ABS GMC SIERRA DENALI 2019 User Guide

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
Driving and Operating 247
If equipped, select Terrain Mode by
pressing the “ TERRAIN MODE
ICON ” icon button, below the 4
mtransfer case button.
Modes: Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft
ride. When selected, there is no
indicator in the instrument cluster.
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or
personal preference demand a more
controlled response. When in Sport Mode, the vehicle will
shift automatically but may hold a
lower gear longer than it would in
the normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and vehicle
lateral acceleration. See Automatic
Transmission 0 229 . The steering
will change to provide more precise
control. The continuous damping will
change to provide better cornering
performance.
When selected, the Sport Mode light
displays in the instrument cluster.
Snow Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions. The
vehicle will upshift normally when
the vehicle is moving. The
acceleration will adjust to help
provide a smoother launch.
Snow Mode is only available on
two-wheel-drive vehicles. When
selected, the Snow Mode light
displays in the instrument cluster. Off-Road Mode
Use to improve driving at moderate
speeds, on grass, gravel, dirt,
unpaved roads, or snow-covered
roads that have not been groomed
or plowed.
The accelerator pedal will be more
sensitive to provide finer control of
the torque at the wheels. Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), the Antilock
Brake System (ABS), and the
Traction Control System (TCS) will
change for optimal off-road
performance. Use this mode for
public off-road recreational driving.
See Off-Road Driving 0 200 .
When selected, the Off-Road Mode
indicator light displays in the
instrument cluster.
Tow/Haul Mode
This feature assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy
load. See Tow/Haul Mode 0 234 .
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle ’ s Gross

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
Driving and Operating 279The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating 0 331 .
Viewing Systems If equipped, the viewing systems on
the vehicle can improve visibility
while hitching, backing, and driving
with a trailer. See Driver Assistance
Systems 0 253 . Parking on Hills
{ WarningTo prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in
place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal. Leaving After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply and hold the brake
pedal.
.
Start the engine.
.
Shift into a gear.
.
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.
Launching and Retrieving
a Boat Backing the Trailer into the Water
{ Warning
.
Have all passengers get out
of the vehicle before
backing onto the sloped part
of the ramp. Lower the
driver and passenger side
windows before backing
onto the ramp. This will
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
280 Driving and Operating Warning (Continued) provide a means of escape
in the unlikely event the
vehicle slides into the water.
.
If the boat launch surface is
slippery, have the driver
remain in the vehicle with
the brake pedal applied
while the boat is being
launched. The boat launch
can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the
ramp was previously
submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to
launch the boat if you are
not sure the vehicle can
maintain traction.
.
Do not move the vehicle if
someone is in the path of
the trailer. Some parts of the
trailer might be underwater
and not visible to people
who are assisting in
launching the boat. Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the
water to prevent damage to the
electrical circuits on the trailer.
Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the
water. If the trailer has electric
brakes that can function when the
trailer is submerged, it might help to
leave the electrical trailer connector
attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water:
1. If equipped, place the vehicle
in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat
ramp until the boat is floating,
but no further than necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake
pedal, but do not shift into
P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks
under the front wheels of the
vehicle.
5. Gradually release the brake
pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer. 6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer of the water:
1. Press and hold the brake
pedals.
2. Start the engine and shift
into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are
clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick
up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the
water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer
have been driven from the
sloped part of the boat ramp,
the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 337.
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
{ Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system. When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0 151 .
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0 415 .
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0 425 .
{ Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid. CautionIf brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 316 for battery location.
Stop/Start System
Vehicles equipped with a 2.7L L3B,
3.0L LM2, 5.3L L84 or 6.2L L87 are
equipped with a Stop/Start system
to shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. See Stop/Start
System 0 222 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
338 Vehicle Care Vehicles with the Stop/Start system
have an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)
12-volt battery. Installation of a
standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life. When
using a 12-volt battery charger on
the 12-volt AGM battery, some
chargers have an AGM battery
setting on the charger. If available,
use the AGM setting on the charger
to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
Follow the charger manufacturer ’ s
instructions.
{ WarningWARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle. See California Proposition
65 Warning 0 313 and the back
cover.
Vehicle Storage
{ WarningBatteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0 395 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative ( − ) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative ( − ) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger. Negative Battery Cable
Disconnection
{ WarningBefore disconnecting the negative
battery cable, turn off all features,
turn the ignition off, and remove
the key, if equipped, from the
vehicle. If this is not done, you or
others could be injured, and the
vehicle could be damaged.
CautionIf the battery is disconnected with
the ignition on or the vehicle in
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP), the OnStar back-up
battery will be permanently
discharged and will need to be
replaced.
1. Make sure the lamps, features,
and accessories are turned off.
2. Turn the ignition off and
remove the key, if equipped.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
388 Vehicle Care
3. Use the wheel wrench and turn
it counterclockwise to loosen
the wheel nuts. Do not remove
the wheel nuts yet. Front Position
4. If the flat tire is on the front of
the vehicle, position the jack
under the bracket attached to
the vehicle's frame, behind the
flat tire, as shown. Rear Position
5. If the flat tire is on the rear,
position the jack under the rear
axle about 5 cm (2 in) inboard
of the shock absorber bracket.
{ Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack,
you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle
when it is supported only by
a jack.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Vehicle Care 403CautionDo not tow this vehicle with two
wheels on the ground, or vehicle
damage could occur. This
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Dolly towing this vehicle is not
allowed with either the front or the
rear tires on the ground for
two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive,
regardless of transfer case. Appearance Care Exterior Care Locks Locks are lubricated at the factory.
Use a de-icing agent only when
absolutely necessary, and have the
locks greased after using. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0 425 .
Washing the Vehicle To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
{ Warning
Do not power wash any part of
the vehicle ’ s interior, including the
vinyl floor covering. This could
damage safety and other systems
in the vehicle, which would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. CautionDo not use petroleum-based,
acidic, or abrasive cleaning
agents as they can damage the
vehicle's paint, metal, or plastic
parts. If damage occurs, it would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from
your dealer. Follow all
manufacturer directions regarding
correct product usage, necessary
safety precautions, and
appropriate disposal of any
vehicle care product.
Caution
Avoid using high-pressure
washes closer than 30 cm (12 in)
to the surface of the vehicle. Use
of power washers exceeding
8,274 kPa (1,200 psi) can result
in damage or removal of paint
and decals.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
Index 459
Index A Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . 227
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 306
Adding a Snow Plow or
Similar Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Additional Information
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Adjustments
Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 326
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 188, 190
Air Filter
Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Air Filter, Passenger
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 92
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Airbag System (cont'd)
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 88
Airbags
Adding Equipment to the
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 148
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Servicing Airbag-Equipped
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Alarm
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Alert
Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 267
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 240
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Appearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Assistance Program,
Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
Index 465Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 153
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
LATCH, Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . 106
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 183
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 151
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Check Engine (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 156
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 152
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Lights (cont'd)
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning . . . . . . . 155
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 157
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 178
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . 153
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 146
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Service Electric Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 250
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 157
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
M Maintenance
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428
Maintenance and Care
Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 415
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 149
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Messages
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167