2008 GMC ACADIA heater

You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially any that is
blocking the exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will
help keep CO out.
Run the engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel.
When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than
just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses
less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery
charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with the
headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
4-19

Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to
the radiator, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or
24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
5-22

Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
If coolant needs to be added more than four times a
year, have your dealer/retailer check the cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12for more information.Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
cap has this symbol on it.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
more information on the location of the coolant
recovery tank.
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD line or a little higher. When the
engine is warm, the level could be above the FULL
COLD level. The FULL COLD line is marked on
the coolant recovery tank.
5-23

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. If your air conditioner is on, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
3. If you are in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving — DRIVE (D) or LOW (L).
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for three
minutes while you are parked. If you still have the
warning, turn off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode lets your vehicle be
driven to a safe place in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates ring groups of
cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode,
there is a signicant loss in power and engine
performance. The temperature gage indicates an
overheat condition exists. Driving extended distances
and/or towing a trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. SeeEngine Oil on
page 5-15.
5-26

When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
least up to the FULL COLD mark. If it is not, you
may have a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, both fans should be
running. If they are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running the engine
without coolant is not covered by the warranty.Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the coolant recovery tank. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is not at or above the
FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant
recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant recovery tank pressure cap, is cool
before you do it. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-22
for more information.
5-28

{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator
pressure cap — even a little — they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and
radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have
to turn the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
5-29

Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-55
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-58
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-46
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-94
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-93
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-91
Interior.......................................................5-89
Leather......................................................5-91
Tires..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-96
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades.......5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-26
Dual Automatic............................................3-29
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-36
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System......3-36
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System,
Electronic................................................3-38Clock............................................................3-85
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-10
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-88
Compass.......................................................2-40
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-21
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-58
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-49
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-49
Heater, Engine............................................2-29
Cooling System..............................................5-27
Courtesy Lamps.............................................
3-17
Cruise Control................................................3-12
Cruise Control Light........................................3-55
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-55
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-14
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-14
3

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-50
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-29
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-49
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-49
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-38
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-26
Overheating................................................5-25
Running While Parked..................................2-39
Starting......................................................2-27
Entry Lighting.................................................3-17
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-16
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-36
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-14
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finish Damage...............................................5-95
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-71
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-72
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-84
Floor Mats.....................................................2-57
Fluid.............................................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-33
Windshield Washer......................................5-34
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-55
Fuel............................................................... 5-6
Additives...................................................... 5-7
California Fuel.............................................. 5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-12
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-8
Gage.........................................................3-56
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-6
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-100
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-100
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-103
Windshield Wiper.......................................5-100
5