climate control GMC SIERRA 2017 Owner's Guide

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Driving and Operating 273
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:. Keep the vehicle speed at
88 km/h (55 mph) or less for
the first 805 km (500 mi).
. Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
. Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
. Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
0 323 for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle
and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal
If equipped, the position of the
throttle and brake pedals can be
changed.
The pedals can only be adjusted
when the vehicle is in P (Park).
The switch used to adjust the
pedals is on the center stack, below
the climate controls.
Lift the switch up to move the
pedals closer to your body. Press
the switch down to move the
pedals away.
Before you start driving, fully press
the brake pedal to confirm the
adjustment is right for you.
The vehicle may have a memory
function, which lets pedal settings
be saved and recalled. See Memory
Seats 060.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Driving and Operating 301
appropriate message will display in
the DIC. SeeRide Control System
Messages 0161.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release
g. The
traction off light
iand the
StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(35 mph). Traction control will
remain off.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature and a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
0 349 orHill Start Assist (HSA)
0 298.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 357.
Hill Descent
Control (HDC)
If equipped, HDC can be used when
driving downhill. It sets and
maintains vehicle speed while
descending a very steep incline in a
forward or reverse gear.
The HDC switch is on the center
stack, below the climate controls.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC.
Vehicle speed must be below
50 km/h (31 mph).
The HDC light displays on the
instrument cluster when enabled. HDC can maintain vehicle speeds
between 3 and 22 km/h (2 and
14 mph) on an incline greater than
or equal to a 10% grade. A blinking
HDC light indicates the system is
actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
When HDC is activated, the initial
HDC speed is set to the current
driving speed. It can be increased or
decreased by pressing the +RES or
SET- steering wheel controls or by
applying the accelerator or brake
pedal. This adjusted speed
becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between
22 and 60 km/h (14 and 37 mph);
however vehicle speed cannot be
set or maintained in this range.
It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h
(50 mph) or above 60 km/h
(37 mph) for at least 30 seconds.
5
must be pressed again to
re-enable HDC.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
320 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle0439. For
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0440.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply to
trailer towing. .
The trailer must be equipped
with brakes adequate for the
intended use. A loaded trailer
weighing more than 900 kg
(2,000 lb) must be equipped with
its own brake system, with
brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian
Standards Association (CSA)
requirement CAN3-D313, or its
equivalent, is recommended.
. Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi) to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
The Tow/Haul Mode may be
used if the transmission shifts
too often. See Tow/Haul Mode
0 288.
. Turn off Park Assist when
towing.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0282.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Vehicle Care 421
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistanceto the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to
the left or right, depending on the
crown of the road and/or other road
surface variations such as troughs
or ruts, is normal. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
500 Index
California (cont'd)Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .357, 383, 435
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Cargo
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 120
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Center Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Charging
Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 143 Check
Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 388
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 89
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106, 110
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243, 245
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . 243, 245
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243, 245
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 481
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Connections OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Traction and Electronic
Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Control Light Hill Descent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Engine Temperature Gauge . . 138
Engine TemperatureWarning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243, 245, 246
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Courtesy Transportation
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 477 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
Customer Information
Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . . . 483

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
Index 501
Customer SatisfactionProcedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 474
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 481
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data Collection
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 487
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 486
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 486
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Diagnostics OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Door
Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 473
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 305
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152, 154 Driving
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 308
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 31
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 262
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 264
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396, 398
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Emergency
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 489
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 359
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Cooling System Messages . . . 159
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . 137
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 282
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9955992) - 2017 - crc - 4/18/17
508 Index
Service (cont'd)Climate Control
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243, 245
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 358
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 468
Maintenance, General
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 469
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 480
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 461
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Shift Lock Control Function
Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Snow Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Special Application Services . . . . 461
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 StabiliTrak
OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Steering System Messages . . . . . 163
Steps Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Sunglasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . 119
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Sunglass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Switches
Airbag On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188, 487
Noise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Systems Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
TaillampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 477
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 45
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Throttle, Adjustable . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
All-Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419