GMC SIERRA 2006 Owner's Manual

✍NOTES
3-3

Instrument Panel Overview
Automatic Transmission Version shown, Manual Transmission Version similar
3-4

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Dome Lamp Override Button. SeeDome Lamp
Override on page 3-19.
B. Headlamp Controls. SeeHeadlamps on page 3-14.
C. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-30.
D. Automatic Transfer Case/Electronic Transfer
Case/Traction Assist System (TAS). SeeFour-Wheel
Drive on page 2-38andTraction Assist System (TAS)
on page 4-8.
E. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-32.
G. Range Selection Mode (Allison Transmission
®only)
Button (If Equipped). SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26.
H. Gearshift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-26orManual Transmission
Operation on page 2-34for manual transmissions.
I. Tow/Haul Selector Button (If Equipped).
SeeTow/Haul Mode on page 2-31.
J. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-70.
K. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-21,Dual Climate Control System on
page 3-22andDual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 3-25.L. Instrument Panel Fuse Block.Instrument Panel Fuse
Block on page 5-124.
M. Cargo Lamp Button. SeeCargo Lamp on page 3-19.
N. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-13.
O. Steering Wheel Control Buttons (If Equipped).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-52
orAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-129.
P. Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeCenter
Instrument Panel Fuse Block on page 5-126.
Q. Parking Brake Release. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-52.
R. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-6.
S. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-20.
T. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 3-20.
U. Manual Selectable Ride Control (If Equipped).
SeeManual Selectable Ride on page 4-10.
V. Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp Button (If Equipped).
SeeAuxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp on page 3-18.
W. Passenger Airbag Off Switch (If Equipped).
SeeAirbag Off Switch on page 1-78.
X. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-79.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning asher
button is located on top of
the steering column.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in
the ignition.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ash on and off. Press the button again to turn the
ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on the steering
wheel.
Tilt Wheel
If your vehicle is equipped with a tilt wheel, it will allow
you to adjust the steering wheel before you drive. You
can raise it to the highest level to give your legs more
room when you exit and enter your vehicle.
The tilt steering wheel lever is located on the lower left
side of the column.
3-6

To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Then move the steering wheel to a comfortable
position and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane Change Signals. SeeTurn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-7.
53Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-8.
Flash-to-Pass. SeeFlash-to-Pass on page 3-9.
NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-9.
LWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
ICruise Control. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-10.
For information on the headlamps, seeHeadlamps on
page 3-14.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return by itself when you
release it.
3-7

An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers won’t see your turn
signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown fuse.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-123.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each ash of the turn
signal and the message TURN SIGNAL ON will also
appear in the DIC. To turn the chime and message off,
move the turn signal lever to the off position.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
53(Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer):To
change the headlamps from low to high beam, push the
lever toward the instrument panel. To return to low-beam
headlamps, pull the multifunction lever toward you. Then
release it.
When the high beams are
on, this indicator light on
the instrument panel
cluster will also be on.
3-8

Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It
works even if your headlamps are in the automatic
position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then
release it.
If your headlamps are in the automatic position or on
low beam, your high-beam headlamps will turn on.
They’ll stay on as long as you hold the lever toward
you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument panel
cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to
normal operation.
Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged wiper blades
may not clear the windshield well, making it harder to
see and drive safely. If the blades do become damaged,
install new blades or blade inserts. For more information,
seeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-71
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
mist. Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let go. The
wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipes,
hold the band on mist longer.
N(Delay):You can set the wiper speed for a long or
short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in
light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay
time. The closer to the top of the lever, the shorter
the delay.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from you to the rst solid band past
the delay settings. For high-speed wiping, turn the band
further, to the second solid band past the delay settings.
To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn
the band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
3-9

Windshield Washer
LQ(Washer Fluid):There is a paddle marked
with the windshield washer symbol at the top of the
multifunction lever. To spray washer uid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will clear the
window and then either stop or return to your preset
speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Cruise Control
9(Off):This position
turns the system off.
If your vehicle is equipped with an Allison
®automatic
transmission, see “Grade Braking and Cruise Grade
Braking (Allison Transmission
®) underTow/Haul Mode
on page 2-31for an explanation of how cruise control
interacts with the tap up/down gear selection, tow/haul
and grade braking systems.
R(On):This position activates the system.
+ (Resume/Accelerate):Push the lever to this symbol
to make the vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously
set speed.
T(Set):Press this button to set the speed.
3-10

With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control will shut off.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel spinning,
and you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The cruise symbol on
the instrument panel will
illuminate when the cruise
control is engaged.
3-11

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired
speed and then you apply the brake. This, of course,
disengages the cruise control. But you don’t need to
reset it.
Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch briey from on
to resume/accelerate.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate the vehicle
will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply
the brake. So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the
switch at resume/accelerate.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the set button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll
now cruise at the higher speed. If the accelerator
pedal is held longer than 60 seconds, cruise control
will turn off.
Move the cruise switch from on to resume/
accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the speed
you want, and then release the switch. To increase
your speed in very small amounts, move the switch
briey to resume/accelerate. Each time you do this,
your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
3-12