engine overheat GMC SIERRA 1500 2017 Owner's Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
360 Vehicle Care
4. With the coolant surge tankpressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates approximately
90 °C (195 °F).
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the
FULL COLD mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary,
repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
If the vehicle has the Duramax
diesel engine, see the Duramax
diesel supplement.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature
gauge in the vehicle's instrument
cluster. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0127.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Engine Cooling System Messages
0 146 andEngine Power
Messages 0147. If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance
Program
0461.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, and 6.2L
V8 Engines
Check to see if the engine cooling
fans are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, do not
continue to run the engine and have
the vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it (Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Vehicle Care 361
Warning (Continued)
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious
problem.If there is an engine overheat
warning, but no steam is seen or
heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when the vehicle:
.
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer; see Trailer
Towing 0307.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message appears with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and
the vehicle is equipped with an
engine driven cooling fan, push
down the accelerator until the
engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least
five minutes while the vehicle is
parked. If the warning is still there,
turn off the engine and get everyone
out of the vehicle until it cools down.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
362 Vehicle Care
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition
exists and the ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED message displays, an
overheat protection mode which
alternates firing groups of cylinders
helps to prevent engine damage. In
this mode, a loss in power and
engine performance will be noticed.
This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place
in an emergency. Driving extended
distances and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode
should be avoided.
Caution
After driving in the overheated
engine protection operating
mode, the engine oil will be
severely degraded. Any repairs
performed before the engine is
cool may cause engine damage.
Allow the engine to cool before(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
attempting any repair. Repair the
cause of coolant loss, change the
oil, and reset the oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil 0348.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan, when the clutch is
engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine.
In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the
clutch is not fully engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing, and/or high
outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully
engages, so an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making
extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan
will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the
clutch disengages. This fan noise may also be heard
when starting the engine. It will go
away as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
If the vehicle has electric cooling
fan(s), the fans may be heard
spinning at low speed during most
everyday driving. The fans may turn
off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing,
high outside temperatures,
or operation of the air conditioning
system, the fans may change to
high speed and an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans
may run after the engine has been
turned. off. This is normal and no
service is required.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
376 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring
For an eAssist vehicle, see the
Silverado/Sierra eAssist
supplement.
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses to protect
against an electrical system
overload. Fuses also protect power
devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, there
are some spare fuses and a fuse
puller in the Instrument Panel Fuse
Block. The same amperage fuse
can also be borrowed. Choose
some feature of the vehicle that is
not needed to use and replace it as
soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by
fuses. This greatly reduces the
chance of fires caused by electrical
problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
you can.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
The engine compartment fuse block
is in the engine compartment, on
the driver side of the vehicle.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
484 Index
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 464
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 470
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 469
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostics
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Door
Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 456
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 290
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 293 Driving (cont'd)
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 26
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 247
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 249
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379, 381
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376 Emergency
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 343
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Cooling System Messages . . . 146
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 456
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 126
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 267
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
488 Index
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
MessagesAirbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 146
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Object Detection System . . . . . 148
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 149
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Steering System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Mirrors Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Mirrors (cont'd)
Automatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Blind Spot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Tilt in Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Trailer Tow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Mirrors, Interior Rearview . . . . . . . . 45
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Multi-band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
N
Navigation OnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . 370
O
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Off-Road (cont'd)
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 351
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . 126
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 81
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 460
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
OnStar
®Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476
OnStar
®Connections . . . . . . . . . . . 473
OnStar®Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
OnStar®Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
OnStar®Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
OnStar®Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471
OnStar®Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
Operating Mode Overheated EngineProtection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Operation Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . . . 466

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 5/3/16
Index 489
OutletsPower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . 362
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178, 179
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 371
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 266
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Parking or Backing
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 291
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 75
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 341
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Phone
Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . 210, 212, 216, 220
Pickup Conversion to
Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193, 196
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 262
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . 64
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 469
Program
Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 463
Proposition 65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .340, 366, 418
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 467
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
RadiosAM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . 184, 186
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 58
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 291
Rear Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Recognition Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 447
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 423
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 33