ECO mode GMC SIERRA 1500 2009 User Guide

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob
is located next to the
steering column.
Use the dial to shift into and out of Four-Wheel Drive.
You can choose among ve driving settings:
Indicator lights in the dial show which setting you are in.
The indicator lights will come on briey when you turn
on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do
not come on, you should take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer for service. An indicator light will ash
while shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated
when the shift is complete. If for some reason the
transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will return
to the last chosen setting.2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):This setting is used
for driving in most street and highway situations.
The front axle is not engaged in Two-Wheel Drive.
This setting also provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive):This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions
are variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent only
to the front and rear wheels automatically based
on driving conditions. Driving in this mode results in
slightly lower fuel economy than Two-Wheel-Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel-Drive High):Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive the vehicle. This is the best setting to
use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low):This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending steep hills.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-6.
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It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light will ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the vehicle
is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission
is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the transfer case
will shift to Four-Wheel-Drive High mode.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel-Drive Low to Four-Wheel-Drive
High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive High, the vehicle
must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h)
with the transmission in N (Neutral) and the ignition
in ON/RUN. The preferred method for shifting out
of Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive High
position. You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Drive
High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive High indicator light
to stop ashing and remain on before shifting the
transmission into gear.Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the mode
indicator lights to stop ashing before shifting the
transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel-Drive High switch position
when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High indicator light will ash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless the vehicle is moving less
than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in
N (Neutral).
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Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-50for more
information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral)
until it stops and hold it there until the N (Neutral)
light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release the dial to the four
low position. The N (Neutral) light will come on when
the transfer case shift to N (Neutral) is complete.
7. If the engine is running, make sure that the transfer
case is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will
turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift out of N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off,
and shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to Two-Wheel-Drive
High, Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO.
After the transfer case has shifted out of N (Neutral),
the N (Neutral) light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the mode
indicator lights to stop ashing before shifting the
transmission into gear.
5. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the
desired position.
2-49

The panel of switches might not appear exactly as
they do in the examples above, but they should be
similar.
The switch positions on the hand-held transmitter
could be labeled, as follows:
A switch in the up position could be labeled as
“Up,” “+,” or “On.”
A switch in the down position could be labeled
as “Down,” “−,” or “Off.”
A switch in the middle position could be labeled
as “Middle,” “0,” or “Neutral.”2. Write down the eight to 12 switch settings from
left to right as follows:
When a switch is in the up position, write “Left.”
When a switch is in the down position, write
“Right.”
If a switch is set between the up and down
position, write “Middle.”
The switch settings written down in Step 2
now become the button strokes to be entered
into the Universal Home Remote in Step 4.
Be sure to enter the switch settings written
down in Step 2, in order from left to right,
into the Universal Home Remote, when
completing Step 4.
3. From inside your vehicle, rst rmly press all
three buttons at the same time for about
three seconds. Release the buttons to put the
Universal Home Remote into programming mode. Example of Eight Dip Switches with Three Positions
2-78

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
G: Turn and Lane Change Signals
53: Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
N: Windshield Wipers
L: Windshield Washer
Flash-to-Pass.
Exterior Lamps.
Information for these features is on the pages following.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster ashes in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the lever all the way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less than one second until the
arrow starts to ash to signal a lane change. This causes
the turn signals to automatically ash three times. It will
ash six times if tow-haul mode is active. Holding the turn
signal lever for more than one second will cause the turn
signals to ash until you release the lever.
The lever returns to its starting position whenever it is
released.
If after signaling a turn or a lane change the arrows
ash rapidly or do not come on, a signal bulb could be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-124.
3-9

6(Delay):Turn the band to adjust the delay time.
The delay between wiping cycles becomes shorter as
the band is moved to the top of the lever. This can
be very useful in light rain or snow.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed.
?(High Speed):For high-speed wiping.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before using
them. If they are frozen to the windshield, gently
loosen or thaw them. Damaged wiper blades may not
clear the windshield well, making it harder to see
and drive safely. If the blades do become damaged,
install new blades or blade inserts. For more information,
seeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-66.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Rainsense™ II Wipers
For vehicles with Rainsense™ II windshield wipers, the
moisture sensor is located next to the inside rearview
mirror and is mounted on the windshield. When active,
these sensors are able to detect moisture on the
windshield and automatically turn on the wipers.
To turn on the Rainsense feature, the wipers must be set
to one of the ve delay settings on the multifunction lever.
Each of the ve settings adjusts the sensitivity of the
sensor.
Since different drivers have different setting preferences,
it is recommended that the mid-range setting (position 3)
be used initially. For more wipes, select the higher
settings; for fewer wipes, select the lower settings located
closer to the off position on the multifunction lever.
The sensor will automatically control the frequency of
the wipes from the off setting to the high speed setting
according to the weather conditions. The wipers can be
left in a rainsense mode even when it is not raining.
When Rainsense is active, the headlamps will turn on
automatically if the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO
position and the wipers are active.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.
3-11

Climate Controls
Climate Control System
(With Heater Only)
With this system the heating and ventilation can be
controlled.
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
Temperature Control:Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
9(Fan Control):Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed. Turn the knob all the
way counterclockwise to turn the front system off.
Air Delivery Mode Control:Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle. The knob can be
positioned between two modes to select a combination
of those modes.
Select from the following:
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level):Air is divided between the instrument
panel and oor outlets.
6(Floor):Air is directed to the oor outlets, with some
air directed to the windshield, side window, and second
row oor outlets. In this mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
-(Defog):This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield, oor outlets,
and side window vents.
0(Defrost):This mode removes fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. Air is directed to the windshield
and the side window vents, with some air directed to the
oor vents. The system automatically forces outside air
into the vehicle.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
3-24

The passenger’s temperature setting can be set to
match the driver’s temperature setting by pressing the
PASS button and turning off the PASS indicator.
When the passenger’s temperature setting is set
different than the driver’s setting, the indicator on the
PASS button illuminates and both the driver side
and passenger side temperature displays are shown.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):When automatic operation is active
the system controls the inside temperature, the air
delivery, and the fan speed.
Use the steps below to place the entire system in
automatic mode:
1. Press the AUTO button.
When AUTO is selected, the display changes to
show the current temperature(s) and AUTO is lit on
the display. The current air delivery mode and fan
speed are also displayed for about 5 seconds.
When AUTO is selected, the air conditioning
operation and air inlet are automatically controlled.
The air conditioning compressor may run when the
outside temperature is above freezing. The air inlet
will normally be set to outside air. If it is hot outside,
the air inlet may automatically switch to the
recirculate mode to help quickly cool down the air
inside the vehicle. The light on the button comes on
in recirculation.2. Set the driver’s and passenger’s temperature.
To nd your comfort setting, start with a 74°F (23°C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes for
the system to regulate. Use the driver or passenger
temperature buttons to adjust the temperature setting
as necessary. If a temperature setting of 60°F (15°C)
is chosen, the system remains at the maximum
cooling setting. If a temperature setting of 90°F
(32°C) is chosen, the system remains at the
maximum heat setting. Choosing either maximum
setting will not cause the vehicle to heat or cool
any faster.
Do not cover the solar sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel near the windshield. This sensor
regulates air temperature based on sun load. For more
information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors” later in
this section.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
delays turning the fan on until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Pressing the fan switch overrides this
delay and changes the fan to a selected speed.
3-28

Manual Operation
DC(Fan Control):Press these buttons to increase or
decrease the fan speed.
Pressing either fan button while in automatic control
places the fan under manual control. The fan setting
remains displayed and the AUTO light turns off. The air
delivery mode remains under automatic control.
HG(Air Delivery Mode Control):Press these buttons
to change the direction of the airow in the vehicle.
Repeatedly press either button until the desired mode
appears on the display. Pressing either mode button
while the system is off changes the air delivery mode
without turning the system on. Pressing either mode
button while in automatic control places the mode under
manual control.
The air delivery mode setting is displayed and the AUTO
light turns off. The fan remains under automatic control.
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
)(Bi-Level):Air is divided between the instrument
panel and oor outlets. Some air is directed towards the
windshield and side window outlets.
6(Floor):Air is directed to the oor outlets, with
some to the windshield, side window outlets, and second
row oor outlets. In this mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
-(Defog):This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield, oor outlets,
and side window vents. In this mode, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air conditioning compressor
unless the outside temperature is close to freezing.
The recirculation mode cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode.
3-29

Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). The
odometer shows how far the vehicle has been driven, in
either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers
(used in Canada).
Engine Hour Meter Display
The Driver Information Center (DIC) can also display
the number of hours the engine has run. To display
the engine hours, turn the ignition off, press and hold the
reset button for at least four seconds. The hour meter
displays for up to 30 seconds, or until the ignition is
turned on. SeeDIC Operation and Displays (With DIC
Buttons) on page 3-53orDIC Operation and Displays
(Without DIC Buttons) on page 3-59for more
information.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer shows how far the vehicle has been
driven since the trip odometer was last set to zero.
Press the reset button, located on the instrument panel
cluster next to the voltmeter, to toggle between the trip
odometer and the regular odometer. Holding the reset
button for approximately one second while the trip
odometer is displayed will reset it.
To display the odometer reading with the ignition off,
press the reset button.
SeeDIC Operation and Displays (With DIC Buttons) on
page 3-53orDIC Operation and Displays (Without
DIC Buttons) on page 3-59for more information.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm). For a description of how Grade Braking
affects vehicle speed while the Tow/Haul Mode is
activated, see “Grade Braking (Allison Transmission
®)”
underTow/Haul Mode on page 2-34for more information.
3-35