2008 GMC CANYON 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 your 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.
4-29

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, seeEngine Overheating
on page 5-29.
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.
5-26

{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 the proper coolant.
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.
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.
It is located toward the rear of the engine compartment
on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level could be above the FULL COLD level.
5-27

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. See “Driving on Grades” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-44.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL and let
the engine idle.
2. Turn off the air conditioning.
3. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.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. Push down
the accelerator until the engine speed is about twice
as fast as normal idle speed for at least 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.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-30

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, start the engine again.
The engine cooling fan speed should increase when
idle speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal
down. If it does not, your vehicle needs service.
Turn off the engine.
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.
5-32

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant
level is not at the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
engine coolant at the coolant recovery tank.
SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-26for more information.
{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.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at
the FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
5-33

Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-39
Infants and Young Children...........................1-36
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-43
Older Children.............................................1-33
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position........................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-56
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-42
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-70
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-19
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-106
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-104
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-102
Interior.......................................................5-99
Leather....................................................5-102
Tires........................................................5-107
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-107
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-105Climate Control System...................................3-20
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-22
Clock............................................................3-47
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-24
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compass...............................................2-40, 2-43
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-15
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-33
Heater, Engine............................................
2-22
Cooling System..............................................5-31
Cruise Control................................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-37
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-50
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-5
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
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-14
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
3

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3......................................................3-64
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-17
Door
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-9
Rear Doors.................................................. 2-9
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-38
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-38
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-42
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-24
Before a Long Trip......................................4-25
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-26
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-24
Off-Road....................................................4-11
Recovery Hooks..........................................4-31
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-30
Winter........................................................4-27
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-110
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-111
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-110
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-110
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-19
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-34
Coolant......................................................5-26
Coolant Heater............................................2-22
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-33
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-15
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-37
Fan Noise..................................................5-36
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheating................................................5-29
Running While Parked..................................2-38
Starting......................................................2-21
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-16
Exit Lighting...................................................3-17
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-32
Exterior Cargo Lamps......................................3-16
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-13
4