fuel GMC YUKON XL 2010 User Guide

Active Fuel Management™
Vehicles with V8 engines may have Active Fuel
Management™. This system allows the engine to
operate on either all or half of its cylinders, depending
on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as cruising at a
constant vehicle speed, the system will operate in the
half cylinder mode, allowing the vehicle to achieve
better fuel economy. When greater power demands
are required, such as accelerating from a stop, passing,
or merging onto a freeway, the system will maintain
full-cylinder operation.
If the vehicle has an Active Fuel Management™
indicator, seeDIC Operation and Displays (With DIC
Buttons)
on page 4‑48or DIC Operation and Displays
(Without DIC Buttons)on page 4‑55for more
information on using this display .
Automatic Transmission Operation
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
If the vehicle is has an automatic transmission, it has an
electronic shift position indicator within the instrument
panel cluster. This display comes on when the ignition
key is turned to the ON/RUN position.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
Hydra-Matic®4-Speed
Automatic Transmission
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D (Drive):This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next
gear and has more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road driving.
You might want to shift the transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding. See Skidding
under Loss of Control on page 5‑11.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that
adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and
downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed
to determine, before making an upshift, if the engine is
able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things such
as vehicle speed, throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission
does not upshift and instead holds the current gear.
In some cases, this could appear to be a delayed shift,
however the transmission is operating normally. The vehicle's transmission uses adaptive shift controls.
Adaptive shift controls continually compares key shift
parameters to pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the
transmissions computer. The transmission constantly
makes adjustments to improve vehicle performance
according to how the vehicle is being used, such as
with a heavy load or when the temperature changes.
During this adaptive shift control process, shifting might
feel different as the transmission determines the best
settings.
When temperatures are very cold, the Hydra-Matic
®
6-Speed transmission's gear shifting could be delayed
providing more stable shifts until the engine warms
up. Shifts could be more noticeable with a cold
transmission. This difference in shifting is normal.
M (Manual Mode):
This position is available on vehicles
with the Hydra-Matic
®6-Speed transmission. It lets
drivers select the range of gears appropriate for current
driving conditions. If the vehicle has this feature,
see Range Select Mode (Hydra-Matic
®6-Speed
transmission) later in this section.
3 (Third): This position is also used for normal driving.
It reduces vehicle speed more than D (Drive) without
using the brakes. You might choose 3 (Third) instead
of D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when
towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears
and when going down a steep hill.
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2m(Two-Wheel Drive High):This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle's software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive 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
the vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This setting also
engages the 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
Drive Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending
steep hills. The vehicle has StabiliTrak
®. Shifting into
Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
{WARNING:
Shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral) can
cause the vehicle to roll even if the transmission
is in P (Park). You or someone else could be
seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in N (Neutral).
SeeParking Brake on page 3‑48.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's transfer case
to N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle.
See Recreational Vehicle Towing
on page 5‑41orTowing Your Vehicleon page 5‑41for more
information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take the vehicle to your dealer for service.
See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message” underDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑61.
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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.
The vehicle has Four-Wheel-Drive with StabiliTrak
®.
For information on StabiliTrak®, see StabiliTrak®Systemon page 5‑6.
You can choose among three driving settings:
Indicator lights in the switch show you which setting you
are in. The indicator lights will come on briefly 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 for service. An indicator light will flash 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.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High):
This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations. The front
axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving the vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle's software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive 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 the front axle to help drive
the vehicle. This is the best setting to use when
plowing snow.
3-47

Section 4 Instrument Panel
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-44
Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Highbeam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-47
DIC Operation and Displays (With DIC Buttons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48
DIC Operation and Displays (Without DIC Buttons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
DIC Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
DIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-72 Audio System(s)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-80
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-81
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-82
Using an MP3 (Radios with CD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-99
Using an MP3 (Radios with CD and DVD) . . . . 4-106
XM Radio Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-113
Navigation/Radio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-114
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-114
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) System . . . . . . 4-125
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-134
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-136
Audio Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-136
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-139
Rear Side Window Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-140
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . . . . . . 4-140
4-2

Voltmeter Gauge
When the engine is not
running, but the ignition is
on, this gauge shows the
battery's state of charge
in DC volts.
When the engine is running, the gauge shows the
condition of the charging system. The charging system
regulates voltage based on the state of the battery for
improved fuel economy and battery life. The gauge may
transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher
reading, this is normal. Readings between the low
and high warning zones indicate the normal operating
range. The gauge may also read low during the fuel
economy mode, this is normal. Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating
in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system is not able to provide full power at
engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this
condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds
allow the charging system to create full power. If there
is a problem with the battery charging system, this light
will come on or the SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM DIC message will display. See
DIC Warnings
and Messages
on page 4‑61and Charging System
Lighton page 4‑34for more information.
4-35

Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with a tire
pressure monitoring
system, this light comes
on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides
information about tire
pressures and the Tire
Pressure Monitoring
System.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires is
significantly underinflated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), can accompany the light. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑47for more
information. Stop and check the tires as soon as it
is safe to do so. If underinflated, inflate to the proper
pressure. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑72for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady
This indicates that there may be a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System. The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on
page 6‑75for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It ensures that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This light should come on
when the ignition is on,
but the engine is not
running, as a check to
show it is working. If it
does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
4-39

If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage to the vehicle.
This system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If the vehicle is continually driven with this
light on, after a while, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle's fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement of the original
tires with other than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle's
emission controls and can cause this light to come
on. Modifications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6‑4. This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing:
A misfire condition has been detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and could
damage the emission control system on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the vehicle off, wait at least 10 seconds, and
restart the engine. If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps and see your dealer for service as soon
as possible.
4-40

Light On Steady:An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected by
doing the following:
.Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. See Filling
the Tankon page 6‑11. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few
driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
.If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle's electrical system
might be wet. The condition is usually corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few driving
trips should turn the light off.
.Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and can cause: stalling
after start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed
into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change
the fuel brand used. It will require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Gasoline Octane on page 6‑7.
If none of the above have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. The dealer has the
proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that might have
developed.
4-41

Fuel Gauge
United StatesCanada
The fuel gauge, when the ignition is on, shows how
much fuel the vehicle has left in the tank.
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates the side of the
vehicle the fuel door is on.
The gauge first indicates empty before the vehicle is out
of fuel, and the vehicle's fuel tank should be filled soon. When the fuel tank is low, the FUEL LEVEL LOW
message appears in the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑61for more information.
Here are some situations owners may experience with
the fuel gauge. None of these indicate a problem with
the fuel gauge.
.At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before
the gauge reads full.
.It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
fuel gauge indicated. For example, the gauge may
have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the tank's
capacity to fill the tank.
.The gauge goes back to empty when the ignition is
turned off.
For vehicles with a Two-mode Hybrid, see the
Two-mode Hybrid manual for more information.
4-46