Lost your GMC Sierra key fob or need to program a new one? Don’t worry, you can easily program your key fob yourself at home, saving time and money. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions to program your GMC Sierra key fob quickly and efficiently. Before you begin, ensure you have all the key fobs you intend to use with your vehicle, as this process will erase all previously programmed remotes.
Step-by-Step GMC Sierra Key Fob Programming Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to program your GMC Sierra key fob:
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Prepare Your Vehicle: Begin by closing all doors of your GMC Sierra. This ensures proper communication between the vehicle and the key fob during the programming sequence.
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Ignition and Unlock Button Sequence: Insert your key into the ignition. Locate the power UNLOCK button on the driver’s side door panel and press and hold it down. Do not release the button until instructed in a later step.
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Cycle the Ignition: While holding the UNLOCK button, quickly turn the ignition from OFF to ON and back to OFF twice. “ON” is the position right before starting the engine, and “OFF” is the position where you can remove the key. The sequence should be ON, OFF, ON, OFF in rapid succession.
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Release the Unlock Button and Enter Programming Mode: Release the power UNLOCK button on the driver’s side door panel. If you have successfully entered programming mode, your GMC Sierra will signal this by automatically locking and unlocking its doors. This lock and unlock cycle confirms that the vehicle is ready to learn the new key fob programming.
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Program the First Key Fob: Take the first key fob you wish to program. Simultaneously press and hold both the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the key fob. Continue holding both buttons until the door locks cycle again. This may take up to 30 seconds. The door locks cycling indicates that the vehicle has successfully recognized and programmed this key fob.
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Program Additional Key Fobs: If you have more key fobs to program, repeat Step 5 for each additional key fob. Make sure to program all desired key fobs in this step as the system will only recognize the remotes programmed during this session.
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Exit Programming Mode: Once you have programmed all your desired key fobs, turn the ignition key to the ON position. This action will exit the programming mode.
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Final Steps and Testing: Turn the ignition to the OFF position and remove the key from the ignition. Thoroughly test all programmed key fobs to ensure they are working correctly by pressing the LOCK, UNLOCK, and other function buttons.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Door Locks Don’t Cycle After Step 4: If the door locks do not cycle after releasing the UNLOCK button in Step 4, you may not have entered programming mode correctly. Ensure you are turning the ignition quickly enough and that you are holding the UNLOCK button throughout the initial steps. Restart the process from Step 1.
- Locks Cycle Before Releasing Unlock Button: If the door locks cycle before you release the UNLOCK button in Step 4, it indicates that the vehicle has not entered programming mode and you need to restart from Step 1. If this continues to happen, there may be an issue with your vehicle’s keyless entry system, and professional assistance might be required.
- No Door Lock Response at All: If you cannot get the door locks to cycle at any point, check your timing when turning the ignition. Turning the key too quickly or too slowly can prevent the system from entering programming mode.
By following these instructions, you should be able to program your GMC Sierra key fob with ease. If you encounter persistent issues, consulting a certified automotive technician or your GMC dealer is recommended.
