GMC Sierra Denali 2009 User manual

Seats and Restraint System ............................. 1-1
Head Restraints ......................................... 1-2
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats .............................................. 1-10
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-11
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-33
Airbag System ......................................... 1-56
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-72
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-9
Windows ................................................. 2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-21
Mirrors .................................................... 2-38
Object Detection Systems .......................... 2-42
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-51
Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-54
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-61
Sunroof .................................................. 2-64
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-21
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-48
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-74
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle ....... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-39
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-12
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-47
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-48
Front Axle ............................................... 5-49
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-50
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-61
Tires ...................................................... 5-62
2009 GMC Sierra Denali Owner Manual M

Appearance Care ................................... 5-105
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-113
Electrical System .................................... 5-113
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-121
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy ........... 7-16
Index ................................................................ 1

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, GMC, the
GMC Truck Emblem, and the names SIERRA and
DENALI are registered trademarks of General Motors
Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. GM reserves the right to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General
Motors of Canada Limited” for GMC wherever it appears
in this manual.
This manual describes features that may or may not be
on your specific vehicle.
Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about
the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols,
and words work together to explain vehicle operation.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com
Index
To quickly locate information about the vehicle use the
Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical
list of what is in the manual and the page number where
it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 15911383 A First Printing
©
2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
iii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
A circle with a slash
through it is a safety
symbol which means “Do
Not,” “Do not do this”
or “Do not let this happen.”
A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about
things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore
the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid
or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle.
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
Many times, this damage would not be covered by the
vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice
tells what to do to help avoid the damage.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use
the same words, CAUTION or Notice.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
M:This symbol is shown when you need to see your
owner manual for additional instructions or information.
*:This symbol is shown when you need to see a
service manual for additional instructions or information.
iv

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar
®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_:Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v

✍NOTES
vi

Head Restraints ............................................1-2
Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Power Seats ..................................................1-3
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-5
Heated and Cooled Seats ................................1-5
Memory Features ...........................................1-6
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-8
Rear Seats .....................................................1-10
Rear Seat Operation
(All Except Extended Cab) ..........................1-10
Safety Belts ...................................................1-11
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-11
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31
Lap Belt ......................................................1-31
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-32
Child Restraints .............................................1-33
Older Children ..............................................1-33
Infants and Young Children ............................1-36
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-40
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) ..................................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position ...................................................1-50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-52
Airbag System ...............................................1-56
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-59
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-61
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-62
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-62
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-63
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-64
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-70
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-71
Restraint System Check ..................................1-72
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-72
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash ...................................................1-73
Section 1 Seats and Restraint System
1-1

Head Restraints
The front seats have adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
{CAUTION:
With head restraints that are not installed and
adjusted properly, there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/spinal injury in a
crash. Do not drive until the head restraints for all
occupants are installed and adjusted properly.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s
head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury
in a crash.
1-2

Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head
restraint, press the button, located on the top of the
seatback, and push the restraint down.
Push down on the head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is locked in place.
The head restraints are not designed to be removed.
The rear seat has head rests that can be adjusted
up and down.
Front Seats
Power Seats
On a vehicle with power seats, the controls used to
operate them are located on the outboard side of
the seats.
Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
Driver’s Seat with Power Seat Control, Power
Recline, and Power Lumbar shown
1-3

Your vehicle may have additional features to adjust your
vehicle’s power seat:
•Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by
moving the front of the control up or down.
•Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by
moving the rear of the control up or down.
•Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire
control up or down.
On seats with power reclining seatbacks, the control is
located behind the power seat control on the outboard
side of the seats. See “Power Reclining Seatbacks”
under Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-8.
A vehicle with a memory function allows seat settings to
be saved and recalled. See Memory Features on
page 1-6 for more information.
Power Lumbar
If the seats have power lumbar, the controls used to
operate this feature are located on the outboard side of
the seats.
•To increase lumbar support, press and hold the front
of the control.
•To decrease lumbar support, press and hold the rear
of the control.
•To raise the height of the lumbar support, press and
hold the top of the control.
•To lower the height of the lumbar support, press and
hold the bottom of the control.
1-4