tow GMC YUKON XL 2018 Owner's Guide

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 201Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar). The tire and loading
information label shows the
number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
size of the original equipment tires (3) and the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures (4).
For more information on tires
and inflation see Tires 0 320
and Tire Pressure 0 327 .
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certification/Tire label. It may
show the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
the front and rear axles. See
“ Certification/Tire Label ” later in
this section.
“ Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit –1.
Locate the statement "The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle ’ s
placard.
2.
Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle. 3.
Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs. 4.
The resulting figure equals
the available amount of
cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.) 5.
Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.
If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
202 Driving and Operating your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle. ”See Trailer Towing 0 262 for
important information on towing a
trailer, towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.
Example 1
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lbs) 3. Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs)
Example 2
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 =
136 kg (750 lbs)
3. Available Cargo Weight =
113 kg (250 lbs) Example 3
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 3 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 91 kg (200 lbs) × 5 =
453 kg (1,000 lbs)
3. Available Cargo Weight =
0 kg (0 lbs)
Refer to the vehicle's tire and
loading information label for
specific information about the
vehicle's capacity weight and
seating positions. The combined

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 205Caution (Continued) premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
0 262 for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle
and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal If equipped, the position of the
throttle and brake pedals can be
changed.
The pedals can only be adjusted
when the vehicle is in P (Park). The switch used to adjust the
pedals is to the left of the steering
wheel.
Press the switch to the left to move
the pedals closer to your body.
Press the switch to the right to move
the pedals away.
Before you start driving, fully press
the brake pedal to confirm the
adjustment is right for you.
The vehicle may have a memory
function, which lets pedal settings
be saved and recalled. See Memory
Seats 0 64 . Ignition Positions
(Keyless Access)
Vehicles equipped with Keyless
Access have pushbutton starting.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference
to the Keyless Access system.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 31 or Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) 0 33 .

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
208 Driving and Operating 2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral).
This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift
to P (Park), and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF. On
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0 228 .
{ Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency. If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
CautionUsing a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. It also
unlocks the steering wheel. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
2 (ON/RUN) : This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.
If the key is left in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. The vehicle may not
start if the battery is allowed to drain
for an extended period of time.
3 (START) : This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened and the
ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF, and the key is in the
ignition.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
212 Driving and Operating 4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY. Shifting Into Park
{ WarningIt can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly 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. If the vehicle has a
four-wheel-drive transfer case
with a N (Neutral) position, and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0 259 .
1. Hold the brake pedal down,
then set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0 228 . 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 off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{ WarningIt 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
firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (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
N (Neutral).
(Continued)

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 213Warning (Continued)And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly 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 first 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 the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find 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.
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. You will then 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 system is
designed to prevent movement of
the shift lever out of P (Park), unless
the ignition is on and the 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. See Jump Starting - North
America 0 351 .
To shift out of P (Park):
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, push 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.

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 215
Engine Exhaust
{ WarningEngine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.
The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
.
The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.
The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.
The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified,
damaged, or improperly
repaired.
(Continued) Warning (Continued) .
There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.
Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
.
Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation. Running the Vehicle
While Parked It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0 212 and
Engine Exhaust 0 215 .
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0 259 .

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
216 Driving and Operating
Automatic
Transmission If equipped, there is an electronic
shift lever position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display
comes on when the ignition is
turned on.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
See “ Range Selection Mode ” under
Manual Mode 0 218 .
P : This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine because the vehicle
cannot move easily. When parked
on a hill, especially when the
vehicle has a heavy load, you might
notice an increase in the effort to
shift out of P (Park). See “ Torque
Lock ” under Shifting Into Park
0 212 . { WarningIt is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. 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,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0 212 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0 259 .
{ Warning
If you have four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll — even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) — if
the transfer case is in N (Neutral).
(Continued) Warning (Continued) So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low — not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
0 212 .
R : Use this gear to back up.
CautionShifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0 200 .

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
Driving and Operating 217N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{ WarningShifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle. CautionA transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode
when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills,
or driving off-road. 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 0 192 . 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 transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. The adaptive shift
control process continually
compares key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored
in the transmission ’ s 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

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-11349262) - 2018 - crc - 6/21/17
218 Driving and Operating 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 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.
L : This position allows selection of
a range of gears appropriate for
current driving conditions.
If equipped, see “ Range Selection
Mode ” under Manual Mode 0 218 .
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
(Continued) Caution (Continued) When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Normal Mode Grade Braking This mode is enabled when the
vehicle is started, but is not enabled
in Range Selection Mode. It assists
in maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The first time the system engages
for each ignition cycle, a DIC
message will be displayed.
To disable or enable Normal Mode
Grade Braking within the current
ignition cycle, press and hold the
Tow/Haul button for five seconds.
When the button is released, the
requested mode change is made.
A DIC message displays.
For other forms of grade braking,
see Tow/Haul Mode 0 222 and
Cruise Control 0 233 . Kickdown Mode The accelerator pedal provides an
additional downshift after pressing
through the kickdown feature.
It requires extra pedal pressure near
the end of its travel to engage.
Manual Mode Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Mode
helps control the vehicle's
transmission and vehicle speed
while driving downhill or towing a
trailer by letting you select a desired
range of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to
L (Manual Mode).