cooling GMC SIERRA DENALI 2005 Owners Manual

Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
With this system, you can control the heating, cooling
and ventilation in your vehicle.
You can select different climate control settings for the
driver and passengers.
Driver’s Side Temperature Knob
The driver’s side knob is used to adjust the temperature
of the air coming through the system on the driver’s
side. The temperature can be adjusted even if the
system is turned off. This is possible since outside air
will always ow through the system as the vehicle
is moving forward unless it is set to recirculation mode.
See “Recirculation” later in this section.
Turn the knob counterclockwise or clockwise to lower or
increase the cabin temperature. The display will show
the temperature setting decreasing or increasing and an
arrow pointing to the driver will be displayed under
and to the left of the temperature setting.
Passenger’s Side Temperature Knob
The passenger’s side knob can be used to change the
temperature of the air coming through the system on the
passenger’s side of the vehicle. The temperature can be
adjusted even if the system is turned off. This is possible
since outside air will always ow through the system as
the vehicle is moving forward unless it is set to
recirculation mode. See “Recirculation” later in this
section.
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2. Set the driver’s and passenger’s temperature.
To nd your comfort setting, start with a 74°F (23°C)
temperature setting and allow about 20 minutes
for the system to regulate. Turn the driver’s or
passenger’s side temperature knob to adjust the
temperature setting as necessary. If you choose the
temperature setting of 60°F (15°C) the system
will remain at the maximum cooling setting. If you
choose the temperature setting of 90°F (32°C)
the system will remain at the maximum heat setting.
Choosing either maximum setting will not cause
the vehicle to heat or cool any faster.
Be careful not to cover the sensor located on the
top of the instrument panel near the windshield. This
sensor regulates air temperature based on sun
load, and also turns on your headlamps.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the
system will delay turning on the fan until warm air is
available. The length of delay depends on the
engine coolant temperature. Pressing the fan switch
will override this delay and change the fan to a
selected speed.9(Off):Press this button to turn off the entire climate
control system. Outside air will still enter the vehicle, and
will be directed to the oor. This direction can be changed
by pressing the mode button. The temperature can also
be adjusted using either temperature knob. Press the up
or down arrows on the fan switch, the defrost button, the
AUTO button, or the air conditioning button to turn the
system on when it is off.
Manual Operation
You may manually adjust the air delivery mode or fan
speed.
w9x(Fan):The switch with the fan symbol allows
you to manually adjust the fan speed. Press the up
arrow to increase fan speed and the down arrow
to decrease fan speed.
Pressing this button when the system is off will turn the
system on.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle is
working. During a majority of the operation, the gage
will read 210°F (100°C) or less. If you are pulling a load
or going up hills, it is normal for the temperature to
uctuate and approach the 250°F (122°C) mark. If the
gage reaches the 260°F (125°C) mark, it indicates
that the cooling system is working beyond its capacity.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-26.
Transmission Temperature Gage
Your vehicle may be equipped with a transmission
temperature gage.
When your ignition is on, the gage shows the
temperature of the transmission uid. The normal
operating range is from 180°F (82°C) to about
200°F (93°C).
At approximately 265°F (130°C), the message center
will display a TRANSMISSION HOT message and
the transmission will enter a transmission protection
mode. When the transmission enters the protection
mode, you may notice a change in the transmission
shifting patterns. The transmission will return to normal
shifting patterns when the transmission uid temperature
falls below 260°F (127°C). United States
CanadaUnited StatesCanada
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DRIVER DOOR AJAR
If the driver’s door is not fully closed, this message will
appear on the display and you will hear a chime.
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for
obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of
the four DIC buttons, if equipped, will acknowledge the
message and clear it from the DIC display. If your
vehicle is not equipped with the four DIC buttons,
pressing the trip odometer reset stem will acknowledge
the message and clear it from the DIC display.
ENGINE COOLANT HOT
If the cooling system temperature gets hot, this message
will appear in the DIC. Stop the vehicle and let the
engine idle in PARK (P) to allow the coolant to reach a
safe temperature. This message will clear when the
coolant temperature drops to safe operating
temperature. Also, pressing any of the four DIC buttons,
if equipped, will acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped
with the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer
reset stem will acknowledge the message and clear it
from the DIC display.
ENGINE OVERHEATED
If the engine cooling system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation, this message will appear in
the DIC and you will hear a chime. Stop and turn off
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so to avoid severe
damage. This message will clear when the engine
has cooled to a safe operating temperature.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may occur. If
an overheat warning appears on the instrument
panel cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon
as possible. Do not increase the engine speed above
normal idling speed. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-26for more information.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
If the fuel level is low, this message will appear on the
DIC and you will hear a chime. Refuel as soon as
possible. The message will be displayed for 10 seconds
at the start of each ignition cycle when the fuel level is
low. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if equipped, will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. If your vehicle is not equipped with the four DIC
buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset stem will
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display. SeeFuel Gage on page 3-41andFuel on
page 5-5.
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KEYFOB X BATTERY LOW
If a remote keyless entry transmitter battery is low, this
message will appear on the DIC. The battery needs to be
replaced in the transmitter. See “Battery Replacement”
underRemote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if
equipped, will acknowledge the message and clear it
from the DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped with
the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
LOW COOLANT LEVEL
If your vehicle is equipped with a low coolant level sensor,
this message will appear on the DIC if the engine coolant
level is low. Adding coolant will clear the message. See
Cooling System on page 5-29. Pressing any of the
four DIC buttons, if equipped, will acknowledge the
message and clear it from the DIC display. If your vehicle
is not equipped with the four DIC buttons, pressing the
trip odometer reset stem will acknowledge the message
and clear it from the DIC display.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
“Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode”
in the Index for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
OIL LIFE RESET
This message will appear on the display for about
10 seconds after resetting the change engine oil
message. See “Engine Oil Life System” underDIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-43andEngine Oil on
page 5-14for more information.
OIL PRESSURE LOW
If low oil pressure levels occur, this message will be
displayed on the DIC and a chime will sound. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible and do not operate
it until the cause of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while the engine
oil pressure is low, severe engine damage may
occur. If a low oil pressure warning appears on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Do not drive the vehicle until
the cause of the low oil pressure is corrected.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-14for more information.
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PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
If the passenger’s door is not fully closed, this message
will appear on the display and you will hear a chime.
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door for
obstacles and close the door again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC. Pressing any of
the four DIC buttons, if equipped, will acknowledge the
message and clear it from the DIC display. If your
vehicle is not equipped with the four DIC buttons,
pressing the trip odometer reset stem will acknowledge
the message and clear it from the DIC display.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
This message is displayed when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the engine further enters
the engine coolant protection mode. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-26for more information.
SERVICE 4WD
If a problem occurs with the four-wheel-drive system, this
message will appear on the DIC. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. 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
GM dealer. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if
equipped, will acknowledge the message and clear it
from the DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped with
the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
SERVICE AIRBAG
If there is a problem with the airbag system, this message
will be displayed on the DIC. Have your GM dealer
inspect the system for problems. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-29andAirbag System on page 1-48for
more information. Pressing any of the four DIC buttons, if
equipped, will acknowledge the message and clear it
from the DIC display. If your vehicle is not equipped with
the four DIC buttons, pressing the trip odometer reset
stem will acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
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{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle
downstream and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can
still wash away the ground from under your
tires, and you could lose traction and roll the
vehicle over. Do not drive through rushing
water.
SeeDriving in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 4-28for
more information on driving through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on the
underbody, chassis or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires and exhaust
system for damage. Also, check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
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Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system, and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing
to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down
to let your engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down. They could
get so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none
going down a hill. You could crash. Always have
your engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to
a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could
be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an
accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn
of special problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area, or
winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate
action.
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Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 2,000 lbs (900 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes – and they must be
adequate. Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able to install,
adjust and maintain them properly.
Your trailer brake system can tap into the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system only if:
The trailer parts can withstand 3,000 psi
(20 650 kPa) of pressure.
The trailer’s brake system will use less than
0.02 cubic inch (0.3 cc) of uid from your vehicle’s
master cylinder. Otherwise, both braking systems
won’t work well. You could even lose your brakes.
If everything checks out this far, make the brake tap at
the port on the master cylinder that sends the uid
to the rear brakes. But don’t use copper tubing for this.
If you do, it will bend and nally break off. Use steel
brake tubing.
Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You cannot see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-27. To maximize your safety
when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle. Do not use
the climate control setting for maximum air
because it only recirculates the air inside
your vehicle. SeeDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-20.
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Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission uid (don’t overll),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and brake
system. Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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