
Black plate (5,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-5
Display Function
Each time the temperature, mode,
or fan control buttons are pressed,
the climate control display shows
that function along with the inside
temperature setting. The outside
temperature is displayed on the
instrument panel cluster.
O(On/Off):Press to turn the
climate control system on or off.
While the system is off, outside air
still enters through the floor outlets,
but the air delivery mode can be
adjusted.
The climate control system will
also turn on if either the fan control,
defrost, AUTO, or air conditioning
buttons are pressed.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic): The system
automatically controls the inside
temperature, the air delivery, and
the fan speed.
To use automatic mode:
1. Press the AUTO button.
When AUTO is selected,
the current temperature(s)
selected and AUTO is shown
on the display. The current air
delivery mode and fan speed
also appear for approximately
five seconds.
When AUTO is selected,
the air conditioning and air
inlet are automatically controlled.
The air conditioning runs when
the outside temperature is over
4°C (40°F). The system is
automatically set to outside
air, unless it is hot outside and
then the air inlet changes to
recirculation mode to help quickly cool the vehicle.
The recirculation indicator
light will come on.
2. Set the temperature for the driver and passenger.
To find a comfortable setting,
start with a 22°C (73°F)
temperature setting and
allow about 20 minutes
for the system to regulate.
Use the driver's side or
passenger side temperature
buttons to adjust the
temperature setting as
necessary. The system will
remain at the selected setting.
Choosing the warmest or
coolest temperatures does
not cause the vehicle to heat
or cool more quickly.
To avoid blowing cold air in
cold weather, the system delays
turning on the fan until warm
air is available. Press the fan
control to override this delay
and select the fan speed.

Black plate (6,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
8-6 Climate Controls
Temperature Control
The driver and passenger side
temperature buttons are used
to adjust the temperature of the
air coming through the system.
The temperature can be adjusted
even if the system is turned
off since outside air still enters
the vehicle, unless the
recirculation mode is selected.
See“Recirculation” later in this
section.
Driver Side Temperature
Control: Press the + or −buttons
to increase or decrease the driver
side temperature. The driver side
temperature display will show the
temperature setting.
Passenger Side Temperature
Control: Press the + or −buttons
to increase or decrease the
passenger side temperature.
The passenger side display will
show the temperature setting. PASS (Passenger):
Press to
set the passenger temperature
to match the driver temperature
setting. The PASS indicator will
turn off. When the passenger
temperature setting is different
than the driver setting, the PASS
indicator comes on.
Manual Operation
The air delivery mode or fan speed
can be manually adjusted.
D/C(Fan Control): Press to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
Pressing
DorCwhile in automatic
control places the fan speed under
manual control.
The air delivery mode remains in
automatic control. The fan setting
still displays, but the word AUTO
no longer displays, and the AUTO
button indicator light turns off.
H/G(Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press to change the
direction of the airflow in the vehicle.
Repeatedly press
HorGuntil
the desired mode appears on the
display. Pressing a mode button
while the system is off changes the
air delivery mode without turning
the system on. Press a mode button
while in automatic control to place
the system into manual control.
The air delivery mode setting still
displays, but the word AUTO no
longer displays, and the AUTO
button indicator light turns off.
H(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
)(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel and
floor outlets. Some air is directed
towards the windshield and side
window outlets. Cooler air is
directed to the upper outlets and
warmer air to the floor outlets.

Black plate (7,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-7
6(Floor):Air is directed to the
floor outlets, with some of the air
directed to the windshield, side
window, and second row floor
outlets. In this mode, the system
uses outside air.
-(Defog): This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is
directed to the windshield, floor
outlets, and side window vents.
When this mode is selected, the
system turns off recirculation and
runs the air conditioning compressor
unless the outside temperature is
less than 4°C (40°F). Do not drive
the vehicle until all the windows are
clear.
0(Defrost): Press to turn the
defrost on or off. This mode quickly
clears the windshield of fog or frost.
Air is directed to the windshield,
side window, and floor vents.
In this mode, outside air is pulled inside the vehicle. The air
conditioning system runs
automatically in this setting,
unless the outside temperature
is less than 4°C (40°F).
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
While in defrost mode, if the
PASS button is pressed, the
PASS button indicator flashes three
times to show that the passenger
climate control system cannot
be activated. If the passenger
temperature buttons are adjusted
while in defrost mode, the driver
temperature indicator will change.
The passenger temperature will
not be displayed.
When returning to bi-level, vent,
or floor mode, the previous
temperature settings displays in
place of any change made while
in defrost mode.
Air Conditioning
#(Air Conditioning):
Press to
turn the air conditioning (A/C) on
and off. An indicator light comes
on when A/C is on.
The A/C does not work when the
outside temperature is below 4°C
(40°F). If
#is pressed the indicator
flashes three times and turns off
to show that the A/C mode is not
available. If the A/C is on and the
outside temperature drops below a
temperature which is too cool for air
conditioning to be effective, the A/C
indicator turns off to show that the
A/C mode has been canceled.
On hot days, open the windows
briefly to let hot inside air escape.
This helps reduce the time it takes
for the interior of the vehicle to
cool down.

Black plate (11,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-11
Rear Climate Control System (Rear Climate with Rear
Seat Audio)
A. Fan Control
B. Air Delivery Mode Control
C. Temperature Control
For vehicles with the rear climate
control system, the controls are
located on the rear of the center
console.Press the REAR button on the front
climate control system to turn the
rear climate control system on or
off. The system also turns on if
any of the rear controls, except for
the
Care pressed. An indicator
comes on when the rear system
is on. The system can also be turned
off, by pressing and holding
the
Cbutton.
Mimic Mode: This mode matches
the rear climate control to the front
climate control settings. It comes on
when REAR is pressed.
Independent Mode: This mode
directs rear seating airflow
according to the settings of the
rear controls. It comes on when
any rear control is adjusted.
D C(Fan Control): Press the fan
up or down buttons to increase or
decrease the fan speed.
Temperature Control: Press +
or −to increase or decrease
the air temperature. The
temperature settings will display
in 0‐12 increments, going from
the coolest (0) to the warmest (12)
setting.

Black plate (27,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
This is normal and is due to
the torque converter designed
to improve fuel economy and
performance. Use the brake to
hold the vehicle on a hill. Do not
use the accelerator pedal.
L (Low):This position gives
you access to gear ranges. This
provides more engine braking but
lower fuel economy than D (Drive).
You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud.
Manual Mode
Electronic Range
Select (ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose
the top-gear limit of the transmission
and the vehicle's speed while
driving down hill or towing a trailer.
The vehicle has an electronic
shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. When
using the ERS Mode a number will
display next to the L, indicating the
current gear that has been selected. To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press the plus/minus button
located on the shift lever, to
increase or decrease the gear
range available.
When you shift from D (Drive) to
L (Low), the transmission will shift to
a pre-determined lower gear range.
The highest gear available for this
pre-determined range is displayed
next to the L in the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (With DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑25 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Without
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑30 for more
information. The number displayed
in the DIC is the highest gear that
the transmission will be allowed
to operate in. This means that
all gears below that number are
available. For example, when
4 (Fourth) is shown next to the L,
1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are
automatically shifted by the vehicle. The transmission will not shift into
5 (Fifth) until the + (Plus) button is
used or you shift back into D (Drive).
While in L (Low), the transmission
will prevent shifting to a lower gear
range if the engine speed is too
high. You have a brief period of
time to slow the vehicle. If vehicle
speed is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. You must
further slow the vehicle, then press
the
−(Minus) button to the desired
lower gear range.
Automatic Engine Grade braking
is not available when the ERS is
active. It is available in D (Drive) for
both normal and Tow/Haul mode.
While using the ERS, cruise control
and the tow/haul mode can be used.
See Tow/Haul Mode following.

Black plate (31,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has the StabiliTrak
system which combines antilock
brake, traction and stability control
systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the
vehicle in most driving conditions.
When you first start the vehicle
and begin to drive away, the
system performs several diagnostic
checks to ensure there are no
problems. The system may be
heard or felt while it is working.
This is normal and does not
mean there is a problem with the
vehicle. The system should initialize
before the vehicle reaches 32 km/h
(20 mph). In some cases, it may
take approximately 3.2 km (2 miles)
of driving before the system
initializes.
If the system fails to turn on or
activate, one of the following
messages will be displayed on theDriver Information Center (DIC):
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,
SERVICE STABILITRAK, the
StabiliTrak light will come on
and stay and four chimes are
heard. If these conditions are
observed, turn the vehicle off, wait
15 seconds, and then turn it back
on again to reset the system. If any
of these messages still appear on
the Driver Information Center (DIC),
the vehicle should be taken in for
service. For more information on
the DIC messages, see
Driver
Information Center (DIC) (With DIC
Buttons) on page 5‑25 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Without
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑30.
The StabiliTrak light will flash on the
instrument panel cluster when the
system is both on and activated. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working; this is normal.
The traction control button is located
on the instrument panel.
The traction control part of
StabiliTrak can be turned off by
pressing and releasing the traction
control button.
Traction control can be turned
on by pressing and releasing the
traction control button and the
appropriate TRACTION CONTROL
ON message will be displayed, if not
automatically shut off for any other
reason.

Black plate (33,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
If cruise control is being used when
the system activates, the StabiliTrak
light will flash and cruise control will
automatically disengage. Cruise
control may be reengaged when
road conditions allow. SeeCruise
Control on page 9‑33.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that
a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer for service.Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
can be maintained without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control is disengaged.
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.The cruise control buttons are
located on left side of the steering
wheel.
T(On/Off): Press to turn cruise
control on and off. The indicator
comes on when cruise control is on.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to make the vehicle
resume to a previously set speed,
or press and hold to accelerate.
SET– :Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or to make
the vehicle decelerate.

Black plate (36,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 Driving and Operating
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). A single tone sounds
to indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
An obstacle is indicated by audible
beeps. The interval between the
beeps becomes shorter as the
vehicle gets closer to the obstacle.
When the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in) the beeps are
continuous.
To be detected, objects must be at
least 25.4 cm (10 in) off the ground
and below liftgate level. Objects
must also be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from
the rear bumper. This distance may
be less during warmer or humid
weather.
The system can be disabled through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See“Park Assist” underVehicle
Personalization (With DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑47 for more information.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
If the URPA system does not
activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARK
ASSIST OFF or PARK ASST
BLOCKED SEE OWNERS
MANUAL will be displayed
on the DIC.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST: If this
message occurs, take the vehicle
to your dealer to repair the system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: This message
occurs if the driver disables the
system.
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL: This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see Exterior Care
on page 10‑90.
.The park assist sensors are
covered by frost or ice. Frost or
ice can form around and behind
the sensors and may not always
be seen; this can occur after
washing the vehicle in cold
weather. The message may
not clear until the frost or ice
has melted.
.A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an
object was hanging out of the
liftgate during the last drive
cycle. Once the attached object
is removed, URPA will return
to normal operation.
.A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
.The vehicle's bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions may affect
system performance, such as
vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of air brakes on
a very large truck.