GMC SIERRA 1500 2009 Owners Manual

Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it nds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between
you, your dealer/retailer, or General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to safercar.gov; or
write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington D.C., 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from safercar.gov.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your
vehicle has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada
immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of
Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
2780 Sheffield Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, please notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-GMC-8782 (1-800-462-8782), or write:
GMC Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or
1-800-263-7854 (French), or write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
7-15

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin
contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and
service of your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
7-16

ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc.
on the World Wide Web at: helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example, your
vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and control
engine and transmission performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment and deploy airbags in a
crash and, if so equipped, to provide antilock braking to
help the driver control the vehicle. These modules may
store data to help your dealer/retailer technician service
your vehicle. Some modules may also store data about
how you operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel
consumption or average speed. These modules may also
retain the owner’s personal preferences, such as radio
pre-sets, seat positions, and temperature settings.
7-17

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist
in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts
were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded
by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the
type of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment
is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have access
to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for
GM research needs or may be made available to others
for research purposes, where a need is shown and the
data is not tied to a specic vehicle or vehicle owner.
7-18

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the
OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data collection and use.
See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-70in this manual
for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences such
as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other GM
system containing personal information.
7-19

✍NOTES
7-20

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-4
Accessory Power............................................2-23
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-22
Active Fuel Management™...............................2-28
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment.........4-40
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-90
Additional Required Services, Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-7
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-8
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-123
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-26
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
Air Conditioning......................................3-24, 3-25
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-37
Airbag System................................................1-72
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-90
Airbag Off Switch........................................1-81
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-79
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-84
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-89
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-79Airbag System (cont.)
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-80
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-77
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-75
Airbags
Off Light.....................................................3-38
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-40
Antenna
Fixed Mast................................................3-142
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-142
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Warning Light.............................................3-43
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-120
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-118
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-122
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-119
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-116
Finish Care...............................................5-119
Finish Damage..........................................5-121
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-117
Interior Cleaning........................................5-115
Leather....................................................5-117
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-121
1

Appearance Care (cont.)
Tires........................................................5-121
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-122
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-118
Weatherstrips............................................5-118
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-120
Ashtray.........................................................3-23
Assistance Program, Roadside........................... 7-7
Audio System.................................................3-84
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-140
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-118
Setting the Clock.........................................3-85
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-142
Audio System(s).............................................3-87
Audio Systems
Radio Reception........................................3-141
Rear Seat (RSA).......................................3-138
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-140
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-18
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..................................................5-24, 5-27
Operation...................................................2-28
Auxiliary
Roof Mounted Lamp....................................3-19
Axle, Rear.....................................................5-51B
Battery..........................................................5-45
Electric Power Management..........................3-21
Run-Down Protection...................................3-22
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................6-18
Bluetooth
®....................................................3-118
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Pedal and Adjustable Throttle........................2-26
Brake Fluid....................................................5-41
Brakes..........................................................5-41
Antilock....................................................... 4-5
Parking......................................................2-50
System Warning Light..................................3-42
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-22
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-66
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
and Cargo Lamp......................................5-62
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-19
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-61
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-58
Headlamps.................................................5-61
2

Bulb Replacement (cont.)
License Plate Lamps....................................5-65
Pickup Box Identication and Fender Marker
Lamps ....................................................5-63
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-63
Buying New Tires...........................................5-86
C
Calibration.....................................................3-63
California
Perchlorate Materials Requirements................. 5-5
California Fuel.................................................. 5-7
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-5
Camera, Rear Vision.......................................2-64
Canadian Owners............................................... iii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-131
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust...........................................2-55
Tailgate......................................................2-13
Winter Driving.............................................4-30
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-118
Cargo
Lamp .........................................................3-21Cargo Management System.............................2-83
CD, MP3 ............................................3-106, 3-111
Center Console Storage...................................2-81
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp...............................................5-62
Center Seat...................................................1-13
Chains, Tire...................................................5-92
Charging System Light....................................3-41
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-45
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-14
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-122
Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children...........................1-41
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-49
Older Children.............................................1-38
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-58
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-61
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position..................1-62, 1-66, 1-70
Systems.....................................................1-45
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-48
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-23
Circuit Breakers............................................5-124
3

Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-120
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-119
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-116
Finish Care...............................................5-119
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-117
Interior.....................................................5-115
Leather....................................................5-117
Tires........................................................5-121
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-122
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-118
Weatherstrips............................................5-118
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-120
Climate Control System...........................3-24, 3-25
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-33
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic............................................3-27
Clock, Setting.................................................3-85
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-12
Compass.......................................................3-63
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-18
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-32
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-44Cooling System..............................................5-30
Courtesy Transportation Program......................7-10
Cruise Control................................................3-12
Cruise Control Light........................................3-50
Cupholders....................................................2-80
Customer Assistance......................................... 7-6
Offices......................................................... 7-6
Text Telephone (TTY) Users........................... 7-6
Customer Information
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-16
Customer Satisfaction Procedure........................ 7-2
D
Damage Repair, Collision.................................7-12
Data Recorders
Event.........................................................7-18
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).........................3-17
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Locking.............................................2-11
DIC Compass.................................................3-63
Disc, MP3..........................................3-106, 3-111
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-5
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-20
Dome Lamps .................................................3-20
4