GMC 2006 Sierra 1500 Pickup User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-11
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31
Airbag System ......................................... 1-70
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-87
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-8
Windows ................................................. 2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-21
Mirrors .................................................... 2-59
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-73
Universal Home
Remote System .................................... 2-75
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-79
Sunroof .................................................. 2-82
Vehicle Personalization ............................. 2-82
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-52
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-70
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-62
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-4
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under
the Hood ............................................. 5-12
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-58
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-59
Front Axle ............................................... 5-60
Noise Control System ............................... 5-62
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-63
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-71
Tires ...................................................... 5-72
Appearance Care ................................... 5-113
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-122
Electrical System .................................... 5-123
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-133
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-13
Index ................................................................ 1
2006 GMC Sierra Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, the
GMC Truck Emblem, and the name SIERRA are
registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after
that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for GMC whenever it appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
ever needed. If the vehicle is sold, leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this is
done, it can help you learn about the features and
controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page
number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 06SIERRA A First Printing
©
2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard.
Please read these cautions. If you do not, you or others
could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or
“Do Not let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols
instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the following
topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Seats ................................................1-3
Power Seats ..................................................1-4
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-8
Rear Seats .......................................................1-8
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab) ................1-8
Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab) ......................1-9
Safety Belts ...................................................1-11
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-11
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16
Driver Position ..............................................1-16
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-24
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-25
Center Front Passenger Position .....................1-25
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-26
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ....................1-29
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30
Child Restraints .............................................1-31
Older Children ..............................................1-31
Infants and Young Children ............................1-33
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) ......................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position ....................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position ..........................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position (Crew Cab) .............1-57
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position (Regular and Extended Cab)
(With Airbag Off Switch) .............................1-59
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position (Regular and Extended Cab)
(With Passenger Sensing System) ...............1-65
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Airbag System ...............................................1-70
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-72
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-74
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-76
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-76
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-76
Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-78
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-81
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-86
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-86
Restraint System Check ..................................1-87
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-87
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-88
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving. If your vehicle has a manual bucket or a split bench
seat, you can adjust the seat forward or rearward with
the bar located under the front of the seat cushion.
Lift the bar to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you
want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat with
your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.
1-3

Power Seats
If your vehicle has power seats, the controls are located
on the outboard side of the seats.
•Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion by
raising or lowering the front of the horizontal control.
•Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion by
raising or lowering the rear of the horizontal control.
•Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by raising or
lowering the whole horizontal control.
•Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the
horizontal control forward or rearward.
If your vehicle has power reclining seatbacks, the
control is located rear of the power seat control on the
outboard side of the seats. Adjust the angle of the
seatback by pressing the vertical control forward
or rearward. See Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-6.
If your vehicle has manual reclining seatbacks,
see Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-6.
Power Lumbar
Your vehicle may have this feature.
The control is located on
the outboard side of the
seat cushion.
To increase or decrease support, hold the control
forward or rearward. Keep in mind that as your seating
position changes, as it may during long trips, so
should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the
seat as needed.
1-4

Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this
feature, the buttons are
located on the front doors.
The engine must be
running for the heated
seats to work.
To heat the entire seat, press the horizontal button with
the heated seat and seatback symbol. Press the button to
cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium
and low and to turn the heated seat off. Indicator lights
will be lit to designate the level of heat selected: three for
high, two for medium, and one for low.
To heat only the seatback, press the vertical button with
the heated seatback symbol. An indicator light on the
seatback button will be lit to designate that only the
seatback is being heated. Additional presses of
the seatback button will cycle through the heat levels for
the seatback only. Press the horizontal button again
to heat the whole seat.
The heated seats will be canceled after the ignition is
turned off. If you still want to use the heated seat feature
after you restart your vehicle, you will need to press
the heated seat button again.
1-5

Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To adjust the seatback, lift the manual lever located on
the outboard side of the seat. Release the lever to
lock the seatback in the desired position. Lift the lever
again without pushing on the seatback and the seatback
will go to an upright position.
If your vehicle has power seats with a power recliner,
see Power Seats on page 1-4 for further information on
how to operate the reclining seatback feature.
1-6

{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash,
you could go into it, receiving neck or other
injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
Head Restraints
Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Pull the head restraint up to raise it. Push the head
restraint down to lower it.
Your rear seats may have head restraints that can be
adjusted up and down.
1-7

Seatback Latches
The front seatbacks fold forward to allow access to the
rear of the cab.
To fold the seatback forward, lift the lever located on
the outboard side of the seat cushion.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push the
seatback rearward until it latches. After returning the
seatback to its upright position, push and pull on
the seatback to make sure it is locked.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab)
Folding the Rear Seat
The rear seat in the extended cab can be folded up to
provide more cargo space.
To fold the seat up, do the following:
1. Push down on the front
of the seat cushion
while pulling down on
the release strap
which is located under
the seat cushion.
2. Pull the seat cushion up until it latches with the
seatback.
3. After latching the seat cushion up, pull forward on it
to make sure it is locked.
1-8

The seat can also be folded down for more seating
space.
To fold the seat down, do the following:
1. Push the seat cushion while pulling the release
strap which is located under the seat cushion.
Pull the seat cushion down until it latches.
2. After latching the seat cushion, pull up on it to
make sure it is locked.
Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab)
The second row seat is a 60/40 split seat. Either side of
the rear seat may be flipped and folded for added
cargo space.
Make sure that nothing is under or in front of the seat
and that the head restraints are completely lowered.
To flip and fold the seat, do the following:
1. Pull up on the strap
loop at the rear of the
seat cushion. Then,
pull the seat cushion up
and flip it forward.
2. After folding the seat cushion fully forward, pull the
seatback forward until it is flat. If the seatback
cannot fold flat because it interferes with the
cushion, try moving the front seat forward and/or
bringing the front seat more upright. The lever at the
base of the seat must be turned rearward to
release the seatback.
1-9

To return the seat to the normal seating position, do the
following:
1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all the way.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked into place.
3. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position.
Pull up on the cushion to make sure it is locked into
place.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
Make sure that the safety belt buckles on the driver’s
side seatback are accessible to the outboard and center
occupant and are not under the seat cushions.
1-10

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
1-11

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-34.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter...a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on
wheels.
1-12

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.
1-13

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-14