GMC SIERRA 2022 Owners Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
200 Climate Controls
amount of air may still come out of the
outlets depending on vehicle speed. If any
buttons are pressed or knobs are turned, the
climate control system will turn on and
operate at the current setting.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Driver and Passenger Temperature Control :
The temperature can be adjusted separately
for the driver and passenger.
Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the driver or
passenger temperature setting. The driver
side or passenger side temperature display
shows the temperature setting increasing or
decreasing.
SYNC :Press to link the passenger
temperature setting to the driver setting.
The SYNC indicator light will turn on. When
the passenger setting is adjusted, the SYNC
indicator light will turn off.
Air Delivery Mode Control : Press
z,Y,
or
[to change the direction of the
airflow. Any combination of the three
controls can be selected. An indicator light
comes on in the selected mode button. Changing the mode cancels the automatic
operation and the system goes into manual
mode. Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select one or
more of the following:
z:
Air is directed to the windshield,
outboard A/C outlets, and side window
outlets.
Y: Air is directed to the A/C outlets.
[:Air is directed to the floor outlets,
with some air directed to the windshield,
outboard A/C outlets, and side window
outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the windshield
and the fan runs at a higher speed if not
already above a medium fan speed. This
mode overrides the previous mode selected
and clears fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. When the control is pressed
again, the system returns to the previous
mode setting and fan speed.
For best results, clear all snow and ice from
the windshield before defrosting.
@: Press to turn on recirculation. An
indicator light comes on. Air is recirculated
to quickly cool the inside of the vehicle.
It can also be used to help reduce outside
air and odors that enter the vehicle.
Avoid using recirculation for long periods of
time in cold or damp conditions. Using
recirculation in cold or damp conditions can
result in window fogging.
A/C : Press to turn the air conditioning on
or off. An indicator light comes on to show
that the air conditioning is enabled. If the
fan is turned off, the air conditioner will not
run. The A/C light will stay on even if the
outside temperatures are below freezing.
Rear Window Defogger
1REAR : If equipped, press to turn the
rear window defogger on or off. An indicator
light on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only works when
the engine is running. The defogger turns
off if the vehicle is turned off or to ACC/
ACCESSORY.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Climate Controls 201
If equipped with heated outside mirrors,
press
fto turn them on or off. SeeHeated
Mirrors 036.
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window can damage
the rear window defogger. Repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not clear the inside rear window with
sharp objects.
Remote Start Climate Control Operation :
If equipped with remote start, the climate
control system may run when the vehicle is
started remotely. If equipped with heated or
ventilated seats or a heated steering wheel,
these features may come on during a
remote start. See Remote Vehicle Start 020,
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 052, and
Heated Steering Wheel 0102.
Sensors
The solar sensor, on top of the instrument
panel near the windshield, monitors the
solar heat.
The climate control system uses the sensor
information to adjust the temperature, fan
speed, recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise the
automatic climate control system may not
work properly. Afterblow Feature
If equipped, under certain conditions, the
fan may stay on or may turn on and off
several times after you turn off and lock the
vehicle. This is normal.
Air Vents
Use the sliding knobs on the center and side
air vents to change the direction of the
airflow.
Air vents blow warm air on the side
windows in cold weather. If Floor, Defog,
or Defrost modes are selected, a small
amount of air will come from the vents
closest to the window.
To close the front A/C vents, move the
sliding knobs to the full down position for
vertical slats or away from you for
horizontal slats.
To close the rear A/C vents, move the
sliding knobs to the full inboard position.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
air inlets at the base of the windshield
that could block airflow.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
202 Climate Controls
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front seats clear
of objects to help circulate the air inside
of the vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
can adversely affect system performance.
Check with your dealer before adding
equipment to the outside of the vehicle.
.Do not attach any devices to the air vent
slats. Doing so restricts airflow and may
cause damage to the air vents.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The filter reduces the dust, pollen, and other
airborne irritants from outside air that is
pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part of
routine scheduled maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule0425. To find out
what type of filter to use, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0435.
1. Open the lower glove box door
completely.
2. Push the dampener arm to the left untilit releases the glove box.
3. Press the sides of the glove box doorinward and rotate the door downward to
remove.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Climate Controls 203
4. Pull lever on left side of the filter doorand slide left, then remove the door.
Remove the old filter.
5. Install the new air filter.
6. Reinstall the filter door.
7. Reverse the steps to reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional assistance is
needed.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood that
identifies the refrigerant used in the vehicle.
The refrigerant system should only be
serviced by trained and certified technicians.
The air conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be replaced
by a new evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation. During service, all refrigerants should be
reclaimed with proper equipment. Venting
refrigerants directly to the atmosphere is
harmful to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires periodic
maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule
0 425.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
204 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . 205
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . 220
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 227
Shifting Into Park (MechanicalShifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Shifting Into Park (Electronic
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Shifting out of Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Shifting out of Park (Electronic
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 230
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 231
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Transmission (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Manual Mode (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . 237
Manual Mode (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . 239
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 245
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 256
Super Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 293
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 205
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 299
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 301
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Recommended Fuel (2.7L L4 and 5.3LV8 Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Recommended Fuel (6.2L V8 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Filling the Tank (Pickup Model) . . . . . . . 306
Filling the Tank (Chassis Cab Model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . 308
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 309
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . 340Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
206 Driving and Operating
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 054.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious —or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
Driving and Operating 207
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops or a brake fault
occurs, the brakes may lose power assist.
More effort will be required to stop the
vehicle. It may take longer to stop.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required. If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an extended
period of time while the vehicle is not
moving, power assist may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is held
against that position for an extended period
of time, power steering assist may be
reduced.
Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-15883563) - 2022 - CRC - 11/19/21
208 Driving and Operating
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer the
vehicle so that it straddles the edge of
the pavement. 2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three control
systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow these
suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator pedal
and steer the way you want the vehicle
to go. 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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
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Driving and Operating 209
{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
seat 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.
.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, if equipped. 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 airflow
to the engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by flying objects. Secure
the cargo properly.
.Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible. The
heaviest things should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle's center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof. For more information about loading the
vehicle, see
Vehicle Load Limits 0215 and
Tires 0377.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that have been set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn 0230.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of what the
vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for any
vehicle. Driving up hills can cause the
vehicle to stall. Driving down hills can
cause loss of control. Driving across hills
can cause a rollover. You could be injured
or killed. Do not drive on steep hills.