traction control GMC SIERRA DENALI 2019 Owners Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
4 Introduction
Q : Keep Fuse Block Covers
Properly Installed
| : Lane Change Alert
@ : Lane Departure Warning
A : Lane Keep Assist
* : Malfunction Indicator Lamp
: : Oil Pressure
X : Park Assist
~ : Pedestrian Ahead Indicator
O : Power
7 : Rear Cross Traffic Alert
I : Registered Technician
/ : Remote Vehicle Start
> : Seat Belt Reminders
I : Side Blind Zone Alert
h : Start/Stop
7 : Tire Pressure Monitor
d : Traction Control/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
a : Under Pressure
V : Vehicle Ahead Indicator

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
In Brief 5
In Brief Instrument Panel Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . 8
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . 13
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 13
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Passenger Sensing System . . . 14
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 16
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 18
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Vehicle Features Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 22
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . 24
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . 24
Surround Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 24
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Universal Remote System . . . . . 25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Performance and Maintenance Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 27
Fuel (Gasoline - Except
L87 6.2L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Fuel (Gasoline - L87 6.2L
Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Fuel (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 28
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
In Brief 71. Tow/Haul Mode (On Some
Models). See Driver Mode
Control 0 246 .
Automatic Transfer Case
Control (If Equipped). See
Four-Wheel Drive 0 235 .
Driver Mode Control 0 246 (If
Equipped).
2. Air Vents 0 194 .
3. Head-Up Display (HUD) 0 163
(If Equipped).
4. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 181 .
Windshield Wiper/Washer
0 131 .
5. Instrument Cluster 0 138 .
6. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0 229 .
Range Selection Mode. See
Manual Mode 0 232 .
7. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0 179 .
8. Infotainment 0 187 . 9. Climate Control Systems 0 188
(If Equipped).
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0 190 (If Equipped).
10. Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats 0 75 (If Equipped).
11.
X Park Assist Switch (If
Equipped). See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing
0 254 .
g Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 243 .
| Hazard Warning Flashers
0 180 .
A Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
0 269 (If Equipped).
5 Hill Descent Control Switch
(If Equipped). See Hill Descent
Control (HDC) 0 245 .
j Power Assist Steps 0 52 (If
Equipped).
5 Power Release Tailgate
(If Equipped). See Tailgate
0 47 . DC/AC Switch. See Power
Outlets 0 132 .
h Auto Stop Disable Switch
(If Equipped). See Stop/Start
System 0 222 .
L Express Window Down
Button (If Equipped). See
Power Windows 0 63 .
Tow/Haul Mode (On Some
Models). See Driver Mode
Control 0 246 .
12. Power Outlet (Alternating
Current) (If Equipped). See
Power Outlets 0 132 .
13. Power Outlets 0 132 .
14. USB Port. See the infotainment
manual.
15. Wireless Charging 0 135 (If
Equipped).
16. Trailer Brake Control Panel (If
Equipped). See “ Integrated
Trailer Brake Control System ”
under Towing Equipment
0 285 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
In Brief 21While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul
Mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0 234 .
Four-Wheel Drive If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the engine's driving power can be
sent to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Transfer Case Controls Use the transfer case controls to
shift into and out of the different
four-wheel drive modes. Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case controls are to the
left of the steering column.
The different drive options that may
be available are described as
follows.
2
m (Two-Wheel Drive High) : This
setting is used for driving in most
street and highway situations.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive) : This setting is ideal for use
when road surface conditions are
variable. If equipped, use 4
n , AUTO, or 4
m to
provide additional traction when
parking on a steep grade with poor
traction such as ice, snow, mud,
or gravel
4
m (Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting when extra traction is
needed for conditions such as rough
roads, deep snow or most off road
situations.
The following options are only
available with a two-speed
transfer case:
N (Neutral) : Shift to this setting
only when towing the vehicle.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing
0 399 or Towing the Vehicle 0 398 .
4
n (Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting sends maximum power to all
four wheels. Choose 4
n when
driving in deep sand, mud, or snow,
and while climbing or descending
steep hills.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0 235 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
26 In Brief movement. To express-close the
sunroof, fully press and release
K(1). Press and release
K (1)
again to stop the movement.
Open/Close (Manual Mode) : To
open the sunroof, press and hold
I(1). Release
I (1) to stop the
movement. Press and hold
K (1)
to close the sunroof. Release
K(1) to stop the movement.
Tilt Switch
Vent : From the closed position,
press
J (2) to vent the sunroof.
Press
K (2) to close the vent.
When the sunroof is opened, an air
deflector will automatically raise.
The air deflector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
The sunroof also has a sunshade,
which can be pulled forward to block
sun rays. The sunshade must be
opened and closed manually. The sunroof has an automatic
reversal system that is only active
when the sunroof is operated in
express-close mode.
If an object is in the path while
express-closing, the reversal system
will detect an object, stop, and open
the sunroof again.
See Sunroof 0 65 .
Performance and
Maintenance Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) that limits wheel spin
and the StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move.
.
To turn off TCS, press and
release
g on the center stack.
The traction off light
i displays
in the instrument cluster. The
appropriate Driver Information
Center (DIC) message displays.
.
To turn off both TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC, press and
hold
g until
i and
g illuminate

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
In Brief 27in the instrument cluster and the
appropriate DIC message
displays.
.
Press and release
g again to
turn on both systems.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds
56 km/h (35 mph). Traction control
will remain off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 243 .
Tire Pressure Monitor This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0 209 . The
warning light will remain on until the
tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 369 .
Tire Fill Alert (If Equipped)
This feature provides visual and
audible alerts outside the vehicle to
help when inflating an underinflated
tire to the recommended cold tire
pressure. See “ Tire Fill Alert (If
Equipped) ” under Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation 0 370 .Fuel (Gasoline - Except
L87 6.2L Engine) Regular Unleaded Fuel
Use only Regular 87 octane —
(R+M)/2 — or higher unleaded
gasoline in your vehicle. TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. Do not use gasoline
with an octane rating lower as it will
result in reduced performance and
lower fuel economy.
See Recommended Fuel (Except
6.2L V8 Engine) 0 271 or
Recommended Fuel (6.2L
V8 Engine) 0 271 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Instruments and Controls 129
Instruments and
Controls Controls Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 130
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 131
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 131
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 131
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 146
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 147
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 148
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 149
Brake System Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Electric Parking Brake
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Service Electric Parking Brake
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Four-Wheel-Drive Light . . . . . . . 153
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 153
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 153
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 154
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 154
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Traction Control System (TCS)/
Electronic Stability Control
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . 156
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Engine Oil Pressure Light
(Uplevel Cluster) . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 157
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 157
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 158
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 158
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 158
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Information Displays Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Midlevel and Uplevel) . . . . . . 160
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 163
Vehicle Messages Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 167
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 167
Vehicle Personalization Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 167
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 172

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
154 Instruments and Controls without using the turn signal in that
direction. The LKA light will turn
amber.
This light is amber and flashes as a
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
alert, to indicate that the lane
marking has been crossed.
See Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0 269 .
Vehicle Ahead Indicator
If equipped, this indicator will
display green when a vehicle is
detected ahead and amber when
you are following a vehicle ahead
much too closely.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0 260 . Pedestrian Ahead
Indicator
If equipped, this indicator will
display amber when a nearby
pedestrian is detected directly in
front of the vehicle.
See Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System 0 264 .
Traction Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
turns off.
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/ESC button.
This light and the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) OFF light come on
when ESC is turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited. Adjust driving accordingly.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 243 .
Traction Control System
(TCS)/Electronic Stability
Control Light

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/15/18
Instruments and Controls 155If equipped, the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) or TCS indicator/
warning light comes on briefly when
the engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS, and potentially the ESC
system have been disabled.
If the indicator/warning light is on
and flashing, the TCS and/or the
ESC system is actively working.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 243 .
Trailer Sway Control Light
(Uplevel Cluster) This light will flash when Trailer
Sway Control is active. See Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) 0 293 .
Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the ESC
system is turned off. If ESC is off,
the Traction Control System (TCS)
is also off.
If the ESC and TCS are off, the
system does not assist in controlling
the vehicle. Turn on the TCS and
the ESC systems and the warning
light turns off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 243 .Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving
with this light on can damage the
engine and it may not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. See
Engine Overheating 0 331 .

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - crc - 5/16/18
196 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating Driving Information Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 205
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 206
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 208
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Truck-Camper Loading
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Starting and Operating New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 216
Ignition Positions (Key
Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Ignition Positions (Keyless
Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 227
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Exhaust Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Automatic Transmission Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 229
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Drive Systems Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Brakes Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 241
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 242 Ride Control Systems Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 245
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 246
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 250
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Cruise Control Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Driver Assistance Systems Driver Assistance Systems . . . 253
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 254
Assistance Systems for
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Front Pedestrian Braking
(FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 267
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 269