shift lever GMC SIERRA 2020 Owner's Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
6 Introduction
1. Tow/Haul Mode (On SomeModels). See Driver Mode
Control 0238
Automatic Transfer Case
Control (If Equipped).
See Four-Wheel Drive 0227
Driver Mode Control 0238 (If
Equipped).
2. Air Vents 0182.
3. Head-Up Display (HUD) 0152
(If Equipped).
4. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 170.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
0 120.
5. Instrument Cluster 0127.
6. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0221.
Range Selection Mode. See
Manual Mode 0224.
7. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0168.
8. Infotainment 0176.
9. Climate Control Systems 0177
(If Equipped). Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
0179 (If Equipped).
10. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats 061 (If Equipped).
11.
XPark Assist Switch (If
Equipped). See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing
0 257.
gTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0235.
|Hazard Warning Flashers
0 169.
ALane Keep Assist (LKA)
(1500 Series) 0278 (If
Equipped).
@Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) (2500/3500 Series)
0 276 (If Equipped).
5Hill Descent Control Switch
(If Equipped). See Hill Descent
Control (HDC) 0237.
jPower Assist Steps 036 (If
Equipped).
5Power Release Tailgate
(If Equipped). See Tailgate
0 28.
DC/AC Switch. See Power
Outlets 0122.
hAuto Stop Disable Switch
(If Equipped). See Stop/Start
System 0213.
LExpress Window Down
Button (If Equipped). See
Power Windows 049.
Tow/Haul Mode 0226 (On
Some Models).
12. Power Outlet (Alternating Current) (If Equipped). See
Power Outlets 0122.
13. Power Outlets 0122.
14. USB Port. See the infotainment manual.
15. Wireless Charging 0124 (If
Equipped).

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Seats and Restraints 61
memory button number 1 or 2 are
automatically recalled when the
vehicle is turned on, or turned from
off to ACC/ACCESSORY. RKE
transmitters 3–8 will not provide
automatic memory recalls.
To turn Seat Entry Memory on or off,
see“Vehicle Personalization
Settings” previously in this section
and Vehicle Personalization 0157.
The shift lever must be in P (Park)
to start Seat Entry Memory. Seat
Entry Memory recall will complete if
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park)
prior to reaching the saved memory
position.
To stop Seat Entry Memory recall
movement, turn the vehicle off or
press any of the following controls:
. Power seat
. Memory SET, 1, 2, or
B
.Power mirror, with the driver or
passenger side mirror selected
If the saved memory seat position
does not automatically recall or
recalls to the wrong positions, the
driver ’s RKE transmitter number (1 or 2) may not match the memory
button number that positions were
saved to. Try storing the position to
the other memory button or try the
other RKE transmitter.
Seat Exit Memory
Seat Exit Memory is not linked to an
RKE transmitter. The position saved
to
Bis used for all drivers. To turn
Seat Exit Memory on or off, see
"Vehicle Personalization Settings"
previously in this section and
Vehicle Personalization 0157.
If turned on, the position saved to
Bis automatically recalled when
one of the following occurs:
. The vehicle is turned off and the
driver door is opened within a
short time.
. The vehicle is turned off with the
driver door open.
To stop Seat Exit Memory
movement, press any of the
following memory controls:
. Power seat
. Memory SET, 1, 2, or
B
.
Power mirror, with the driver or
passenger side mirror selected
Obstructions
If something has blocked the driver
seat while recalling a memory
position, the recall may stop.
Remove the obstruction and try the
recall again. If the memory position
still does not recall, see your dealer.
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to
the skin cannot be felt, the seat
heater may cause burns. To
reduce the risk of burns, use care
when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of
time. Do not place anything on
the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
cover, or similar item. This may
cause the seat heater to (Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Driving and Operating 209
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Keyless Access)
015.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be on or in Service Mode, and
the brake pedal must be applied.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
Stopping the Engine/LOCK/
OFF (No Indicator Lights) : When
the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP once to turn
the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0217. If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition system will
turn off.
The vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the ignition is turned
off and driver door is opened.
A sound may be heard as the lock
actuates or releases. The steering
column lock may not release with
the wheels turned off center. If this
happens, the vehicle may not start.
Move the steering wheel from left to
right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the
vehicle needs service.
Unless an emergency exists, do not
turn the engine off when the vehicle
is moving. This will cause a loss of
power assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable the
airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency: 1. If the vehicle cannot be pulled
over, and must be shut off
while driving, press and hold
ENGINE START/STOP button
for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
2. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
3. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
4. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission, and
make sure engine is off. On
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition off.
5. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0233.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Driving and Operating 213
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
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.
Starting Procedure
1. For Key Access vehicles, turnthe ignition key to START.
When the engine starts, let go
of the key.
For Keyless Access vehicles,
the RKE transmitter must be in
the vehicle. Press ENGINE
START/STOP with the brake
pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the 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.
When the low fuel warning light
is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), hold the ignition switch
in the START position to
continue engine cranking.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there
while holding the key in START
or ENGINE START/STOP for
up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key or
button and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race
the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Stop/Start System
If equipped, the Stop/Start system
will shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. It has components
designed for the increased number
of starts.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Driving and Operating 217
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.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on
to off, the following features (if
equipped) will continue to function
for up to 10 minutes, or until the
driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the
ignition is in RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
. Power Windows (during RAP
this functionality will be lost
when any door is opened)
. Sunroof (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when
any door is opened)
. Auxiliary Power Outlet
. Audio System
. OnStar System
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
is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0287.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0233. 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 off. For Key Access, push the ignition key
in, towards the steering column
and then turn the ignition off.
5. For Key Access, 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).
For Keyless Access, take the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter with you.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
218 Driving and Operating
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
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After moving the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pulling it toward
you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the
driver seat.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission. You will then be
able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The system is designed to prevent
movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the brake pedal is
applied and the ignition is on or in
Service Mode.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage
–less
than 9 volt –battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged or
low voltage battery, try charging or
jump starting the battery. See Jump
Starting - North America 0419.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Driving and Operating 219
2. Release the parking brake if itis applied. See Electric Parking
Brake 0233.
3. Pull the shift lever toward you, then move it to the desired
position, and release.
If the vehicle still cannot be shifted
out of P (Park): 1. Ease the pressure on, or release the shift lever.
2. While holding the brake pedal, push the shift lever all the way
into P (Park).
3. Pull the shift lever toward you, then move it to the desired
position, and release.
If there is still a problem shifting,
have the vehicle serviced soon.Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
If equipped, Active Fuel
Management allows a V8, V6, or L4
gasoline engine to operate on either
all of its cylinders, or a reduced
number of cylinders, depending on
the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such
as cruising at a constant vehicle
speed, the system will enable
reduced cylinder operation, allowing
the vehicle to achieve better fuel
economy. When greater power is
required, such as accelerating from a stop, passing, or merging onto a
freeway, the system will maintain
full-cylinder operation.
Dynamic Fuel Management
If equipped, Dynamic Fuel
Management calculates the number
of cylinders needed to maximize
fuel economy and meet the driving
demands. Dynamic Fuel
Management allows the engine to
operate in multiple possible
configurations ranging from
1-cylinder up to the full 8-cylinder
operation.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation.
See
Shifting Into Park 0217 and
Engine Exhaust 0220.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
outside the vehicle, it will continue
to run for up to half an hour.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
Driving and Operating 221
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
SeeShifting Into Park 0217 and
Engine Exhaust 0220.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0287.Automatic
Transmission
If equipped, there is an electronic
shift lever position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display
comes on when the ignition is in
ACC/ACCESSORY, on or
service mode.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
See Driver Mode Control 0238 and
“Range Selection Mode” under
Manual Mode 0224.
P : This position locks the rear
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine because the vehicle
cannot move easily.
When parked on a hill, especially
when the vehicle has a heavy load,
you might notice an increase in the effort to shift out of P (Park). See
“Torque Lock”
underShifting Into
Park 0217.
{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 0217 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0287.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
222 Driving and Operating
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the vehicle will be free to roll if the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
even when the shift lever is in
P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear—2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Four-Wheel Drive 0227.
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 0199.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is 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.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission or engine oil hot
message may display if the
automatic transmission fluid or
engine oil is too hot. Driving
under this condition can damage
the vehicle. Stop and idle the
engine to cool the engine oil or
automatic transmission fluid.
These messages will clear when
the engine oil or transmission
fluid has cooled sufficiently.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13337776) - 2020 - CRC - 4/4/19
224 Driving and Operating
L :This position allows selection of
a range of gears appropriate for
current driving conditions.
If equipped, see “Range Selection
Mode” underManual Mode 0224.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
Range Selection Mode helps control
the vehicle's transmission and
vehicle speed while driving downhill
or towing a trailer by letting you
select a desired range of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus buttons on the shift lever to select the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a
number displays next to the L,
indicating the current transmission
range. This number is the highest gear that
the transmission will command while
operating in L (Manual Mode). All
gears below that number are
available. As driving conditions
change, the transmission can
automatically shift to lower gears.
For example, when L5 is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are
automatically shifted by the
transmission, but 6 (Sixth) cannot be
used until the plus/minus button on
the shift lever is used to change to
the range.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a
downshift may occur. The gear that
the transmission is operating in
when the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode)
determines if a downshift occurs.
See the following charts.