wheel GMC YUKON 2005 User Guide

Ignition Positions
Use the key to turn the ignition switch to four different
positions.
A (LOCK):This position locks the ignition and
transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only
be able to remove the key when the ignition is turned
to LOCK.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. Ifit is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
B (ACCESSORY):This position lets you use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers when the engine
is off.
Notice:Lengthy operation of features such as the
radio in the accessory ignition position may drain the
battery and prevent your vehicle from starting. Do not
operate your vehicle in the accessory ignition
position for a long period of time.
C (RUN):This is the position for driving.
D (START):This position starts the engine.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain
features on your vehicle to continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF.
Your radio, power windows, sunroof (if equipped), and
OnStar
®System (if equipped) will work when the ignition
key is in RUN or ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from RUN to LOCK, these features will continue
to work for up to 10 minutes or until a door is opened.
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PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle will not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-36. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-67.
{CAUTION:
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll — even if your shift lever is in
PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear, two-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel
high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in
NEUTRAL. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-36.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page 4-49.
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NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your two-wheel drive vehicle
is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You will shift down to the next gear and have more
power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road
driving. You may want to shift the transmission to
THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving,
however it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D).
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on
hills. It can help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) in a light duty
automatic transmission, the transmission will drive in
second gear. You may use this feature for reducing the
speed of the rear wheels when you are trying to start
your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces.
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When Tow/Haul mode is
selected the Tow/Haul
indicator light will
illuminate.
The Tow/Haul mode also interacts with the Autoride
®™
feature, if equipped, to enhance the ride when
trailering or with a loaded vehicle. SeeAutoride
®on
page 4-66.
Four-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you will see the
buttons shown below. You can send your engine’s
driving power to all four wheels for extra traction. To get
the most satisfaction out of four-wheel drive, you
must be familiar with its operation. Read the part that
follows before using four-wheel drive.
Notice:Driving on clean, dry pavement in
four-wheel drive for an extended period of time may
cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain.
Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in four-wheel
drive for extended periods of time.The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster.Front Axle Locking Feature
The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when
you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to
lock or unlock is normal.
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Automatic Transfer Case
For four-wheel drive vehicles with StabiliTrak®, see
StabiliTrak®System on page 4-10.
Use these buttons to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive.
You can choose among four driving settings:
AUTO 4WD (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive):This
setting is ideal for use when road surface traction
conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle in
AUTO 4WD, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s
power is sent only to the rear wheels. When the
vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system will
automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in this
mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel High.
2
m(Two Wheel-High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. Your front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting
also provides the best fuel economy.
4
m(Four Wheel-High):Use the four-wheel high
position when you need extra traction, such as on snowy
or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This setting
also engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle.
This is the best setting to use when plowing snow.4
n(Four Wheel-Low):This setting also engages
your front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never
need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four
wheels. You might choose Four Wheel-Low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending steep hills.
StabiliTrak
®will not engage in this mode. See
StabiliTrak®System on page 4-10for more information.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-35.
NEUTRAL (N):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-62for more information.
2-28

Indicator lights in the button show which setting you are
in. The indicator lights will come on briey when you
turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do
not come on, you should take your vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light will ash while
shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when
the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer
case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See “Service
4WD message” underDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-54.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel High or AUTO
4WD (Automatic Four Wheel Drive)
Press and release the Four-Wheel High or automatic
four wheel drive button. This can be done at any speed,
except when shifting from Four Wheel-Low, and the
indicator light will ash while shifting. It will remain on
when the shift is completed.
Shifting Into Two-Wheel High
Press and release the Two-Wheel High button. This can
be done at any speed, except when shifting from
Four-Wheel Low.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Low
To shift to the Four-Wheel Low position, the ignition
must be in RUN and the vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for
shifting into four-wheel low is to have your vehicle
moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release
the Four-Wheel Low button. You must wait for the
four-wheel low indicator light to stop ashing and remain
on before shifting your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the
Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from
NEUTRAL with the engine running.
If the Four-Wheel Low button is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds and not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
After 30 seconds the transfer case will shift to
Four-Wheel High mode.
2-29

Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to Four-Wheel High, AUTO
4WD or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission
in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in RUN. The preferred
method for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low is to have your
vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and
release the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD or Two-Wheel
High button. You must wait for the Four-Wheel High,
AUTO 4WD or Two-Wheel High indicator light to stop
ashing and remain on before shifting your transmission
into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To
help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting between
Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from
NEUTRAL with the engine running.
If the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD or Two Wheel High
switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or
moving, the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD or Two-Wheel
High indicator light will ash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
Shifting into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will
not roll.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
6. Simultaneously press and hold the Two-Wheel High
and Four-Wheel Low buttons for 10 seconds. The
NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer case
shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify that the transmission
is in NEUTRAL (N) by shifting the transmission to
REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the
transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY, which will turn
the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
10. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
2-30

Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to RUN with the engine off.
3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift
position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High, AUTO
4WD, or Four-Wheel Low).
4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the NEUTRAL light will go out.
5. Release the parking brake.
6. Start the engine and shift the transmission to the
desired position.
Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the
different modes may cause the transfer case to
enter the shift protection mode. This will protect the
transfer case from possible damage and will only
allow the transfer case to respond to one shift per
10 seconds. The transfer case may stay in this
mode for up to three minutes.
All-Wheel Drive with StabiliTrak®
If your vehicle has this system, you will see the buttons
shown below. With this system, engine power is sent
to all four wheels when you select the AWD button.
The transfer case buttons
are located to the left of
the instrument panel
cluster. Use these buttons
to shift between the
various modes of
four-wheel drive.
All-wheel drive is like four-wheel drive, but there is
no separate lever or switch to engage or disengage
the front axle. It is fully automatic, and when combined
with StabiliTrak
®, the all-wheel drive system adjusts
itself as needed for road conditions.
2-31

The three modes you can choose between are:
d(StabiliTrak®):This button is used to enable or
disable the StabiliTrak®and is also used to shift the
transfer case into Neutral (N). For more information on
using StabiliTrak
®, seeStabiliTrak®System on
page 4-10.
f(All-Wheel Drive):This button allows the transfer
case to distribute power to all four wheels as needed
depending on road and driving conditions.
4
n(4LO):This button allows the transfer case to
deliver extra torque to the wheels, and provides for
precise control of wheel speed by engine braking. You
may never need this setting. It sends maximum power to
all four wheels. You might choose four-wheel low if you
are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending steep hills.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-35.
N (Neutral):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-62for more information.
Indicator lights in the buttons show which mode you are
in. The indicator lights will come on briey when you
turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do
not come on, you should take your vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light will ash while the
transfer case is shifting. It will remain on when the
shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer case
cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the
last chosen setting.
2-32

If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should
take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See
SERVICE 4WD underDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-54.
Shifting Into Four Wheel Low
To shift to the Four-Wheel Low position, the ignition
must be in RUN and the vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N). Press and release the
Four-Wheel Low switch. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To
help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
If the Four-Wheel Low button is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds and not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
After 30 seconds, the transfer case will return to the
setting last chosen.
When in Four-Wheel Low, StabiliTrak
®is automatically
disabled. For more information seeStabiliTrak®
System on page 4-10.
Shifting Out of Four Wheel-Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to All-Wheel Drive, your
vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph
(5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the
ignition in RUN. Press and release the all-wheel drive
button. You must wait for the All-Wheel Drive indicator
light to stop ashing and remain illuminated before
shifting your transmission into gear.
If the All-Wheel Drive button is pressed when your
vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the All-Wheel Drive
indicator light will ash for 30 seconds but will not
complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less
than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in
NEUTRAL (N).
Shifting Into NEUTRAL
To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will
not roll.
2. Set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-35for more information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to All-Wheel Drive.
2-33