2007 GMC ACADIA brakes

Driving on Grades
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger
and load carrying vehicle. If you tow a trailer,
your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. Because
of the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s
engine may overheat on hot days, when going up
a long or steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gage indicates overheating,
turn off the air conditioning to reduce engine load,
pull off the road and stop in a safe spot.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
don’t shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce
your speed to around 55 mph (88 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift
into PARK (P).
When parking uphill, turn your wheels away
from the curb. When parking downhill,
turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks behind the
trailer wheels.
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3. When the chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the
chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you’re pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 502for more information.
Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission uid
(don’t overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, drive
belt, cooling system and brake system. Each of
these is covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you nd them quickly. If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information before
you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
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Service........................................................ 385
Accessories and Modications................... 385
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 386
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 386
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 387
Fuel............................................................. 387
Gasoline Octane........................................ 388
Gasoline Specications.............................. 388
California Fuel........................................... 388
Additives................................................... 389
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 390
Filling the Tank......................................... 390
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 393
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 394
Hood Release........................................... 395
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 396
Engine Oil................................................. 397
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 400
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 402
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 404
Engine Coolant.......................................... 406
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 410
Engine Overheating................................... 410Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 412
Cooling System......................................... 413
Power Steering Fluid................................. 419
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 420
Brakes...................................................... 421
Battery...................................................... 424
Jump Starting............................................ 425
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 430
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 431
Bulb Replacement....................................... 432
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 432
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 432
License Plate Lamp................................... 433
Replacement Bulbs................................... 433
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 434
Tires............................................................ 435
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 436
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 439
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 442
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 444
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 448
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 450
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
383

Service
Your dealer/retailer knows your vehicle best and
wants you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer/retailer for all your service needs.
You will get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you
go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
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A. Radiator Pressure Cap (Out of View).
SeeRadiator Pressure Cap on page 410.
B. Engine Coolant Recovery Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 413.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 493.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting on page 425.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 419.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 397.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 397.
H. Automatic Transmission Fluid Dipstick.
See “Checking the Fluid Level” under
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 404.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 421.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 402.
K. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.
See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 420.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 396
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil
several minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you do not do this, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
397

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 396for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have the
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later the brakes will not work well.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you
add uid when the linings are worn, then you will
have too much uid when you get new brake
linings. You should add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is done on
the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 222.
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What to Add
When you need brake uid, use only DOT-3 brake
uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 511.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well.
This could cause a crash. Always use the
proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 482.
422

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates can cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied
or lightly applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specifications on
page 497.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, the brakes adjust for wear.
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