tow GMC SIERRA 1500 2011 Workshop Manual

Black plate (51,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-51
Low Traction Mode
If your vehicle has the Allison
Transmission, or the Hydra-Matic
6-Speed Automatic Transmission,
it has a Low Traction Mode that
can assist in vehicle acceleration
when road conditions are slippery,
such as with ice or snow. While
the vehicle is at a stop, select the
second gear range using Range
Selection Mode. This will limit
torque to the wheels after it detects
wheel slip, preventing the tires from
spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission have a Tow/Haul
Mode. The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts
the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling, providing
increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling
when towing or hauling heavy loads.The selector button is located on
the end of the shift lever. Turn
the Tow/Haul Mode on and off
by pressing the button. When
the tow/haul is on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster will
come on.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light on
page 5‑29 for more information.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment on page 9‑112
for more information.

Black plate (52,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-52 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul Mode
(Allison Transmission
or Hydra-Matic 6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
Vehicles with an Allison
Transmission or Hydra-Matic
6-Speed Automatic Transmission
have a Tow/Haul Mode. The Tow/
Haul Mode adjusts the transmission
shift pattern to reduce shift cycling,
providing increased performance,
vehicle control, and transmission
cooling when towing or hauling
heavy loads.Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and
off by pressing the button, located
on the end of the shift lever. When
the tow/haul is on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster will
come on.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light on
page 5‑29 for more information.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment on page 9‑112
for more information.
Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission
or Hydra-Matic 6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
The Grade Braking shift modes
can be activated by pressing the
button on the end of the shift control
lever. While in Range Selection
Mode, Grade Braking is deactivated
allowing the driver to select a
desired range of gears.
Grade Braking is only active while
the Tow/Haul Mode is selected and
you are not in the Range Selection
Mode. See “Tow/Haul Mode” listed
previously and Manual Mode on
page 9‑50 for more information
on the Range Selection Mode.

Black plate (53,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-53
Grade Braking assists in
maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on
downhill grades by automatically
implementing a shift schedule that
utilizes the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle. This reduces
wear on the braking system and
increases control of the vehicle.
Grade Braking monitors vehicle
speed, acceleration, engine torque
and brake pedal usage. Using this
information, it detects when the
truck is on a downhill grade and
the driver desires to slow the
vehicle by pressing the brake.
This feature is active when
the exhaust brake is enabled
(if equipped).
Also seeTowing Equipment on
page 9‑112 for more information.Cruise Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission
or Hydra-Matic 6-Speed
Automatic Transmission)
Cruise Grade Braking assists
when driving on a downhill grade.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
schedule that uses the engine
and the transmission to slow the
vehicle. Cruise Grade Braking
operates while Cruise Control is
engaged in Tow/Haul Mode to assist
in maintaining vehicle speed under
loaded vehicle conditions. It utilizes
vehicle acceleration and deviation
from desired speed to determine the correct gear for the operating
condition. If vehicle speed is above
the desired speed the transmission
will downshift to slow the vehicle.
If vehicle speed is near or below
desired speed the trans will upshift,
allowing vehicle speed to increase.
While in the Range Selection Mode,
Cruise Grade Braking is not
available.
This feature is active when
the exhaust brake is enabled
(if equipped).
See
“Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode on page 9‑50.

Black plate (55,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-55
A Four-Wheel Drive indicator light
comes on when you shift into
four-wheel drive and the front axle
engages. SeeFour-Wheel-Drive
Light on page 5‑29.
Some delay between shifting and
when the indicator light comes on is
normal.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving Conditions Transfer Case Settings
2m 4m4n N
Normal YES Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 10‑103 orTowing the Vehicle
on page 10‑103.
Notice: Driving on clean, dry
pavement in four-wheel drive for
an extended period of time can
cause premature wear on the
vehicle's powertrain. Do not
drive on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel Drive for extended
periods of time. 4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low):
This
setting also engages the front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may
never need Four-Wheel Drive Low.
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.

Black plate (56,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-56 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak®,
shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak off. See StabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑70.
A parking brake symbol is located
next to the N (Neutral) symbol as a
reminder to set the parking brake
before shifting the transfer case into
N (Neutral).
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission
is in P (Park). You or someone
else could be seriously injured.
Be sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case
in N (Neutral). SeeParking Brake
on page 9‑69.
N (Neutral): Shift to this setting
only when the vehicle needs to be
towed. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10‑103 orTowing
the Vehicle on page 10‑103. 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.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High): Use
this setting when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy
roads or in most off-road situations.
This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive your vehicle.
This is the best setting to use
when plowing snow.
You can shift from Two-Wheel Drive
High to Four-Wheel Drive High
or Four-Wheel Drive High to
Two-Wheel Drive High while the
vehicle is moving. In extremely
cold weather, it may be necessary
to stop or slow the vehicle to shift
into Four-Wheel Drive High.

Black plate (59,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-59
Electronic 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.
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2m 4m4n N
Normal YES Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 10‑103 orTowing the Vehicle
on page 10‑103.
You can choose among four driving
settings:
Indicator lights in the dial
show which setting you are in.
The indicator lights will come on
briefly 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 for service.
An indicator light flashes while
shifting the transfer case and remains 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.

Black plate (60,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-60 Driving and Operating
4m(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 while 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. See StabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑70.
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission
is in P (Park). You or someone
else could be seriously injured.
Be sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case
in N (Neutral). SeeParking Brake
on page 9‑69.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral)
only when towing the vehicle.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑103 orTowing the Vehicle
on page 10‑103 for more
information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
message stays on, you should
take the vehicle to your dealer for
service. See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL
DRIVE message” under
Transmission Messages on
page 5‑50. Shifting Into Two-Wheel
Drive High
Turn the knob to the Two-Wheel
Drive High position. This can be
done at any speed, except when
shifting from Four-Wheel Drive Low.
See
“Shifting Out of Four-Wheel
Drive Low” for more information.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel
Drive Low
When Four-Wheel Drive Low is
engaged, vehicle speed should
be kept below 72 km/h (45 mph).
Extended high-speed operation in
Four-Wheel Drive Low may damage
or shorten the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel Drive
Low position, the ignition must be
in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 5 km/h
(3 mph) with the transmission in
N (Neutral). The preferred method
for shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
Low is to have the vehicle moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).

Black plate (64,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-64 Driving and Operating
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. See StabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑70.
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission
is in P (Park). You or someone
else could be seriously injured.
Be sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in
N (Neutral). SeeParking Brake on
page 9‑69. N (Neutral):
Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral)
only when towing the vehicle.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑103 orTowing the Vehicle
on page 10‑103 for more
information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
message stays on, you should
take the vehicle to your dealer for
service. See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL
DRIVE message” under
Transmission Messages on
page 5‑50.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive
High or AUTO (Automatic
Four-Wheel Drive)
Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel
Drive High or AUTO position. This
can be done at any speed, except
when shifting from Four-Wheel
Drive Low. The indicator light will
flash while shifting. It will remain
on when the shift is completed.

Black plate (69,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-69
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding
the regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑27.
Notice: Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake
system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and
are parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑91.
Brake Assist (Except
With 4.3L V6 Engine)
If this vehicle has StabiliTrak®, it
also has a Brake Assist feature
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement
the power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle.
The stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.

Black plate (74,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
9-74 Driving and Operating
When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off.
For vehicles with an Allison or
Hydra‐Matic 6‐speed automatic
transmission, see“Grade Braking
and Cruise Grade Braking
(Allison Transmission) under
Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑51
for an explanation of how cruise
control interacts with the Range
Selection Mode, tow/haul and
grade braking systems.
For vehicles with the StabiliTrak
system that begins to limit wheel
spin while you are using cruise
control, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑70.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.
The cruise control buttons are
located on the left side of the
steering wheel.
I(On/Off): Press to turn the
system on or off. The indicator light
is on when cruise control is on and
turns off when cruise control is off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to resume to a
previously set speed, or press
and hold to accelerate.
SET −(Set/Coast): Press to set
the speed and activate cruise
control or make the vehicle
decelerate.
[(Cancel): Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used.
The cruise control light on the
instrument panel cluster will come
on after the cruise control has been
set to the desired speed.
1. Press
I.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET− button located
on the steering wheel and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.