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2023 GMC Yukon XL Owners Manual - Exterior Lighting



Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lamp Controls


The exterior lamp control is on the instrument panel to the left of the steering column.

There are four positions.

O : Turns the exterior lamps off and deactivates the AUTO mode. Turn to O again to reactivate the AUTO mode.

In Canada, the headlamps will automatically reactivate when the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).

AUTO : Turns the exterior lamps on and off automatically depending on outside lighting.

; : Turns on the parking lamps including all lamps, except the headlamps.

D= : Turns on the headlamps together with the parking lamps and instrument panel lights.

When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is on, the headlamps turn off automatically 10 minutes after the vehicle is turned off. When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will stay on for 10 minutes before turning off to prevent the battery from being drained. Turn the headlamp control off and then back to the headlamp on position to make the headlamps stay on for an additional 10 minutes

To keep the lamps on for more than 10 minutes, the ignition must be on or in accessory mode.

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.

This light A comes on in the instrument cluster when the IntelliBeam system is enabled.

Turning On and Enabling IntelliBeam

To enable the IntelliBeam system, activate the high/low-beam changer two times within two seconds while the exterior lamp control is in AUTO or D=

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 occurs:

  • The system detects an approaching vehicle's headlamps.
  • The system detects a preceding vehicle's taillamps.
  • The outside light is bright enough that high-beam headlamps are not required.
  • The vehicle's speed drops below 20 km/h (12 mph).
  • The IntelliBeam system is disabled by the button on the turn signal lever. If this happens, pressbon the turn signal lever when the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO or 5 position to reactivate the IntelliBeam system. The instrument cluster light will come on to indicate the IntelliBeam system is reactivated.
  • The IntelliBeam system will turn off if the fog lamps are turned on.

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 vehicle's 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 reminder chime sounds when the headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned on, the vehicle is turned off, and a door is open. To disable the chime, turn the lamps off.

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer


Push the turn signal lever away from you and release, to turn the high beams on.

To return to low beams, push the lever again or pull it toward you and release.

When the high-beam headlamps are on, this indicator light on the instrument cluster will also be on.

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.

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 in daylight when the following conditions are met:

  • The ignition is on.
  • The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
  • The light sensor determines it is daytime.

When the DRL are on, the taillamps, sidemarker lamps, instrument panel lights, and other lamps will not be on. The instrument cluster will be lit.

The DRL turn off when the ignition is off.

The regular headlamp system should be turned on when needed.

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.

When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will turn off or may change to Daytime Running Lamps (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 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


Yukon/Yukon XL is shown, Denali similar

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 Lane-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.

Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change is completed. If the lever is briefly pressed and released, the turn signal flashes three times.

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.

Replace any burned out bulbs. If a bulb is not burned out, check the fuse.

Turn Signal On 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. The message TURN SIGNAL ON will also appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC). To turn the chime and message off, move the turn signal lever to the off position.

Fog Lamps


If equipped with fog lamps, the button is on the exterior lamp control, to the left of the steering column.

The ignition 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.


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