2004 GMC CANYON brake light

Up-Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
This light appears when
you need to shift to the
next higher gear on
a manual transmission
vehicle.
Shifting when the indicator light is on will help you get
the best fuel economy. See “Up-Shift Light” under
Manual Transmission Operation on page 2-24for
more information.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
United StatesCanada
3-28

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-29for more information.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does not
release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-47.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will
come on briey when
you start your engine to
show it is working.
Then it will turn off.
This is normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes,
but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should
come on briey when you turn the ignition key to ON.
If the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
3-29

Language
You can choose the language in which the DIC
information is displayed. Press the reset stem until
LANGUAGE is displayed. While LANGUAGE is on
the display, press and hold the reset stem until
the language changes from ENGLISH to the language
you desire. You can choose from English, Spanish,
or French.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Warning messages are displayed on the DIC to notify
the driver that the status of the vehicle has changed and
that some action may be needed by the driver to
correct the condition. More than one message may
appear at one time. They will appear one after the other.
The messages are displayed for three seconds each.
Some messages may not require immediate action
but you should press and release the trip odometer reset
stem to acknowledge that you received the message
and clear it from the display. Each message must
be acknowledged individually. Some messages cannot
be cleared from the display because they are more
urgent. These messages require action before they can
be removed from the DIC display. The following are
the possible messages that can be displayed and some
information about them.
AC (Air Conditioning) OFF
This message will be displayed when the engine coolant
temperature is too high and the air conditioning in
your vehicle needs to be turned off. See andEngine
Overheating on page 5-28andClimate Control System
on page 3-18for more information. It will be displayed
along with the ENG HOT message.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)
This message will be displayed on the DIC if there is a
problem with your antilock brake system. Check your
antilock brake system as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced. SeeBrakes on page 5-38
andAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on
page 3-29for more information. Pressing the reset
stem to acknowledge this message and clear it from
the DIC display.
BATTERY
This message will be displayed when there is a problem
with your vehicle’s battery. SeeBattery on page 5-41
andBattery Warning Light on page 3-27for more
information.
3-39

BRAKES
This message will be displayed on the DIC if there is a
problem with your brakes. Check your brakes as
soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.
SeeBrakes on page 5-38andBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-28for more information. Press and
release the reset stem to acknowledge the message and
clear it from the DIC display.
CHANGE OIL
This message will be displayed on your DIC when the
oil needs to be changed. Check the oil in your vehicle as
soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced. See
Engine Oil on page 5-13andScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information. Press the reset stem
to acknowledge the message and clear it from the
display.
DOORS
This message will be displayed on your DIC when one
of your doors is ajar. You should check all the doors
on your vehicle to make sure they are closed. Press the
reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear it
from the display.
ENG (Engine) HOT
This message will be displayed on your DIC when your
engine coolant temperature is hot. Check your engine
coolant temperature gage. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-30for more information.
You should have your vehicle serviced as soon as
possible if you suspect your engine is overheating. See
Engine Overheating on page 5-28for more information.
FLUID
This message will be displayed on the DIC if your brake
uid is low. Check the brake uid as soon as possible
and have your vehicle serviced. SeeBrakes on
page 5-38for more information. Press the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the DIC
display.
FUEL CAP
This message will be displayed if your vehicle’s fuel cap
is either off or loose. You should pull over and check
to see if your vehicle’s fuel cap is secure as soon
as possible. You may also see the check engine light
on the instrument panel cluster. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-30for more information.
Press the reset stem to acknowledge the message and
clear it from the display.
3-40

LOW FUEL
This message will be displayed on your DIC if the level
of fuel in your vehicle is low. You should also check
your fuel gage. SeeFuel Gage on page 3-36for more
information. You should ll your vehicle’s tank as
soon as possible.
LOW TRAC (Traction)
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS), you will
see this message when the TCS is active. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9for more information.
Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the DIC display.
OIL
This message will be displayed when your oil pressure
is low. SeeOil Pressure Light on page 3-34, and
Engine Oil on page 5-13for more information.
OIL LIFE
This message will be displayed when your GM Oil Life
System needs to be checked. Press the reset stem
to acknowledge the message. For more information,
see “GM Oil Life System” underDIC Controls and
Displays on page 3-37.
PARK BRK (Brake)
This message will be displayed when your vehicle’s
parking brake is active. SeeParking Brake on page 2-29
andBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28for
more information. Press the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the display.
REDUCED POWER
This message will be displayed on your DIC when your
vehicle’s engine power is reduced. Press the reset
stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from
the display.
SERV (Service) 4WD
(Four-Wheel Drive)
This message will be displayed on your DIC when there
is a problem with your transfer case control system.
Check the transfer case on your vehicle and have
it serviced. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-26for more
information about your transfer case. Press the reset
stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from
the display.
3-41

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-lock Brake System
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-29.
4-7

Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel
the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transmission to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal.
The TCS button is located on your instrument panel.
Press this button to turn the TCS off and on.
When the traction control system is turned off,
an indicator light on the button will illuminate.
4-9

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want to
consider a number of things:
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain
vehicle control?
What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs?
Boulders?
What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a hidden
creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then try to
keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a
low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes
and they will not have to do all the work. Descend
slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times.
{CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade.
This could cause loss of control and a serious
accident. Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
Q:Are there some things I should not do when
driving down a hill?
A:Yes! These are important because if you ignore
them you could lose control and have a serious
accident.
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that is not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive
across. You could roll over if you do not drive
straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal pressed
down with a manual transmission. This is called
“free-wheeling.” Your brakes will have to do all the
work and could overheat and fade.
4-23