climate control GMC SIERRA DENALI 2010 User Guide

Remote Vehicle Start
Your vehicle may have a remote starting feature. This
feature allows you to start the engine from outside of
the vehicle. It may also start up the vehicle's heating or
air conditioning systems and rear window defogger.
Normal operation of the system will return after the key
is turned to the ON/RUN position.
If your vehicle has an automatic climate control system,
the climate control system will default to a heating or
cooling mode depending on the outside temperatures.
If your vehicle does not have an automatic climate
control system, the system will turn on at the setting the
vehicle was set to when the vehicle was last turned off.
During a remote start, if your vehicle has an automatic
climate control system and heated seats, the heated
seats will turn on during colder outside temperatures
and will shut off when the key is turned to ON/RUN.If your vehicle does not have an automatic climate
control system, during remote start, you will need to
manually turn the heated seats on and off. See
Heated
Seats
on page 2‑5for additional information.
Laws in some communities may restrict the use of
remote starters. For example, some laws may require a
person using the remote start to have the vehicle in
view when doing so. Check local regulations for any
requirements on remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low
on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.
If your vehicle has the remote start feature, the RKE
transmitter functions will have an increased range of
operation. However, the range may be less while the
vehicle is running.
There are other conditions which can affect the
performance of the transmitter, see Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System
on page 3‑4for additional
information.
3-7

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal
On vehicles with this feature, you can change the
position of the throttle and brake pedals.
No adjustment to the pedals can be made when the
vehicle is in R (Reverse) or while using the cruise
control.
The switch used to adjust
the pedals is located on
the instrument panel
below the climate control
system.
Press the arrow at the bottom of the switch to move the
pedals closer to your body. Press the arrow at the top of
the switch to move the pedals away from your body.
Before you start driving, fully press the brake pedal to
confirm the adjustment is right for you. While driving,
make only small adjustments. The vehicle may have a memory function which lets
pedal settings be saved and recalled. See
Memory
Features
on page 2‑6for more information.
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can provide easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up in cold
weather conditions at or below −18°C (0°F). Vehicles
with an engine heater should be plugged in at least four
hours before starting. An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord may exist which will prevent engine
coolant heater operation at temperatures above
−18°C (0°F).
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is secured to the Engine Compartment Fuse
Block with a clip. Carefully remove the wire tie
which secures the electrical cord. Do not cut the
electrical cord.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
3-26

Outside Convex Mirror
{WARNING:
A convex mirror can make things, like other
vehicles, look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could
hit a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror
or glance over your shoulder before changing
lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so more can be seen from the
driver seat.
Outside Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
<(Rear Window Defogger): Press to heat the
mirrors. If the vehicle has a towing mirror, only the
upper glass of the mirror is heated. The lower convex
part of the towing mirror is not heated.
Depending on the vehicle's features, see “Rear Window
Defogger” under,Climate Control System (With Air
Conditioning)
on page 4‑17or Climate Control System
(With Heater Only)on page 4‑20or Dual Automatic
Climate Control Systemon page 4‑21for more
information.
3-42

Section 4 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Tilt Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Headlamps on Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Puddle Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Instrument Panel Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Dome Lamp Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Electric Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15 Battery Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Accessory Power Outlet(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Climate Control System (With Air
Conditioning) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Climate Control System (With Heater Only) . . . . 4-20
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . 4-21
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . .4-27
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Voltmeter Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . 4-36
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
4-1

Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery's temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gage or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW
BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads
as much as possible. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑57.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome and reading lamps,
if they are left on for more than 10 minutes after the
ignition is turned off. The cargo lamp shuts off after
20 minutes. This prevents the battery from
running down.
4-15

Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
The vehicle may have a front ashtray located near the
center of the instrument panel. Pull on the door to open
it. The ashtray may have a cigarette lighter.
Notice:If papers, pins, or other flammable items are
put in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
the vehicle. Never put flammable items in the
ashtray.
To remove the ashtray, open the door and pull the
ashtray bin toward you. To replace the ashtray, insert
the ashtray bin inside the ashtray door and press down
until it engages. To use the cigarette lighter, push it in
all the way, and let go. When it is ready for use, the
lighter pops back out.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating does not let the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating can occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating.
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
(With Air Conditioning)
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation
can be controlled.
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning E. Outside Air
F. Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger
Temperature Control : Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
4-17

Climate Control System
(With Heater Only)
With this system the heating and ventilation can be
controlled.
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
Temperature Control : Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
9(Fan Control): Turn clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the fan speed. Turn the knob all
the way counterclockwise to turn the front system off. Air Delivery Mode Control :
Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle. The knob can be
positioned between two modes to select a combination
of those modes.
Select from the following:
H (Vent) : Air is directed to the instrument panel outlets.
) (Bi-Level) : Air is divided between the instrument
panel and floor outlets.
6 (Floor) : Air is directed to the floor outlets, with some
air directed to the windshield, side window, and second
row floor outlets. In this mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
- (Defog) : This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield, floor outlets,
and side window vents.
0 (Defrost) : This mode removes fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and the side window vents, with some air
directed to the floor vents. The system automatically
forces outside air into the vehicle.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
4-20

Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can
be controlled with this system. The vehicle also has a
flow-through ventilation system described later in this
section.
A. Driver and PassengerTemperature Controls
B. Fan Control
C. AUTO
D. Defrost E. Recirculation F. Outside Air G. Air Delivery Mode
Control
H. Display
I. Power Button
J. Rear Window Defogger
K. Air Conditioning L. PASS (Passenger)
O(On/Off): Press to turn the climate control system on
or off. Outside air still enters the vehicle, and is directed
to the floor. This direction can be changed by pressing
the mode button. Recirculation can be selected once
you have selected vent or bi-level mode. The
temperature can also be adjusted using either
temperature button. If the air delivery mode or
temperature settings are adjusted with the system off,
the display illuminates briefly to show the settings and
then returns to off. The system can be turned back on
by pressing either
O,D,C,#, the defrost or the
AUTO button.
4-21

6(Floor):Air is directed to the floor outlets, with some
to the windshield, side window outlets, and second row
floor outlets. In this mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
-(Defog): This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield, floor outlets,
and side window vents. In this mode, the system turns
off recirculation and runs the air conditioning
compressor unless the outside temperature is close to
freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be selected
while in the defrost mode.
0(Defrost): This mode removes fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window vents, with some directed
to the floor vents. In this mode, the system
automatically forces outside air into the vehicle and
runs the air conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is close to freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the defrost mode.
The passenger temperature control cannot be activated
while in defrost mode. If the PASS button is pressed,
the button indicator flashes three times and will not
work. If the passenger temperature buttons are
adjusted, the driver temperature indicator changes. The
passenger temperature will not be displayed. If vent, bi-level, or floor mode is selected again, the
climate control system displays the previous
temperature settings.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
#(Air Conditioning):
Press to turn the air
conditioning (A/C) compressor on and off. An indicator
light comes on to show that the air conditioning is on.
If this button is pressed when the air conditioning
compressor is unavailable due to outside conditions, the
indicator flashes three times and then turns off. If the air
conditioning is on and the outside temperature drops
below a temperature which is too cool for air
conditioning to be effective, the air conditioning light
turns off to show that the air conditioning mode has
been canceled.
On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot
inside air escape. This helps to reduce the time it takes
for the vehicle to cool down. It also helps the system to
operate more efficiently.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.
4-24

Sensors
The solar sensor, located in the defrost grille, in the
middle of the instrument panel, monitors the solar heat.
Do not cover the solar sensor or the system will not
work properly.
The interior temperature
sensor, located in the
headliner, measures the
temperature of the air
inside the vehicle.
There is also an exterior temperature sensor located
behind the front grille. This sensor reads the outside air
temperature and helps maintain the temperature inside
the vehicle. Any cover on the front of the vehicle could
cause a false reading in the displayed temperature.
The climate control system uses the information from
these sensors to maintain your comfort setting by
adjusting the outlet temperature, fan speed, and the air
delivery mode. The system may also supply cooler air
to the side of the vehicle facing the sun. The
recirculation mode will also be used as needed to
maintain cool outlet temperatures.
4-26