TPMS GMC SIERRA 2011 Owner's Manual

Black plate (30,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-30 In Brief
Navigation System
If the vehicle has a navigation
system, there is a separate
Navigation System Manual that
includes information on the radio,
audio players, and navigation
system.
The navigation system provides
detailed maps of most major
freeways and roads. After a
destination has been set, the
system provides turn-by-turn
instructions for reaching the
destination. In addition, the system
can help locate a variety of points
of interest (POI), such as banks,
airports, restaurants, and more.
See the Navigation System Manual
for more information.
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at
the bottom of the instrument
panel cluster. It shows the status of
many vehicle systems and enables
access to the personalization menu.
The DIC buttons are located on
the instrument panel, next to the
steering wheel.
Some vehicles do not have the
buttons shown, however some of
the menus can be viewed by using
the trip odometer reset stem.
3:Press to display the
odometer, trip odometer, fuel
range, average economy, fuel
used, timer, instantaneous economy
and Active Fuel Management™
indicator, and transmission
temperature. The compass
and outside air temperature
will also be shown in the display.
The temperature will be shown
in °C or °F depending on the
units selected.
T: Press to display the oil life,
units, tire pressure readings for
vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), trailer
brake gain and output information
for vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
engine hours, compass zone
setting, and compass recalibration.
U: Press to customize the
feature settings on your vehicle.
See Vehicle Personalization (with
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑52 for more
information.

Black plate (34,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-34 In Brief
.To turn off both traction control
and StabiliTrak, press and
hold
5untilFilluminates and
the appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑47.
.Press and release5again to
turn on both systems.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑70.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts
you to a significant loss in pressure
of one of the vehicle's tires. If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑25. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver ’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑68.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and, on most vehicles, displays a
DIC message when it is necessary
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
To reset the Engine Oil Life System
on most vehicles:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC. If the vehicle does
not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in P (Park)
to access this display.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC, or the trip
odometer reset stem if the
vehicle does not have DIC
buttons, for more than
five seconds. The oil life
will change to 100%.

Black plate (30,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-30 Instruments and Controls
StabiliTrak®Indicator
Light
For vehicles with the StabiliTrak
system, this light comes on briefly
while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays
on while driving, there could be a
problem with the StabiliTrak system
and the vehicle might need service.
When this warning light is on, the
StabiliTrak system is off and does
not limit wheel spin. The light flashes if the system is
active and is working to assist the
driver with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
See
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑70 for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS. When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more
of the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A tire pressure message can
accompany the light. See
Tire
Messages on page 5‑49 for more
information. Stop as soon as
possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See Tire Pressure on page 10‑66
for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may be
a problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System. The light flashes
for about a minute and stays on
steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence
repeats with every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑69 for
more information.

Black plate (34,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
5-34 Instruments and Controls
The compass and outside
temperature will also be shown
in the display. The temperature
will be shown in °C or °F depending
on the units selected.
T(Vehicle Information):Press
this button to display the oil life,
units, tire pressure readings for
vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), trailer
brake gain and output information
for vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system,
engine hours, compass zone
setting, and compass recalibration.
U(Customization): Press this
button to customize the feature
settings on the vehicle. See Vehicle
Personalization (with DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑52 for more information.
V(Set/Reset):Press this button to
set or reset certain functions and to
turn off or acknowledge messages
on the DIC.
Trip/Fuel Menu Items
(with DIC Buttons)
3(Trip/Fuel): Press this button
to scroll through the following menu
items:
Odometer
Press the trip/fuel button until
ODOMETER displays. This display
shows the distance the vehicle has
been driven in either kilometers (km)
or miles. Pressing the trip odometer
reset stem will also display the
odometer.
To switch between metric and
English measurements, see “Units”
later in this section.
Trip Odometer
Press the trip/fuel button until TRIP
displays. This display shows the
current distance traveled in either
kilometers (km) or miles since the
last reset for the trip odometer.
Pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will also display the trip
odometer. The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing the set/reset
button while the trip odometer is
displayed. You can also reset the
trip odometer while it is displayed
by pressing and holding the trip
odometer reset stem.
The trip odometer has a feature
called the retro-active reset. This
can be used to set the trip odometer
to the number of miles (kilometers)
driven since the ignition was last
turned on. This can be used if the
trip odometer is not reset at the
beginning of the trip.
To use the retro-active reset feature,
press and hold the set/reset button
for at least four seconds. The trip
odometer will display the number of
kilometers (km) or miles driven since
the ignition was last turned on and
the vehicle was moving. Once the
vehicle begins moving, the trip
odometer will accumulate mileage.

Black plate (37,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-37
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2 for more information.
Remember, you must reset the
OIL LIFE display after each oil
change. It will not reset itself. Also,
be careful not to reset the OIL LIFE
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the engine oil life system,
see Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑11.
Units
Press the vehicle information button
until UNITS displays. This display
allows you to select between metric
or English units of measurement.
Once in this display, press the
set/reset button to select between
METRIC or ENGLISH units.
All of the vehicle information will
then be displayed in the unit of
measurement selected. Tire Pressure
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), the
pressure for each tire can be viewed
in the DIC. The tire pressure will be
shown in either kilopascals (kPa)
or pounds per square inch (psi).
Press the vehicle information
button until the DIC displays
FRONT TIRES kPa (PSI) LEFT ##
RIGHT ##. Press the vehicle
information button again until the
DIC displays REAR TIRES kPa
(PSI) LEFT ## RIGHT ##.
If a low tire pressure condition
is detected by the system while
driving, a message advising you to
add pressure in a specific tire will
appear in the display. See
Tire
Pressure on page 10‑66 andTire
Messages on page 5‑49 for more
information.
If the tire pressure display shows
dashes instead of a value, there
may be a problem with the vehicle.
If this consistently occurs, see your
dealer for service. Trailer Gain and Output
On vehicles with the Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC)
system, the trailer brake display
appears in the DIC. Press the
vehicle information button until
TRAILER GAIN and OUTPUT
display.
TRAILER GAIN shows the trailer
gain setting. This setting can be
adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
OUTPUT shows the power output
to the trailer any time a trailer with
electric brakes is connected. Output
is displayed in 0 to 10 bars. Dashes
may appear in the OUTPUT display.
To adjust trailer gain see
“Integrated
Trailer Brake Control System” under
Towing Equipment on page 9‑112
for more information.
Engine Hours
Press the vehicle information button
until ENGINE HOURS displays.
This display shows the total number
of hours the engine has run.

Black plate (49,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-49
Tire Messages
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a part on the
system is not working properly.
The tire pressure light also flashes
and then remains on during the
same ignition cycle. SeeTire
Pressure Light on page 5‑30.
Several conditions may cause
this message to appear. See Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑69 for more information.
If the warning comes on and stays
on, there may be a problem with
the TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the system
is re-learning the tire positions on
your vehicle. The tire positions must
be re-learned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection on page 10‑73,
Tire Rotation on page 10‑73,
Tire Pressure Monitor System on
page 10‑68, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑66 for more information.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
If the vehicle has the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low. This message
also displays LEFT FRT (left front),
RIGHT FRT (right front), LEFT RR (left rear), or RIGHT RR (right rear)
to indicate the location of the low
tire. The low tire pressure warning
light will also come on. See
Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑30.
You can receive more than one
tire pressure message at a time.
To read the other messages that
may have been sent at the same
time, press the set/reset button or
the trip odometer reset stem. If a
tire pressure message appears on
the DIC, stop as soon as you can.
Have the tire pressures checked
and set to those shown on the Tire
Loading Information label. See Tires
on page 10‑57, Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑25, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑66. The DIC also shows
the tire pressure values. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑33.

Black plate (68,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-68 Vehicle Care
When you end this high‐speed
driving, return the tires to the cold
inflation pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑25 andTire Pressure on
page 10‑66.
Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare
(if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under‐inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on
a significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under‐inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.Please note that the TPMS is
not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under‐inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been
equipped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start‐ups as
long as the malfunction exists.

Black plate (69,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
When the malfunction indicator
is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low
tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation
of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑69 for
additional information.Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and
Industry Canada
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑19 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire
and wheel assembly. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure
in the tires and transmit the tire
pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS illuminates
the low tire pressure warning light
located on the instrument cluster.
If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑25.
A message to check the pressure
in a specific tire displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
The low tire pressure warning
light and the DIC warning message
come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inflated to the
correct inflation pressure. If the
vehicle has DIC buttons, tire
pressure levels can be viewed.

Black plate (70,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and
displays, seeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑33 and
Tire Messages on page 5‑49.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven.
This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑25, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see
Tire Pressure on page 10‑66. The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but
it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See
Tire Inspection
on page 10‑73, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑73 andTires on
page 10‑57.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using
an incorrect tire sealant is
not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use only
the GM-approved tire sealant
available through your dealer
or included in the vehicle.TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When
the system detects a malfunction,
the low tire pressure warning light
flashes for about one minute and
then stays on for the remainder of
the ignition cycle. A DIC warning
message also displays. The
malfunction light and DIC warning
message come on at each ignition
cycle until the problem is corrected.
Some of the conditions that can
cause these to come on are:
.One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire.
The spare tire does not have a
TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and the DIC message
should go off after the road
tire is replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See "TPMS Sensor
Matching Process" later in this
section.

Black plate (71,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-71
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or
not completed successfully
after rotating the tires. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process.
See "TPMS Sensor Matching
Process" later in this section.
.One or more TPMS sensors
are missing or damaged.
The malfunction light and
the DIC message should go
off when the TPMS sensors
are installed and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See your dealer
for service.
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. SeeBuying
New Tires on page 10‑77.
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly, it cannot detect or signal a
low tire condition. See your dealer
for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message come on
and stay on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code needs to be matched to a
new tire/wheel position after rotating
the vehicle’ s tires or replacing
one or more of the TPMS sensors.
Also, the TPMS sensor matching
process should be performed after
replacing a spare tire with a road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.
The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next
ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tire/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service or to
purchase a relearn tool.