2008 GMC CANYON tow

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-12
Child Restraints
.......................................1-33
Airbag System
.........................................1-60
Restraint System Check
............................1-75
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-19
Mirrors
....................................................2-39
OnStar
®System
......................................2-47
Storage Areas
.........................................2-50
Sunroof
..................................................2-52
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-38
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-46Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-38
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-46
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-47
Front Axle
...............................................5-48
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-54
Tires
......................................................5-56
Appearance Care
.....................................5-99
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-109
Electrical System
....................................5-110
Capacities and Specications
...................5-116
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-16
Index................................................................ 1
2008 GMC Canyon Owner ManualM

Power Seats
If the vehicle has power
seats, the controls used to
operate them are located
on the outboard side of
the seats.
To adjust the seat, do any of the following:
Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the
horizontal control forward or rearward.
Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by
moving the front of the horizontal control up or down.
Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by
moving the rear of the horizontal control up or down.
Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire
horizontal control up or down.
Use the vertical control to recline the seatback.
See “Power Reclining Seatbacks” underReclining
Seatbacks on page 1-5for more information.
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, there is a knob
located on the outboard
side of the driver’s seat.
Turn the top of the knob toward the front of the vehicle
to increase lumbar support. Turn the top of the knob
toward the rear of the vehicle to decrease lumbar
support.
1-3

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
Power Reclining Seatbacks
If the seats have power
reclining seatbacks, use
the vertical power seat
control located on the
outboard side of the seat.
To recline the seatback, press the control toward the
rear of the vehicle.
To raise the seatback, press the control toward the
front of the vehicle.
1-6

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab)
If your vehicle has an
extended cab, there may
be forward folding seats in
the rear area.
To fold the rear seat cushion(s) from the stored position
to the sitting position, pull the front of the seat cushion
down completely.
The rear seat storage compartments must be closed
before folding the seat down. SeeRear Storage Area on
page 2-51.To store the seat, do the following:
Notice:Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or
the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
1. Secure the safety belt buckle to the inboard side
of the seat with the hook and loop fastener (A),
so that it does not move when not in use.
2. Push the entire seat up until it is ush with the
trim panel.
1-9

Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab)
The rear seatback(s) in the crew cab can be folded
forward.
Notice:Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or
the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
To fold the rear seatback(s) forward, do the following:
1. Disconnect the rear center safety belt latch from
the mini buckle by inserting the tip of the safety belt
tongue into the slot on the buckle. Let the belt retract.2. Pull the loop, located
on the outboard side of
the seatback, forward
until you hear a click.
3. Fold the seatback(s) forward.
1-10

{CAUTION:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled
if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck
and the safety belt continues to tighten.
Secure any unused safety belts behind the
child restraint so children cannot reach them.
Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has
one, after the child restraint has been installed.
Be sure to follow the instructions of the child
restraint manufacturer.
Notice:Contact between the child restraint LATCH
attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety belt
assembly may cause damage to these parts. Make
sure when securing unused safety belts behind
the child restraint that there is no contact between
the child restraint LATCH attachment parts and
the vehicle’s safety belt assembly.
Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts
secured may cause damage to the safety belt or
the seat. When removing the child restraint, always
remember to return the safety belts to their normal,
stowed position before folding the rear seat.
Crew Cab — Rear Seat
1. Put the child restraint on the seat.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions
recommends that the top tether be attached,
attach the top tether to the top tether anchor (A).
Refer to the child restraint instructions and the
following steps:
2.1. Pull the seatback forward to access the top
tether anchors (A). SeeRear Seat Operation
(Extended Cab) on page 1-9orRear Seat
Operation (Crew Cab) on page 1-10.
1-49

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the
inator. Gas from the inator lls the airbag causing the
bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inator,
the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag
module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with roof-rail
airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the
vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant
seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the
inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 1-65for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
1-67

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-27for more on this, including
important safety information.A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or
cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers,
seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how well
the passenger sensing system operates. We recommend
that you not use seat covers or other aftermarket
equipment other than any that GM has approved for
your specic vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-74for more
information about modications that can affect how
the system operates.
{CAUTION:
Stowing of articles under the passenger’s
seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion
and seatback may interfere with the proper
operation of the passenger sensing system.
1-73