battery GMC SIERRA 2011 Owner's Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 2011, Model line: SIERRA, Model: GMC SIERRA 2011Pages: 594, PDF Size: 6.55 MB
Page 226 of 594

Black plate (10,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
6-10 Lighting
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all
the power that is needed for very
high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on,
such as: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed
to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.Normally, these actions occur
in steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY
VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY.
If one of these messages displays,
it is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑33.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome and
reading lamps, if they are left on
for more than 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned off. The cargo
lamp shuts off after 20 minutes.
This prevents the battery from
running down.
Page 240 of 594

Black plate (14,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
7-14 Infotainment System
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and
static can occur during normal
radio reception if items such
as cell phone chargers, vehicle
convenience accessories, and
external electronic devices are
plugged into the accessory power
outlet. If there is interference or
static, unplug the item from the
accessory power outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere
with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
FM Stereo
FM signals only reach about
16 to 65 km (10 to 40 miles).
Although the radio has a built-in
electronic circuit that automatically
works to reduce interference, some
static can occur, especially around
tall buildings or hills, causing the
sound to fade in and out.
XM™Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service gives
digital radio reception from coast
to coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada.
Just as with FM, tall buildings or
hills can interfere with satellite radio
signals, causing the sound to fade
in and out. In addition, traveling
or standing under heavy foliage,
bridges, garages, or tunnels may
cause loss of the XM signal for a
period of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's
radio. This interference may occur
when making or receiving phone
calls, charging the phone's battery,
or simply having the phone on.
This interference causes an
increased level of static while
listening to the radio. If static is
received while listening to the
radio, unplug the cellular phone
and turn it off.
Page 260 of 594

Black plate (34,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
7-34 Infotainment System
Player Error:This message
displays if there are disc load or
disc eject problems.
.It is very hot. When the
temperature returns to normal,
the disc should play.
.The road is very rough. When
the road becomes smoother, the
disc should play.
.The disc is dirty, scratched, wet,
or upside down.
.The air is very humid. If so, wait
about an hour and try again.
.There was a problem while
burning the disc.
.The label is caught in the
CD/DVD player.
If the disc is not playing correctly,
for any other reason, try a known
good disc. If any error occurs repeatedly
or if an error cannot be corrected,
contact your dealer. If the radio
displays an error message, write it
down and provide it to your dealer
when reporting the problem.
Auxiliary Devices
Using the Auxiliary Input Jack
Radios with an auxiliary input jack
located on the lower right side of the
faceplate can connect to an external
audio device such as an iPod
®,
MP3 player, or CD player, for use as
another source for audio listening.
This input jack is not an audio
output; do not plug headphones
into the front auxiliary input jack.
Drivers are encouraged to
set up any auxiliary device
while the vehicle is in P (Park).
See Defensive Driving on page 9‑2
for more information on driver
distraction. To use a portable audio player,
connect a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) cable to
the radio's front auxiliary input jack.
When a device is connected, press
the radio CD/AUX button to begin
playing audio from the device over
the vehicle speakers.
For optimal sound quality, increase
the portable audio device's volume
to the loudest level.
It is always best to power the
portable audio device through its
own battery while playing.O(Power/Volume):
Turn clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase
or decrease the volume of the
portable player. Additional volume
adjustments might have to be made
from the portable device if the
volume is not loud or soft enough.
BAND: Press to listen to the radio
when a portable audio device is
playing. The portable audio device
continues playing.
Page 262 of 594

Black plate (36,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
7-36 Infotainment System
USB‐Supported File and Folder
Structure
The radio supports:
.Up to 700 folders
.Up to 8 folders in depth
.Up to 65,535 files.
.Folder and file names up to
64 bytes
.Files with an .mp3 or .wma file
extension
.AAC files stored on an iPod
.FAT16
.FAT32
Connecting a USB Storage
Device or iPod®
The USB port can be used to
control an iPod or a USB storage
device.
To connect a USB storage device,
connect the device to the USB port
located in the center console or on
the instrument panel.To connect an iPod, connect one
end of the USB cable that came
with the iPod to the iPod’s dock
connector and connect the other
end to the USB port located in the
center console or on the instrument
panel. If the vehicle is on and the
USB connection works,
“OK to
disconnect” and a GM logo may
appear on the iPod, and iPod
appears on the radio display.
The iPod music appears on the
radio’s display and begins playing.
The iPod charges while it is
connected to the vehicle if the
vehicle is in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN position. When the
vehicle is turned off, the iPod
automatically powers off and
will not charge or draw power
from the vehicle's battery.
If you have an older iPod model
that is not supported, it can still
be used by connecting it to the
auxiliary input jack using a standard
3.5 mm (1/8 in) stereo cable. See
“Using the Auxiliary Input Jack”
earlier for more information.
Using the Radio to Control a
USB Storage Device or iPod
The radio can control a USB
storage device or an iPod using
the radio buttons and knobs, and
display song information on the
radio’s display.
f(Tune): Turn to select files.
©SEEK:Press to go to the start of
the track, if more than 10 seconds
have played. Press and hold or
press multiple times to continue
moving backward through tracks.
¨SEEK: Press to go to the next
track. Press and hold or press
multiple times to continue moving
forward through tracks.
sREV (Reverse): Press and hold
to reverse playback quickly. Sound
is heard at a reduced volume.
Release
sREV to resume playing.
The elapsed time of the file
displays.
Page 266 of 594

Black plate (40,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
7-40 Infotainment System
Parental Control
The RSE system may have a
Parental Control feature, depending
on which radio the vehicle has.
To start Parental Control, press
and hold the radio power button for
more than two seconds to stop all
system features such as: radio,
video screen, Rear Seat Audio
(RSA), DVD, and/or CD. While
Parental Control is on, a padlock
icon displays.
The radio can be turned back on
with a single press of the power
button, but the RSE system will
remain under Parental Control.
To turn Parental Control off, press
and hold the radio power button for
more than two seconds. The RSE
returns from where it was previously
left and the padlock icon disappears
from the radio display.
Parental Control can also be turned
off by inserting or ejecting any disc,
pressing the play icon on the radio
DVD display menu, or changing an
ignition position.
Headphones
A. Battery cover
B. Channel 1 or 2 switch
C. Power button
D. Volume control
E. Power indicator light
The RSE includes two 2-channel
wireless headphones that are
dedicated to this system. Channel 1
is dedicated to the video screen,
while Channel 2 is dedicated to
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) selections.
These headphones can be used tolisten to the radio, CDs, DVDs,
MP3s, DVD‐As, or any auxiliary
source connected to A/V jacks or
the auxiliary input jack, if the vehicle
has this feature. The wireless
headphones have an On/Off button,
channel 1 or 2 switch, and a volume
control.
Push the power button to turn on
the headphones. An indicator light
located on the headphones comes
on. If the light comes on, but there
is intermittent sound and/or static on
the headphones, or if the indicator
light does not come on, the batteries
might need to be replaced.
See
“Battery Replacement” later in
this section for more information.
Switch the headphones to Off when
not in use.
Infrared transmitters are located at
the rear of the overhead console.
The headphones shut off
automatically to save the battery
power if the RSE system and RSA
are shut off, or if the headphones
are out of range of the transmitters
for more than three minutes.
Page 267 of 594

Black plate (41,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-41
If you move too far forward or step
out of the vehicle, the headphones
lose the audio signal.
To adjust the volume on the
headphones, use the volume
control located on the right side.
For optimal audio performance, the
headphones must be worn correctly.
Headphones should be worn with
the headband over the top of the
head for best audio reception.
The symbol L (Left) appears on the
outside bottom edge of the ear cup
and should be positioned on the left
ear. The symbol R (Right) appears
on the outside bottom edge of the
ear cup and should be positioned
on the right ear.
Notice:Do not store the
headphones in heat or direct
sunlight. This could damage
the headphones and repairs will
not be covered by the warranty.
Storage in extreme cold can
weaken the batteries. Keep the
headphones stored in a cool,
dry place. If the foam ear pads attached to
the headphones become worn or
damaged, the pads can be replaced
separately from the headphone set.
To purchase replacement ear pads,
call 1‐888‐293‐3332, then prompt
zero (0), or contact your dealer.
Battery Replacement
To change the batteries on the
headphones:
1. Turn the screw to loosen the
battery door located on the
left side of the headphones.
Slide the battery door open.
2. Replace the two batteries in the compartment. Make sure that
they are installed correctly, using
the diagram on the inside of the
battery compartment.
3. Replace the battery door and tighten the door screw.
If the headphones are to be stored
for a long period of time, remove the
batteries and keep them in a cool,
dry place.Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks
A. Yellow: Video Input
B. White: Left Audio Input
C. Red: Right Audio Input
The A/V jacks are color coded to
match typical home entertainment
system equipment.
The A/V jacks, located on the
rear of the floor console, allow
audio or video signals to be
connected from an auxiliary device
such as a camcorder or a video
game unit to the RSE system.
Page 269 of 594

Black plate (43,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-43
When a device is connected to the
A/V jacks, or the radio's auxiliary
input jack if the vehicle has this
feature, the rear seat passengers
are able to hear audio from the
auxiliary device through the wireless
or wired headphones. The front seat
passengers are able to listen to
playback from this device through
the vehicle speakers by selecting
AUX as the source on the radio.
Video Screen
The video screen is located in the
overhead console.
To use the video screen:
1. Push the release button locatedon the overhead console.
2. Move the screen to the desired position. When the video screen is not in
use, push it up into its locked
position.
If a DVD is playing and the screen
is raised to its locked position,
the screen remains on. This is
normal, and the DVD continues to
play through the previous audio
source. Use the remote control
power button or eject the disc to
turn off the screen.
The overhead console contains
the infrared transmitters for the
wireless headphones and the
infrared receivers for the remote
control. They are located at the
rear of the console.
Notice:
Avoid directly touching
the video screen, as damage may
occur. See “Cleaning the Video
Screen” later in this section for
more information.
Remote Control
To use the remote control, aim it at
the transmitter window at the rear
of the RSE overhead console and
press the desired button. Direct
sunlight or very bright light could
affect the ability of the RSE
transmitter to receive signals
from the remote control. If the
remote control does not seem
to be working, the batteries might
need to be replaced. See “Battery
Replacement” later in this section.
Page 272 of 594

Black plate (46,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
7-46 Infotainment System
}10 (Double Digit Entries):Press
this button to select chapter or
track numbers greater than nine.
Press this button before entering
the number.
Battery Replacement
To change the remote control
batteries, do the following:
1. Slide the rear cover back on the remote control.
2. Replace the two batteries in the compartment. Make sure they
are installed correctly using the
diagram on the inside of the
remote control.
3. Replace the battery cover.
If the remote control is to be stored
for a long period of time, remove the
batteries and keep them in a cool,
dry place.Tips and Troubleshooting Chart
Problem Recommended Action
There is no power. The ignition might not be turned to
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
The picture does not fill the screen.
There are black borders on the top
and bottom or on both sides, or the
picture looks stretched out. Check the display mode settings
in the setup menu by pressing the
display menu button on the remote
control.
In auxiliary mode, the picture moves
or scrolls. Check the auxiliary input
connections at both devices.
The remote control does not work. Check to make sure there is no obstruction between the remote
control and the transmitter window.
Check the batteries to make sure
they are not dead or installed
incorrectly.
After stopping the player, and
pushing Play, sometimes the
DVD starts where it left off and
sometimes at the beginning. If the stop button was pressed one
time, the DVD player resumes
playing where the DVD was
stopped. If the stop button was
pressed two times, the DVD player
begins to play from the beginning
of the DVD.
Page 317 of 594

Black plate (23,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-23
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help
with the headlamps. Do this as little
as possible to save fuel.If the Vehicle is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See“Rocking Your Vehicle to Get
It Out” later in this section.
If the vehicle has a traction system,
it can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to the vehicle's
traction system in the Index. If stuck
too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction
system off and use the rocking
method.{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and
avoid going above 55 km/h
(35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑83.
Page 331 of 594

Black plate (37,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
C (ON/RUN):This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. The transmission
is also unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
If you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position with the engine off, the
battery could be drained. You may
not be able to start the vehicle if the
battery is allowed to drain for an
extended period of time.
D (START): This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning tone will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF, and the key is in the
ignition.Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a Duramax diesel
engine, see the Duramax diesel
supplement for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Notice: Do not try to shift to
P (Park) if the vehicle is moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only when the vehicle is stopped.
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice: The engine is designed to
work with the electronics in the
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly.
Any resulting damage would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to
START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as your engine gets
warm. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow
the oil to warm up and lubricate
all moving parts.