maintenance GMC SIERRA 1500 2015 User Guide

Black plate (31,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Instruments and Controls 5-31
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10-61 andTire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 10-62.
Remaining Oil Life
Turn the trip odometer reset stem
until REMAINING OIL LIFE
displays. An estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life is shown.
REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% means
99% of the current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See Engine Oil Messages on
page 5-37. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See
Engine Oil on page 10-10. In
addition to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. It will not
reset itself. Do not to reset the Oil
Life display 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 10-13.
Transmission Fluid Temperature
The temperature of the automatic
transmission fluid displays in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake
On vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
turn the trip odometer reset stem
until TRAILER GAIN and TRAILER
OUTPUT displays.
TRAILER GAIN shows the Trailer
Gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
TRAILER OUTPUT shows the
power output to the trailer anytime a
trailer with electric brakes is
connected. Output is displayed as a bar graph. Dashes may appear in
the TRAILER OUTPUT display if a
trailer is not connected.
Hourmeter
This display shows the total number
of hours the engine has run.
Unit
This will change the displays on the
instrument cluster and DIC to either
metric or English (US)
measurements. To change the units,
press the trip odometer reset stem
when UNITS is displayed to enter
the Unit menu. Turn the trip
odometer reset stem to switch
between English and metric. Press
the trip odometer reset stem when
the desired setting is displayed.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass in
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See
Compass on page 5-5.

Black plate (33,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Instruments and Controls 5-33
L/100 km (mpg) recorded since the
last time this menu item was reset.
This number reflects only the
approximate average fuel economy
that the vehicle has right now, and
will change as driving conditions
change.
Press and hold
Vwhile this display
is active to reset the trip odometer
and the average fuel economy. Trip
A and Trip B can also be reset by
pressing
pand choosing reset.
Fuel Range: Shows the
approximate distance the vehicle
can be driven without refueling.
LOW will be displayed when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The fuel
range estimate is based on an
average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history
and the amount of fuel remaining in
the fuel tank.
Oil Life: Shows an estimate of the
oil's remaining useful life.
If REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% is
displayed, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains. When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See
Engine Oil Messages on
page 5-37. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See
Engine Oil on page 10-10. In
addition to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. It will not
reset itself. Do not to reset the Oil
Life display 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, press and
hold
Vfor several seconds while
the Oil Life display is active. See
Engine Oil Life System on
page 10-13. Tire Pressure:
Shows the
approximate pressures of all four
tires. Tire pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds
per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is
shown in amber. See Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10-61 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10-62.
Fuel Economy: The center
displays the approximate
instantaneous fuel economy as a
number and bar graph. Displayed
above the bar graph is a running
average of fuel economy for the
most recently traveled selected
distance. Displayed below the bar
graph is the best average fuel
economy that has been achieved for
the selected distance. The selected
distance is displayed at the top of
the page as “last xxx mi/km.” Next
to the odometer, the Active Fuel
Management displays the number of
cylinders the vehicle is running on.
See Active Fuel Management
®on
page 9-31.

Black plate (37,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Instruments and Controls 5-37
Engine Cooling System
Messages
AIR CONDITIONING OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 5-16. To avoid
added strain on a hot engine, the air
conditioning compressor
automatically turns off. When the
coolant temperature returns to
normal, the air conditioning
compressor turns back on. You can
continue to drive your vehicle.
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge on
page 5-16.
When towing, use tow/haul mode to
prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See Tow/Haul Mode
on page 9-37.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the engine cooling
system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation. Stop
and turn off the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so to avoid severe
damage. This message clears when
the engine has cooled to a safe
operating temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message. See Engine
Oil Life System on page 10-13 for
information on how to reset the
message. See Engine Oil on
page 10-10 andMaintenance
Schedule on page 11-3.
ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL
On some vehicles, this message
displays when the engine oil level
may be too low. Check the oil level
before filling to the recommended
level. If the oil is not low and this
message remains on, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
See Engine Oil on page 10-10.

Black plate (14,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
7-14 Infotainment System
3. Wait about 30 seconds, and tryto connect the device again. See
Bluetooth (Voice Recognition -
Base Radio) on page 7-35 or
Bluetooth (Voice Recognition -
Base Connected Radio) on
page 7-44 orBluetooth
(Overview) on page 7-29 or
Bluetooth (Infotainment Controls
- Base Connected Radio) on
page 7-40 orBluetooth
(Infotainment Controls - Base
Radio) on page 7-31.
Unable to Start Pandora
If the device is unable to launch
Pandora:
.Check that the latest version of
Pandora is installed.
.Check that there is an active
account logged into Pandora.
.Have at least one station
created.
.For Android and BlackBerry
devices, check that the device is
paired with the vehicle, and
whether the device displays in the Connected phone sources
list under the Phone icon from
the Home Page.
.For an iPhone, check that the
USB cable is connected to the
USB port and the screen is
unlocked.
.Close Pandora on the device
and launch again. Devices that
allow multitasking may require
an extra step to quit the Pandora
application. See the cell phone
manufacturer's user guide.
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down
Error
If there is an error trying to rate a
track with the
,or-buttons, the
message “Thumbs Down Error” or
“Thumbs Up Error” will display.
Press OK to dismiss.
Loss of Audio
Loss of Pandora audio can happen
in different ways:
.Weak or lost data connection.
.Device needs to be charged.
.Application needs to be
relaunched.
.Connection between phone and
radio lost.
.An iPhone is connected to both
Bluetooth and the USB port.
Playback can be resumed from
a loss of audio by double
tapping on the iPhone home
button then scrolling through the
icons to find an icon that allows
a change of flow between
Bluetooth and USB cable.
Volume and song selection may
be controlled using the
Infotainment controls or on the
phone/device. If Pandora is
selected and nothing is heard,
check the volume setting on
both phone/device and the
Infotainment system.
Common Pandora Messages
Pandora Error/Please Check
Device: Not signed in or Pandora
is down for maintenance.

Black plate (1,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems (withHeater Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems (with Air Conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only)
With this system, the heating and ventilation can be controlled.
1. Fan Control
2. Air Recirculation
3. Air Delivery Mode Control
4. Defrost
5. TEMP (Temperature Control) TEMP (Temperature Control):
Turn clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.

Black plate (9,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Climate Controls 8-9
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
SeeMaintenance Schedule on
page 11-3. To find out what type of
filter to use, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11-14.
1. Open the lower glove box door completely.
2. Remove the four screws from around the lower glove box. The
door does not need to be
removed to access the screws.
3. Close the lower glove box doorand pull it from its frame to
remove the entire unit.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
9-4 Driving and Operating
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering (1500
Series)
If the vehicle has electric power
steering, it does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is
held in that position for an extended
period of time, power steering assist
may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages under
Steering System
Messages on page 5-41.Hydraulic Power Steering
(2500/3500 Series)
If the vehicle has hydraulic power
steering, it may require
maintenance. See Power Steering
Fluid (1500 Series) on page 10-26
or Power Steering Fluid (2500/3500
Series) on page 10-26. If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or a
system malfunctions, the vehicle
can be steered but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
{Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.

Black plate (6,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
9-6 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide. Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without four-wheel drive and
vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR)
tires must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid surface. For
more contact information about the
original equipment tires, see the
Limited Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information manual.
One of the best ways for successful
off-road driving is to control the
speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
.Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
.Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
.Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.

Black plate (11,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
Driving and Operating 9-11
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. See theMaintenance
Schedule on page 11-3.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See
Tires on
page 10-50.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (64,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
7299746) - 2015 - crc - 11/11/13
9-64 Driving and Operating
Fuel
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Fuel for Diesel Engines”in the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. When
driving in the U.S., to help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, we
recommend using TOP TIER
Detergent Gasolines. See
www.toptiergas.com for a list of TOP
TIER Detergent Gasolines.
If the vehicle has a yellow fuel cap,
E85 or FlexFuel can be used in the
vehicle. See E85 or FlexFuel on
page 9-66.
For all vehicles except those with
the 6.2L V8 engine, use regular
unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. Do not
use gasoline with an octane rating
below 87, as it may cause engine
damage and will lower fuel
economy.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine
(VIN Code J), use premium
unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher can be used,
but acceleration and fuel economy
will be reduced, and an audible
knocking noise may be heard. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 91
octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 91 octane rating or
higher, the engine needs service.
Use of Seasonal Fuels
Use summer and winter fuels in the
appropriate season. The fuels
industry automatically modifies the
fuel for the appropriate season.
If fuel is left in the vehicle tank for
long periods of time, driving or
starting could be affected. Drive the
vehicle until the fuel is at one-half
tank or less, then refuel with the
current seasonal fuel.
Prohibited Fuels
Gasolines containing oxygenates
such as ethers and ethanol, as well
as reformulated gasolines, are
available in some cities. If these
gasolines comply with the
previously described specification,
then they are acceptable to use.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must be used only in
FlexFuel vehicles.