2006 GMC Sierra Owners Manual

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Press the recessed side of the switch with the unlock symbol, to unlock all the doors at once. If your vehicle has this power door lock switch, press the bottom of the switch on either front door to lock all the doors at once. Press the top of the switch to unlock all the doors at once. The power door locks will operate at any time even when the ignition is off. The power door locks will also automatically lock when the vehicle is out of PARK (P), or for manual transmission, when the vehicle reaches 8 mph (24 km/h). Operating the power locks may interact with the theft-deterrent system, if equipped. See Content Theft-Deterrent on page 2-19. 2-9 Delayed Locking If your vehicle is a crew cab, it may be equipped with this feature. When locking the doors with the power lock switch or the keyless entry transmitter and a door is open, the doors will not lock until ﬁve seconds after the last door is closed. You will hear three chimes to signal that the delayed locking feature is in use. Pressing the power lock switch or the lock button on the keyless entry transmitter twice will override the delayed locking feature and immediately lock all the doors. You can turn the delayed locking feature off or back on again by doing the following: 1. Press and hold the power door lock switch in the lock position. 2. Press unlock twice on the remote keyless entry transmitter. This feature will not operate if the key is in the ignition. You can also program this feature using the DIC. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-64. Programmable Automatic Door Locks Your vehicle may be equipped with an automatic lock/unlock feature which enables you to program your vehicle’s power door locks. You can program this feature through the Driver Information Center (DIC), or by the following method. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-64. Programmable Locking Feature Following are the two available programming options: Mode 1: All doors lock when the transmission is shifted into gear. This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for your vehicle for automatic transmission vehicles. Mode 2: All doors lock when the vehicle speed is greater than 8 mph (13 km/h). This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for manual transmission vehicles. 2-10 The following instructions tell you how to change the automatic door lock mode (automatic transmission only). Choose one of the two programming options listed above before entering the program mode. To enter the program mode, do the following: 1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step. 2. Turn the key to RUN then back to LOCK twice. Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now ready to program the automatic door lock feature. 3. Press the door lock switch once. You will hear either one or two chimes. The number of chimes tells you which lock mode is currently selected. Continue to press the door lock switch until the number of chimes that you hear matches the number of the mode that you want. If you take longer than 30 seconds, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode. You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN (the doors will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current automatic settings will not be modiﬁed. See your dealer for more information. Programmable Unlocking Feature The following is the list of available programming options: Mode 1: Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P), for automatic transmission vehicles only. Mode 2: All doors unlock when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P), for automatic transmission vehicles only. This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for your vehicle. Mode 3: All doors unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for manual transmission vehicles. Mode 4: No automatic door unlock. 2-11 The following instructions tell you how to change the automatic door unlock mode (automatic transmission only). Choose one of the four programming options listed above before entering the program mode. To enter the program mode, do the following: 1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step. 2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now ready to program the automatic door unlock feature. 3. Press the door unlock switch once. You will hear one, two, three, or four chimes. The number of chimes tells you which unlock mode is currently selected. Continue to press the door unlock switch until the number of chimes that you hear matches the number of the mode that you want. If you take longer than 30 seconds, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode. You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN. The doors will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you are leaving the program mode. If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current automatic settings will not be modiﬁed. See your dealer for more information. 2-12 Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab) With this feature, you can lock the rear side doors so that they cannot be opened from the inside by passengers. This feature is located on the inside edge of the rear doors. 4. Close the door. 5. Do the same thing to the other rear door. The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to open the rear door while the security lock is engaged, unlock the door and open the door from the outside. Lockout Protection This feature protects you from locking your key in the vehicle when the key is in the ignition and a door is open. If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. To use one of the locks do the following: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. To engage the rear door security lock, move the lever forward. 3. To disengage the lock, move the lever rearward. 2-13 Rear Doors Extended Cab Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear access door(s) that allows easier access to the rear area of the extended cab. To open a rear access door from the outside, ﬁrst open the front door. Then, use the handle located on the front edge of the rear access door to open it. You must fully close a rear access door before you can close the front door. 2-14 To open a rear access door from the inside, the front door must be opened ﬁrst. Then, use the handle located on the inside of the rear access door to open it. Crew Cabs If your vehicle is a crew cab, you can open your doors from the inside or outside. Your vehicle may also have a feature which prevents children from opening the rear doors. See Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab) on page 2-13 for more information. Tailgate You can open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle while pulling the tailgate toward you. To shut the tailgate, ﬁrmly push it upward until it latches. After you put the tailgate back up, pull it back towards you to be sure it latches securely. Tailgate Removal The tailgate on your vehicle can be removed to allow for different loading situations. Although the tailgate can be removed without assistance, you may want someone to assist you with the removal to avoid possible damage to the vehicle. To remove the tailgate, do the following: 1. Raise the tailgate slightly and release both retaining cable clips. To release the retaining cable clips, lift the cable so it points straight out and push the cable clip forward. 2. With the tailgate at a slight upward angle, pull back on the tailgate at the right edge and then move the tailgate to the right to release the left edge. Reverse the above procedure to reinstall. Make sure the tailgate is secure. 2-15 Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-16 Manual Windows Turn the hand crank on each door to manually raise or lower the manual windows. Power Windows If your vehicle is equipped with power windows, the controls are located on each of the side doors in the front and rear for crew cab models. The driver’s door has a switch for the passenger’s and rear windows as well, if equipped. Your power windows will work when the ignition has been turned to ACCESSORY or RUN or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-23. Press the switch down to lower the window. Pull up the front of the switch to raise the window. Express Down Windows The driver and front passenger windows also have an express down feature that allows the windows to be lowered without holding the switch. Press down fully on the window switch, then release, to activate the express down mode. The express down mode can be canceled at any time by pulling up on the switch. To open the window partway, press the switch to the ﬁrst depression position, until the window is at the desired position. Window Lockout o (Window Lockout): If you have power windows on a crew cab, the driver’s door power window switch has a lockout feature. The lockout switch is located in front of the window switches. This feature prevents all windows from operating, except from the driver’s position. To engage the lockout feature press the switch, and an indicator light on the switch will illuminate. To disengage the lockout feature press the switch again, and the indicator light will turn off. 2-17 Swing-Out Windows Your vehicle may have swing-out windows. To open a rear swing-out window, ﬂip the latch open and swing the glass out. The latch will catch when the window is fully open and it will also hold it in the open position. Sliding Rear Window If your vehicle has this feature, squeeze the latch in the center of the window and slide the glass to open it. When you close the window, be sure the latch is engaged. The sliding rear window does not have rear defogger. Sun Visors Pull the sun visor down to block glare. Swing the sun visor to the side to cover the side window. The passenger’s side sun visor may have a vanity mirror. 2-18 Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal. Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle may be equipped with a content theft-deterrent alarm system. The security light is located on the instrument panel cluster. See Security Light on page 3-49 for additional information. To activate the theft-deterrent system, do the following: 1. Close all the doors. 2. Lock the door with the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security light should come on and ﬂash. If the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed, but a door is open, you may hear three chimes indicating delayed locking is enabled. See Delayed Locking on page 2-10 for additional information. Close the door and the content theft-deterrent system will be activated. If a locked door is opened without using the remote keyless entry transmitter or OnStar, if equipped with an active subscription, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle’s lamps will ﬂash and the horn will sound for about two minutes, then will turn off to save the battery power. If this occurs, you can turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by placing the key in the ignition and turning it to START. If your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC), you can customize your alarm warning. See DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-64 for additional information. 2-19 The horn may chirp for 10 seconds before the alarm goes off if the theft-deterrent system is activated using the remote keyless entry transmitter and the driver’s door is opened. If this occurs, you can turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by placing the key in the ignition and turning it to START. Here is how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident: If you do not want to activate the theft-deterrent system, the vehicle should be locked with the door key after the doors are closed. (cid:127) Always unlock a door with the remote keyless entry transmitter. If you set off the alarm by accident, turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by placing the key in the ignition and turning it to START. Testing the Alarm The alarm can be tested by following these steps: 1. From inside the vehicle, activate the system by locking the doors with the remote keyless entry transmitter. 2. Wait for the security light to go out. 3. Unlock the door with the manual door lock and open the door. This should set off the alarm. 4. Turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter or by placing the key in the ignition and turning it to START. If the alarm does not sound when it should, but the vehicle’s headlamps ﬂash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Instrument Panel Fuse Block on page 5-124 and Underhood Fuse Block on page 5-127. If the alarm does not sound or the vehicle’s headlamps do not ﬂash, see your dealer for service. 2-20 (cid:127) Passlock® Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock® theft-deterrent system. Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system. Passlock® enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled. If the engine stalls and the security light ﬂashes, wait until the light stops ﬂashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the key from START as soon as the engine starts. If the engine is running and the security light comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock® system is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock® at this time. You may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-123. See your dealer for service. In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. Starting and Operating Your Vehicle New Vehicle Break-In Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: (cid:127) Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). (cid:127) Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or slow, for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle. (cid:127) Avoid making hard stops for the ﬁrst 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings. (cid:127) Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing a Trailer on page 4-67 for the trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle and more information. Following break-in, engine speed and load can be gradually increased. 2-21 Ignition Positions With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to four different positions. Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the ignition switch could cause damage or break the key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you turn the key hard. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service. 2-22 A (Lock): This position locks your ignition when the key is removed. The steering locks when equipped with a manual transmission. It is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK. B (Accessory): This position allows you to use things like the radio, power windows and the windshield wipers when the engine is off. {CAUTION: On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key to LOCK will lock the steering column and result in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need to turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only to ACCESSORY. Do not press the key release button while the vehicle is moving. C (Run): This is the position for driving. D (Start): This position starts your engine. Key Release Button (Manual Transmission) The ignition key cannot be removed from the ignition of manual transmission vehicles unless the key release button is used. To remove the key on manual transmission vehicles, turn the key to ACCESSORY, then press the button and turn the key to LOCK. Do not hold the button in while turning the key to ACCESSORY. Pull the key straight out. Retained Accessory Power (RAP) If the vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP), certain features will continue to operate for up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to LOCK unless a door is opened. Starting the Engine Your vehicle is equipped with Starter Motor Control. This feature assists in starting the engine and protects the electrical system. This feature may cause the engine to crank even after the ignition key is not in START Automatic Transmission Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any other position — that is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. If you have a diesel engine refer to the diesel supplement for the starting procedure. Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. 2-23 Manual Transmission The gear selector should be in neutral and the parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the ﬂoor and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down — that is a safety feature. 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will disengage the starter motor, cause your battery to be drained much sooner, and add excessive heat that can damage your starter motor. Try not to hold the key in START for longer than 15 seconds and wait about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter. 2. If it does not start within 10 seconds, push the accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor, while you hold the ignition key in START. When the engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try. When starting your engine in very cold weather (below 0°F or −18°C), do this: 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START and hold it there up to 15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key. 2. If your engine still will not start, or starts but then stops, it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for about three seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for ﬁve or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Any resulting damage would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. 2-24 Engine Coolant Heater In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required. Your vehicle may also have an internal thermostat in the plug end of the cord. This will prevent operation of the engine coolant heater when the temperature is at or above 0°F (−18 C°) as noted on the cord. To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, near the power steering ﬂuid reservoir. If you have a diesel engine, refer to diesel supplement for location. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. {CAUTION: Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause a ﬁre. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps. 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your dealer in the area where you will be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area. 2-25 PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It is the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle cannot move easily. If your vehicle has the Allison Transmission®, with the Power Takeoff (PTO), use PARK (P) when starting. The Allison Transmission® has a park pawl that is designed to hold the weight of commercial medium duty trucks. Therefore, the Allison Transmission® uses larger parts than other automatic transmissions. These larger parts may sometimes make a clunk noise when the selector lever is moved from DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R) to PARK (P). This is normal and there is no damage occurring during these shifts. When parked on a hill, especially when loaded, you may notice an increase in the effort to shift out of Park. See Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission) under Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-53 for more information. Automatic Transmission Operation If your vehicle is has an automatic transmission, it features an electronic shift position indicator within the instrument panel cluster. This display must be powered anytime the shift lever is moved out of PARK (P). See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-123. There are several different positions for your shift lever. Automatic Transmission Allison Transmission® See “Range Selection Mode” later in this section. 2-26 {CAUTION: {CAUTION: It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-53. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67. If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will be free to roll — even if your shift lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear, two-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in NEUTRAL. See Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-53. REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. If your vehicle has the Allison Transmission®, the R on the shift display, may blink if the shift inhibitor is active. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging your transmission, see If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-46. 2-27 NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed. {CAUTION: Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is ﬁrmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed. Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting your vehicle. DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you are: (cid:127) Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. (cid:127) Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next gear and has more power. DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road driving. You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often. If your vehicle has the Allison Transmission®, it will shift into ﬁrst range when DRIVE (D) is selected. As vehicle speed increases, the transmission will upshift automatically through each available range up to SIXTH (6). As the vehicle slows, the transmission will downshift automatically. 2-28 The Allison Transmission® uses a shift stabilization feature that adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed to determine before making an upshift if the engine will be able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things such as throttle position, vehicle load, and hill grade. If the shift stabilization feature determines that current vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission does not upshift and instead holds the current gear. In some cases, this may appear to be a delayed shift, however the transmission is operating normally. The Allison Transmission® also uses adaptive shift controls. Adaptive shift controls continually compares key shift parameters to pre-programmed ideal shift conditions. The Allison Transmission® constantly makes adjustments to improve vehicle performance according to the way the vehicle is being used, such as with a heavy load. During this adaptive shift controls process, some shifts may feel different as the transmission determines optimum settings for a particular shift. MANUAL MODE (M): This position, is available on vehicles with the Allison Transmission®. It lets drivers select the range of gears appropriate for current driving conditions. If your vehicle has this feature, see Range Select Mode (Allison Transmission®) later in this section. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, however it offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. If you manually select SECOND (2) in an automatic transmission, the transmission will start in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces. FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the transmission will not shift into ﬁrst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. 2-29 Range Selection Mode (Allison Transmission®) If your truck has an Allison Transmission® your vehicle is equipped with a Range Selection System. To use this feature, do the following: 1. Move the shift lever to the MANUAL MODE (M). When in the MANUAL MODE, the transmission’s current gear range will be the highest attainable range with all the lower gears available. 2. Press the plus/minus buttons to upshift or downshift selecting the desired range of gears for your current driving conditions. 2-30 The Range Selection Mode allows you to control the vehicle’s engine and vehicle speed while driving down hill by allowing you to select a desired gear. The DIC shows the six available ranges with the highest attainable range shown in brackets. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-52 and DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-53 for more information. While using the Range Selection mode feature, cruise control and the Tow/Haul mode can be used. Low Traction Mode (Allison Transmission®) If your vehicle has the DURAMAX® diesel engine and the Allison Transmission®, it is equipped with a Low Traction Mode that assists in vehicle acceleration when road conditions are slippery, such as ice or snow. While at a stop, selecting the second gear range using the Range Selection system, will allow the Allison Transmission® to limit torque to the wheels after it detects wheel slip, preventing the tires from spinning. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. Cold Weather Operation (Allison Transmission®) On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder, your automatic transmission is designed to shift differently. The transmission uses a warm-up mode shift schedule until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. While the transmission is in warm-up mode it is normal for transmission upshifts to be delayed or held longer. This feature improves heater performance by giving quicker vehicle warm-ups. When temperatures are below −13°F (−25°C), the transmission will prevent certain operations to protect against damage. When active the DIC will display the message “Trans in Warm-up”. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-55 for more information. Tow/Haul Mode If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it may have a Tow/Haul mode. If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission® see “Tow/Haul Mode (Allison Transmission®) following. Tow/Haul mode adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shift cycling, providing increased performance, vehicle control, and transmission cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads. The selector button is located on the end of the shift lever. Turn the Turn Tow/Haul on and off by pressing the button. When the Tow/Haul is on, a light on the instrument panel cluster will come on. 2-31 See Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-50 for more information. If your vehicle is equipped with the Performance Package-Enhanced Towing, activating the manual selectable ride will adjust the shock absorber characteristics to enhance the ride and handling of the vehicle for towing or hauling heavy loads. Also see Tow Haul Mode under Towing a Trailer on page 4-67 for more information. Tow/Haul Mode (Allison Transmission®) If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®, it may have a Tow/Haul mode. Tow/Haul mode adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shift cycling, providing increased performance, vehicle control, and transmission cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads. The selector button is located on the end of the shift lever. Turn the Turn Tow/Haul on and off by pressing the button. When the Tow/Haul is on, a light on the instrument panel cluster will come on. See Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-50 for more information. Also see “Tow Haul Mode” under Towing a Trailer on page 4-67 for more information. 2-32 Grade Braking and Cruise Grade Braking (Allison Transmission®) Grade Braking and Cruise Grade Braking assists when driving on a downhill grade. It maintains the vehicle’s speed by automatically implementing a shift schedule that uses the engine and the transmission to slow the vehicle. This reduces wear on the brakes system and increases control of the vehicle. The system constantly monitors the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, engine torque, and brake pedal usage. It detects when the truck is on a downhill grade and the driver’s desire to slow down by pressing the brake. Cruise Grade Braking is available on the 6.6L DURAMAX® diesel engine. Cruise Grade Braking monitors a vehicle’s cruise state, engine torque, acceleration, vehicle speed, and the cruise set speed. Using this information, it detects when the truck is accelerating on a downhill grade and will automatically downshift to slow the vehicle if it exceeds the cruise set speed by a certain amount. See Cruise Control on page 3-10 for more information. The Tow/Haul mode and Grade Braking shift modes can be activated by pressing the button on the front of the shift control stalk. If your vehicle has the DURAMAX® Diesel Engine or the 8.1L Vortec gasoline engine, Grade Braking is only available while the Tow/Haul Mode is selected. While in the Range Selection Mode, Grade Braking is deactivated allowing the driver to select a desired gear. See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26 for more information. Also see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67 for more information. 2-33 Manual Transmission Operation Five-Speed (VORTEC™ 6.0L V8 Engine) Here is how to operate your transmission. FIRST (1) is intended only for heavy loads or trailer towing and is not recommended for normal driving. During the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km) of vehicle use, start your vehicle moving in FIRST (1). This allows clutch components to break-in properly. FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. Shift into FIRST (1) only when the vehicle is below 5 mph (8 km/h). If you try to shift down into FIRST (1) at excessive vehicle speeds, the shift lever will not move into FIRST (1) until vehicle speed is reduced. 2-34 SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. You can shift into SECOND (2) when you are going less than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you have come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into SECOND (2), put the shift lever into NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into SECOND (2). If you try to downshift into SECOND (2) at excessive vehicle speeds, the shift lever will not move into the SECOND (2) position until the vehicle speed is reduced. THIRD (3): Press the clutch pedal and shift into THIRD (3). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into the higher forward gears the same way you do for THIRD (3). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL. NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle your engine. REVERSE (R): To back up, ﬁrst press down the clutch pedal. Wait for the vehicle to stop moving and then, shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, when turning off your engine and parking your vehicle. Five-Speed (VORTEC™ 4.3L V6 and 4.8L V8 Engines) Here is how to operate your transmission: FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going less than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you have come to a complete stop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift lever into NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1). SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL. NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle your engine. REVERSE (R): To back up, ﬁrst press down the clutch pedal. Wait for the vehicle to stop moving and then, shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, when turning off your engine and parking your vehicle. 2-35 Six-Speed (VORTEC™ 8.1L V8 and DURAMAX®™ 6.6L V8 Engines) Here is how to operate your transmission. This six-speed pattern is unique to GM manual transmissions. The transmission always repositions the shift lever to NEUTRAL, which is located between FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) gear. To prevent unintentional gear selections, additional force is required to move the shift lever into REVERSE (R) or FIRST (1). Use FIRST (1) when trailer towing, driving with payload in the pickup box or launching on a grade. Otherwise, start in SECOND (2) gear. Only shift into FIRST (1) when the vehicle has stopped moving. During the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km) of vehicle use, start the vehicle moving in FIRST (1) gear. This allows the clutch components to wear-in properly. 2-36 FIRST (1): With the vehicle at a stop, release the brake, press the clutch pedal and shift into FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. Only downshift into FIRST (1) when the vehicle has come to a complete stop. If the shift lever will not go into FIRST (1), put the lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch pedal to fully engage the clutch. Press the clutch pedal again. Then, shift into FIRST (1). SECOND (2): With the vehicle at a stop, release the brake, press the clutch pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. With the vehicle moving, press the clutch pedal and upshift into SECOND (2) from FIRST (1) while applying light pressure to the right on the shifter. Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. If you come to a complete stop and the shift lever will not go into SECOND (2), put the lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch pedal to fully engage the clutch. Press the clutch pedal again. Then, shift into SECOND (2). THIRD (3): Press the clutch pedal and upshift into THIRD (3). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6): Upshift into the higher forward gears the same way as you do THIRD (3). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle your engine. REVERSE (R): To back up, press the clutch pedal. Wait for the vehicle to stop moving and then, shift to REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal. Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, when turning off your engine and parking your vehicle. Shift Speeds {CAUTION: If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle. You could injure yourself or others. Do not shift down more than one gear at a time when you downshift. Do not allow the engine rpm to overspeed and enter the tachometer red lines. Engine overspeed occurs when downshifting, or descending a grade, at too high a vehicle speed. When going down steep grades, always select a gear at least one position lower than you would use on climbing a grade. This will allow the vehicle’s engine to provide some braking and help to slow the vehicle as it goes down the grade. Monitor your vehicle speed, acceleration and engine rpm while applying the brakes as you go down the grade to ensure you have complete control over the vehicle. If your engine speed drops below 600 rpm, or if the engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to the next lower gear. When operating on slippery surfaces, downshift at lower than normal vehicle speeds to prevent the tires from slipping. In bench seat equipped vehicles, move the tallest beverage containers to the right cupholder to provide additional clearance for the shift lever. For vehicles equipped with a center console, the front cup holder pulls out and turns 180° to provide additional clearance between tall beverage containers and the shift lever. 2-37 Four-Wheel Drive If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the part that follows before using four-wheel drive. See the appropriate text for the transfer case in your vehicle. Front Axle Locking Feature The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to lock or unlock is normal. Up-Shift Light If you have a manual transmission, you may have a shift light. This light will show you when to shift to the next higher gear for best fuel economy. When this light comes on, you can shift to the next higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions allow. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift when the light comes on. While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on and off if you quickly change the position of the accelerator. If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped with a manual transmission, disregard the shift light when the transfer case is in Four-Wheel Low. Ignore the shift light when you downshift. 2-38 Manual Transfer Case A 4WD indicator light comes on when you shift into four-wheel drive and the front axle engages. See Four-Wheel-Drive Light on page 3-50. Some delay between shifting and when the indicator light comes on is normal. The transfer case shift lever is on the ﬂoor to the right of the driver. Use this lever to shift into and out of four-wheel drive. Recommended Transfer Case Settings Transfer Case Settings 2H YES Driving Conditions 4H 4L Normal Severe Extreme YES YES Vehicle in Tow* YES *See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-62 for further information. 2-39 N (Neutral): Shift to this setting only when your vehicle needs to be towed. See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-62. 2H (Two-Wheel High): This setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also provides the best fuel economy. 4H (Four-Wheel High): Use this setting when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This setting also engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best setting to use when plowing snow. You can shift from 2H to 4H or 4H high to 2H while the vehicle is moving. Your front axle will engage faster if you take your foot off of the accelerator for a couple of seconds after you shift. In extremely cold weather, it may be necessary to stop or slow the vehicle to shift into four-wheel high. An indicator light near the lever shows you the transfer case settings: Notice: Driving on clean, dry pavement in four-wheel drive for an extended period of time may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in four-wheel drive for extended periods of time. 4L (Four-Wheel Low): This setting also engages your front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need 4L. It sends maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose 4L if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills. When operating in Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional torque when compared to four-wheel high. The transmission gear shift feel will be exaggerated. {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P), or if you have a manual transmission, even if you are in gear. You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52. 2-40 When Using the Manual Transfer Case (cid:127) Shifting should be made using quick motions. Shifting slowly may make it more difficult to shift. (cid:127) You may notice that it is harder to shift when the vehicle is cold. After the vehicle warms up the shifting will return to normal. (cid:127) While in 4H or 4L you may experience reduced fuel economy. (cid:127) Avoid driving in four-wheel drive on clean, dry pavement. It may cause your tires to wear faster, and make your transfer case harder to shift and run noisier. Shifting from 2H (Two-Wheel High) to 4H (Four-Wheel High) (cid:127) Shifts between 2H and 4H can be made at any vehicle speed. It is easiest to shift the transfer case when maintaining a constant speed or a slight acceleration. If possible, avoid shifting while slowing down, as it will may make it harder to shift. (cid:127) Shift your transfer case lever in one continuous motion into either the 4H or 2H position. In extremely cold weather, it may be necessary to slow or stop the vehicle to shift into four-wheel high until your vehicle has warmed up. (cid:127) While in 4H, your vehicle can be driven at any posted legal speed limit. Shifting In or Out of 4L (Four-Wheel Low) Notice: Shifting the transfer case into 4L while moving at speeds faster than 3 mph (5 km/h) may cause premature wear to the transfer case, and may cause the gears to grind. To avoid causing premature wear, and grinding the gears, do not shift the transfer case into 4L while the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). Shifts into 4L can be made with the vehicle at a stop, or while slowly rolling about 1 to 3 mph (2 to 5 km/h). (cid:127) Shift the automatic transmission into NEUTRAL (N), or with a manual transmission, press the clutch pedal, or shift into NEUTRAL (N). (cid:127) Shift the transfer case shift lever in one continuous motion into the 4L position. (cid:127) When in 4L do not drive faster than 45 mph. This will reduce wear and extend the life of your transfer case. Shifting In or Out of NEUTRAL 1. With the vehicle running and the engine at an idle set the parking brake. 2. Place the transmission into NEUTRAL (N). Shift the transfer case in one continuous motion into or out of the NEUTRAL position. 2-41 (cid:127) (cid:127) Automatic Transfer Case Recommended Transfer Case Settings The transfer case buttons are located to the left of the instrument panel cluster. Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel drive. 2-42 Driving Conditions Normal Variable Severe Extreme Vehicle in Tow* Transfer Case Settings 4WD 4 m 4 n N 2 m AUTO YES YES YES YES YES *See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 for further information. You can choose among four driving settings: Notice: Driving on clean, dry pavement in Four-Wheel-Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive Low for an extended period of time may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive on clean, dry pavement in Four-Wheel Drive High or Four-Wheel-Drive Low for extended periods of time. AUTO 4WD (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive): This setting is ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle in Automatic Four-Wheel Drive, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle detects a loss of traction, the system will automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than Two-Wheel High. 2 m (Two-Wheel High): This setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also provides the best fuel economy. {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52. N (NEUTRAL): Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to N (NEUTRAL) only when towing your vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-62 for more information. 4 m (Four-Wheel High): Use this setting when you need extra traction, such a on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This setting also engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best setting to use when plowing snow. 4 n (Four-Wheel Low): This setting also engages your front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need Four-Wheel Low. It sends maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills. When operating in Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional torque when compared to four-wheel high. The transmission gear shift feel will be exaggerated. Indicator lights in the switches show which setting your transfer case is in. The indicator lights will come on brieﬂy when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will ﬂash while the transfer case is being shifted. It will stay on when the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting. If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-55 for further information. 2-43 Shifting into Four-Wheel High or AUTO 4WD (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive) Press and release the four-wheel high or AUTO 4WD switch. This can be done at any speed, except when shifting from Four-Wheel Low, and the indicator light will ﬂash while shifting. It will remain on when the shift is completed. Shifting into Two-Wheel High Press and release the Two-Wheel High switch. This can be done at any speed, except when shifting from Four-Wheel Low. Shifting into Four-Wheel Low Notice: Shifting the transfer case into Four-Wheel Low while moving at speeds faster than 3 mph (5 km/h) may cause premature wear to the transfer case, and may cause the gears to grind. To avoid causing premature wear, and grinding the gears, do not shift the transfer case into Four-Wheel Low while the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). To shift to Four-Wheel Low, the ignition must be in RUN and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting into Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel Low switch. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain on before shifting your transmission in gear. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped ﬂashing could damage the transfer case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ﬂashing before shifting the transmission into gear. It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signiﬁcant engagement noise and bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running. If the Four-Wheel Low switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds the transfer case will shift to four-wheel high mode. 2-44 Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Low To shift from Four-Wheel Low to Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in RUN. The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High switch. You must wait for the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain on before shifting your transmission into gear. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped ﬂashing could damage the transfer case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ﬂashing before shifting the transmission into gear. The transfer case may make noise and the vehicle may jerk when the transfer case is shifted between Four-Wheel Low and Four-Wheel High ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine running. If the four-wheel high, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Two-Wheel High indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). Shifting Into NEUTRAL {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52. To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following: 1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll. 2. Set the parking brake. 3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN. 4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). 5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High. 6. Simultaneously press and hold the Two-Wheel High and Four-Wheel Low buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete. 2-45 Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case from possible damage and will only allow the transfer case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes. Electronic Transfer Case If your four-wheel-drive vehicle has the electronic transfer case, the transfer case switches are located to the left of the instrument panel cluster. 7. If the engine is running, shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second, or FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. 8. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to ACCESSORY. 9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P). 10. Turn the ignition to LOCK. Shifting Out of NEUTRAL To shift out of NEUTRAL: 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. 2. Turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off. 3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N). 4. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High, AUTO 4WD, or Four-Wheel Low). 5. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL the red light will go out. 6. Release the parking brake. 7. You may start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position. 2-46 Recommended Transfer Case Settings Transfer Case Settings 2 m 4 m 4 n N YES Driving Conditions Normal Severe Extreme YES YES Vehicle in Tow* YES *See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-62 for further information. Use these switches to shift into and out of four-wheel drive. You can choose among three driving settings: 2 m (Two-Wheel High): This setting is for driving in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52. (N) NEUTRAL: Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-62 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-62 for more information. 4 m (Four-Wheel High): This setting engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use four-wheel high when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads, or in most off-road situations. 2-47 4 n (Four-Wheel Low): This setting also engages your front axle to give you extra traction. You may never need Four-Wheel Low. It sends the maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose Four-Wheel Low if you were driving off-road in sand, mud or deep snow and while climbing or descending steep hills. When operating in Four-Wheel Low, the gear ratio provides additional torque when compared to Four-Wheel High. The transmission gear shift feel will be exaggerated. Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting you are in. The indicator lights will come on brieﬂy when you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle in for service. An indicator light will ﬂash while shifting. Fast ﬂashing means the conditions were not met to make the desired shift, typically the vehicle was going too fast, the automatic transmission was not in neutral, or the clutch pedal was not fully pressed. Slow ﬂashing means the shift is in progress. It will stay on when the shift is completed. If for some reason the transfer cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting. Shifting from Two-Wheel High to Four-Wheel High Press and release the Four-Wheel High switch. This can be done at any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically with some delay. Shifting from Four-Wheel High to Two-Wheel High Press and release the Two-Wheel High switch. This can be done at any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically with some delay. It is normal to hear and feel your vehicle’s transfer case shift into Four-Wheel Low. If you shift with the vehicle stopped, the indicator light may remain ﬂashing slowly. It may be necessary to shift the transmission momentarily into REVERSE (R) and DRIVE (D), for an automatic transmission, or REVERSE (R) and FIRST (1) for a manual transmission to have the light stop ﬂashing. 2-48 Shifting from Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel High to Four-Wheel Low Notice: Shifting the transfer case into Four-Wheel Low while moving at speeds faster than 3 mph (5 km/h) may cause premature wear to the transfer case, and may cause the gears to grind. To avoid causing premature wear, and grinding the gears, do not shift the transfer case into Four-Wheel Low while the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). To shift from Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel High to Four-Wheel Low, the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission or the clutch pedal pressed for a manual transmission. The preferred method for shifting into four-wheel low is to have your vehicle moving 3 mph (5 km/h). Press and release the Four-Wheel Low switch. You must wait for the four-wheel low indicator light to stop ﬂashing and stay on before shifting your transmission into gear or releasing the clutch pedal. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the Four-Wheel Low indicator light has stopped ﬂashing could damage the transfer case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the Four-Wheel Low indicator light to stop ﬂashing before shifting the transmission into gear. If the Four-Wheel Low switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel Low indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). The transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel High while waiting to complete the shift. 2-49 Shifting from Four-Wheel Low to Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel High To shift from four-wheel low to Four-Wheel High or Two-Wheel High, your vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission or the clutch pedal pressed for a manual transmission. The preferred method for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low is to have your vehicle moving 3 mph (5 km/h). Press and release the Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel High switch. You must wait for the Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel High indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain on before shifting your transmission into gear or releasing the clutch pedal. If the Four-Wheel High switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel High indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless the vehicle is moving slower than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). Shifting into NEUTRAL {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52. To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL, ﬁrst make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll: 1. Set the parking brake. 2. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN. 3. Press the foot brake pedal and put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). 2-50 4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High. 5. Simultaneously press and hold the Two-Wheel High and Four-Wheel Low buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete. 6. Start the engine if it is not already running. 7. Press and hold the foot brake pedal and Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the transmission for one second to DRIVE (D) for an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission and then let out the clutch. This is to ensure the transfer case is in NEUTRAL. If not, repeat this procedure starting at Step 3. 8. Turn the engine off, by turning the key to ACCESSORY. 9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P) for an automatic transmission, or FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. 10. Turn the ignition to LOCK. Shifting Out of NEUTRAL To shift out of NEUTRAL: 1. Set the parking brake and press and hold the regular brake pedal. 2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) for an automatic transmission, or press the clutch pedal for vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. Then turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off. 3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position (Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel High, or Four-Wheel Low). 4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL the red light will go out. 5. Release the parking brake. 6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position. Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case from possible damage and will only allow the transfer case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes. 7. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL the red light will go out. 2-51 Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with your left foot. A chime will activate and the warning light will ﬂash when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three seconds. If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released, the brake system warning light will go off. Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving. If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67. To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located above the parking brake pedal, with the parking brake symbol, to release the parking brake. 2-52 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) position by pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up as far as it will go. 3. If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear – not in NEUTRAL (N). 4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK. 5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. With four-wheel drive, if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67. 2-53 Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic Transmission) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch ﬁre. You or others could be injured. Do not leave your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to. If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you leave it. After you move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ﬁrst pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P). Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission) If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may ﬁnd it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To ﬁnd out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” listed earlier in this section. When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). 2-54 Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P) when the ignition is in the LOCK position. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-26 and “Torque Lock” under Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-55. If your vehicle has an Allison Transmission®, the transmission is equipped with a park pawl designed to hold the higher weight of commercial medium duty trucks. Therefore, the Allison Transmission® uses larger parts than other automatic transmissions. These larger parts may sometimes make a clunk noise when the selector lever is moved from DRIVE (D) or REVERSE (R) to PARK (P). This is normal and there is no damage occurring during these shifts. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then, move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of PARK (P), try this: 1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. There is no shift interlock in this key position. 2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4. 3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N). 4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear you want. 5. Have the system ﬁxed as soon as you can. 2-55 Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission) {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the manual transmission is in gear. Your or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-52 for more information. Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into REVERSE (R), and ﬁrmly apply the parking brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the ignition key to LOCK, press the key release button, remove the key and release the clutch. If you are parking on a hill, or if you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67. 2-56 Parking Over Things That Burn {CAUTION: Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things that can burn. CAUTION: (Continued) If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle: (cid:127) Drive it only with all the windows down to blow out any CO; and (cid:127) Have your vehicle ﬁxed immediately. Engine Exhaust {CAUTION: Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death. You might have exhaust coming in if: (cid:127) Your exhaust system sounds strange or different. (cid:127) Your vehicle gets rusty underneath. (cid:127) Your vehicle was damaged in a collision. (cid:127) Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the road or over road debris. (cid:127) Repairs were not done correctly. (cid:127) Your vehicle or exhaust system had been modiﬁed improperly. CAUTION: (Continued) 2-57 Running the Engine While Parked It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know. {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when it is on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the automatic transmission shift lever to PARK (P), or the manual transmission shift lever to NEUTRAL. {CAUTION: Idling the engine with the climate control system off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle. See the earlier caution under Engine Exhaust on page 2-57. Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if the climate control fan is at the highest setting. One place this can happen is a garage. Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in a garage with the engine running. Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See Winter Driving on page 4-42. 2-58 {CAUTION: Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to roll, even if your automatic transmission shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. Always set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not move. See Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-53. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-67. Mirrors Manual Rearview Mirror Pull or push the tab under the mirror to adjust it to the night or daytime setting. In the nightime setting, the glare from headlamps behind the vehicle will be less intense. Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar® and Compass Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming rearview mirror with a compass and the OnStar® system. There are three additional buttons for the OnStar® system. See your dealer for more information on the system and how to subscribe to OnStar®. See OnStar® System on page 2-73 for more information about the services OnStar® provides. Mirror Operation When turned on, this mirror automatically dims to the proper level to minimize glare from any headlamps behind you after dark. O(On/Off): This is the on/off button for the automatic dimming feature and compass. Press the far left button, located below the mirror face, for up to three seconds to turn the feature on and off. A light on the mirror will be lit while the feature is turned on. 2-59 Compass Operation Press the on/off button once to turn the compass on or off. There is a compass display in the window in the upper right corner of the mirror face. The compass displays a maximum of two characters. For example, “NE” is displayed for north-east. Compass Calibration Press and hold the on/off button down for nine seconds to activate the compass calibration mode. CAL will be displayed in the compass window on the mirror. The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display reads a direction. Compass Variance Compass variance is the difference between earth’s magnetic north and true geographic north. The mirror is set to zone eight upon leaving the factory. It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass variance if you live outside zone eight. Under certain circumstances, such as during a long distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for compass variance. If not adjusted to account for compass variance, your compass could give false readings. 2-60 To adjust for compass variance, do the following: 1. Find your current location and variance zone number on the map. 2. Press and hold the on/off button for six seconds. Release the button when ZONE is displayed. The number shown is the current zone number. 3. Scroll through the zone numbers that appear in the compass/temperature window on the mirror by pressing the on/off button. Once you ﬁnd your zone number, release the button. After about four seconds, the mirror will return to the compass display, and the new zone number will be set. Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display Your vehicle may have this feature. When on, an automatic dimming mirror automatically dims to the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark. The mirror also includes a dual display in the upper right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and the outside temperature will both appear in the display at the same time. P (On/Off): This is the on/off button. Temperature and Compass Display Press the on/off button, located to the far left, brieﬂy to turn the compass/temperature display on or off. If the display reads CAL, you will need to calibrate the compass. For more information on calibration, see below. To adjust between Fahrenheit and Celsius do the following: 1. Press and hold the on/off button for approximately four seconds until either a ﬂashing F or C appears. 2. Press the button again to change the display to the desired unit of measurement. After approximately four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked in and the compass/temperature display will return. If an abnormal temperature reading is displayed for an extended period of time, please consult your dealer. Under certain circumstances, a delay in updating the temperature is normal. 2-61 Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation The automatic dimming mirror function is turned on automatically each time the ignition is started. To operate the automatic dimming mirror, do the following: 1. Make sure the green indicator light, located to the left of the on/off button, is lit. If it’s not, press and hold the on/off button for approximately six seconds until the green light comes on, indicating that the mirror is in automatic dimming mode. 2. Turn off the automatic dimming mirror function by pressing and holding the on/off button for approximately six seconds, until the green indicator light turns off. Compass Variance The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory. It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass variance if you live outside of zone eight. Under certain circumstances, as during a long distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for compass variance. Compass variance is the difference between earth’s magnetic north and true geographic north. If not adjusted to account for compass variance, your compass could give false readings. 2-62 To adjust for compass variance do the following: 1. Find your current location and variance zone number on the following zone map. 2. Press and hold the on/off button until a Z and a zone number appear in the display. The compass is now in zone mode. 3. Keep pressing the on/off button until the desired zone number appears in the display. Release the button. After approximately four seconds of inactivity, the new zone number will be locked in and the compass/temperature display will return. 4. Calibrate the compass as described below. Compass Calibration The compass may need calibration if one of the following occurs: (cid:127) After approximately ﬁve seconds, the display does not show a compass heading (N for North, for example), there may be a strong magnetic ﬁeld interfering with the compass. Such interference may be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, magnetic note pad holder or a similar magnetic item. The compass does not display the correct heading and the compass zone variance is set correctly. In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the mirror compass windows. If CAL is not displayed, push the on/off button for approximately 12 seconds or until CAL is displayed. The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display reads a direction. Passenger Airbag Indicator The vehicle may be equipped with a passenger airbag indicator, on the mirror glass, just above the buttons. If the vehicle has this feature, the mirror will display the word ON, or an airbag symbol in Canada, when the passenger airbag is enabled. For more information, see Passenger Sensing System on page 1-81. Cleaning the Mirror When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing. Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming rearview mirror with a compass. 2-63 (cid:127) Mirror Operation When turned on, this mirror automatically dims to the proper level to minimize glare from any headlamps behind you after dark. O(On/Off): This is the on/off button for the automatic dimming feature and compass. Press the far left button, located below the mirror face, for up to three seconds to turn the feature on and off. A light on the mirror will be lit while the feature is turned on. Compass Operation Press the on/off button once to turn the compass on or off. There is a compass display in the window in the upper right corner of the mirror face. The compass displays a maximum of two characters. For example, “NE” is displayed for north-east. Compass Calibration Press and hold the on/off button down for nine seconds to activate the compass calibration mode. CAL will be displayed in the compass window on the mirror. The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display reads a direction. Compass Variance Compass variance is the difference between earth’s magnetic north and true geographic north. The mirror is set to zone eight upon leaving the factory. It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate for compass variance if you live outside zone eight. Under certain circumstances, such as during a long distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for compass variance. If not adjusted to account for compass variance, your compass could give false readings. 2-64 To adjust for compass variance, do the following: 1. Find your current location and variance zone number on the map. 2. Press and hold the on/off button for six seconds. Release the button when ZONE is displayed. The number shown is the current zone number. 3. Scroll through the zone numbers that appear in the compass/temperature window on the mirror by pressing the on/off button. Once you ﬁnd your zone number, release the button. After about four seconds, the mirror will return to the compass display, and the new zone number will be set. Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display If the vehicle is equipped with an automatic mirror, it will, when on, automatically dim to the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind you after dark. The mirror also includes a display in the upper right corner of the mirror face. The compass reading and the outside temperature will both appear in the display at the same time. The dual display can be turned on or off by brieﬂy pressing either the TEMP or the COMP button. Temperature Display The temperature can be displayed by pressing the TEMP button. Pressing the TEMP button once brieﬂy, will toggle the temperature reading on and off. To alternate the temperature reading between Fahrenheit and Celsius, press and hold the TEMP button for approximately four seconds until the display blinks F and C. Press and release the TEMP button to toggle between the Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. After approximately four seconds of inactivity, the display will stop blinking and display the last selection made. If an abnormal reading is displayed, for an extended period of time, please consult your dealer. Under certain circumstances, a delay in updating the temperature is normal. 2-65 Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation The time period you need to press and hold the TEMP button to turn the automatic dimming feature on or off is approximately eight seconds. The indicator light to the left of the TEMP button will still turn on or off to show you when the automatic dimming feature is activated. Once the mirror is turned off, it will remain off until it is turned back on, or until the vehicle is restarted. Compass Operation Press the COMP button once brieﬂy to turn the compass on or off. When the ignition and the compass feature are on, the compass will show two character boxes for approximately

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2006 GMC Sierra Owners Manual