four wheel drive GMC SIERRA 2016 User Guide

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Instruments and Controls 161
GRADE BRAKING OFF
This message displays when grade
braking has been disabled with the
Tow/Haul Mode button on the end of
the shift lever. SeeTow/Haul Mode
0 292, Automatic Transmission
0 286, and Cruise Control 0306.
GRADE BRAKING ON
This message displays when grade
braking has been enabled with the
Tow/Haul Mode button on the end of
the shift lever. See Tow/Haul Mode
0 292, Automatic Transmission
0 286, and Cruise Control 0306.
SERVICE 4WD
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive,
this message may display if a
problem occurs with the
four-wheel-drive system. If this
message appears, stop as soon as
possible and turn off the vehicle.
Make sure the key is in the LOCK/
OFF position for at least
one minute, then restart the vehicle
and check for the message on the
DIC display. If the message is still
displayed or appears again when you begin driving, the
four-wheel-drive system needs
service. See your dealer.
SHIFT DENIED
This message displays when the
shift lever is in M (Manual Mode)
and a transmission range has been
selected that is unavailable at the
current vehicle speed.
TO EXIT 4WD LOW SHIFT TO
NEUTRAL
If a four-wheel drive shift out of 4nis
requested, and the vehicle speed is
correct, but the transmission is not
in N (Neutral), this message will
display until the transmission is
shifted to N (Neutral).
TO EXIT 4WD LOW SLOW
TO XXX
If a four-wheel drive shift out of 4nis
requested, but the vehicle speed is
too high, this message will display
until the correct vehicle speed is
reached.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the transmission fluid
in the vehicle gets hot. Driving with
the transmission fluid temperature
high can cause damage to the
vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it
idle to allow the transmission to
cool. This message clears and the
chime stops when the fluid
temperature reaches a safe level.
When towing, use Tow/Haul Mode
to prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0292.
VEHICLE IN 4WD LOW
This message will display if the
vehicle is driven in 4
nfor about
10 minutes above 72 km/h (45 mph).

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Infotainment System 223
.Pression the steering wheel
controls.
. Do nothing.
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on
the Bluetooth phone and enabled by
the wireless service carrier to work.
Accepting a Call Waiting Call
To accept a call waiting call, do one
of the following:
.Press the button just below the
SWITCH screen button.
. Press
gon the steering wheel
controls.
Declining a Call Waiting Call
To decline a call waiting call, do one
of the following:
. Press the button just below the
IGNORE screen button.
. Press
ion the steering wheel
controls.
. Do nothing.
Ending a Call
To end a call, do one of the
following:
.Press the button just below the
END screen button.
. Press
ion the steering wheel
controls.
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
(DTMF) Tones
The in-vehicle Bluetooth system can
send numbers during a call. This is
used when calling a menu-driven
phone system.
1. When a call is active, press the button just below the KEYPAD
screen button.
2. Turn the MENU knob to highlight the first digit and
press to select.
If not initially in the phone
application, from the Home Page,
turn the MENU knob, then press to
select the PHONE screen button.
From the PHONE main menu, turn
the MENU knob to highlight Active
Call and press to select.
Bluetooth (Voice
Recognition - Base
Radio)
Using Voice Recognition
To use voice recognition, pressg
on the steering wheel. Use the
commands below for the various
voice features. For additional
information, say “Help”while you
are in a voice recognition menu.
Pairing
Pairing a Phone
1. Press
g. The system responds
“Ready,” followed by a tone.
2. Say “Bluetooth.”
3. Say “Pair.”The system
responds with instructions and
a four-digit Personal
Identification Number (PIN).
The PIN is used in Step 5.
4. Start the pairing process on the cell phone that you want to
pair. For help with this process,
see your cell phone
manufacturer's user guide.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
256 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 265
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 266
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 268
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 277
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 281
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . 285
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 286
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 302
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 305
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 309
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 309
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) (2500/3500
Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) (1500 Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 319
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 261
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without four-wheel drive and vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR)
tires must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid surface. For
contact information about the
original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful
off-road driving is to control the
speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
. Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped. .
Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
. Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
. See Hill Descent Control
(HDC) 0305
. Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower air
dam. However, driving without the
air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper air flow to the
engine. Re-attach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 269
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. For four-wheel-drive
vehicles, shift into Four-Wheel Drive
High. Turn the TCS off. Shift back
and forth between R (Reverse) and
a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. See
Towing the Vehicle0439. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle
has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
There are recovery hooks at the
front of the vehicle. Use them if the
vehicle is stuck off-road and needs
to be pulled some place to continue
driving.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 283
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
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 (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0322.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake 0301.
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 (if equipped) 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).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and
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).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 287
effort to shift out of P (Park). See
“Torque Lock”underShifting Into
Park 0283.
{Warning
It is 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.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. 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,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0283 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0322.
{Warning
If you have four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll —even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in N (Neutral).
So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into
Park 0283.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see
If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0268.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart when you are already
moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also,
use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
Driving and Operating 293
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive
engages the front axle for extra
traction. Read the appropriate
section for transfer case operation
before using.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry
pavement in 4
mand 4n(if
equipped) for an extended period
of time. These conditions may
cause premature wear on the
vehicle’s powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in
four-wheel drive may:
. Cause a vibration to be felt in
the steering system.
. Cause tires to wear faster.
. Make the transfer case harder to
shift, and cause it to run noisier.
{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 0301.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in
4
nmay damage or shorten the
life of the drivetrain.
Engagement noise and bump when
shifting between 4
nand 4mor from
N (Neutral), with the engine running,
is normal.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak®off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0303.
Manual Transfer Case
Move the lever to shift into and out
of four-wheel drive.
An indicator light comes on when
four-wheel drive is engaged. See
Four-Wheel-Drive Light 0143.

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234758) - 2016 - crc - 11/9/15
294 Driving and Operating
N (Neutral) :Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0439
or Towing the Vehicle 0439.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting for driving on most
streets and highways. The front axle
is not engaged. This setting
provides the best fuel economy.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting also engages the front axle
and delivers extra torque. Choose 4
nif driving off-road in deep sand,
deep mud, or deep snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
When engaged, keep vehicle speed
below 72 km/h (45 mph).
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting when extra traction is
needed. The front axle engages and
helps when driving on snowy or icy
roads, when off-roading, or when
plowing snow. The vehicle can be shifted between
2
mand 4mwhile the vehicle is
moving. In extremely cold weather,
it may be necessary to stop or slow
the vehicle to shift into 4
m.
Using the Manual Transfer Case
. Use quick motions to shift into or
out of 4
nor N (Neutral).
. Shifting may be harder when the
vehicle is cold, but will return to
normal once warmed up.
. Four-wheel drive reduces fuel
economy.
Shifting from 2
mto 4m
. Shifts can be made at any
vehicle speed.
. Shift in one continuous motion.
. Shifting while the vehicle is in
motion may require that
moderate force be applied to the
shift lever before 4
mcan be
engaged, especially in cold
weather. .
In extremely cold weather, it may
be necessary to slow or stop the
vehicle to shift.
. While in 4
m, the vehicle can be
driven at any posted legal speed
limit.
Shifting In or Out of 4
n
Caution
Shifting the transfer case into 4n
while moving at speeds faster
than 5 km/h (3 mph) may cause
premature wear to the transfer
case, and may cause the gears to
grind.
1. If possible, shift with the vehicle moving 5 km/h (3 mph)
or less.
2. Shift the transmission into N (Neutral).
3. Shift the transfer case shift lever in one continuous motion.
4. Shifting with the vehicle at a stop may be more difficult. It is
possible that the shift will not

GMC Sierra Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 295
complete and the transfer case
will remain in N (Neutral). This
is normal. To complete the
shift, with the engine running,
shift the transmission to
D (Drive) and back to
N (Neutral), and reattempt the
transfer case shift.
Shifting In or Out of Neutral 1. Have the engine running.
2. Set the parking brake. Press and hold the brake pedal. See
Parking Brake 0301.
3. Place the transmission into N (Neutral).
4. Shift the transfer case lever in one continuous motion into or
out of N (Neutral).Electronic Transfer Case
Use the transfer case knob, next to
the steering wheel, to shift into and
out of four-wheel drive for extra
traction.
An indicator light on the knob shows
which setting the transfer case is in.
The N (Neutral) indicator is on the
face of the knob. If the light displays
momentarily when the ignition is in
ON/RUN, but does not stay on, the
knob may have been turned while
the vehicle was off. To see the
indicator, turn the knob to another
position so that it matches the
actual transfer case setting. If no lights display, take the vehicle to
your dealer for service. An indicator
light flashes while shifting and until
the shift is complete.
If the transfer case cannot complete
a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting. Turn the control
back to the previous setting to see
the indicator light.
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode
indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case.
The settings are:
N (Neutral) : Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0439
or Towing the Vehicle 0439.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use
for driving on most streets and
highways. The front axle is not
engaged. This setting provides the
best fuel economy.