ignition GMC YUKON 2009 Owner's Guide

Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send the
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. Read the following before using four-wheel
drive.
Notice:Driving on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive Low 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 High or
Four-Wheel-Drive Low for extended periods of time.
While driving on clean dry pavement and during tight
turns, you may experience a vibration in the steering
system.
The vehicle has StabiliTrak
®. Shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-6.
Front Axle
The front axle engages and disengages automatically
when you shift the transfer case. Some delay for
the axle to engage or disengage is normal.
Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is
located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster.
Use this dial to shift into and out of four-wheel drive.
You can choose among ve driving settings:
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting
will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take
the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. An
indicator light will ash while shifting. It will stay on
when the shift is completed. If for some reason
the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will
return to the last chosen setting.
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Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive High or
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive)
Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel High or AUTO position.
This can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel Drive Low. The indicator light will ash
while shifting. It will remain on when the shift is
completed.
Shifting Into Two-Wheel Drive High
Turn the knob to the Two-Wheel High position. This
can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel Drive Low.
See shifting out of Four-Wheel Drive Low later in this
section for more information.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive Low
When Four-Wheel Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph (72 km/h). Extended
high-speed operation in 4L may damage or shorten
the life of the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel Drive Low position, the ignition
must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmissionin N (Neutral). The preferred method for shifting into
Four-Wheel Drive Low is to have the vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel Drive Low position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting the transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped ashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
ashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have signicant engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from N (Neutral)
while the engine is running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive Low
position when the vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light will ash for
30 seconds and not complete the shift unless the vehicle
is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission
is in N (Neutral). After 30 seconds the transfer case
will shift to Four-Wheel Drive High mode.
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Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Drive Low to Four-Wheel Drive
High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High, the vehicle must
be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in N (Neutral) and the ignition in ON/RUN.
The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel
Drive Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph
(1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel Drive
High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High position. You
must wait for the Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO, or
Two-Wheel Drive High indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting the transmission into gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped ashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
ashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have signicant engagement noise
and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from N (Neutral)
while the engine is running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High switch position when
the vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel
Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator
light will ash for 30 seconds but will not complete
the shift unless the vehicle is moving less than
3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in N (Neutral).
Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case to N (Neutral) do the following:
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will
not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-42for more
information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to N (Neutral)
until it stops and hold it there until the N (Neutral)
light starts blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release the dial to the
Four-Wheel Drive Low position. The N (Neutral) light
will come on when the transfer case shift to
N (Neutral) is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify that the transfer case
is in N (Neutral) by shifting the transmission to
R (Reverse) for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for one second.
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8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will
turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of Neutral
To shift out of N Neutral do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off,
and shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
3. Turn the transfer case dial to the desired transfer
case shift position (Two-Wheel Drive High,
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO).
After the transfer case has shifted out of N (Neutral),
the N (Neutral) light will go out.4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has
stopped ashing could damage the transfer case.
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, always wait for
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop
ashing before shifting the transmission into gear.
5. 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.
2-41

Parking Brake
For vehicles with a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-40.A chime sounds and the warning light ashes when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 5 mph (8 km/h).
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then pull the bottom edge of the lever with
the parking brake symbol, located above the parking
brake pedal.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-52.
2-42

For vehicles without a release handle, set the parking
brake by holding the regular brake pedal down,
then pushing down the parking brake pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-40.Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push down momentarily on the parking
brake pedal until you feel the pedal release. Slowly
pull your foot up off the park brake pedal. If the parking
brake is not released when you begin to drive, the
brake system warning light will ash and a chime will
sound warning you that the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-52.
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Shifting Into Park
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, use the steps that follow. With
four-wheel drive, if the transfer case is in Neutral,
the vehicle will be free to roll, even if the shift lever
is in P (Park). So, be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in Neutral. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-52.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking
brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-42for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by
pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up
as far as it will go.3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not
in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, the vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the
engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and the transfer case
is in Neutral, the vehicle will be free to roll, even if
the shift lever is in P (Park). So be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear — not in Neutral.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re. You
or others could be injured. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine running unless you have to.
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If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running,
be sure your vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking brake
is rmly set before you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular brake pedal down.
Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without rst pulling it toward you. If you can, it
means that the shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of P (Park). This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into P (Park) properly before you leave the driver seat.
To nd out how, seeShifting Into Park on page 2-44.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of P (Park) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, then
you will be able to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
Shifting Out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in P (Park) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY and the regular brake pedal is
applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
SeeJump Starting on page 5-45for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever all the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the
vehicle serviced soon.
2-45

O(On/Off):Press to turn the dimming feature on
or off.
The vehicle may also have a Rear Vision Camera
(RVC). SeeRear Vision Camera (RVC) on page 2-59
for more information.
If the vehicle has RVC, the
O(On/Off) button for
turning the automatic dimming feature on or off will not
be available.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Automatic dimming reduces the glare from the
headlamps of the vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature comes on and the indicator light illuminates each
time the ignition is turned to start.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror. Use a
soft towel dampened with water.
Outside Manual Mirrors
Adjust the outside mirrors to see the side of the vehicle
and have a clear view of objects behind you.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage when
going through an automatic car wash. To fold, push the
mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return to its original position.
Using hood-mounted air deectors and add-on convex
mirror attachments could decrease mirror performance.
Outside Towing Mirrors
If the vehicle has towing mirrors, they can be adjusted
for a clearer view of the objects behind you. Manually
pull out the mirror head to extend it for better visibility
when towing a trailer.
Manually fold the mirrors forward or rearward. The
lower portion of the mirror is convex. A convex mirror’s
surface is curved to see more from the driver seat.
The convex mirror can be adjusted manually to
the driver preferred position for better vision.
The mirror may have a turn signal arrow that ashes in
the direction of the turn or lane change.
2-49

Resetting the Power Foldaway Mirrors
Reset the power foldaway mirrors if:
The mirrors are accidentally obstructed while
folding.
They are accidentally manually folded/unfolded.
The mirrors will not stay in the unfolded position.
The mirrors shake and utter at normal driving
speeds.
Fold and unfold them one time using the mirror controls
to reset them to their normal position.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may have a turn signal indicator on the
mirror. An arrow on the mirror ashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
Ground Illumination Lamps
The mirrors may also include ground illumination lamps in
the base of the mirror. These lamps help to see the area
near the base of the front doors when it is dark out.
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
Vehicles with this feature have a driver outside
mirror that adjusts for the glare of headlamps behind
you. SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview Mirror on
page 2-48for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
Vehicles with the memory package have a passenger
and/or driver mirror that tilts to a preselected position
when the vehicle is in R (Reverse). This feature lets the
driver view the curb when parallel parking. The mirror(s)
return to the original position when the vehicle is shifted
out of R (Reverse), or the ignition is turned off.
Turn this feature on or off through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With
DIC Buttons) on page 3-74for more information.
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