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Sierra 2011
Owner's Manual
570 pgs6.91 Mb0
User Manual
34 pgs3.28 Mb0
Owner Manual
594 pgs6.87 Mb0
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GMC Sierra 2011 Owner's Manual

Black plate (1,1)
GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
2011 GMC Sierra Owner Manual M
Information Provided by:
In Brief . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . .1-8
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-31
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-11
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .2-17
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Front Seats . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-12
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3-28
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Information Displays . . . . . . . .. . 5-32
Vehicle Messages.. . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Vehicle Personalization.. . . . . . 5-50
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-58
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . 6-7
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . ..7-7
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-36
Phone . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7-47
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-10
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-32
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Automatic Transmission . . . . . .9-43
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 9-52
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . .9-68
Cruise Control . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 9-71
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-74
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-81
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-87
Conversions and
Add-Ons . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 9-119
Vehicle Care . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Vehicle Checks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-92
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-97
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . .10-102
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
2011 GMC Sierra Owner Manual M
Information Provided by:
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . . 11-8
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-12
Technical Data . . . . . . ......... 12-1
Vehicle Identification.. . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-15
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011

Introduction iii

Information Provided by:
The names, logos, emblems, slogans, vehicle model names, and vehicle body designs appearing in this manual including, but not limited to, GM, the GM logo, GMC, the GMC Truck Emblem, and SIERRA are trademarks and/or service marks of General Motors LLC, its subsidiaries, affiliates, or licensors.
This manual describes features that may or may not be on your specific vehicle either because they are options that you did not purchase or due to changes subsequent to the printing of this owner manual.
Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 25965915 A First Printing
Please refer to the purchase documentation relating to your specific vehicle to confirm each of the features found on your vehicle. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for GMC Division wherever it appears in this manual.
If the vehicle has the Duramax
®
Diesel engine, see the Duramax diesel supplement for additional and specific information on this engine.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the hybrid supplement for more information.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
©
2010 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Canadian Vehicle Owners

Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer 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
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
iv Introduction
Information Provided by:

Using this Manual

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.

Danger, Warnings, and Cautions

Warning messages found on vehicle labels and in this manual describe hazards and what to do to avoid or reduce them.
Danger indicates a hazard with a high level of risk which will result in serious injury or death.
Warning or Caution indicates a hazard that could result in injury or death.
WARNING
{
These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.
Notice: This means there is something that could result in property or vehicle damage. This would not be covered by the vehicle's warranty.
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.”

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, gauge, or indicator.
M : This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual for additional instructions or information.
* : This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual for additional instructions or information.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Information Provided by:
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 Gauge
+ : Fuses
3 : 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
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
vi Introduction
Information Provided by:
2 NOTES
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
Information Provided by:

In Brief

Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel (Base/Uplevel
Version) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Instrument Panel (Premium
Version) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Heated Seats . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Head Restraint
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 1-14
Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Windshield Wiper/Washer .... 1-18
Climate Controls . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1-19
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-25
Bluetooth
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-26
Navigation System . . . . . . . .. . . 1-27
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-28
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-29
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29
Universal Remote System . . . 1-29
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-30
®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-31
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-31
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-32
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-32
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-32
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . 1-33
®
OnStar
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-33
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-2 In Brief
Information Provided by:

Instrument Panel

Instrument Panel (Base/Uplevel Version)

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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-3
Information Provided by:
A. Air Vents on page 8‑10.
B. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑5
.
Windshield Wiper/Washer page 5‑5
.
C. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 5‑32.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers
page 6‑5
.
E. Instrument Cluster
page 5‑13
.
on
on
on
F. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission
on page 9‑43
Tow/Haul Selector Button (If Equipped). See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑49.
Range Selection Mode (Allison Transmission and Hydra-Matic 6‐Speed Button (If Equipped). See Manual Mode
page 9‑48
.
on
G. AM-FM Radio on page 7‑7.
H. Instrument Panel Storage
page 4‑1
.
on
I. Integrated Trailer Brake
.
Controller (If Equipped). See Trailer Towing on page 9‑91.
J. Exterior Lamp Controls
page 6‑1
K. Data Link Connector (DLC).
®
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 5‑25
.
.
on
L. Hood on page 10‑5.
M. Parking Brake on page 9‑66.
N. Dome Lamps on page 6‑7.
Fog Lamps
on page 6‑6
(If Equipped).
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-4 In Brief
Information Provided by:
O. Cruise Control on page 9‑71.
P. Steering Wheel Adjustment
page 5‑2
.
Q. Horn on page 5‑5.
R. Steering Wheel Controls
page 5‑3
(If Equipped).
S. Automatic Transfer Case
Control (If Equipped). See
Four-Wheel Drive page 10‑30
on
.
T. Ashtray (If Equipped). See
Ashtrays
on page 5‑12
Cigarette Lighter on page 5‑11.
on
and
on
U. StabiliTrak
page 9‑68
Ultrasonic Parking Assist page 9‑74
®
System
on
(If Equipped).
(If Equipped).
on
Pedal Adjust Button (If Equipped). See Adjustable
Throttle and Brake Pedal page 9‑33
.
on
Exhaust Brake (if Equipped). See "Brakes" in the Duramax diesel supplement.
V. Power Outlets on page 5‑10.
W. Climate Control Systems (with
Air Conditioning)
on page 8‑1 or Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only) page 8‑4
(If Equipped).
on
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5
(If Equipped) .
X. Power Take Off (PTO) Control
(If Equipped). See Power Take Off (PTO) in the Duramax diesel supplement Index.
Y. Passenger Airbag Off Control
(If Equipped). See Airbag On-Off Switch on page 3‑36.
Z. Glove Box on page 4‑1.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
2 NOTES
Information Provided by:
In Brief 1-5
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-6 In Brief
Information Provided by:

Instrument Panel (Premium Version)

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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-7
Information Provided by:
A. Air Vents on page 8‑10.
B. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑5
.
Windshield Wiper/Washer page 5‑5
.
C. Instrument Cluster
page 5‑13
.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers
page 6‑5
.
E. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑43.
F. Tow/Haul Mode
(If Equipped).
G. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 5‑32.
H. AM-FM Radio on page 7‑7.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls
page 6‑1
.
J. Integrated Trailer Brake
Controller (If Equipped). See Trailer Towing on page 9‑91.
K. Dome Lamps
on page 6‑7
on
on
on
on page 9‑49
on
.
L. Automatic Transfer Case
Control. (If Equipped). See
Four-Wheel Drive page 10‑30
on
.
M. Data Link Connector (DLC).
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 5‑25
.
N. Hood on page 10‑5.
O. Parking Brake on page 9‑66.
P. Cruise Control on page 9‑71.
Q. Steering Wheel Adjustment
page 5‑2
.
on
R. Horn on page 5‑5.
S. Steering Wheel Controls
page 5‑3
.
on
T. Climate Control Systems (with
Air Conditioning)
on page 8‑1 or Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only) page 8‑4
(If equipped).
on
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
on page 8‑5
(If
Equipped).
U. Power Outlets on page 5‑10.
Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped). See Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
page 5‑11
V. StabiliTrak
page 9‑68
on page 5‑12
.
®
System
on
(If Equipped).
on
Pedal Adjust Button (If Equipped). See Adjustable
Throttle and Brake Pedal page 9‑33
.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist page 9‑74
(If Equipped).
on
on
Exhaust Brake (if Equipped). See "Brakes" in the Duramax diesel supplement.
W. Passenger Airbag Off Control
(If Equipped). See Airbag On-Off Switch on page 3‑36.
X. Glove Box on page 4‑1.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-8 In Brief
Information Provided by:

Initial Drive Information

This section provides a brief overview about some of the important features that may or may not be on your specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer to each of the features which can be found later in this owner manual.

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System

The RKE transmitter is used to remotely lock and unlock the doors from up to 60 m (195 ft) away from the vehicle.
Press K to unlock the driver door.
K again within three seconds
Press to unlock all remaining doors.
Q to lock all doors.
Press
Lock and unlock feedback can be personalized.
L and release to locate the
Press vehicle.
L and hold for more than
Press two seconds to sound the panic alarm.
L again to cancel the panic
Press alarm.
See Keys
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2‑3.
on page 2‑2
and

Remote Vehicle Start

With this feature the engine can be started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press
3. Immediately after completing
When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn on and remain on as long as the engine is running. The doors will be locked and the climate control system may come on.
Q.
Step 2, press and hold the turn signal lamps flash.
/ until
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-9
Information Provided by:
The engine will continue to run for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps for a 10-minute time extension. Remote start can be extended only once.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start:
.
Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press and hold
until the parking lamps turn off.
.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.
Turn the ignition on and then back off.
See Remote Vehicle Start
page 2‑5
.
on
/

Door Locks

There are several ways to lock and unlock the vehicle.
From outside, use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or the key in the driver door. From inside, use the power door locks or the manual door locks. To lock or unlock the door with the manual locks, push down or pull up on the manual lock knob.
Power Door Locks
If available, these switches are located on the front doors.
K : Press to unlock the doors. Q : Remove the key from the
ignition and press to lock the doors.
For more information, see:
.
Automatic Door Locks page 2‑8
.
Safety Locks on page 2‑8.
.
on

Windows

Turn the hand crank on each door to manually raise or lower the manual windows.
Power Windows
Crew Cab Shown
If available, the power window switches are located on each of the side doors in the front and rear.
The driver door has a switch for the passenger window and rear windows.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-10 In Brief
Information Provided by:
Press the switch to lower the window. Pull the switch up to raise it.
For more information, see:
.
Windows on page 2‑18.
.
Power Windows on page 2‑18.
Power Sliding Rear Window
On vehicles with a power sliding rear window, the switch is located in the overhead console. See Rear Windows on page 2‑19.
The power sliding rear window cannot be operated manually. Push or pull the switch to open or close the window.

Seat Adjustment

Front Seats
Manual Seats
On vehicles with 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.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.
See Seat Adjustment
on page 3‑3
for more information.
Power Seats
On vehicles with power seats, the controls are on the outboard side of the front seats.
Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward.
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In Brief 1-11
Information Provided by:
Raise or lower the front or rear part of the cushion by moving the front or rear part of the control up or down.
Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire control up or down.
See Power Seat Adjustment
page 3‑3
for more information.
Manual Lumbar
On vehicles with manual lumbar, the knob is on the outboard side of the seat.
on
Increase or decrease lumbar support by turning the knob forward or rearward.
See Lumbar Adjustment
page 3‑6
for more information.
on
Power Lumbar
On vehicles with power lumbar, the control is on the outboard side of the seat.
On vehicles with two-way lumbar, press and hold the top of the control to increase lumbar support. To decrease, press and hold the bottom of the control.
On vehicles with four-way lumbar, press and hold the front of the control to increase lumbar support. To decrease, press and hold the rear of the control. To raise the height of the support, press and hold the top of the control. To lower, press and hold the bottom of the control.
See Lumbar Adjustment
page 3‑6
for more information.
on
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1-12 In Brief
Information Provided by:
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
On vehicles with manual reclining seatbacks, the lever is on the outboard side of the seat.
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.
See Reclining Seatbacks
page 3‑7
for more information.
on
Power Reclining Seatbacks
On vehicles with power reclining seatbacks, the control is on the outboard side of the seat.
To recline the seatback, tilt the top of the control rearward.
To bring the seatback forward, tilt the top of the control forward.
See Reclining Seatbacks
page 3‑7
for more information.
on

Memory Features

On vehicles with the memory feature, the controls on the driver door are used to program and recall memory settings for the driver seat, outside mirrors, and the adjustable throttle and brake pedals, if the vehicle has this feature.
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In Brief 1-13
Information Provided by:
Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat and seatback recliner, both outside mirrors, and the throttle and brake pedals, if available.
See Power Mirrors
page 2‑15 Throttle and Brake Pedal page 9‑33
Not all mirrors and adjustable throttles and brake pedals will have the ability to save and recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “1” until two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver position using “2.”
To recall the memory positions, press and release “1” or “2.” The vehicle must be in P (Park). A single beep will sound. The seat, outside mirrors, and adjustable throttle and brake pedals, if available, will move to the position previously stored for the identified driver.
and Adjustable
for more information.
on
on
See “Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals” under Power Seat
Adjustment Vehicle Personalization (with DIC Buttons)
information.
Easy Exit Driver Seat
The easy exit driver seat feature can move the seat rearward to allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
on page 3‑3
on page 5‑50
and
for more
B : Press to recall the easy exit
seat position. The vehicle must be in P (Park).
See “Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals” under Power Seat
Adjustment Vehicle Personalization (with DIC Buttons)
information.
on page 3‑3
on page 5‑50
and
for more

Heated Seats

On vehicles with heated front seats, the controls are located on the driver and passenger doors.
I : Press to heat the
seatback only.
J : Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
The light on the button will come on to indicate that the 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.
See Heated Front Seats
page 3‑9
.
on
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1-14 In Brief
Information Provided by:

Head Restraint Adjustment

Do not drive until the head restraints for all occupants are installed and adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating position, change the seatback recline angle as little as necessary while keeping the seat and the head restraint height in the proper position.
For more information see Head
Restraints Adjustment on page 3‑3.
on page 3‑2
and Seat

Safety Belt

Refer to the following sections for important information on how to use safety belts properly.
.
Safety Belts on page 3‑12.
.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly on page 3‑15.
.
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑20.
.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) page 3‑55
.
on

Sensing System for Passenger Airbag

The passenger sensing system, if equipped, turns off the right front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver airbags, seat‐mounted side impact airbags and roof‐rail airbags are not affected by this.
If the vehicle has one of the indicators pictured in the following illustrations, then the vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger position unless there is an airbag off switch located in the glove box.
If there is an airbag off switch, the vehicle does not have a passenger sensing system. See Airbag On-Off
Switch
on page 3‑36
information.
for more
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-15
Information Provided by:
The passenger airbag status indicator will be visible on the overhead console when the vehicle is started.
United States
Canada and Mexico
See Passenger Sensing System page 3‑39
for important information.

Mirror Adjustment

Exterior Mirrors
Vehicles with outside power mirrors and foldaway mirrors have controls located on the driver door.
1. Press (A) or (B) to select the
on
driver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Press either (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror.
See Manual Mirrors
on page 2‑14
or Power Mirrors on page 2‑15.
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. See Trailer-Tow Mirrors on page 2‑14.
Power Foldaway Mirrors
To fold the mirrors:
1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out to the driving position.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors in to the folded position.
Manual Foldaway Mirrors
Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage when going through an automatic car wash. To fold, pull the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to return to its original position.
See Folding Mirrors on page 2‑15.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-16 In Brief
Information Provided by:
Interior Mirror
Vehicles with a manual rearview mirror can be adjusted to see clearly behind the vehicle. Hold the mirror in the center to move it up or down and side to side. To reduce headlamp glare during nighttime use, pull the tab forward for daytime use and push it for nighttime use.
Vehicles with the automatic dimming feature will automatically reduce the glare of lights from behind the vehicle. The dimming feature comes on and the indicator light illuminates each time the vehicle is started.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
on page 2‑17
information.
for more

Steering Wheel Adjustment

The tilt lever is located on the lower left side of the steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Hold the steering wheel and pull the lever.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.

Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment

On vehicles with this feature, you can change the position of the throttle and brake pedals.
The switch used to adjust the pedals is located on the instrument panel below the climate control system.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-17
Information Provided by:
Press the arrow at the bottom of the switch to move the pedals closer to your body. Press the arrow at the top of the switch to move the pedals away from your body.
See Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 9‑33.

Interior Lighting

Dome Lamps
The dome lamps come on when any door is opened. They turn off after all the doors are closed.
Turn the instrument panel brightness knob clockwise to the farthest position to turn on the dome lamps. The dome lamps remain on until the knob is turned counterclockwise.
Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is located next to the exterior lamps control.
k : Press the button in and the
dome lamps remain off when a door is opened. Press the button again to return it to the extended position so that the dome lamps come on when a door is opened.
Reading Lamps
For vehicles with reading lamps in the overhead console, press the button located next to the lamp to turn it on or off.
The vehicle may also have reading lamps in other locations. The lamps cannot be adjusted.
For more information about interior lamps, see:
.
Dome Lamps on page 6‑7.
.
Reading Lamps on page 6‑8.
.
Instrument Panel Illumination Control on page 6‑7.

Exterior Lighting

The exterior lamps control is located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-18 In Brief
Information Provided by:
O : Turns off the automatic
headlamps and daytime running lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp control to the off position again to turn the automatic headlamps or DRL back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the off position will only work when the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
AUTO: Automatically turns on the headlamps, parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, and license plate lamps.
;: Turns on the parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, and license plate lamps.
2: Turns on the headlamps, parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, and license plate lamps.
For more information, see:
.
Exterior Lamp Controls page 6‑1
.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 6‑3
.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑6.
.
.
on

Windshield Wiper/Washer

8 : Single wipe, turn to 8, then
release. Several wipes, hold the band on
8 longer.
9 : Turns the windshield
wipers off.
6 : Turn the band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less frequent wipes.
] : Slow wipes. ? : Fast wipes.
L : Push the paddle at the top of
the lever to spray washer fluid on the windshield.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer
page 5‑5
.
on
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011

Climate Controls

Information Provided by:
These systems control the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Climate Control System (With Air Conditioning)
In Brief 1-19
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning
E. Outside Air
F. Air Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-20 In Brief
Information Provided by:
Climate Control System (With Heater Only)
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
See Climate Control Systems (with
Air Conditioning)
on page 8‑1
or
Climate Control Systems (with Heater Only) on page 8‑4.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-21
Information Provided by:
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
A. Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls
B. Fan Control
C. AUTO
D. Defrost
E. Air Recirculation
F. Outside Air
G. Air Delivery Mode Control
H. Display
I. Power Button
J. Rear Window Defogger
K. Air Conditioning
L. PASS (Passenger)
See Dual Automatic Climate Control System on page 8‑5.

Transmission

Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch, if equipped, is located on the shift lever. To enable the Range Selection feature, move the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position. The current range will appear next to the M. This is the highest attainable range with all lower gears accesfible. As an example, when 5 (fifth) gear is selected, 1 (First) through 5 (fifth) gears are available.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
1-22 In Brief
Information Provided by:
Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering column shift lever, to select the desired range of gears for current driving conditions. See Manual Mode on page 9‑48.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise control and the Tow/Haul mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when Range Selection Mode is active. See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑49.

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.
Transfer Case Buttons
The vehicle will have one of these three styles of transfer case controls. Use these controls to shift into and out of the different Four-Wheel Drive modes.
Manual Transfer Case
This transfer case shift lever is on the floor to the right of the driver.
Electronic Transfer Case
This transfer case knob is located next to the steering column.
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GMC Sierra Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-23
Information Provided by:
Automatic Transfer Case
This transfer case knob is located next to the steering column.
Each transfer case design offers different drive options. The list below described the different drive options that may be available.
2
m (Two-Wheel-Drive High): This
setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is ideal for use
when road surface traction conditions are variable.
m (Four-Wheel High): Use the
4
Four-Wheel-Drive High position when extra traction is needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations.
N (Neutral): Shift the transfer case to Neutral only when towing the vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing Towing on page 9‑91.
4
setting 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.
See Four-Wheel Drive
page 9‑52
on page 10‑97
or Trailer
n (Four-Wheel-Drive Low): This
.
on
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1-24 In Brief
Information Provided by:

Vehicle Features

Radio(s)

Radio with CD, DVD, and USB Port
O : Press to turn the system on
and off. Turn to increase or decrease the volume.
BAND: Press to choose between FM, AM, or XM™, if equipped.
f : Select radio stations. © ¨ : Seek or scan stations. 4 : Press to display additional text
information related to the current FM-RDS or XM station; or CD, MP3,
or WMA song. If information is available during XM, CD, MP3, or WMA playback, the song title information displays on the top line of the display and artist information displays on the bottom line. When information is not available, “NO INFO” displays.
For more information about these and other radio features, see Operation on page 7‑2.
For vehicles with a Rear Seat Entertainment System (RSE) and Rear Seat Audio System (RSA), see
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) System Seat Audio (RSA) System page 7‑45
on page 7‑36
for more information.
and Rear
on
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