lights GMC SIERRA 1500 2006 User Guide

Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor located on
the top of the instrument panel in the defroster grille.
Be sure it is not covered, or the system will be on
whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on your headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees
a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once you
leave the garage, it will take approximately one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if it is
bright enough outside. During that delay, your instrument
panel cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure
your instrument panel brightness control is in the full
bright position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on
page 3-18.To idle your vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the control to the off position.
You may be able to turn off your Automatic Headlamp
System. SeeDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) on
page 3-15for more information.
Your headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. You can program this feature using the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-64.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need them.
3-16

Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp
If your vehicle has this feature, this button includes
wiring provisions for a dealer or a qualied service
center to install an auxiliary roof lamp.
This button is located
on the center of the
instrument panel near
the climate controls.
When the wiring is connected to an auxiliary roof
mounted lamp, pressing the button will activate the lamp
and illuminate an indicator light near the button. Pressing
the button again will turn off the roof mounted lamp.
If your vehicle has this button, your vehicle may have the
snow plow prep package. For further information see
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment on page 4-54.
Instrument Panel Brightness
D(Instrument Panel Brightness):This feature
controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to
the headlamp control.
Turn the thumbwheel up to adjust the instrument panel
lights. Turn the thumbwheel up to return the radio display
to full brightness when the headlamps or parking lamps
are on. To turn on the dome lamps, turn the thumbwheel
all the way up.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn the dome lamps on by turning the
thumbwheel, located next to the exterior lamps control,
all the way up. In this position, the dome lamps will
remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
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Dome Lamp Override
E(Dome Lamp Override):You can use the dome
override button, located below the exterior lamps control,
to set the dome lamps to come on automatically when a
door is opened, or to remain off. To turn the lamps off,
press the button into the in position. With the button in
this position, the dome lamps will remain off when the
doors are open. To return the lamps to automatic
operation, press the button again and return it to the
out position. With the button in this position, the dome
lamps will come on when you open a door.
Entry Lighting
Your vehicle is equipped with an illuminated entry
feature.
When the doors are opened, the dome lamps will come
on if the dome override button is in the out position. If the
dome override button is pressed in, the lamps will not
come on.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lights will
not come on if the dome override button is pressed in.
Front Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console.
To turn on the reading lamps, press the button located
next to each lamp. To turn them off, press the button
again.
The lamps can be adjusted to point in the direction
you want.
Your vehicle may also have reading lamps in other
locations. To turn the lamps on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp. The lamps are xed and cannot
be adjusted.
Cargo Lamp
The cargo lamp button is
located on the left side of
the instrument panel. Press
the button to turn the cargo
lamp on. Press the button
again to turn it off.
An indicator light on the instrument panel cluster will
illuminate when the cargo lamp is turned on, and the
ignition key is turned to RUN.
3-19

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your
warning lights and gages could also save you or others
from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briey when you start the engine just to
let you know they are working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when there
is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They are a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center (DIC)
that works along with warning lights and gages. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-55.
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{CAUTION:
If the right front passenger’s airbag is turned
off for a person who is not in a risk group
identied by the national government, that
person will not have the extra protection of an
airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able
to inate and help protect the person sitting
there. Do not turn off the passenger’s airbag
unless the person sitting there is in a risk
group. SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78
for more on this, including important safety
information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights remain
on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a problem
with the lights or the passenger sensing system. See your
dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, it means
that something may be wrong with the airbag
system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle
serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger seat
may not have the protection of the airbag. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-35.
3-39

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push or may go closer to the oor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-62.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. You will also hear a chime
sound when the light is on steady. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. In
addition to both lights, you will also hear a chime sound
on the rst occurrence of a problem and each time the
vehicle is shut off and then restarted. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-41.
3-42

Headlamp Delay
Press the customization button until HEADLAMP DELAY
appears in the display. To select your preference for how
long the headlamps will stay on when you turn off the
vehicle, press the select button while HEADLAMP
DELAY is displayed on the DIC. Pressing the select
button will scroll through the following choices:
HEADLAMP DELAY: 10 SEC (Seconds) (default)
HEADLAMP DELAY: 20 SEC
HEADLAMP DELAY: 40 SEC
HEADLAMP DELAY: 1 MIN (Minute)
HEADLAMP DELAY: 2 MIN
HEADLAMP DELAY: 3 MIN
HEADLAMP DELAY: OFF
The amount of time you choose will be the amount
of time that the headlamps stay on after you turn off the
vehicle. If you choose off, the headlamps will turn off
as soon as you turn off the vehicle.
Choose one of the available options and press the
customization button while it is displayed on the DIC
to select it and move on to the next feature.
Perimeter Lights
Press the customization button until PERIMETER
LIGHTS appears in the display. To select your preference
for perimeter lighting, press the select button while
PERIMETER LIGHTS is displayed on the DIC. Pressing
the select button will scroll through the following choices:
PERIMETER LIGHTS: ON (default):The headlamps
and back-up lamps will come on for 40 seconds, if it is
dark enough outside, when you unlock the vehicle with
the remote keyless entry transmitter.
PERIMETER LIGHTS: OFF:The perimeter lights
will not come on when you unlock the vehicle with
the remote keyless entry transmitter.
Choose one of the available options and press the
customization button while it is displayed on the DIC
to select it and move on to the next feature.
3-67

Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second.
But that is only an average. It might be less with one
driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination,
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between your
vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops,
you will still have some power brake assist.But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist
is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-4.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away, your
anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is going
on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay
on. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on
page 3-42.
Along with ABS, your vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning lights will come on
accompanied by a 10-second chime.
4-6

The lights and chime will come on each time the ignition
is turned on until the problem is repaired. See your dealer
for service.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You
slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and
at both rear wheels.The anti-lock system can change the brake
pressure faster than any driver could. The computer
is programmed to make the most of available tire and
road conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
4-7

When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep
a rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands
if you are not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the
vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns, or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment about
what is safe and what is not.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road.
And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very
time you need special alertness and driving skills, your
reexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected by
even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a
serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive
or ride with a driver who has been drinking. SeeDrunken
Driving on page 4-3.Driving on Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill.
Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an
understanding of what your vehicle can and cannot do.
There are some hills that simply cannot be driven, no
matter how well built the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot control your speed. If
you drive across them, you will roll over. You
could be seriously injured or killed. If you have
any doubt about the steepness, do not drive
the hill.
4-22