2008 GMC ACADIA headlamp

Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving
because some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
Slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles because your headlamps can only
light up so much road ahead.
Watch for animals.
When tired, pull off the road.
Do not wear sunglasses.
Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out.
Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or
curves.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But,
as we get older, these differences increase. A
50-year-old driver might need at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
4-13

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

Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle is equipped with the following wiring
harness for towing a trailer.
Basic Trailer Wiring
If your vehicle is equipped for heavy duty trailering, the
trailer wiring harness, with a seven-pin connector, is
located at the rear of the vehicle and is tied to the
vehicle’s frame. The harness connector can be plugged
into a seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer connector
available through your dealer/retailer.
The seven-wire harness contains the following trailer
circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps
Black: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Red/Black: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake**The fuse for this circuit is installed in the underhood
electrical center, but the wires are not connected. They
should be connected by your dealer/retailer or a
qualied service center.
If the back-up lamp circuit is not functional, contact your
dealer/retailer.
If you are charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery, press
the Tow/Haul mode switch located on the center
console near the climate controls. This will boost the
vehicle system voltage and properly charge the battery.
If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul mode, you can
turn on the headlamps (Non-HID only) as a second way
to boost the vehicle system and charge the battery.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-25.
4-41

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-6
Fuel................................................................5-6
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-7
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-8
Filling the Tank..............................................5-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-12
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-12
Hood Release..............................................5-13
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-14
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-21
Engine Coolant.............................................5-22
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-24
Engine Overheating.......................................5-25
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . .5-26Cooling System............................................5-27
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-33
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35
Battery........................................................5-38
Jump Starting...............................................5-39
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-45
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-45
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-45
License Plate Lamp......................................5-46
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-46
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-47
Tires..............................................................5-48
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-49
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-52
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-55
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-57
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-58
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-62
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-63
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-66
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-67
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset at the factory and
should need no further adjustment.
However, if your vehicle is damaged in a crash, the
headlamp aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the
low-beam headlamps may be necessary if oncoming
drivers ash their high-beam headlamps at you
(for vertical aim).
If the headlamps need to be re-aimed, it is
recommended that you take the vehicle to your
dealer/retailer for service.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see
Replacement Bulbs on page 5-46.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer/retailer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside
and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or others could be injured. Be sure to read
and follow the instructions on the bulb
package.
5-45

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, wheel nuts, and TPMS
sensors for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-72for more
information.
5-69

Fuses Usage
LT PRK Left Parking Lamp
RT PRK Right Parking Lamp
TRLR PRK
LAMPTrailer Parking Lamps
AIRBAG Airbag System
PCM IGN Powertrain Control Module Ignition
AFS Adaptive Forward Lighting System
TRANS Transmission
REAR
CAMERARear Camera
EMISSION 1 Antilock Brakes System 2
TRLR BRK Trailer Brake
AWD All-Wheel-Drive System
TRLR PWR Trailer Power
EVEN COILS Even Injector Coils
RR HVAC Rear Climate Control System
SPARE Spare
ODD COILS Odd Injector Coils
SPARE Spare
LT HI BEAM Left High-Beam Headlamp
SPARE SpareFuses Usage
LT TRLR
STOP/TRNTrailer Left Stoplamp and Turn
Signal
EMISSION 2 Emission 2
ECM Engine Control Module
RT HI BEAM Right High-Beam Headlamp
RVC SNSR Regulated Voltage Control Sensor
RT TRLR
STOP/TRNTrailer Right Stoplamp and Turn
Signal
ECM 1 Engine Control Module 1
SPARE Spare
WPR/WSW Windshield Wiper/Washer
SPARE Spare
PWR OUTLET Power Outlet
AUX POWER Auxiliary Power
RT LO BEAM Right Low-Beam Headlamp
RR APO Rear Accessory Power Outlet
LT LO BEAM Left Low-Beam Headlamp
TCM Transmission Control Module
TRLR BCK/UP Trailer Back-up Lamps
HTD MIR Heated Outside Rearview Mirror
ABS MTR Antilock Brake System Motor
5-105

Fuses Usage
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
HORN Horn
A/C CLTCH Air Conditioning Clutch
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
SPARE Spare
J-Case Fuses Usage
FAN 2 Cooling Fan 2
PWR L/GATE Power Liftgate
FAN 1 Cooling Fan 1
HVAC BLWR Climate Control System Blower
STRTR Starter
BATT 2 Battery 2
HTD WASH Heated Windshield Washer System
BATT 1 Battery 1
BATT 3 Battery 3
ABS MTR Antilock Brake System Motor
RR DEFOG Rear Defogger
S/ROOF/
SUNSHADESunroof, Sunshade
Relays Usage
FAN 3 Cooling Fan 3
FAN 2 Cooling Fan 2
PRK LAMP Park Lamp
FAN 1 Cooling Fan 1
RT TRLR
STOP/TRNTrailer Right Stoplamp and Turn
Signal
LT TRLR
STOP/TRNTrailer Left Stoplamp and Turn
Signal
IGN Ignition Main
CRNK Switched Power
PWR/TRN Powertrain
HI BEAM High-Beam Headlamps
WPR Windshield Wiper
WPR HI Windshield Wiper High Speed
RR DEFOG Rear Window Defogger
HID/LO BEAMHigh Intensity Discharge (HID)
Low-Beam Headlamps
SPARE Spare
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
HORN Horn
A/C CMPRSR
CLTCHAir Conditioning Compressor Clutch
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
TRLR BCK/UP Trailer Back-up Lamps
5-106