tow GMC SIERRA 2008 Owner's Manual

(l)Extreme Duty Service: Change transfer case fluid if
the vehicle is mainly driven off-road in four-wheel
drive, or is used for heavy trailer towing. Farming,
mining, forestry, and Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) vehicles meet this definition.
(m)During any maintenance, if a power washer is used
to clean mud and dirt from the underbody, care should be
taken to not directly spray the transfer case output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals and
contaminate the transfer case fluid. Contaminated fluid
will decrease the life of the transfer case and should be
replaced.
(n)Vehicles with diesel engine or with GVWR above
10,000 lbs (4 536 kg) only: Inspect shields for damage or
looseness. Adjust or replace as required. This is a
Noise Emission Control Service. Applicable to vehicles
sold in the United States and recommended for
vehicles sold in Canada.
(p)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the filter or change indicator (if equipped) at each
engine oil change.
(q)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure the safety,
dependability, and emission control performance of your
vehicle. Your dealer/retailer can assist you with these
checks and services.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-15.
At the First 100, 1,000 and 6,000
Miles (160, 1 600 and 10 000 km)
For vehicles with dual wheels, check dual wheel
nut torque. For proper torque, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-130.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel fill.
6-11

Roadside Assistance Program
For vehicles purchased in the U.S. call,
1-800-GMC-8782 (1-800-462-8782); (Text
telephone (TTY): 1-888-889-2438).
For vehicles purchased in Canada, call1-800-268-6800.
Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As the owner of a new GMC vehicle, you are
automatically enrolled in the GMC Roadside
Assistance program.
Who is Covered?
Roadside Assistance coverage is for the vehicle
operator, regardless of ownership. In Canada,
a person driving the vehicle without the consent
of the owner is not eligible for coverage.
Services Provided
The following services are provided in the U.S. and
Canada up to 5 years/100,000 miles (160 000 km),
whichever occurs rst, and, in Canada only, up
to a maximum coverage of $100.
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel for the
vehicle to get to the nearest service station
(approximately $5 in Canada). In Canada, service
to provide diesel may be restricted. For safety
reasons, propane and other alternative fuels will
not be provided through this service.
Lock-out Service:Lock-out service will be covered
at no charge if you are unable to gain entry into
your vehicle. A remote unlock may be available if
you have an active OnStar
®subscription. To ensure
security, the driver must present personal
identication before lock-out service is provided. In
Canada, the vehicle registration is also required.
Emergency Tow From a Public Roadway or
Highway:Tow to the nearest dealership for warranty
service or in the event of a vehicle-disabling crash.
Winch-out assistance is provided when the vehicle is
mired in sand, mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a spare tire in good
condition, when equipped and properly inated, is
covered at no charge. The customer is responsible
for the repair or replacement of the tire if not covered
by a warrantable failure.
Jump Start:A battery jump start is covered at no
charge if the vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service:Upon request, Roadside
Assistance will send you detailed, computer
personalized maps, highlighting your choice of either
the most direct route or the most scenic route to your
destination, anywhere in North America, along with
helpful travel information pertaining to your trip.
Please allow three weeks before your planned
departure date. In Canada, trip routing requests will
be limited to six per calendar year.
7-7

Towing and Road Service Exclusions
Specically excluded from Roadside Assistance
coverage are towing or services for vehicles operated on
a non-public roadway or highway, nes, impound towing
caused by a violation of local, Municipal, State,
Provincial, or Federal law, and mounting, dismounting or
changing of snow tires, chains, or other traction devices.
Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in the
coverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
GMC and General Motors of Canada Limited reserve
the right to make any changes or discontinue the
Roadside Assistance program at any time without
notication.
Scheduling Service Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty service, contact
your dealer/retailer and request an appointment.
By scheduling a service appointment and advising your
service consultant of your transportation needs, your
dealer/retailer can help minimize your inconvenience.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service
department immediately, keep driving it until it can be
scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is
safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership/retailer,
let them know this, and ask for instructions.If the dealer/retailer requests that you simply drop the
vehicle off for service, you are urged to do so as early in
the work day as possible to allow for the same day repair.
Courtesy Transportation
To enhance your ownership experience, we and our
participating dealers are proud to offer Courtesy
Transportation, a customer support program for vehicles
with the Bumper to Bumper (Base Warranty Coverage
period in Canada) and extended powertrain warranty
in both the U.S. and Canada.
Several courtesy transportation options are available to
assist in reducing your inconvenience when warranty
repairs are required.
Courtesy Transportation is not a part of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. A separate booklet entitled “Warranty
and Owner Assistance Information” furnished with each
new vehicle provides detailed warranty coverage
information.
7-9

If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 7-7for more information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the
tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name,
the service’s name, and the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these items
in your vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need from
the other driver. Things like name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, vehicle license
plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from the
scene of the crash. They will walk you through the
information they will need. If they ask for a police
report, phone or go to the police department
headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of
the report for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be
necessary. This is especially true if there are no
injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your
vehicle. Whether you select a dealer/retailer or a
private collision repair facility to x the damage,
make sure you are comfortable with them.
Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with
their work for a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and
make sure you understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you have a question,
ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome
this opportunity.
7-13

Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair
Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs,
GM recommends that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of
choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any required replacement
collision parts be original equipment parts, either new
Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts.
Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your
GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live
with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your
insurance company may initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember
if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the
vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your
insurance coverage does not pay the full cost.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for the
repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with
that company. In such cases, you can have control of
the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it nds that a safety defect
exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems between
you, your dealer/retailer, or General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:
1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov;
or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
400 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington D.C., 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
7-14

I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-38
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-74
Instrument Panel
Overview...............................................3-4, 3-6
Storage Area..............................................2-75
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-21
Cluster.......................................................3-35
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-46
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-67
Lamps
Auxiliary Roof Mounted Lamp........................3-20
Cargo........................................................3-22
Dome........................................................3-21Lamps (cont.)
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-21
Puddle.......................................................3-20
Reading.....................................................3-22
Lap Belt........................................................1-34
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-28
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-45
Latches, Seatback..........................................1-11
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-64
Light
Airbag Off..................................................3-39
Airbag Readiness........................................3-38
Antilock Brake System Warning.....................3-45
Brake System Warning.................................3-44
Charging System.........................................3-43
Cruise Control.............................................3-52
Fog Lamp..................................................3-52
Four-Wheel-Drive.........................................3-53
Highbeam On.............................................3-52
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-54
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-48
Oil Pressure...............................................3-51
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-41
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-37
Security.....................................................3-52
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-46
Tire Pressure..............................................3-47
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................3-53
7

Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
and Temperature Display...........................2-57
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display.............2-55
Manual Rearview Mirror................................2-55
Outside Manual Mirrors................................2-58
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-61
Outside Power Mirrors..................................2-59
Outside Trailer-Tow Mirrors...........................2-59
MP3 ..................................................3-102, 3-106
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
Navigation System, Privacy..............................7-18
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.....................................................3-112
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-22
Noise Control System, Tampering......................5-56
O
Odometer......................................................3-36
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-36
Off-Road Driving.............................................4-12Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-10
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Gage............................................3-50
Pressure Light.............................................3-51
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-18
Older Children, Restraints................................1-35
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-4
OnStar, Privacy..............................................7-18
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-65
Operation, Universal Home Remote System........2-69
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-8
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-33
Outlets
Accessory Power.........................................3-23
Outside
Manual Mirrors............................................2-58
Power Foldaway Mirrors...............................2-61
Power Mirrors.............................................2-59
Trailer-Tow Mirrors.......................................2-59
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..........................................5-33
Owner Checks and Services.............................6-11
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
9

Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass and Temperature Display................2-57
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with OnStar
®,
Compass and Temperature Display..................2-55
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-55
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-8
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-15
Recovery Hooks.............................................4-35
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-50
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System.................. 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation.... 2-5
Remote Vehicle Start........................................ 2-7
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..................................................5-98
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-93
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-65
Replacement Parts, Maintenance......................6-17
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-15
General Motors...........................................7-15
United States Government............................7-14
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-87
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash..................................................1-88
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-23
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-7
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-34Routing, Engine Drive Belt...............................6-18
Running the Engine While Parked.....................2-54
SSafety Belt
Reminder Light............................................3-37
Safety Belts
Care of....................................................5-115
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-19
Lap Belt.....................................................1-34
Lap-Shoulder Belt........................................1-28
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-35
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-33
Safety Belts Are for Everyone.......................1-14
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iii
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-4
Seatback Latches...........................................1-11
Seats
Center Seat................................................1-12
Head Restraints..........................................1-10
Heated Seats............................................... 1-6
Manual Lumbar............................................. 1-5
Memory, Mirrors and Pedals........................... 1-6
Power Lumbar.............................................. 1-5
Power Seats................................................. 1-4
Rear Seat Operation............................1-12, 1-13
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-8
Seatback Latches........................................1-11
11

Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-9
Time, Setting..................................................3-81
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-47
Tires.............................................................5-66
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning...............................................5-118
Buying New Tires........................................5-84
Chains.......................................................5-90
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-92
Cleaning...................................................5-119
Different Size..............................................5-86
Dual Tire Operation.....................................5-76
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-91
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-74
Inspection and Rotation................................5-81
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-98
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-78
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-76
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-98
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-93
Secondary Latch System............................5-105
Spare Tire................................................5-112
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..........5-108
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-67
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-71
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-86
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-88Tires (cont.)
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-88
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-84
Tow/Haul Mode...............................................2-34
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-53
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-50
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-55
Your Vehicle...............................................
4-50
Traction
StabiliTrak
®System....................................... 4-6
Trailer
Recommendations.......................................4-94
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic..................................5-22, 5-25
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-28
Trip Odometer................................................3-36
Truck-Camper Loading Information....................4-47
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.........................3-10
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-9
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............2-63
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-86
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-68
Operation...................................................2-69
Using this Manual............................................... iii
13