GMC Sierra 2009 Owner's Manual

2009 GMC Sierra Owner Manual M

Seats and Restraint System

Head Restraints Front Seats Rear Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Airbag System Restraint System Check

Features and Controls

Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors Object Detection Systems OnStar Universal Home Remote System Storage Areas Sunroof

........................................................ 2-3

.................................................... 2-57

System

.................................................. 2-84

......................................... 1-3

............................................... 1-4

.............................................. 1-14

............................................. 1-16

....................................... 1-38

......................................... 1-72

...................................... 2-10

................................................. 2-15

...................................... 2-70

......................................... 2-80

............................. 1-1

............................ 1-91

..................................... 2-1

............................ 2-18

.......................... 2-61

........... 2-22

................ 2-73

Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle Towing

Service and Appearance Care

Service Fuel Checking Things Under the Hood Rear Axle Four-Wheel Drive Front Axle Noise Control System Headlamp Aiming Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

......................................................... 5-6

............................................. 3-1

.......................... 3-4

...................................... 3-24

....................................... 3-84

....................................... 4-1

................................................... 4-47

.......................... 5-1

..................................................... 5-4

............................................... 5-51

..................................... 5-53

............................................... 5-56

............................... 5-57

..................................... 5-58

.................................... 5-61

........ 3-33

.................. 3-53

....... 4-2

............... 5-14

......... 5-66

Tires Appearance Care Vehicle Identiﬁcation Electrical System Capacities and Speciﬁcations

Maintenance Schedule

...................................................... 5-67

................................... 5-115

.................................... 5-123

..................................... 6-1

............................... 5-122

................... 5-131

................................ 6-2

Customer Assistance Information

Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy

................................................................ 1

Index

.................... 7-1

........................... 7-15

........... 7-2

........... 7-17

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, the GMCTruck Emblem, and the name SIERRA are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. GM reserves the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for GMC wherever it appears in this manual.

This manual describes features that may or may not be on your speciﬁc vehicle.

Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols, and words work together to explain vehicle operation.

If the vehicle has the DURAMAX the DURAMAX speciﬁc information on this engine.

Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.

Diesel supplement for additional and

Diesel engine, refer to

Canadian Owners

Canadian Owners (Propriétaires Canadiens)

A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from:

On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès du concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

1-800-551-4123

Numéro de poste 6438 de langue française

www.helminc.com

Index

To quickly locate information about the vehicle, use the index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.

Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15911381 B Second Printing

iii

Safety Warnings and Symbols

A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do not do this,” or “Do not let this happen.”

A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning.

{ CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle.

Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

Many times, this damage would not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage.

There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or Notice.

Vehicle Symbols

The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator.

M : This symbol is shown when you need to see your

owner manual for additional instructions or information.

Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.

* : This symbol is shown when you need to see a

service manual for additional instructions or information.

Vehicle Symbol Chart

Here are some additional symbols that may be found on the vehicle and what they mean. For more information on the symbol, refer to the index.

0 : Adjustable Pedals 9 : Airbag Readiness Light # : Air Conditioning ! : Antilock Brake System (ABS) g : Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar

$ : Brake System Warning Light " : Charging System

I : Cruise Control

B : Engine Coolant Temperature

O : Exterior Lamps

# : Fog Lamps

. : Fuel Gage

+ : Fuses

i : Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer

j : LATCH System Child Restraints

* : Malfunction Indicator Lamp : : Oil Pressure

g : Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors } : Power

/ : Remote Vehicle Start

> : Safety Belt Reminders

7 : Tire Pressure Monitor

_ : Tow/Haul Mode

F : Traction Control M : Windshield Washer Fluid

✍ NOTES

Section 1 Seats and Restraint System

Head Restraints ...............................................1-3

Front Seats ......................................................1-4

Manual Seats ................................................1-4

Power Seats ..................................................1-5

Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-6

Power Lumbar ...............................................1-7

Heated Seats .................................................1-8

Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals ....................1-8

Reclining Seatbacks ......................................1-10

Seatback Latches .........................................1-13

Center Seat .................................................1-13

Rear Seats .....................................................1-14

Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab Full

Bench) .....................................................1-14

Rear Seat Operation (All Split Bench and

Hybrid Full Bench) .....................................1-15

Safety Belts ...................................................1-16

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-16

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-22

Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-30

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-36

Lap Belt (Crew and Extended Cab) .................1-36

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-37

Child Restraints .............................................1-38

Older Children ..............................................1-38

Infants and Young Children ............................1-41

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-45

Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-48

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children

(LATCH) ..................................................1-49

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat

Position ...................................................1-58

Securing a Child Restraint in the Center

Front Seat Position ....................................1-61

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position (With Airbag Off Switch) ..........1-62

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position (With Passenger Sensing

System) ...................................................1-66

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position (Heavy Duty Crew Cab Only)

Airbag System ...............................................1-72

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-75

When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-77

What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-79

How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-79

......1-70

1-1

Section 1 Seats and Restraint System

What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-80

Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-81

Passenger Sensing System ............................1-84

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-89

Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle ....................................................1-90

1-2

Restraint System Check ..................................1-91

Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-91

Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash ...................................................1-92

Head Restraints

The front seats have adjustable head restraints in the outboard seating positions.

{ CAUTION:

With head restraints that are not installed and adjusted properly, there is a greater chance that occupants will suffer a neck/spinal injury in a crash. Do not drive until the head restraints for all occupants are installed and adjusted properly.

Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

1-3

Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down.

Push down on the head restraint after the button is released to make sure that it is locked in place.

The head restraints are not designed to be removed. The rear seat has head rests that can be adjusted

up and down.

Front Seats

Manual Seats

{ CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

1-4

If the vehicle has a manual seat, it can be moved forward or rearward.

1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat.

2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.

Power Seats

Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.

Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control, Power

Recline, and Power Lumbar shown

On a vehicle with power seats, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats.

Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward.

1-5

Your vehicle may have additional features to adjust your vehicle’s power seat:

• Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by

moving the front of the control up or down.

• Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by

moving the rear of the control up or down.

• Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire

control up or down.

On seats with power reclining seatbacks, the control is located behind the power seat control on the outboard side of the seats. See “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-10.

A vehicle with a memory function allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 1-8 for more information.

Manual Lumbar

On vehicles with this feature the control is located on the outboard side of the seat.

Increase or decrease lumbar support by turning the knob forward or rearward.

1-6

Power Lumbar

On seats with power lumbar, the controls used to operate this feature are located on the outboard side of the seats.

• To increase lumbar support, press and hold the front

of the control.

• To decrease lumbar support, press and hold the rear

of the control.

The vehicle may have additional features to adjust your vehicle’s power seat:

• To raise the height of the lumbar support, press

and hold the top of the control.

• To lower the height of the lumbar support, press

and hold the bottom of the control.

Release the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of lumbar support.

Your vehicle may have a memory function which allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 1-8 formore information.

Keep in mind that as your seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.

1-7

Heated Seats

On vehicles with heated front seats, the controls are located on the driver and passenger doors.

I (Heated Seatback): Press to turn on the heated

seatback.

J (Heated Seat and Seatback): Press to turn on the

heated seat and seatback. The lighton thebutton will come on to indicate thatthe

feature is working. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium, and low and to turn the heat to the seat off. Indicator lights will show the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low.

The heated seats will be canceled 10 secondsafter the ignition is turned off. To use the heated seat feature after restarting the vehicle, press the heated seat or seatback button again.

Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals

Your vehicle may have the memory package.

The controls for this feature are located on the driver’s door panel, and are used to program and recall memory settings for the driver’s seat, outside mirrors, and the adjustable throttle and brake pedal.

To save seating positions in memory:

1. Adjust the driver’s seat, including the seatback recliner and lumbar, both outside mirrors, and the throttle and brake pedals to a comfortable position.

See Outside Power Mirrors on page 2-58 and

Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 2-26

for more information. Not all mirrors, adjustable throttles and brake pedals,

or power lumbar will have the ability to save and recall their positions.

2. Press and hold button 1 until two beeps sound to indicate that the position has been stored.

1-8

A second seating, lumbar, mirror, and throttle and brake pedal position can be programmed by repeating the above steps and pressing button 2.

To recallthe memory positions, the vehicle must be in PARK (P).Press andrelease eitherbutton 1 or button 2 corresponding to the desired driving position. The seat, outside mirrors, and adjustable throttle and brake pedals will move to the position previously stored. You will hear a single beep.

If youuse the remote keyless entry transmitter to enter your vehicle and the remote recall memory feature is on, automatic seat, adjustable mirror, and adjustable pedal movements will occur. See “MEMORY SEAT RECALL” under DIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-75for moreinformation.

To stoprecall movement of the memory function at any time, press one of the power seat controls, memory buttons, power mirror buttons, or adjustable pedal switch.

If somethinghas blocked the driver’s seat and/or the adjustable pedals while recalling a memory position, the driver’s seat and/or the adjustable pedals recall may stop working. If this happens, remove the obstruction and press the appropriate control for the area that is not responding for two seconds. Try recalling the memory position again by pressing the appropriate memory button. If the memory position is still not recalling, see your dealer for service.

Easy Exit Seat

The control for this feature is located on the driver’s door panel between buttons 1 and 2.

With the vehicle in PARK (P), the driver’s seat exit position can be recalled by pressing the exit button. You will hear a single beep, and the driver’s seat will move back.

If the easy exit seat feature is programmed in the Driver Information Center (DIC), automatic seat movement will occur when the key is removed from the ignition. See “EASY EXIT SEAT” under DIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-75 for more information.

The memory seat and easy exit features can also be programmed using the DIC.

For programming information, see DIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-75.

1-9

Reclining Seatbacks

{ CAUTION:

1-10

If either seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.

{ CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this.

The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

1-11

Manual Reclining Seatbacks

On seats with manual reclining seatbacks, the lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seat(s).

To recline the seatback:

1. Lift the recline lever.

2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.

3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the following:

1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.

2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

1-12

Power Reclining Seatbacks

Seatback Latches

The front seatbacks tilt forward to allow access to the rear of the cab.

To tilt the seatback forward, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat cushion.

{ CAUTION:

If the seats have power reclining seatbacks, the control used to recline them is located on the outboard side of the seat behind the power seat control.

• To recline the seatback, tilt the top of the control

rearward.

• To bring the seatback forward, tilt the top of the

control forward.

Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

To return the seatback to the upright position, push the seatback rearward until it latches. After returning the seatback to its upright position, push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.

Center Seat

Your vehicle may have a front center seat. The seatback doubles as an armrest and cupholder/storage area for the driver and passenger when the center seat is not used. Do not use it as a seating position when the seatback is folded down.

1-13

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab Full Bench)

Folding the Rear Seat

To fold the seat up, do the following:

Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.

1. Pull up on the front of the seat cushion while pulling down on the release strap, located under the seat cushion.

2. Pull the seat cushion up until it latches with the seatback.

3. After latching the seat cushion up, pull forward on it to make sure it is locked.

To fold the seat down, do the following:

1. Push the seat cushion rearward while pulling the release strap, located under the seat cushion. Pull the seat cushion down until it latches.

2. After latching the seat cushion, pull up on it to make sure it is locked.

1-14

Rear Seat Operation (All Split Bench and Hybrid Full Bench)

{ CAUTION:

Folding Rear Seat

On a vehicle with a second row 60/40 split seat either side of the rear seat may be folded for added cargo space.

Make sure that nothing is on the seat. To fold the seat, slowly pull the seat cushion up. To return the seat to the normal seating position, slowly

pull the seat cushion down.

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

1-15

Safety Belts

CAUTION: (Continued)

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.

{ CAUTION:

Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, the injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from the

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-16

vehicle. You and your passenger(s) can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too.

{ CAUTION:

People riding on the tailgate (if equipped) can easily lose their balance and fall even when the vehicle is operated at low speeds. Falling from a moving vehicle may result in serious injuries or death.

{ CAUTION:

It isextremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-36.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:

You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.

After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot!

1-17

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

1-18

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

1-19

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense.

1-20

Questions and Answers About Safety Belts

Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I

am wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety

belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down.

Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they

work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a

crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

1-21

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-38 orInfants and Young Children on page 1-41. Followthose rulesfor everyone’s protection.

It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts.

Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know.

Sit upstraight andalways keep your feet on the ﬂoorin front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.

1-22

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give as

much protection this way.

{ CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt snugly against your body.

1-23

Q: What is wrong with this?

A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as

much protection this way.

{ CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.

1-24

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