ignition GMC SIERRA 2010 Owner's Guide

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob
is located next to the
steering column.
Use the dial to shift into and out of Four-Wheel Drive.
You can choose among five driving settings:
Indicator lights in the dial show which setting you are in.
The indicator lights will come on briefly when you turn
on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not
come on, you should take the vehicle to your dealer/
retailer for service. An indicator light will flash while
shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer
case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting. 2
m(Two-Wheel-Drive High):
This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in Two-Wheel Drive. This setting
also provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive) : This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is sent only to
the front and rear wheels automatically based on driving
conditions. Driving in this mode results in slightly lower
fuel economy than Two-Wheel-Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel-Drive High): Use the
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also engages the front
axle to help drive the vehicle. This is the best setting to
use when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel-Drive Low): This setting also engages
the front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel-Drive Low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep
snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills.
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If the vehicle has StabiliTrak®, shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
{WARNING:
Shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral) can cause
the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). You or someone else could be seriously
injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before
placing the transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Parking Brake on page 3‑50.
N (Neutral) : Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing
on page 5‑43or Towing
Your Vehicleon page 5‑43for more information.
If the SERVICE 4–Wheel Drive message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for
service. See “Service 4–Wheel Drive message” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4‑65.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel-Drive High or
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive)
Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel-Drive High or AUTO
position. This can be done at any speed, except when
shifting from Four-Wheel-Drive Low. The indicator light
will flash while shifting. It will remain on when the shift is
completed.
Shifting Into Two-Wheel-Drive High
Turn the knob to the Two-Wheel-Drive High position.
This can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel-Drive Low. The indicator light will
flash while shifting. It will remain on when the shift is
completed.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel-Drive Low
When Four-Wheel-Drive Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph. Extended high-speed
operation in Four-Wheel-Drive Low may damage or
shorten the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low position, the
ignition must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in N (Neutral). The preferred method for
shifting into Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the
vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the
knob to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low position.
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You must wait for the Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator
light to stop flashing and remain on before shifting the
transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop flashing before
shifting the transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit significant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel-Drive Low indicator light will flash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the
transmission is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the
transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel-Drive High mode.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel-Drive Low to
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High, the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in N (Neutral) and
the ignition in ON/RUN. The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel-Drive Low is to have the
vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the
knob to the Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or
Two-Wheel-Drive High position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High indicator light to stop flashing and remain on
before shifting the transmission into gear.
Notice:
Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop flashing before
shifting the transmission into gear.
It is typical for the vehicle to exhibit significant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel-Drive Low and Four-Wheel-Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) with the engine running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel-Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel-Drive High switch position
when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the
Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel-Drive
High indicator light will flash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless the vehicle is moving less
than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in
N (Neutral).
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Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. See Parking Brake
on page 3‑50for more
information.
3. Shifting the transfer case into N (Neutral) can be done with or without the engine running. Shifting
without the engine running should be done with the
ignition in ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral) until it stops and hold it there until the N (Neutral)
light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release the dial to the
four low position. The N (Neutral) light will come on
when the transfer case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
7. If the engine is running, make sure that the transfer case is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will turn the engine off. 9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift out of N (Neutral) do the following: 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off, and shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to Two-Wheel-Drive High, Four-Wheel-Drive High, AUTO.
After the transfer case has shifted out of
N (Neutral), the N (Neutral) light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the vehicle.
Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for the
mode indicator lights to stop flashing before
shifting the transmission into gear.
5. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position.
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Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the regular brake
pedal down, then pushing down the parking brake
pedal.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. See
Brake System Warning Light
on
page 4‑39.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel the pedal release.
Slowly pull your foot up off the park brake pedal. If the
parking brake is not released when you begin to drive,
the brake system warning light will flash and a chime
will sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 5‑50.
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Shifting Into Park
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
With four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be free to roll, even if
the shift lever is in P (Park). So, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear—not in
N (Neutral). If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing
a Trailer on page 5‑50.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake
on page 3‑50for more
information. 2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by
pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear —not
in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand,
the vehicle is in P (Park).
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Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift lever
is in P (Park) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
.Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brake pedal
is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
See Jump Starting
on page 6‑44for more information. To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park): 1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift lever all the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the
vehicle serviced soon.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{WARNING:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under the vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that
can burn.
3-53

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Hold the inside rearview mirror in the center to move it
for a clearer view behind your vehicle. Adjust the mirror
to avoid glare from the headlamps behind you. Push the
tab forward for daytime use and pull it for nighttime use.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three additional control
buttons for the OnStar®system. See your dealer/retailer
for more information about OnStar®and how to
subscribe to it. See the OnStar®owner guide for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
O(On/Off): Press to turn the dimming feature on or off.
The vehicle may also have a Rear Vision Camera
(RVC). See Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
on page 3‑63for more information.
If the vehicle has RVC, the
Obutton may not be
available.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Automatic dimming reduces the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature comes on and the indicator light illuminates
each time the ignition is turned to start.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror. Use a
soft towel dampened with water.
Outside Manual Mirrors
Adjust the outside mirror for a clearer view.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To fold,
push the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror
outward, to return to its original position.
Using hood-mounted air deflectors and add-on convex
mirror attachments could decrease mirror performance.
3-56

Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory package, the passenger
and/or driver mirror tilts to a preselected position when
the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This feature lets the driver
view the curb when parallel parking. The mirror(s) return
to the original position when the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC
Buttons)
on page 4‑75for more information.
Outside Convex Mirror
{WARNING:
A convex mirror can make things, like other
vehicles, look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could
hit a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror
or glance over your shoulder before changing
lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so more can be seen from the
driver seat.
Outside Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger): Press to heat the
mirrors. If the vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated. The lower convex
part of the towing mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle's features, see “Rear Window
Defogger” under,Climate Control System (With Heater
Only)
on page 4‑18or Climate Control System (With
Air Conditioning)on page 4‑20or Dual Automatic
Climate Control Systemon page 4‑22for more
information.
3-59

Sunroof
On vehicle with a power sliding sunroof, the ignition
needs to be turned to RUN, or the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) must be activated to open or close the
sunroof. When RAP is active, the sunroof will work for
10 minutes after the ignition is turned off, or until the
driver's door is opened. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP)
on page 3‑23for more information.
Do not leave the sunroof open for long periods of time
while the vehicle is not in use. Debris can collect in the
tracks and damage the sunroof operation and plug the
water draining system.
Extended Cab
If your vehicle is an
extended cab, the
sunroof switch is
located on the
headliner above the
rearview mirror. Vent :
From the closed position, press and hold the rear
of the switch to vent the sunroof. To close the sunroof,
press and hold the front of the switch.
Open : From the vent position, the sunroof can be fully
opened either manually or by using the express-open
feature. To open manually, press the rear of the switch
to the first depression and hold until the sunroof
has reached the desired position. To open using
express-open, press the rear of the switch fully and
release. The sunroof will move to the full open position.
To stop the sunroof partway, press the switch a
second time.
Close : From the vent, or open position, press and hold
the front of the switch to close the sunroof.
The sunroof also has a roller sunshade that can be
used to block the rays of the sun. The roller sunshade
can be manually operated with the sunroof in an open
or closed position. To open the sunshade, press and
unlatch it, and roll it back. To close, pull it forward and
latch it into the closed position.
When the sunroof is opened, an air deflector will
automatically raise. The air deflector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
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