GMC SIERRA DENALI 2012 Owner Manual

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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012
2012 GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual M
In Brief . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . .1-4
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Keys, Doors, and
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Vehicle Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-11
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .2-16
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Front Seats . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..3-19
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Information Displays . . . . . . . .. . 5-28
Vehicle Messages.. . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Vehicle Personalization.. . . . . . 5-45
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-53
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . 6-7
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Radio . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . ..7-9
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-37
Phone . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7-49
Trademarks and License
Agreements . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 7-56
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012
2012 GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual M
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Automatic Transmission . . . . . .9-34
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 9-38
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . .9-46
Cruise Control . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 9-49
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-52
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-67
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-88
Vehicle Care . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Vehicle Checks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Towing . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-87
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . .10-92
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . .11-4
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-13
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-16
Technical Data . . . . . . ......... 12-1
Vehicle Identification.. . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview.. . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012

Introduction iii

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, SIERRA, and DENALI 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. 20902917 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 Limitedfor 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.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
©
2011 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 Denali Owner Manual - 2012
iv Introduction

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 Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
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) % : 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
( : Heated Steering Wheel 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 d : Traction Control/StabiliTrak
M : Windshield Washer Fluid
®
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vi Introduction
2 NOTES
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In Brief 1-1

In Brief

Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-5
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Heated and Ventilated
Seats . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-8
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Passenger Sensing System . . . 1-9
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer .... 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1-14
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-19
Bluetooth
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Navigation System . . . . . . . .. . . 1-20
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-22
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Universal Remote System . . . 1-22
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-23
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-24
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-24
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-25
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . 1-26
®
OnStar
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
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1-2 In Brief

Instrument Panel

United States Version Shown; Canada Similar
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In Brief 1-3
A. Air Vents on page 86.
B. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 65.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on page 55.
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 512.
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 65.
E. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 934.
F. Tow/Haul Mode on page 937
(If Equipped).
G. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 528.
H. Infotainment on page 72.
I. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 61.
J. Integrated Trailer Brake
Controller (If Equipped). See Trailer Towing on page 971.
K. Dome Lamps on page 67.
L. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 520.
M. Cruise Control on page 949.
Heated Steering Wheel Button (If Equipped). See Heated Steering Wheel on page 55.
N. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 105.
O. Parking Brake on page 944.
P. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 52.
Q. Horn on page 55.
R. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 53.
S. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 81.
T. Power Outlets on page 510.
Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped). See Ashtrays on page 511 and Cigarette Lighter on page 510.
U. StabiliTrak
®
System on
page 946.
Pedal Adjust Button. See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 926.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on page 952 (If Equipped).
Exhaust Brake (If Equipped). See Brakesin the Duramax Diesel Supplement.
V. Passenger Airbag Off Control
(If Equipped). See Passenger Sensing System on page 327.
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1-4 In Brief

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.
K : Press to unlock the driver door.
Press
K again within three seconds
to unlock all remaining doors.
Q : Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be personalized. See Vehicle Personalization on page 545.
L : Press and release to locate
the vehicle. Press more than two seconds to sound the
panic alarm. Press cancel the panic alarm.
L and hold for
L again to
See Keys on page 22 and Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 23.

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 and release
3. Immediately after completing Step 2, press and hold
the turn signal lamps flash.
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.
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.
Q.
/ until
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In Brief 1-5
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 on page 25.
/

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, the switches are on the front doors.
K : Press to unlock the doors. Q : Press to lock the doors.
See Door Locks on page 28.

Windows

Power Windows
The power window switches are located on each door.
The driver door also has a switch for the passenger window and rear windows.
Press the switch to lower the window. Pull the switch up to raise it.
See Windows on page 216 or Power Windows on page 217.
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1-6 In Brief
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 218.
.
Push to open the window.
.
Pull to close the window.
The power sliding rear window cannot be operated manually.

Seat Adjustment

To adjust the seat:
.
Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control forward or rearward.
.
Raise or lower the front or rear part of the seat cushion by moving the front or rear of the control up or down.
.
Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire control up or down.
See Power Seat Adjustment on page 33 for more information.
Lumbar Adjustment
To adjust the lumbar support:
.
Press and hold the front or rear of the control to increase or decrease lumbar support.
.
Press and hold the top or bottom of the control to raise or lower the height of the support.
See Lumbar Adjustment on page 33 for more information.
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In Brief 1-7
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback:
.
Tilt the top of the control rearward to recline.
.
Tilt the top of the control forward to raise.
See Reclining Seatbacks on page 34 for more information.

Memory Features

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 available.
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 on page 214 and Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 926 for more information.
Not all mirrors and adjustable throttles and brake pedals will have the ability to save and recall their positions.
2. Press and hold 1until two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver position using 2.
To recall, press and release 1or 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.
See Memory Seats on page 35 and
Vehicle Personalization on page 545 for more information.
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1-8 In Brief
Easy Exit Driver Seat
This feature can move the seat rearward to allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
B : Press to recall the easy exit
seat position. The vehicle must be in P (Park).
See Memory Seats on page 35 and
Vehicle Personalization on page 545 for more information.

Heated and Ventilated Seats

The buttons are on the front doors.
H : Press to cool the seat. I : Press to heat the
seatback only.
J : Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
Press the button once for the highest setting. With each press of the button, the seat will change to the next lower setting, and then to
the off setting. The lights indicate three for the highest setting and one for the lowest.
See Heated and Ventilated Front Seats on page 37.

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 on page 32 and Power Seat Adjustment on page 33.
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In Brief 1-9

Safety Belts

Refer to the following sections for important information on how to use safety belts properly.
.
Safety Belts on page 39.
.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly on page 311.
.
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 312.
.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 344.

Passenger Sensing System

The passenger sensing system, if equipped, turns off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. No other airbag is affected by the passenger sensing system.
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.
The passenger airbag status indicator, if equipped, will be visible on the overhead console when the vehicle is started.
United States
Canada and Mexico
See Passenger Sensing System on page 327 for important information.
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1-10 In Brief

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 driver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move the mirror up, down, left, or right.
3. Press either (A) or (B) again to deselect the mirror.
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.
See Power Mirrors on page 214.
Interior Mirror
Hold the mirror in the center to move it for a clearer view of behind your vehicle. Adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the headlamps behind you. Push the tab at the bottom of the mirror forward for daytime use and pull it for nighttime use.
See Manual Rearview Mirror on page 216.
Vehicles with the automatic dimming feature will automatically reduce headlamp glare. The dimming feature comes on and the indicator displays each time the vehicle is started.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror on page 216.
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In Brief 1-11

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 to a comfortable position.
3. Release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
See Steering Wheel Adjustment on page 52.

Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment

On vehicles with this feature, you can change the position of the throttle and brake pedals.
The control used to adjust the pedals is located on the instrument panel below the climate control system.
Press the bottom of the control to move the pedals closer. Press the top of the control to move the pedals away.
See Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal on page 926.

Interior Lighting

Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the overhead console.
They come on when any door is opened and turn off after all the doors are closed.
Turn the instrument panel brightness knob located below the dome lamp override button, clockwise to the farthest position to manually turn on the dome lamps. The dome lamps remain on until the knob is turned counterclockwise.
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1-12 In Brief
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. To turn the lamps on or off, press the button located next to the lamp.
For more information about interior lamps, see:
.
Dome Lamps on page 67.
.
Reading Lamps on page 68.
.
Instrument Panel Illumination Control on page 67.

Exterior Lighting

The exterior lamps control is located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.
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).
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In Brief 1-13
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.
5 : Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, and license plate lamps.
For more information, see:
.
Exterior Lamp Controls on page 61.
.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 64.
.
Fog Lamps on page 66.

Windshield Wiper/Washer

The front wiper control is located on the turn and lanechange lever.
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the band with
z on it.
8 : For a single wipe, turn to 8,
then release. For 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.
6 : 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 on page 55.
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1-14 In Brief

Climate Controls

The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
A. Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls
B. Fan Control
C. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
D. Defrost
E. 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 81.
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In Brief 1-15

Transmission

Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode button is located on the shift lever.
To enable Range Selection:
1. Move the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position. The current range will appear next to the M. This is the highest possible range with all lower gears accessible. As an example, when 5 (Fifth) gear is selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are available.
2. Press the plus/minus buttons to select the range of gears for current driving conditions. See Manual Mode on page 936.
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 937.
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1-16 In Brief

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.
Electronic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is located next to the steering column.
You can choose among four driving settings:
2
m (Two-Wheel Drive High):
This setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations.
4
m (Four-Wheel Drive High):
Use the Four-Wheel Drive High position when extra traction is needed, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations.
n (Four-Wheel Drive Low):
4
This setting sends maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Drive Low while driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's transfer case to N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 1087 or Towing the Vehicle on page 1087 for more information.
See Four-Wheel Drive on page 938.
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In Brief 1-17

Vehicle Features

Radio(s)

Radio with USB, CD, and DVD (MP3)
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 ¨ SEEK: Seek or scan
stations.
4 : Press to switch the display
between the radio station frequency and the time. While the ignition is off, press this button to display the time. 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 INFOdisplays.
For more information about these and other radio features, see Operation on page 73.
For vehicles with a Rear Seat Entertainment System (RSE) and Rear Seat Audio System (RSA), see
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) System on page 737 and Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System on page 747 for more information.
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1-18 In Brief
Storing Radio Stations
A maximum of 36 stations can be stored as favorites using the six softkeys located below the radio station frequency tabs and by using the radio FAV button. Press FAV to go through up to six pages of favorites, each having six favorite stations available per page. Each page of favorites can contain any combination of AM, FM, or XM stations.
For more information, see Storing Radio Stationsin AM-FM Radio on page 79.
Setting the Clock
To set the time and date:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, then
press
O, to turn the radio on.
2. Press
3. Press the softkey located under
4. To increase or decrease the time
For detailed instructions on setting the clock for the vehicle's specific audio system, see Clock on page 58.
H to display HR, MIN,
MM, DD, and YYYY (hour, minute, month, day, and year).
any one of the labels to be changed.
or date, turn counterclockwise.
f clockwise or

Satellite Radio

XM is a satellite radio service based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM satellite radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast to coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the XM service.
For more information, refer to:
.
www.xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.
www.xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
See Satellite Radio on page 711.
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-19

Portable Audio Devices

This vehicle may have an auxiliary input located on the radio faceplate and a USB port located in the center console or on the instrument panel. External devices such as an iPod laptop computer, MP3 player, CD changer, or USB storage device can be connected to the auxiliary port using a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) input cable or the USB port depending on the audio system.
See Using the Auxiliary Input Jack and Using the USB Portin Auxiliary Devices on page 732.
®
Bluetooth
For vehicles with a Bluetooth system, it allows users with a Bluetoothenabled cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls using the vehicles audio system
,
and controls.
The Bluetoothenabled cell phone must be paired with the Bluetooth system before it can be used in the vehicle. Not all phones will support all functions. For more information, visit www.gm.com/bluetooth.
For more information, see Bluetooth on page 749.
®

Steering Wheel Controls

If available, some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering wheel.
w : Press to go to the next
favorite radio station, track on a CD, or folder on an iPod USB device.
®
or
c / x : Press to go to the
previous favorite radio station, track on a CD, or folder on an iPod USB device. Press to reject an incoming call, or to end a call.
®
or
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012
1-20 In Brief
b / g : Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn the sound on. Press and hold longer than two seconds to interact with
®
OnStar if equipped.
+
SRCE: Press to switch between the radio and CD, and for equipped vehicles, the DVD, front auxiliary, and rear auxiliary.
or Bluetooth systems,
e : Press to increase volume.
e : Press to decrease volume.
¨ : Press to seek the next radio
station, the next track or chapter while sourced to the CD or DVD slot, or to select tracks and folders on an iPod or USB device.
For more information, see Steering Wheel Controls on page 53.

Cruise Control

T : Press to turn the system on
or off. The indicator light is on when cruise control is on and turns off when cruise control is off.
+ RES : Press briefly to make the vehicle resume to a previously set speed, or press and hold to accelerate.
SET : Press to set the speed and activate cruise control or make the vehicle decelerate.
[ : Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set speed from memory.
See Cruise Control on page 949.

Navigation System

If the vehicle has a navigation system, there is a separate navigation system manual that includes information on the radio, audio players, and navigation system.
The navigation system provides detailed maps of most major freeways and roads. After a destination has been set, the system provides turn-by-turn instructions for reaching the destination. In addition, the system can help locate a variety of points of interest (POIs), such as banks, airports, restaurants, and more.
See the navigation system manual for more information.
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In Brief 1-21

Driver Information Center (DIC)

The DIC display is located at the bottom of the instrument panel cluster. It shows the status of many vehicle systems and enables access to the personalization menu.
The DIC buttons are located on the instrument panel, next to the steering wheel.
3 : Press this button to display
the odometer, trip odometer, fuel range, average economy, fuel used, timer, and transmission temperature. The compass and outside air temperature will also be shown in the display. The temperature will be shown in °C or °F depending on the units selected.
T : Press this button to display
the oil life, units, tire pressure readings for vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), trailer brake gain and output information for vehicles with the Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system, engine hours, compass zone setting, and compass recalibration.
U : Press this button to customize
the feature settings on your vehicle. See Vehicle Personalization on page 545 for more information.
V : Press this button to set or reset
certain functions and to turn off or acknowledge messages on the DIC.
Some vehicles do not have the buttons shown, however some of the menus can be viewed by using the trip odometer reset stem.
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on page 528.
Vehicle Customization
Some vehicle features can be programmed by using the DIC buttons next to the steering wheel. These features include:
.
Language
.
Door Lock and Unlock Settings
.
RKE Lock and Unlock Feedback
.
Lighting
.
Chime Volume
.
Memory Features
See Vehicle Personalization on page 545.
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1-22 In Brief

Rear Vision Camera (RVC)

If available, the RVC displays a view of the area behind the vehicle when the vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse). This is displayed on the inside rearview mirror or the navigation screen, if equipped.
To clean the camera lens, located in the bezel of the tailgate handle, rinse it with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
For more information, see Rear Vision Camera (RVC) on page 954.

Ultrasonic Parking Assist

If available, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system uses sensors on the rear bumper to assist with parking and avoiding objects while in R (Reverse). It operates at speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph). URPA uses audible beeps to provide distance and system information.
Keep the sensors on the vehicle's rear bumper clean to ensure proper operation.
See Ultrasonic Parking Assist on page 952 for more information.

Power Outlets

Accessory power outlets can be used to plug in electrical equipment, such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There are two accessory power outlets on the instrument panel, one inside the center floor console, and one on the rear of the center floor console.
To access the accessory power outlet inside the center floor console, press the button on the side of the console door. See
Center Console Storage on page 42 for more information.
Remove the cover to access and replace when not in use.
See Power Outlets on page 510.

Universal Remote System

Vehicles with the Universal Remote System will have these buttons located in the headliner.
This system provides a way to replace up to three remote control transmitters used to activate devices such as garage door openers, security systems, and home automation devices.
Read the instructions completely before attempting to program the transmitter. Because of the steps involved, it may be helpful to have another person assist with programming the transmitter.
See Universal Remote System on page 553.
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In Brief 1-23

Sunroof

A. Open or Close
B. Vent
On vehicles with a sunroof, there are two sunroof switches on the overhead console above the rearview mirror.
The sunroof only operates when the ignition is in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN or the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 930 for more information.
To open or close the sunroof, press the open or close switch (A) to the first detent position.
To express open or close the sunroof, press the open or close switch (A) to the second detent position and release. To stop the movement, press the switch again.
The sunroof has a comfort stop feature which stops the sunroof from opening to the full-open position. From the comfort stop position, press the open or close switch (A) a second time to open the sunroof to the full-open position.
To automatically vent or close the sunroof, press the vent open or close switch (B).
When the sunroof is opened, an air deflector will automatically raise. The air deflector will retract when the sunroof is closed.
The sunroof also has a sunshade which can be pulled forward to block sun rays. The sunshade must be opened and closed manually.
If an object is in the path of the sunroof while it is closing, the anti-pinch feature will detect the object and stop the sunroof.
See Sunroof on page 219.
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GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual - 2012
1-24 In Brief

Performance and Maintenance

StabiliTrak®System

If equipped, the vehicle has a traction control system that limits wheel spin and the StabiliTrak system that assists with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. Both systems turn on automatically every time the vehicle is started.
.
To turn off traction control, press and release
panel. The appropriate DIC message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on page 541.
.
To turn off both traction control and StabiliTrak, press and hold
g until g illuminates and the
appropriate DIC message displays. See Ride Control System Messages on page 541.
g on the instrument
.
Press and release g again to turn on both systems.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®
System on page 946.

Tire Pressure Monitor

This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you to a significant loss in pressure of one of the vehicle's tires. If the warning light comes on, stop as soon as possible and inflate the tires to the recommended pressure shown on the Tire and Loading Information label. See Vehicle Load Limits on page 916. The warning light will remain on until the tire pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire pressure warning light may appear when the vehicle is first started and then turn off. This may be an early indicator that the tire pressures are getting low and the tires need to be inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal monthly tire maintenance. It is the drivers responsibility to maintain correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 1058.

Engine Oil Life System

The engine oil life system calculates engine oil life based on vehicle use and, on most vehicles, displays a DIC message when it is necessary to change the engine oil and filter. The oil life system should be reset to 100% only following an oil change.
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