2009 GMC ACADIA tow

Seats and Restraint
System............................... 1-1
Head Restraints
.............. 1-2
Front Seats
.................... 1-3
Rear Seats
...................1-10
Safety Belts
..................1-15
Child Restraints
.............1-29
Airbag System
..............1-48
Restraint System
Check
......................1-61
Features and Controls...... 2-1
Keys
............................. 2-2
Doors and Locks
............ 2-8
Windows
......................2-14
Theft-Deterrent
Systems
...................2-16
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
.............2-20
Mirrors
.........................2-31
Object Detection
Systems
...................2-34
OnStar
®System
............2-41Universal Home Remote
System
.....................2-44
Storage Areas
...............2-49
Sunroof
........................2-53
Instrument Panel............... 3-1
Instrument Panel
Overview
.................... 3-4
Climate Controls
............3-22
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
............3-33
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
.............3-46
Audio System(s)
............3-72
Driving Your Vehicle......... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road,
and the Vehicle
........... 4-1
Towing
........................4-20
Service and
Appearance Care............... 5-1
Service
.......................... 5-3
Fuel
.............................. 5-5
Checking Things Under
the Hood
.................... 5-9All-Wheel Drive
.............5-33
Headlamp Aiming
..........5-33
Bulb Replacement
.........5-33
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
.............5-34
Tires
...........................5-35
Appearance Care
..........5-81
Vehicle Identication
......5-88
Electrical System
...........5-89
Capacities and
Specications
............5-96
Maintenance Schedule...... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
..... 6-1
Customer Assistance
Information........................ 7-1
Customer Assistance and
Information
................. 7-1
Reporting Safety
Defects
.....................7-14
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy
...............7-16
Index....................................i-1
2009 GMC Acadia Owner ManualM

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel
Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_:Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
iv Preface

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
A. Seat Adjustment Handle
B. Reclining Seatback Strap
C. Sliding Seat Lever
Entering and Exiting the
Third Row
{CAUTION
Using the third row seating position
while the second row is folded, or
folded and tumbled, could cause
injury in a sudden stop or crash.
Be sure to return the seat to the
passenger seating position. Push
and pull on the seat to make sure it
is locked into place.
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 access the third row:
1. Remove objects on the oor in
front of or on the second row seat,
or in the seat tracks on the oor.
2. Move the front center console
armrest completely forward.
SeeCenter Console Storage on
page 2-49.
1-10 Seats and Restraint System

3. Place folding armrests in the
upright position.
4. Ensure that the safety belt is
unfastened and in the stowed
position.
5. Pull the sliding seat lever (C)
forward and move the seatback
forward. The seat cushion
will fold, and the entire seat will
slide forward.
Returning the Seat to the
Seating Position
To return the second row seat to its
normal seating position:
1. Remove objects on the oor
behind the second row seat
or in the seat tracks on the oor.
2. Pull the seatback rearward until it
is locked in place.3. Slide the seat rearward by
pushing on the seatback until it is
locked into place.
4. Push down on the rear of the
seat cushion until it is locked
in place.
5. Push and pull on the seatback
and seat cushion to make sure
they are locked in place.
6. Check that the safety belt is not
under the seat cushion.
Reclining the Seatbacks
To recline the seatback:
1. Leaning forward in the seat, pull
the reclining seatback strap (B).
2. Move the seatback to the desired
position, then release the strap
to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked.
Folding the Rear Seat
To fold the second row seats:
1. Remove anything on or under
the seat.
2. Place the armrest in the upright
position, and unfasten the
safety belt.
3. Pull forward on the reclining
seatback strap (B) and push
down on the seatback.
If the headrest hits the front seat,
slide the second row seat
rearward.
To return the seatback to the
seating position, lift the upper corner
of the seatback and push it
rearward until it locks into place.
Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.
Seats and Restraint System 1-11

Adjusting the Seats
To adjust the second row seats, pull
outward on the seat adjustment
handle (A). Slide the seat forward or
rearward to the desired position.
Release the handle and push
and pull on the seat to make sure it
is locked.
Third Row Seats
{CAUTION
Using the third row seating
position while the second row is
folded, or pushed forward in the
entry position, could cause injury
in a sudden stop or crash. Be
sure to return the seat to the
passenger seating position. Push
and pull on the seat to make sure
it is locked into place.
The third row seats can be folded
forward or removed.
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 seatback:
1. Remove anything on or under
the seat.
2. Disconnect the rear safety belt
mini-latch, using a key in the
slot on the mini-buckle, let
the belt retract into the headliner.
Stow the mini-latch in the
holder located in the headliner.
1-12 Seats and Restraint System

Removing the Third Row
Seats
1. Remove the cargo management
system, if it is in the vehicle. See
Cargo Management System
on page 2-52.
2. Remove anything on or under
the seat.
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.
3. Fold the seatback down. See
“Folding the Seatback” earlier
in this section.
4. Remove the rear bolts located on
the oor on each side of the seat.5. Remove the seat by tilting it
slightly upward, and then
pulling it out of the rear of the
vehicle in one motion.
6. Replace the bolts in the oor
holes for storage.
Installing the Third Row Seats
1. Before installing the seat the
seatback must be folded
forward. See “Folding the
Seatback” earlier in this section.
The seats must be placed in
the proper locations for the legs
to attach correctly. The wider
seat must be installed on
the driver side and the narrower
seat on the passenger side.
Remove the bolts from the holes
in the oor before installing
the seats.2. Place the seat on the vehicle
oor so that the front seat
hooks are on the vehicle bars.
3. Reinstall the bolts, and torque to
55Y(41 lb ft). Pull up on the
seat to make sure it is locked
in place.
4. Raise the seatback to its upright
position. Push and pull on the
seatback to make sure it is
locked into place.
5. Push the headrest up into
position. Push and pull on
the headrest to make sure it is
locked into place.
6. Reconnect the center safety belt
mini-latch to the mini-buckle. Do
not let it twist.
1-14 Seats and Restraint System

5. If equipped with a shoulder belt
height adjuster, move it to the
height that is right for you.
See “Shoulder Belt Height
Adjustment” later in this section
for instructions on use and
important safety information.
6. To make the lap part tight, pull
up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull the
stitching on the safety belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.To unlatch the belt, push the button
on the buckle. The belt should
return to its stowed position. Slide
the latch plate up the safety
belt webbing when the safety belt is
not in use. The latch plate should
rest on the stitching on the
safety belt, near the guide loop on
the side wall.
Before a door is closed, be sure the
safety belt is out of the way. If a
door is slammed against a safety
belt, damage can occur to both the
safety belt and the vehicle.Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt
height adjuster for the driver and
right front passenger seating
positions.
Adjust the height so that the shoulder
portion of the belt is centered on the
shoulder. The belt should be away
from the face and neck, but not
falling off of the shoulder. Improper
shoulder belt height adjustment
could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash.
To move it down, push down on
the button (A) and move the height
adjuster to the desired position.
1-24 Seats and Restraint System

CAUTION (Continued)
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.
Notice:Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to avoid
rubbing the LATCH attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled. This
could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the
safety belt to its stowed position,
before folding the seat.
1. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments to the lower
anchors. If the child restraint
does not have lower attachments
or the desired seating position
does not have lower anchors,
secure the child restraint with thetop tether and the safety belts.
Refer to your child restraint
manufacturer instructions and the
instructions in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for
the desired seating position.
1.2. Recline the seatback to the
full reclined position.
Make sure the second row
bench seatbacks are
aligned at the same angle
before placing the child
restraint on the seat. Make
sure the third row bench
seatbacks are both upright
before placing the child
restraint on the seat.
1.3. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
1.4. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments on the child
restraint to the lower
anchors.
2. If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach and tighten
the top tether to the top tether
anchor, if the vehicle has one.Refer to the child restraint
instructions and the following
steps:
2.1. Find the top tether anchor.
2.2. If the anchor is covered,
ip open the cover to
expose the anchor.
2.3. Route, attach and tighten
the top tether according to
your child restraint
instructions and the
following instructions:
If the position you are using
does not have a headrest or
head restraint and you are
using a single tether, route
the tether over the seatback.
Seats and Restraint System 1-41