engine overheat GMC SIERRA 2013 Owner's Guide

Black plate (21,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Vehicle Care 10-21
Notice:Running the engine
without coolant may cause
damage or a fire. Vehicle damage
would not be covered by the
warranty. See Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑22 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Turn it off
and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open
the hood.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If you keep driving when the
vehicles engine is overheated,
the liquids in it can catch fire. You
or others could be badly burned.
Stop the engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑22 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious
problem. If there is an engine overheat
warning, but no steam is seen or
heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
.Stops after high-speed driving
.Idles for long periods in traffic
.Tows a trailer; see
Trailer Towing
on page 9‑73.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message appears with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. If stopped in a traffic jam, apply the brake, shift to N (Neutral);
otherwise, shift to the highest
gear while driving —D (Drive) or
3 (Third).

Black plate (22,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
10-22 Vehicle Care
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see“Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
later in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition
exists and the ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED message displays, an overheat protection mode which
alternates firing groups of cylinders
helps to prevent engine damage. In
this mode, a loss in power and
engine performance will be noticed.
This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place
in an emergency. Driving
extended km (mi) and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Notice:
After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool
before attempting any repair. The
engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause of
coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑6.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has a clutched engine
cooling fan, when the clutch is
engaged, the fan spins faster to
provide more air to cool the engine. In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the
clutch is not fully engaged. This
improves fuel economy and reduces
fan noise. Under heavy vehicle
loading, trailer towing, and/or high
outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully
engages, so an increase in fan
noise may be heard. This is normal
and should not be mistaken as the
transmission slipping or making
extra shifts. It is merely the cooling
system functioning properly. The fan
will slow down when additional
cooling is not required and the
clutch disengages.
This fan noise may also be heard
when starting the engine. It will go
away as the fan clutch partially
disengages.
If the vehicle has electric cooling
fans, the fans may be heard
spinning at low speed during most
everyday driving. The fans may turn
off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing,
high outside temperatures,

Black plate (39,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
Vehicle Care 10-39
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses, circuit
breakers and fusible thermal links.
This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the
road and don't have a spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the
same amperage. Just pick some
feature of your vehicle that you can
get along without–like the radio or
accessory power outlet– and use its
fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax Diesel supplement
for more information.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
The Engine Compartment Fuse
Block is located in the engine
compartment, on the driver side of
the vehicle.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
i-4 INDEX
DrivingCharacteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . 1-33
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-11
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
DVD Rear Seat Entertainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-101
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-5
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15 Engine (cont'd)
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-39
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-6
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-32
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-89
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-19
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-2

Black plate (9,1)GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 8/14/12
INDEX i-9
Overheated EngineProtection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overview, Infotainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3, 7-4, 7-6
P
ParkShifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Parking Assist, Ultrasonic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-33
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 9-30
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Passenger Sensing System . . . 3-31
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . 10-3
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46 Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49
Pick-up Box Identification and Fender Marker
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-104
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 9-27
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Privacy Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-20
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . 13-13
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
R
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-20
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Radios AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Rear Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
Rear Seat Entertainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . . 7-47
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9, 3-10
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-60
Rear Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66