Bla ck pla te (1 1 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 1
{
W ARNIN G
M any hill s are sim ply to o ste ep
f o r an y ve hic le . If yo u driv e up
t h em ,yo u will sta ll. If yo u driv e
d ow n th e m ,yo u ca n not co ntr o l
y o ur sp ee d. If yo u driv e acro ss
t h em ,yo u will ro ll o ve r. Y ou co u ld
b e se rio u sly in ju re d or kille d.
I f yo u ha ve any dou bt about th e
s te ep ness, do no t driv e th e hill.A pp ro ach in g aHil lW hen yo u app ro a ch ahill , decid e
i f it is to o ste ep to clim b, desc e nd,
o r cro ss. S te e pn ess ca n be hard
t o ju dge. O n ave ry sm all h ill, fo r
e xa m ple , th ere may be asm ooth ,
c o nsta nt in clin e wit h only a sm all
c h ange in ele va tio n where yo u ca n
e asily se e all th e way to th e to p.
O n ala rg e hill, th e in clin e may get
s te epe r as yo u near th e to p, bu t yo u
m ig ht not se e th is be ca use th e cre st
o f th e hill is hid d en by bush es,
g ra ss, or sh ru bs. C
onsid er th is as yo u app ro a ch ahil l:
.
I s th ere aco nsta nt in clin e,
o r doe s th e hil l g et sh a rp ly
s te epe r in pla ce s?
.
Is th ere good tr a ctio n on th e
h ill s id e, or w il l th e su rfa ce ca use
t ir e slip pin g?
.
Is th ere astr a ig ht path up or
d ow n th e hill so yo u will n ot
h ave to make tu rn in g
m aneuve rs ?
.
A re th ere obstr u ctio ns on th e hill
t h at ca n blo ck yo ur pa th , su ch
a s bou ld ers , tr e es, lo gs, or ru ts ?
.
W hat is be yo nd th e hill? Is th ere
a cli f f, an em ba nkm ent, a
d ro p-o ff, a fe nce ? Get ou t and
w alk th e hill if yo u do not kn o w .
I t is th e sm art w ay to fin d out.
.
Is th e hill sim ply to o ro u gh?
S te e p hills ofte n ha ve ru ts ,
g ulli e s, tr o ughs, an d exp ose d
r o ck s be ca use th ey are more
s u sce ptib le to th e effe cts of
e ro sio n.
D riv in g UphillO nce yo u decid e it is sa fe to driv e
u p th e hill:.
U se a lo w gear and get a fir m
g rip on th e ste erin g wheel.
.
G et a sm ooth sta rt up th e hill
a nd tr y to main ta in sp eed. N ot
u sin g more pow er th an need ed
c a n avo id sp in nin g th e wheels or
s lid in g.
{
W ARNIN G
Turn in g or driv in g acro ss ste ep
h ills ca n be dangero us. Y ou co uld
l o se tr a ctio n, slid e sid ew ays, an d
p oss ib ly ro ll o ve r. Y ou co uld be
s e rio usly in ju re d or kil le d. W hen
d riv in g up hil ls , alw ays tr y to go
s tr a ig ht up..
T ry to driv e str a ig ht up th e hill if
a t all p ossib le . If th e path tw is ts
a nd tu rn s, yo u mig ht w ant to fin d
a noth er ro ute .
Bla ck pla te (1 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 2 Driv in g an d Opera tin g.
E ase up on th e sp e ed as yo u
a ppro ach th e to p of th e hil l.
.
A tta ch afla g to th e ve hic le to
b e more vis ib le to appro ach in g
t r a ffic on tr a ils or hills .
.
S oun d th e ho rn as yo u appro ach
t h e to p of th e hill to le t opposin g
t r a ffic kn o w yo u are th ere .
.
U se he ad la m ps eve n durin g th e
d ay to make th e ve h ic le more
v is ib le to onco m in g tr a ff ic .
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g to th e to p (c re st) of a
h ill a t fu ll sp ee d ca n ca use an
a ccid en t. T he re co u ld be a
d ro p-o ff , em bankm ent, cli f f,
o r eve n ano th er ve hic le . Y ou
c o uld be se rio u sly in ju re d or
k ille d. A s yo u nea r th e to p of a
h ill, slo w do w n and sta y ale rt. I
f th e ve hic le sta lls , or is ab out to
s ta ll, and yo u ca n not m ake it up
t h e hil l:
.
P ush th e bra ke ped alto sto p
t h e ve h ic le and ke ep it fr o m
r o lli n g backw ard s and app ly th e
p ark in g bra ke .
.
If th e en gin e is still ru nnin g , sh if t
t h e tr a nsm is sio n to R (R eve rs e ),
r e le ase th e park in g bra ke , an d
s lo w ly back do w n th e hill in
R (R eve rs e ).
.
If th e en gin e ha s sto pp ed
r u nnin g, yo u nee d to re sta rt it .
W it h th e bra ke pedalp re sse d
a nd th e park in g bra ke still
a ppli e d, sh if t th e auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n to P (P ark ) or th e
m anualtr a n sm is sio n to Neutr a l
a nd re sta rt th e eng in e. T hen ,
s h if t to R (R eve rs e ), re le ase th e
p ark in g bra ke , an d slo w ly back
d ow n th e hill a s str a ig ht as
p ossib le in R (R eve rs e ).
.
W hil e backin g dow n th e hill , put
y o ur le ft hand on th e ste erin g
w heela t th e 12 o'c lo ck posit io n
s o yo u ca n te ll if th e wheels are
s tr a ig ht and ca n maneuve r as
y o u back dow n. It is best to ba ck
d ow n th e hil l w it h th e wheels
s tr a ig ht ra th er th an in th e le ft or
r ig ht dir e ctio n. Turn in g th e wheel
t o o fa r to th e le ft or rig ht w ill
i n cre ase th e possib ili t y of a
r o ll o ve r.
T hin g s not to do if th e ve hic le sta ll s ,
o r is about to sta ll, w hen goin g up
a hill :
.
N eve r atte m pt to pre ve nt a
s ta ll b y sh if tin g in to N (N eutr a l) ,
o r pre ssin g th e clu tc h pedalif
t h e ve hic le has a manual
t r a nsm is s io n, to re v-u p th e
e ngin e and re gain fo rw ard
m om entu m .T his will n ot w ork .
T he ve hic le ca n ro ll b ackw ard
v e ry quic kly and co uld go out of
c o ntr o l.
Bla ck pla te (1 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 4 Driv in g an d Opera tin gIf yo u de cid e yo u ca n go dow n a
h ill sa fe ly , tr y to ke ep th e ve hic le
h eade d str a ig ht dow n. U se alo w
g ear so eng in e dra g ca n help th e
b ra ke s so th e y do no t have to do all
t h e work . D esce nd slo w ly , ke epin g
t h e ve hic le und er co n tr o la t all
t im es.
{
W ARNIN G
H eavy bra kin g when goin g dow n
a hill ca n ca u se yo u r bra ke s to
o ve rh eat and fa de . T his co uld
c a use lo ss of co ntr o la nd a
s e rio us accid e nt. A pp ly th e
b ra ke s li g h tly when desce nd in g a
h ill a nd use alo w ge ar to ke ep
v e hic le sp e ed un de r co ntr o l. T
hin gs not to do when driv in g dow n
a hil l:
.
W hen driv in g dow nhill, avo id
t u rn s th a t ta ke yo u acro ss th e
i n cli n e of th e hil l. A hill th a t is not
t o o ste e p to driv e dow n mig ht be
t o o ste e p to driv e acro ss. T he
v e hic le co uld ro ll o ve r.
.
N eve r go dow nhill w it h th e
t r a nsm is sio n in N (N eu tr a l) ,
c a lle d fr e e-w he elin g. T he bra ke s
w il l h ave to do all th e work and
c o uld ove rh eat and fa de.
V ehic le s are much more lik e ly to
s ta ll w hen go in g uph ill , but if it
h appens whe n goin g dow nhill:
1 . Sto p th e ve hic le by app ly in g th e
r e gula r bra ke s and app ly th e
p ark in g bra ke .
2 . Shif t to P (P ark ) and, w hile stil l
b ra kin g , re sta rt th e eng in e.
3 . Shif t back to alo w gea r, re le ase
t h e park in g bra ke , and driv e
s tr a ig h t dow n.
4 . If th e engin e will n o t sta rt, get
o ut and get help .
D riv in g Acro ss an In clin eA n off- ro ad tr a il w ill p ro bably go
a cro ss th e in clin e of a hill . To decid e
w heth er to tr y to driv e acro ss th e
i n clin e, co nsid er th e fo ll o w in g:
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g acro ss an in clin e th at is
t o o ste ep will m ake yo ur ve hic le
r o ll o ve r. Y ou co uld be se rio usly
i n ju re d or kil le d. If yo u have any
d o ubt about th e ste epness of th e
i n clin e, do not driv e acro ss it .
F in d anoth er ro ute in ste ad..
A hil l th at ca n be driv e n str a ig ht
u p or dow n mig ht be to o ste ep
t o driv e acro ss . W hen goin g
s tr a ig ht up or dow n ahill , th e
l e n gth of th e wheelb ase th e
d is ta nce fr o m th e fr o nt w heels to
t h e re ar w heels re duce s th e
l ik e li h ood th e ve hic le will tu m ble
Bla ck pla te (1 6,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -1 6 Driv in g an d Opera tin gD riv in g in Mud,S an d,S now ,
o r Ic eW hen yo u driv e in mud, sn ow ,
o r sa nd , th e whee ls do not get
g ood tr a ctio n. A cc e le ra tio n is not as
q uic k , tu rn in g is m ore dif f ic u lt , and
b ra kin g dis ta nce s are lo nger.
I t is best to use a lo w ge ar w hen in
m ud th e deep er th e mud, th e
l o w er th e ge ar. In re ally deep mud,
k e ep th e ve h ic le movin g so it does
n o t get stu ck.
W hen driv in g on sa n d, w heel
t r a ctio n ch an ges. O n lo o se ly packe d
s a nd, su ch as on bea ch es or sa nd
d u nes, th e tir e s will te nd to sin k
i n to th e sa nd. T his aff e cts ste erin g,
a cce le ra tin g, and bra kin g. D riv e at
a re du ce d sp eed an d avo id sh arp
t u rn s or ab ru pt m an euve rs . H
ard packe d sn ow and ic e off e r
t h e wors t tir e tr a ctio n . O n th e se
s u rfa ce s, it is ve ry easy to lo se
c o ntr o l. O n wet ic e , fo r exa m ple , th e
t r a ctio n is so poo r th a t yo u will h ave
d if fic u lt y acce le ra tin g . A nd, if th e
v e hic le does get m ovin g, po or
s te erin g and dif f ic u lt bra kin g ca n
c a use it to slid e out of co n tr o l.
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g on fr o ze n la ke s, pon ds,
o r riv e rs ca n be dan gero us.
U nderw ate r sp rin gs, cu rr e n ts
u nder th e ic e , or su dd en th aw s
c a n weake n th e ic e . Y our ve hic le
c o uld fa ll th ro u gh th e ic e and
y o u and yo u r passe ng ers co u ld
d ro w n. D riv e yo u r ve h ic le on sa fe
s u rfa ce s on ly .
D riv in g in W ate r
{
W ARNIN G
D riv in g th ro ugh ru sh in g wate r ca n
b e dangero us. D eep wate r ca n
s w eep yo ur ve hic le dow nstr e am
a n d yo u and yo ur passe ngers
c o uld dro w n. If it is only sh all o w
w ate r, it ca n still w ash aw ay th e
g ro und fr o m under yo ur tir e s, and
y o u co uld lo se tr a ctio n and ro ll
t h e ve hic le ove r. D o not driv e
t h ro u gh ru sh in g wate r.
H eavy ra in ca n mean fla sh flo odin g,
a n d flo od wate rs dem and extr e m e
c a utio n.
F in d out how deep th e wate r is
b e fo re driv in g th ro ugh it . D o not
t r y it if it is deep enough to co ve r
t h e wheelh ubs, axle s, or exh aust
p ip e yo u pro bably will n ot get
t h ro ugh. D eep wate r ca n dam age
t h e axle and oth er ve hic le parts .
Bla ck pla te (1 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-1 9
.
S ta y in yo ur ow n la ne. D o not
s w in g wid e or cu t acro ss th e
c e nte r of th e ro ad . D riv e at
s p eeds th a t le t yo u sta y in yo ur
o w n la ne.
.
To p of hills : B e
a le rt so m eth in g co uld
b e in yo ur la ne (s ta lle d ca r,
a ccid en t) .
.
P ay atte ntio n to sp e cia lro ad
s ig n s (fa ll in g ro cks are a, w in d in g
r o ads, lo ng gra de s, passin g or
n o-p a ss in g zo n es) and ta ke
a ppro pria te actio n .
W in te r D riv in gD riv in g on Sno w or Ic eD riv e ca re fu lly when th ere is sn o w
o r ic e betw ee n th e tir e s and th e
r o ad, cre atin g le ss tr a ctio n or grip .
W et ic e ca n occu r at abou t 0°C
( 3 2°F ) w hen fr e ezin g ra in be gin s to
f a ll , re su lt in g in eve n le ss tr a ctio n.
A vo id driv in g on wet ic e or in
f r e ezin g ra in until ro a ds ca n be
t r e ate d wit h sa lt or sa nd.
D riv e wit h ca u tio n, w hate ve r th e
c o ndit io n . A cce le ra te ge ntly so
t r a ctio n is no t lo st. A cce le ra tin g to o
q uic k ly ca u se s th e wheels to sp in
a nd make s th e su rfa ce und er th e
t ir e s slic k, so th ere is eve n le ss
t r a ctio n. T
ry not to bre ak th e fr a gile tr a ctio n.
I f yo u acce le ra te to o fa st, th e driv e
w heels will sp in and polis h th e
s u rfa ce under th e tir e s eve n more .
T he Antilo ck Bra ke Syste m (A BS)
o n page 94 6 im pro ve s ve hic le
s ta bil it y durin g hard sto ps on
s lip pery ro ads, but apply th e bra ke s
s o oner th an when on dry pave m ent.
A ll o w gre ate r fo llo w in g dis ta nce on
a n y sli p pery ro ad and watc h fo r
s lip pery sp ots . Ic y patc h es ca n
o cc u r on oth erw is e cle ar ro ads in
s h aded are as. T he su rfa ce of a
c u rv e or an ove rp ass ca n re m ain
i c y when th e su rr o undin g ro ads
a re cle ar. A vo id su dden ste erin g
m aneuve rs and bra kin g while
o n ic e .
T urn off cru is e co ntr o lo n slip pery
s u rfa ce s.
Bla ck pla te (2 1,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-2 1
To sa ve fu el, ru n th e engin e fo r only
s h ort perio ds as nee d ed to warm
t h e ve h ic le and th en sh ut th e engin e
o ff an d clo se th e win d ow most of
t h e way to sa ve hea t. R epeat th is
u ntil h e lp arriv e s bu t only when yo u
f e elre all y unco m fo rta ble fr o m th e
c o ld . M ovin g abo ut to ke ep warm
a ls o help s.
I f it ta ke s so m e tim e fo r help to
a rriv e , now an d th e n when yo u ru n
t h e en gin e, push th e acc e le ra to r
p eda lslig htly so th e engin e ru ns
f a ste r th an th e id le sp eed. T his
k e eps th e batte ry ch a rg ed to re sta rt
t h e ve h ic le and to sig nalfo r help
w it h th e hea dla m ps. D o th is as lit tle
a s poss ib le to sa ve fu el.I f th e Veh ic le is Stu ckS lo w ly and ca utio u sly sp in th e
w heels to fr e e th e ve hic le whe n
s tu ck in sa nd , m ud , ic e , or sn ow .
S ee R ock in g Your ve hic le to get It
O ut la te r in th is se ctio n. I
f stu ck to o se ve re ly fo r th e tr a ctio n
s yste m to fr e e th e ve h ic le , tu rn th e
t r a ctio n syste m off and use th e
r o ck in g meth od .
{
W ARNIN G
If th e ve hic le 's tir e s sp in at hig h
s p eed, th ey ca n exp lo d e, and yo u
o r oth ers co u ld be in ju re d . T he
v e hic le ca n ove rh eat, ca u sin g an
e ngin e co m partm ent fir e or oth e r
d am age. S pin th e whe els as lit tle
a s possib le an d avo id goin g
a bove 55 km /h (3 5 m ph ).
F or in fo rm atio n abo ut usin g tir e
c h ain s on th e ve hic le , se e Tir e
C hain s on pa ge 107 1.R ockin g th e Veh ic le to get
I t O utTurn th e ste erin g wheelle ft and
r ig ht to cle ar th e are a aro und th e
f r o nt w he els . F or fo ur-w heeld riv e
v e hic le s, sh if t in to 4H I. Turn off any
t r a ctio n sys te m .S hif t ba ck and fo rth b
e tw een R (R eve rs e ) and afo rw ard
g e ar, or w it h amanualtr a nsm is sio n ,
b e tw een 1(F ir s t) or 2 (S eco nd) and
R (R eve rs e ), sp in nin g th e wheels
a s lit tle as possib le . To pre ve nt
t r a n sm is sio n wear, w ait until th e
w heels sto p sp in nin g befo re sh if t in g
g e ars . R ele ase th e acc e le ra to r
p e dalw hil e sh if tin g, and pre ss
l ig htly on th e acce le ra to r pedal
w hen th e tr a nsm is sio n is in gea r.
S lo w ly sp in nin g th e wheels in th e
f o rw ard and re ve rs e dir e ctio ns
c a use s a ro ckin g motio n th at co uld
f r e e th e ve hic le . If th at does not get
t h e ve hic le out afte r a fe w tr ie s,
i t m ig ht need to be to w ed out.
R eco ve ry hooks ca n be use d, if th e
v e hic le has th em .If th e ve hic le do es
n e ed to be to w ed out, se e To w in g
t h e Vehic le on page 109 3 .
Bla ck pla te (2 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-2 9
.A vo id makin g hard sto ps fo r
t h e fir s t 322 km (2 00 m il e s)
o r so .D urin g th is tim eth e
n ew bra ke lin in gs are not
y et bro ken in .H ard sto ps
w it h new li n in gs can mea n
p re m atu re wear an d earlie r
r e p la cem en t. F ollo w th is
b re akin g-in guid elin e every
t im eyo u get new bra ke
l in in gs..D o not to w atr a ile r durin g
b re ak-in .S ee Tra ile r To w in g
o n pag e 96 4 fo r th e tr a ile r
t o w in g ca p ab ilit ie s of
t h e veh ic le an d more
i n fo rm atio n.
F ollo w in g bre akin ,en gin e sp eed
a n d lo ad can be gra d ually
i n cre a sed .
Ig nit io n Posit io n sT he ig nit io n sw it c h ha s fo u r dif fe re nt
p osit io ns.
T o sh if t ou t of P (P ark ), tu rn th e
i g nit io n to ON/R UN an d apply th e
r e gula r bra ke ped al.
N otic e: Usin g ato olto fo rc e th e
k ey to tu rn in th e ig nit io n co uld
c au se dam ag e to th e sw it c h or
b re ak th e key. U se th e co rre ct
k ey, m ak e su re it is all th e way in ,
a n d tu rn it only wit h yo u r han d.
I f th e ke y can no t be tu rn ed by
h an d,see yo ur deale r. A
(S TO PP IN G TH E EN G IN E/
L O CK/O FF): When th e ve hic le is
s to pped, tu rn th e ig nit io n sw it c h to
L O CK/O FF to tu rn th e engin e off .
R eta in ed Acce sso ry Pow er (R AP)
w ill re m ain activ e . S ee Reta in ed
A cc e ss o ry Pow er (R AP)on
p a ge 93 3
T his posit io n lo cks th e ig nit io n.
I t als o lo ck s th e tr a nsm is sio n on
a u to m atic tr a nsm is s io n ve hic le s.
I t lo cks th e ste erin g wheelo n
m anualtr a nsm is s io n ve hic le s.
T he ke y ca n only be re m ove d in
L O CK/O FF.
D o not tu rn th e engin e off w hen th e
v e hic le is m ovin g. T his will ca use a
l o ss of pow er assis t in th e bra ke
a n d ste erin g syste m sand dis a ble
t h e air b ags.
I n an em erg ency:
1 . Bra ke usin g a fir m and ste ady
p re ssu re . D o not pum p th e
b ra ke s re peate dly . T his m ay
d eple te pow er assis t, re quir in g
i n cre ase d bra ke pedalfo rc e .
Bla ck pla te (3 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -3 0 Driv in g an d Opera tin g2. Shif t th e ve hic le to ne utr a l. T his
c a n be do ne while th e ve h ic le is
m ovin g. A fte r sh if t in g to neutr a l,
f ir m ly apply th e bra ke s and ste er
t h e ve h ic le to asa fe lo ca tio n.
3 . Com e to aco m ple te sto p. S hif t
t o P (P ark ) w it h an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n, or ne utr a lw it h a
m anualtr a n sm is s io n . T urn th e
i g nit io n to LO CK/O FF.
4 . Set th e pa rk in g bra ke . S ee
P ark in g Bra ke on page 94 7
O n ve hic le s wit h an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n, th e sh if t le ve r m ust be
i n P (P ark ) to tu rn th e ig nit io n sw it c h
t o LO CK/O FF.
T he ste erin g ca n bin d wit h th e
w heels tu rn ed off ce n te r. If th is
h appe ns, m ove th e ste e rin g wheel
f r o m rig ht to le ft w hile tu rn in g th e
k e y to AC C/A C CES SO RY. If th is
d oesn 't w ork , th en th e ve hic le needs
s e rv ic e . B
(A CC/A CC ESS O RY): This is th e
p osit io n in whic h yo u ca n opera te
t h e ele ctr ic a la cce sso rie s or it e m s
p lu gged in to th e acc e sso ry pow er
o utle ts . O n auto m atic tr a n sm is sio n
v e hic le s, th is posit io n un lo ck s th e
i g nit io n. O n manu altr a nsm is sio n
v e hic le s, it unlo ck s th e ig nit io n and
s te erin g whee l. U se th is posit io n
i f th e ve hic le must be push e d or
t o w ed.
C (O N/R UN): This posit io n ca n
b e use d to op era te th e ele ctr ic a l
a cc e sso rie s an d to dis p la y so m e
i n str u m en t pa nelclu ste r w arn in g
a nd in dic a to r li g h ts . T he sw it c h
s ta ys in th is po sit io n when th e
e ngin e is ru n nin g. T he tr a n sm is sio n
i s als o unlo cke d in th is posit io n on
a uto m atic tr a n sm is sio n ve hic le s.
I f yo u le ave th e ke y in th e AC C/
A C CESSO RY or O N/R U N posit io n
w it h th e eng in e off , th e batt e ry co uld
b e dra in ed. Y ou may no t be able to
s ta rt yo ur ve hic le if th e ba tte ry is
a llo w ed to dra in fo r an exte nde d
p erio d of tim e. D
(S TA RT): This is th e posit io n th at
s ta rts th e engin e. W hen th e engin e
s ta rts , re le ase th e ke y. T he ig nit io n
s w it c h re tu rn s to ON/R UN fo r
d riv in g .
A warn in g to ne wil l so und when th e
d riv e r door is opened, th e ig nit io n is
i n AC C/A C CESS O RY or LO CK/O FF
a n d th e ke y is in th e ig nit io n.
S ta rtin g th e Engin eP la ce th e tr a nsm is sio n in th e
p ro pe r gear.A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio nM ove th e sh if t le ve r to P (P ark ) or
N (N eutr a l) . T he engin e will n ot sta rt
i n any oth er posit io n. To re sta rt th e
v e hic le when it is alr e ady m ovin g,
u se N (N eutr a l) only .
N otic e: Do no t tr y to sh if t to
P (P ark ) if th e veh ic le is m ovin g.
I f yo u do,yo u co uld dam ag e th e
t r a n sm is sio n .S hif t to P(P ark )
o nly when th e veh ic le is sto p ped .