To gain more ground clearance if needed, it
may be necessary to remove the front fascia
lower air dam, if equipped. However, driving
without the air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for extended
periods without the front fascia lower air
dam installed can cause improper airflow
to the engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by flying objects. Secure
the cargo properly. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible. The
heaviest things should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle's center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading the
vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits 0210 and
Tires 0345.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that have been set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn 0222.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
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Driving and Operating 257
7. Interior Trailer View
Displays a view of the interior of the
trailer. The feature is available when a
trailer is connected. The feature
requires user installation of an
accessory trailer camera on the
interior of the trailer per the accessory
trailer camera installation instructions
(see your dealer for accessory trailer
camera(s) and information). To view,
select Interior Trailer View on the
infotainment display when the Camera
App is active. To access this view
when in a forward gear above
12 km/h (8 mph), select CAMERA on
the infotainment display and select
Interior Trailer View. The view will
close after 8 seconds and can be
closed early by selecting X, Home
or Back.
8. Cargo Bed View/Bed Hitch View
Use the plus and minus icons on the
infotainment display to zoom in
or out.
.Cargo Bed View
Displays a view of the truck bed
and the area behind the vehicle to
assist in cargo or hitch monitoring
or hitching to a fifth wheel orgooseneck trailer. To view, select
Cargo Bed View on the
infotainment display when the
Camera App is active. To access
this view when in a forward gear
above 12 km/h (8 mph), select
CAMERA on the infotainment
display and select Cargo Bed View.
The view will close after 8 seconds
and can be closed early by
selecting X, Home or Back. When
the Cargo Bed View is selected
when not in Drive the cargo bed
lighting is turned on automatically.
The feature can be enabled or
disabled. To view available settings
from the infotainment screen,
touch Settings > Vehicle >
Collision/Detection Systems.
.Bed Hitch View
Displays a zoomed-in view of the
bed hitch area to assist with
aligning the vehicle’s hitch with
the trailer coupler and monitoring
the trailer connection. To view,
select Bed Hitch View on the
infotainment display when the
Camera App is active. To access
this view when in a forward gear
above 12 km/h (8 mph), selectCAMERA on the infotainment
display and select Bed Hitch View.
The view will close after 8 seconds
and can be closed early by
selecting X, Home or Back. When
the Bed Hitch View is selected
when not in Drive the cargo bed
lighting is turned on automatically.
The feature can be enabled or
disabled. To view available settings
from the infotainment screen,
touch Settings > Vehicle >
Collision/Detection Systems.
9. Transparent Trailer View
Displays a view that allows the driver
to virtually
“see through” the trailer.
The feature is available when a
compatible trailer is connected, a valid
profile is selected and the vehicle is
not in Reverse. The feature requires
user installation of an accessory trailer
camera on the rear exterior surface of
the trailer per the accessory trailer
camera installation instructions (see
your dealer for accessory trailer
camera(s) and information). To view,
select Transparent Trailer View on the
infotainment display when the Camera
App is active. To access this view
when in a forward gear above
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
258 Driving and Operating
12 km/h (8 mph), select CAMERA on
the infotainment display and select
Transparent Trailer View. The view can
be closed by selecting X, Home or
Back on the infotainment screen.
In order to calibrate the system, a
minimum clearance of 61 cm (24 in)
behind the rear vision camera is
required. When the system is
calibrated and trailer position is
known one of three views will be
shown; Transparent Trailer View, Left
Transparent Trailer View or Right
Transparent Trailer View. The
Transparent Trailer View is shown
when the position of the trailer is
relatively straight behind the vehicle.
The Left or Right Transparent Trailer
view is shown when the position of
the trailer is too far to the left or
right. When the system is not
calibrated or trailer position is not
known the Transparent Trailer
Picture-in-Picture View will be shown.
For fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers,
the size of the image overlaid on the
face of the trailer can be adjusted by
touching (+) or (−) on the
infotainment display.10. Rear Trailer Views
.Rear Trailer View
Displays a view of the area behind
the trailer when a trailer is
connected. The feature requires
user installation of an accessory
trailer camera on the rear exterior
surface of the trailer per the
accessory trailer camera
installation instructions (see your
dealer for accessory trailer
camera(s) and information). To
view, select Rear Trailer View on
the infotainment display when the
Camera App is active. To access
this view when in a forward gear
above 12 km/h (8 mph), select
CAMERA on the infotainment
display and select Rear Trailer
View. The view can be closed by
selecting X, Home or Back.
.Rear Side View with Available
Articulation Functionality
Displays a rearward split view of
the left and right sides of the
vehicle and trailer, when a trailer is
connected. The view will
automatically pan to show more of
the left or right side based on theposition of the trailer when a
compatible profile is configured
and selected via the Trailering App.
To view, select Rear Side View with
Available Articulation Functionality
on the infotainment display when
the Camera App is active. To access
this view when in a forward gear
above 12 km/h (8 mph), select
CAMERA on the infotainment
display and select Rear Side View
with Available Articulation
Functionality. The view can be
closed by selecting X, Home
or Back.
.Picture-in-Picture Side View
Displays a rearward split view of
the left and right sides of the
vehicle and trailer with an overlay
view of the area behind the trailer
when a trailer is connected. The
feature requires user installation of
an accessory trailer camera on the
rear exterior surface of the trailer
per the accessory trailer camera
installation instructions (see your
dealer for accessory trailer
camera(s) and information). To
view, select Picture-in-Picture Side
View on the infotainment display
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/13/22
Driving and Operating 287
MeasurementHeight Example 2500/3500 (mm)
H1 1 040
H2 1 080
H2−H1 40
(H2−H1)/4 10
H2−[(H2−H1)/4] 1 070
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the vehicle.
.Tires must be properly inflated to support
loads while towing a trailer. SeeTires
0 345 for instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Fifth-Wheel and Gooseneck Trailering
Fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers can be
used with many pickup models. These
trailers place a larger percentage of the
weight (kingpin weight) on the tow vehicle
than conventional trailers. Make sure this
weight does not cause the vehicle to exceed
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) or Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Fifth-wheel
or gooseneck kingpin weight should be
15 –25% of the trailer weight up to the maximum amount specified on the Trailering
Information Label. See
“Trailer Weight"
under Trailer Towing 0280.
The hitch should be in the pickup bed so
that its centerline is over or near the rear
axle. Take care that it is not so far forward
that it will contact the back of the cab in
sharp turns. This is especially important for
short box pickups. Trailer pin box extensions
and sliding fifth-wheel hitch assemblies may
be used. There should be at least 15 cm
(6 in) of clearance between the top of the
pickup box and the bottom of the trailer
shelf that extends over the box.
Attach the hitch to the tow vehicle frame
rails. Do not use the pickup box for support.
Two Inch Adapter Sleeve and
Retainer Pin
The 2500/3500 series vehicles are equipped
with a 2-1/2” square receiver. An adapter is
provided to allow the use of a 2” draw bar,
along with a hitch retainer pin, and
retainer clip.
Safety Chains
Always attach safety chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Instructions about
safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
If the trailer being towed weighs up to
2 271 kg (5,000 lb) with a factory-installed
step bumper, safety chains may be attached
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Vehicle Care 309
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 310
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 311
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 317
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check (Mechanical
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 333
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 337 Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . 341
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . 342
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 348
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . 351
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 351
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 359
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 361
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 361
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 362
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 376
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Vehicle Care 351
Re-check the tire pressure with the tire
gauge.
Put the valve caps back on the valve
stems to keep out dirt and moisture.
Use only valve caps designed for the
vehicle by GM. TPMS sensors could be
damaged and would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
uses radio and sensor technology to check
tire pressure levels. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces energy
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for
a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement
or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0351.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0413.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). The TPMS is
designed to warn the driver when a low tire
pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire and
wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16908340) - 2024 - CRC - 12/7/22
354 Vehicle Care
.There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
.There is a malfunction in the horn or turn
signal lamps.
.The TPMS sensor identification code is not
registered to the system.
.The TPMS sensor battery is low.
If the tire fill alert does not operate due to
TPMS interference, move the vehicle about
1 m (3 ft) back or forward and try again.
If the tire fill alert feature is not working,
use a tire pressure gauge.
TPMS Sensor Matching Process
Use this TPMS Sensor Matching Process if
your vehicle is equipped with dual rear
wheels:
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification code
needs to be matched to a new tire/wheel
position after rotating the vehicle’s tires or
replacing one or more of the TPMS sensors.
Also, the TPMS sensor matching process
should be performed after replacing a spare
tire with a road tire containing the TPMS
sensor. The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next ignition
cycle. The sensors are matched to the tire/
wheel positions, using a TPMS relearn tool,
in the following order: driver side front tire, passenger side front tire, passenger side
outer rear tire, passenger side inner rear
tire, driver side outer rear tire, and driver
side inner rear tire. See your dealer for
service or to purchase a relearn tool.
A TPMS relearn tool can also be purchased.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor Activation
Tool at www.gmtoolsandequipment.com or
call 1-800-GM TOOLS (1-800-468-6657).
There are two minutes to match the first
tire/wheel position, and five minutes overall
to match all six tire/wheel positions. If it
takes longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition on without starting the vehicle.
3. Uplevel DIC Only: Make sure the Tire Pressure info page option is turned on.
The info pages on the DIC can be turned
on and off through the Options menu.
See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0131 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 133. 4. If the vehicle has an uplevel DIC, use the
DIC controls on the right side of the
steering wheel to scroll to the Tire
Pressure screen under the DIC info page.
If the vehicle has a base level DIC, use
the trip odometer reset stem to scroll to
the Tire Pressure screen.
5. If the vehicle has an uplevel DIC, press and hold the thumbwheel located in the
center of the DIC controls on the right
side of the steering wheel.
If the vehicle has a base level DIC, press
and hold the trip odometer reset stem
for about five seconds. A message asking
if the process should begin should
appear. Select yes and press the trip
odometer reset stem to confirm the
selection.
The horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode and the TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message displays on
the DIC screen.
6. Start with the driver side front tire.
7. Place the relearn tool against the tire sidewall, near the valve stem. Then press
the button to activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the sensor
identification code has been matched to
this tire and wheel position.
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
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356 Vehicle Care
the trailer tire placard on the trailer or the
trailer tire sidewall for the recommended
tire pressure.
The system is compatible with trailer tires
that have placard pressure values from
103 - 689 kpa (15 - 100 psi). The hole in the
wheel for the tire stem must be 11.43 mm
(0.453 in) or 15.88 mm (0.625 in) in
diameter. Use of the pressure sensors on a
wheel with a different stem hole size could
result in loss of air from the tire.
If a low trailer tire pressure condition is
detected, the TTPMS displays a warning
message on the DIC. If the warning message
is displayed, stop as soon as possible and
inflate the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the tire placard on the
trailer.
In addition, the TTPMS monitors the
temperature of the trailer tires. If the
system detects a high temperature on one
or more of the trailer tires, a warning
message will be displayed on the DIC. If this
warning message is displayed, stop as soon
as possible, and inspect the overheated
trailer tire. Common causes for high trailer
tire temperature are underinflation,
overloading, or tire damage.TTPMS Malfunction Message
The TTPMS will not function properly if one
or more of the trailer tire sensors are
missing or inoperable. If the system detects
a malfunction, a DIC message indicates that
the system requires service. Some of the
conditions that can cause the service
message to occur are:
.One of the trailer tires has been replaced
with the spare tire which does not have a
learned TTPMS sensor. The DIC message
should turn off after the pressure sensor
is installed in the tire, and the learning
process is performed successfully. See
"TTPMS Sensor Learning Process" under
Trailering App0296.
.The TTPMS sensor learning process was
not done or not completed successfully.
The DIC message should go off after
successfully completing the sensor
learning process. See "TTPMS Sensor
Learning Process" under Trailering App
0 296.
.One or more TTPMS sensors are missing
or damaged. The DIC message should go
off when the TTPMS sensors are installed
and the sensor learning process is performed successfully. See "TTPMS
Sensor Learning Process" under
Trailering
App 0296.
.Operating electronic devices or being near
facilities using radio wave frequencies
similar to the TTPMS could cause
interference to the TTPMS which could
cause loss of signal reception from the
sensor.
.If the system does not receive the signal
from an individual sensor, an error
message may not occur until the vehicle
has been driver for a period of time.
If the TTPMS is not functioning properly, it
cannot detect or signal a low tire condition.
See your dealer for service if the DIC
message comes on and stays on when the
trailer tire pressures have been checked and
determined to be correct.
Tire Inspection
We recommend that the tires, including
the spare tire, if the vehicle has one, be
inspected for signs of wear or damage
at least once a month.