tow GMC SIERRA 2006 Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-31
Airbag System
.........................................1-70
Restraint System Check
............................1-87
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-59
OnStar
®System
......................................2-73
Universal Home
Remote System
....................................2-75
Storage Areas
.........................................2-79
Sunroof
..................................................2-82
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-82
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-52
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-70Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-62
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-4
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under
the Hood
.............................................5-12
Rear Axle
...............................................5-58
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-59
Front Axle
...............................................5-60
Noise Control System
...............................5-62
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-71
Tires
......................................................5-72
Appearance Care
...................................5-113
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-122
Electrical System
....................................5-123
Capacities and Specications
...................5-133
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-13
Index................................................................ 1
2006 GMC Sierra Owner ManualM

{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A:If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,
move the child toward the center of the vehicle.
Also seeRear Safety Belt Comfort Guides on
page 1-29. If the child is sitting in the center rear
seat passenger position, move the child toward the
safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that
the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so
that in a crash the child’s upper body would
have the restraint the belts provide.
1-32

Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous at
surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the
seating surface against the back of the infant. The
harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash,
acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.
1-37

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
inator, which inates the airbag. The inator, airbag,
and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules
inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel
in front of the right front passenger.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But airbags
would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts and many side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After an airbag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the airbag inated.
Some components of the airbag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s airbag or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s bag — may be hot for a
short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact
with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated airbags. Airbag ination does not prevent the
driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the
vehicle.
1-76

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-35for more on this, including
important safety information.
Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
You may want to consider not using seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger
sensing system. SeeAdding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-86for more
information about modications that can affect how the
system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat
or between the passenger’s seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
1-85

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-8
Door Locks....................................................2-8
Power Door Locks..........................................2-9
Delayed Locking...........................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-10
Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab)................2-13
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Rear Doors..................................................2-14
Tailgate.......................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-16
Manual Windows..........................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Swing-Out Windows......................................2-18
Sliding Rear Window.....................................2-18
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-19
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-19
Passlock
®....................................................2-21Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-21
Ignition Positions..........................................2-22
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-23
Starting the Engine.......................................2-23
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-25
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-26
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-31
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-34
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-38
Parking Brake..............................................2-52
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-53
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-55
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)...............................2-56
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-56
Engine Exhaust............................................2-57
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-58
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

The following instructions tell you how to change the
automatic door lock mode (automatic transmission only).
Choose one of the two programming options listed above
before entering the program mode. To enter the program
mode, do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2. Turn the key to RUN then back to LOCK twice.
Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn
signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the
doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice,
and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now ready
to program the automatic door lock feature.
3. Press the door lock switch once. You will hear either
one or two chimes. The number of chimes tells you
which lock mode is currently selected. Continue to
press the door lock switch until the number of chimes
that you hear matches the number of the mode that
you want. If you take longer than 30 seconds, the
locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn
will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the
program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat the
procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the
programming mode.You can exit the program mode any time by turning the
ignition to RUN (the doors will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock
switches are not pressed while in the programming
mode, the current automatic settings will not be modied.
See your dealer for more information.
Programmable Unlocking Feature
The following is the list of available programming
options:
Mode 1:Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission
is shifted into PARK (P), for automatic transmission
vehicles only.
Mode 2:All doors unlock when the transmission is
shifted into PARK (P), for automatic transmission
vehicles only. This is the mode that is pre-programmed
in the factory for your vehicle.
Mode 3:All doors unlock when the key is removed from
the ignition. This is the mode that is pre-programmed in
the factory for manual transmission vehicles.
Mode 4:No automatic door unlock.
2-11

The following instructions tell you how to change the
automatic door unlock mode (automatic transmission
only). Choose one of the four programming options
listed above before entering the program mode.
To enter the program mode, do the following:
1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold
it there while you perform the next step.
2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with
the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction
lever. Once you do this, the doors will lock and
unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second
timer will begin. You are now ready to program the
automatic door unlock feature.
3. Press the door unlock switch once. You will hear
one, two, three, or four chimes. The number of
chimes tells you which unlock mode is currently
selected. Continue to press the door unlock switch
until the number of chimes that you hear matches
the number of the mode that you want.If you take longer than 30 seconds, the locks will
automatically lock and unlock and the horn
will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the
program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat
the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter
the programming mode.
You can exit the program mode any time by turning
the ignition to RUN. The doors will automatically lock and
unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you
are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock switches
are not pressed while in the programming mode, the
current automatic settings will not be modied.
See your dealer for more information.
2-12

Rear Doors
Extended Cab
Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear access
door(s) that allows easier access to the rear area
of the extended cab.
To open a rear access door
from the outside, rst open
the front door. Then, use
the handle located on
the front edge of the rear
access door to open it.
You must fully close a rear access door before you can
close the front door.To open a rear access door
from the inside, the front
door must be opened rst.
Then, use the handle
located on the inside of the
rear access door to open it.
Crew Cabs
If your vehicle is a crew cab, you can open your doors
from the inside or outside. Your vehicle may also have
a feature which prevents children from opening the rear
doors. SeeRear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab) on
page 2-13for more information.
Tailgate
You can open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle
while pulling the tailgate toward you.
To shut the tailgate, rmly push it upward until it
latches.
After you put the tailgate back up, pull it back towards
you to be sure it latches securely.
2-14

Passlock®
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock®
theft-deterrent system.
Passlock
®is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock®enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.
If the engine stalls and the security light ashes, wait until
the light stops ashing before trying to restart the engine.
Remember to release the key from START as soon as
the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine
off. However, your Passlock
®system is not working
properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your
vehicle is not protected by Passlock
®at this time. You
may also want to check the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-123. See your dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer on page 4-67for the trailer
towing capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
2-21