2023 GMC Sierra LD 1500 Lightning Instruction Guide

The 2023 GMC Sierra LD 1500 Lightning is a daring and electrifying stride forward for pickup trucks. As the automotive industry continues its rapid transition toward electric power, GMC has not only embraced this change but has also set a new standard for performance, capability, and sustainability. The Sierra LD 1500 Lightning combines the Sierra’s rugged, time-tested design with cutting-edge electric technology, giving drivers a glimpse of the future of pickup vehicles. In this introduction, we will discuss the main features, performance capabilities, and innovations that make the 2023 GMC Sierra LD 1500 Lightning an electric pickup game-changer.

Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lamp Controls

The exterior lamp controls are on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.
Turns off the automatic headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp control to O again to turn the automatic headlamps or DRL back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, off will only work when the vehicle is in P (Park).

AUTO: Automatically turns on the headlamps, parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, roof marker lamps (if equipped), front/rear side marker lamps, and license plate lamps.
Turns on all lamps, except the headlamps and fog lamps, if equipped.
For some trim levels and trucks first sold in Canada, the headlamps may turn on with the parking lamps.
Turns on the headlamps, parking lamps, taillamps, instrument panel lights, roof marker lamps (if equipped), front/rear side marker lamps, and license plate lamps.
If equipped, turn on the fog lamps.

IntelliBeam System
If equipped, this system turns the vehicle’s high-beam headlamps on and off according to surrounding traffic conditions.
The system turns the high-beam headlamps on when it is dark enough and there is no other traffic present.

Turning On and Enabling IntelliBeam

To enable the IntelliBeam system, press bon the turn signal lever when it is dark outside and the exterior lamp control is in AUTO or 2.

Depending on the vehicle model, the following displays when the IntelliBeam
The system is enabled:

• light on the instrument cluster
  Auto High Beam Active message displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC)

Driving with IntelliBeam

The system only activates the high beams when driving over 40 km/h (25 mph). The blue high-beam on light appears on the instrument cluster when the high beams are on.

There is a sensor near the top center of the windshield that automatically controls the system. Keep this area of the windshield clear of debris to allow for best system performance.
The high-beam headlamps remain on, under the automatic control, until one of the following situations.

• The system detects a preceding vehicle’s taillamps.
• The outside light is bright enough that high-beam headlamps are not required.
• The vehicle speed drops below 20 km/h (12 mph).
• The IntelliBeam system is disabled by the button on the turn signal lever. If this happens, press the button on the end of the turn signal lever when the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO or 2 position. The instrument cluster light will come on to indicate the IntelliBeam system is reactivated. The high beams may not turn off automatically if the system cannot detect another vehicle’s lamps because of any of the following:
• The other vehicle’s lamps are missing, damaged, obstructed from view, or otherwise undetected.
• The other vehicle’s lamps are covered with dirt, snow, and/or road spray.
• The other vehicle’s lamps cannot be detected due to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray, mist, or other airborne obstructions.
• The windshield is dirty, cracked, or obstructed by something that blocks the view of the light sensor.
• The vehicle is loaded such that the front end points upward, causing the light sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps and taillamps.
• The vehicle is being driven on winding or hilly roads.

The automatic high-beam headlamps may need to be disabled if any of the above conditions exist.

Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
A warning chime sounds if the driver’s door is opened while the vehicle is off and the exterior lamps are on.

Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Push the turn signal lever toward the instrument panel to change the headlamps from low to high beam.
Pull or push the turn signal lever to return to low-beam headlamps.

 

Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if the headlamps are in the automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in the automatic position or on low beam, the high-beam headlamps will turn on. Depending on the type of headlamp, they will either turn off
after a short duration or stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to normal operation.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the front of the vehicle during the day. Fully functional DRL are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the following conditions are met:

• The vehicle is on.
  The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
• The transmission is not in P (Park).
• The light sensor determines it is daytime.

When the DRL system is on, only the DRL   on. The taillamps, side marker lamps, instrument panel lights, and other lamps will not turn on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp system switches from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior lamp control to O and then release it. For vehicles first sold in Canada, turning off the DRL will only work when the vehicle is parked.

Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the headlamps come on automatically.

There is a light sensor on top of the instrument panel. Do not cover the sensor, otherwise, the headlamps will come on when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when driving through a parking garage or tunnel.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic headlamp system comes on immediately. If it is light outside when the vehicle leaves the garage, there is a slight delay before the automatic headlamp system changes to the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). During that delay, the instrument cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel illumination control is in the full bright
position. See Instrument Panel Illumination Control.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will turn off or may change to DRL.
The automatic headlamp system turns off when the exterior lamp control is turned to O or the ignition is off.

Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated in daylight with the engine on, and the exterior lamp control is in AUTO, the headlamps, parking lamps, and other exterior lamps come on. The transition time for the lamps coming on varies based on the wiper speed. When the wipers are not operating, these lamps turn off. Move the exterior lamp control to O or ;to disable this feature.

Hazard Warning Flashers

Work Truck

Uplevel Shown, Base Level Similar

Denali

Press this button to make the front and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off.
Press again to turn the flashers off. When the hazard warning flashers are on, the vehicle’s turn signals will not work.

Turn and change signals

An arrow on the instrument cluster flashes in the direction of the turn or lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the way up or down to signal a turn.
Partially raise or lower the lever for less than one second until the arrow starts to flash to signal a lane change. This causes the turn signals to automatically flash three times. It will flash six times if Tow/Haul
The mode is active. Holding the turn signal lever for more than one second will cause the turn signals to flash until the lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting position whenever it is released.

If after signaling a turn or a lane change the arrows flash rapidly or do not come on, a signal bulb could be burned out. If equipped with LED turn signals, see your dealer.
Replace any burned-out bulbs. If a bulb is not burned out, check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers.

Turn Signal On the Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than 1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds at each flash of the turn signal. A message may appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC). See Vehicle Messages. To turn the chime and message off, move the turn signal lever to the off position.

Fog Lamps

If equipped, the fog lamp control is near the exterior lamp control to the left of the steering column.
The vehicle must be on for the fog lamps to come on.
Press to turn the fog lamps on or off.
A light will come on in the instrument cluster.
When the fog lamps are turned on, the parking lamps automatically turn on.
When the headlamps are changed to high beam, the fog lamps also go off. When the high-beam headlamps are turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to be on with the fog lamps.

Task Lighting

If equipped, task lighting projects light from the outside mirrors away from the vehicle.
While the vehicle is parked, press  to select one of the following options:

• Left and Right Task Lights Illuminated
• Left Task Light Illuminated
• Right Task Light Illuminated
• Left and Right Task Lights Off

If the vehicle leaves a parked position, the lights will immediately turn off.

If the vehicle is off, the lights will stay on for approximately 10 minutes.
If any Task lights are on, if the button has not been pressed after approximately 5 seconds, pressing it again will turn off all Task Lights.

Auxiliary Roof-Mounted Lamp
If equipped, this button includes wiring provisions for a dealer or a qualified service center to install an auxiliary roof lamp.

Work Truck

Base Level

For information on roof-mounted emergency
lamp installation, see www.gmupfitter.com or contact your dealer.
If the vehicle has this button, the vehicle may have the snow plow prep package. See Add-On Electrical Equipment .

Exterior Cargo Lamps

Work Truck

Base Level Shown, Uplevel Similar

The cargo lamps provide more light in the cargo area or on the sides of the vehicle if needed. The lamps inside the pickup box, in the tailgate handle, for the hitch, and/or the cargo mirror lamps also turn on, if equipped.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), R (Reverse), or N (Neutral) the cargo lamp switch causes the lights to cycle through the following states for each button press:

Initial Press:

• Center High-Mounted Stop lamp (CHMSL)
  Cargo Bed Lights – On
• Cargo Mirror Lights – On
• Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) – On
•  
• Next Press (if within five seconds of the previous button press):

CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights – On

• Cargo Mirror Lights – Off
  Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) – On

Next Press (if within five seconds of the previous button press):

• CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights – Off
• Cargo Mirror Lights – On
• Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) – On

Next Press

• CHMSL/Cargo Bed Lights – Off
• Cargo Mirror Lights – Off
• Cargo Switch Indicator (if equipped) – Off

Become familiar with and follow all state and local laws that apply to cargo lamp operation.

Interior Lighting

Instrument Panel Illumination Control

Base Level C Shown, Uplevel Similar

This feature adjusts the brightness of all illuminated controls. The instrument panel illumination control is next to the exterior
lamp control.
Press D + to brighten or D − to dim the lights.
This feature is functional at night, or when the headlamps or parking lamps are on.

Dome Lamps

The dome lamp controls are in the overhead console.

To operate, press the following buttons:
OFF : Press to turn off the dome lamps when a door is open. An indicator light on the button will turn on when the dome lamp override is activated. Press OFF again to deactivate this feature and the indicator light will turn off. The dome lamps will come on when doors are opened.
+ON/OFF : Press to turn the dome lamps on manually. Press again to turn the dome lamps off.

Reading Lamps
There are reading lamps on the overhead console and over the rear seats. These lamps come on when any door is opened, K on the remote key is pressed, or when the vehicle is turned off.

Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are in the overhead console.
Press the lamp lenses to turn the front reading lamps on or off.

Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps are over the rear seats.

Press the lamp lens to turn the rear reading lamps on or off.

FAQs

Useful Link

View Full PDF:  GMC Sierra LD 1500 2023 User Guide| Auto User Guide
Transmission: 2023 GMC Sierra LD 1500 Transmission Quick Guide