climate control GMC SIERRA 1500 2013 User Guide

Black plate (29,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
In Brief 1-29
SeeUltrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑59.
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone, MP3
player, etc.
The vehicle may have two
accessory power outlets located
below the climate control system,
or may have one accessory power
outlet and one cigarette lighter. The
cigarette lighter is designed to fit
only in the receptacle closest to the
driver.
There may be another accessory
power outlet in the rear cargo area.
If the vehicle has a floor console,
there is an accessory power outlet
inside the storage bin and one on
the rear of the floor console.
The accessory power outlets are
powered, even when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. Continuing to use power outlets while the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF may cause the vehicle's
battery to run down.
See
Power Outlets on page 5‑9.Universal Remote System
Vehicles with the Universal Remote
System will have these buttons
located in the headliner.
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program the
transmitter. Because of the steps involved, it may be helpful to have
another person assist with
programming the transmitter.
See
Universal Remote System on
page 5‑54.
Sunroof
Extended Cab
On vehicles with a sunroof, the
sunroof only operates when the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN, or when Retained

Black plate (4,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to this vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to this vehicle, all
remaining transmitters must also be
reprogrammed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters will no longer work
once the new transmitter is
programmed. Each vehicle can
have up to eight transmitters
programmed to it. See your dealer
for transmitter programming.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC.
Notice:When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the
transmitter.
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a flat, thin object, such as a flat
head screwdriver.
.Carefully insert the tool into
the notch located along the
parting line of the
transmitter. Do not insert
the tool too far. Stop as
soon as resistance is felt.
.Twist the tool until the
transmitter is separated.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object. 3. Insert the new battery, positive
side facing down. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Remote Vehicle Start
If available, this feature allows you
to start the engine from outside of
the vehicle. It may also start up the
vehicle's heating or air conditioning
systems and rear window defogger.
Normal operation of the system will
return after the key is turned to the
ON/RUN position.
If the vehicle has an automatic
climate control system, the climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperatures. If the
vehicle does not have an automatic
climate control system, the system
will turn on at the setting the vehicle
was set to when the vehicle was
last turned off.

Black plate (5,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
During a remote start, if the vehicle
has an automatic climate control
system and heated seats, the
heated seats will turn on during
colder outside temperatures and will
shut off when the key is turned to
ON/RUN. If the vehicle does not
have an automatic climate control
system, during remote start,
manually turn the heated seats on
and off. SeeHeated and Ventilated
Front Seats on page 3‑8 for
additional information.
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
For example, some laws may
require a person using the remote
start to have the vehicle in view
when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements on
remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature
if the vehicle is low on fuel. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
The RKE transmitter range may be
less while the vehicle is running. There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2 for
additional information.
/(Remote Start): This button will
be on the RKE transmitter if the
vehicle has remote start.
To start the vehicle using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps flash.
If you cannot see the vehicle's
lamps, press and hold
/for at
least two seconds.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on while the vehicle is
running. The doors will be
locked and the climate control
system may come on. The engine will continue to run
for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps
for a 10-minute time extension.
Remote start can be extended
only once.
After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, insert and turn the key
to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle.
To cancel a remote start:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the ignition on and then
back off.
The vehicle can be remote started
two separate times between driving
sequences. The engine will run for
10 minutes after each remote start.
Or, you can extend the engine run
time by another 10 minutes within
the first 10 minute remote start time
frame, and before the engine stops.

Black plate (16,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
2-16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
1(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors. If the
vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated.
The lower convex part of the towing
mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle's features,
see “Rear Window Defogger” under
Climate Control Systems (with Air
Conditioning) on page 8‑1 or
Climate Control Systems (with
Heater Only) on page 8‑4 orDual
Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5 for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the passenger and/or
driver mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This feature lets the
driver view the curb when parallel
parking. The mirror(s) return to the
original position when the vehicle is
shifted out of R (Reverse), or the
ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeVehicle Personalization (With
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑46.
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
To adjust the inside rearview mirror,
hold the rearview mirror in the
center and move it to view the area
behind the vehicle.
For vehicles with a manual rearview
mirror, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it rearward for
nighttime use to avoid glare from
the headlamps from behind.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three
control buttons at the bottom of the
mirror. See a dealer for more
information about OnStar and how
to subscribe to it. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.

Black plate (6,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
5-6 Instruments and Controls
2. Find the vehicle's currentlocation and variance zone
number on the map.
Zones 1 through 15 are
available.
3. Press the set/reset button to scroll through and select the
appropriate variance zone.
4. Press the trip/fuel button until the vehicle heading, for
example, N for North, is
displayed in the DIC. Or, if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, press and hold the trip
odometer reset stem for two seconds to select the next
available variance zone. Repeat
this step until the appropriate
variance zone is displayed.
5. If calibration is necessary, calibrate the compass. See
“Compass Calibration
Procedure” following.
Compass Calibration
The compass can be manually
calibrated. Only calibrate the
compass in a magnetically clean
and safe location, such as an open
parking lot, where driving the
vehicle in circles is not a danger.
It is suggested to calibrate away
from tall buildings, utility wires,
manhole covers, or other industrial
structures, if possible.
If CAL should ever appear in the
DIC display, the compass should be
calibrated.
If the DIC display does not show a
heading, for example, N for North,
or the heading does not change
after making turns, there may be a strong magnetic field interfering with
the compass. Such interference
may be caused by a magnetic CB or
cell phone antenna mount, a
magnetic emergency light, magnetic
note pad holder, or any other
magnetic item. Turn off the vehicle,
move the magnetic item, then turn
on the vehicle and calibrate the
compass.
To calibrate the compass, use the
following procedure:
Compass Calibration Procedure
1. Before calibrating the compass,
make sure the compass zone is
set to the variance zone in which
the vehicle is located. See
“Compass Variance (Zone)
Procedure” earlier in this
section.
Do not operate any switches
such as window, sunroof,
climate controls, or seats during
the calibration procedure.

Black plate (9,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Instruments and Controls 5-9
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone, MP3
player, etc.
The vehicle may have two
accessory power outlets located
below the climate control system,
or may have one accessory power
outlet and one cigarette lighter. The
cigarette lighter is designed to fit
only in the receptacle closest to the
driver.
There may be another accessory
power outlet in the rear cargo area.
If the vehicle has a floor console,
there is an accessory power outlet
inside the storage bin and one on
the rear of the floor console.
Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
The accessory power outlets are
powered, even when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. Continuing to usepower outlets while the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF may cause the vehicle's
battery to run down.
{WARNING
Power is always supplied to the
outlets. Do not leave electrical
equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the
vehicle could catch fire and cause
injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain power accessory plugs may
not be compatible to the accessory
power outlet and could overload vehicle or adapter fuses. If a
problem is experienced, see your
dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included with
the equipment. See
Add-On
Electrical Equipment on page 9‑101.
Notice: Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Cigarette Lighter
To use the cigarette lighter, push it
in all the way, and let go. When it is
ready for use, the lighter pops
back out.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.

Black plate (37,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Instruments and Controls 5-37
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See“CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON”
under Engine Oil Messages on
page 5‑40. You should change the
oil as soon as you can. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑6. In addition to the
engine oil life system monitoring the
oil life, additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
Remember, you must reset the OIL
LIFE display after each oil change.
It will not reset itself. Also, be
careful not to reset the OIL LIFE
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the engine oil life system,
see Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑9.Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V(Set/Reset) or the trip
odometer reset stem.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously and clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax
®diesel
supplement for more information.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY LOW START
VEHICLE
When the vehicle’ s battery is
severely discharged, this message
will display and four chimes will
sound. Start the vehicle
immediately. If the vehicle is not
started and the battery continues to
discharge, the climate controls,
heated seats, and audio systems
will shut off and the vehicle may
require a jump start. These systems
will function again after the vehicle
is started.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem with
the battery charging system. Under
certain conditions, the charging
system light may also turn on in the
instrument panel cluster. See
Charging System Light on
page 5‑20. Driving with this problem

Black plate (9,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Lighting 6-9
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY
VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY.
If one of these messages displays, it
is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑28.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome and
reading lamps, if they are left on for
more than 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned off. The cargo
lamp shuts off after 20 minutes. This
prevents the battery from
running down.

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems (withAir Conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems (with Air Conditioning)
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled.
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning
E. Outside Air F. Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger
Temperature Control:
Turn
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.

Black plate (2,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
8-2 Climate Controls
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
change the direction of the airflow
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
floor outlets.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets, with some air directed
to the windshield and side window
outlets. In this mode, the system
automatically selects outside air.
Recirculation cannot be selected in
floor mode.
-(Defog): This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is
directed to the windshield, floor
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
floor vents. The system
automatically forces outside air into
the vehicle.
The recirculation mode cannot be
selected in the defog or defrost
mode. When either mode is
selected, the system runs the air
conditioning compressor, unless the
outside temperature is close to
freezing.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
:(Outside Air): Press to turn
the outside air mode on. An
indicator light comes on to show
that outside air is on. In this mode
outside air circulates throughout the
vehicle. The outside air mode can
be used with all modes, but it
cannot be used with the
recirculation mode.
?(Recirculation): Press to turn
the recirculation mode on. An
indicator light comes on to show
that recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to
quickly cool the air inside the
vehicle. It can be used to help
prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle.