Page 209 of 406

Bla ck pla te (2 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-2 7
U sin g heavie r su sp e nsio n
c o m ponents to ge t ad de d
d ura bili t y m ig ht no t ch ange
y o ur w eig ht ra tin gs. A sk yo u r
d eale r to help yo u lo a d yo ur
v e hic le th e rig ht w ay.
N otic e: Overlo ad in g th e
v eh ic le m ay ca u se dam ag e.
R ep air s would not be co ve re d
b y th e veh ic le warra n ty . D o
n ot overlo ad th e veh ic le .
I f yo u put th in gs in sid e yo ur
v e hic le lik e su it c a se s,
t o ols , packa ges, or anyth in g
e ls e th ey will g o as fa st as th e
v e hic le goes. If yo u have to sto p
o r tu rn quic kly , or if th ere is a
c ra sh , th ey wil l ke ep goin g.
{
W ARNIN G
T hin g s yo u put in sid e yo ur
v e hic le ca n str ik e and in ju re
p eop le in asu d de n sto p or
t u rn , or in a cra sh .
.P ut th in g s in th e ca rg o
a re a of yo u r ve h ic le . T ry to
s p re ad th e weig h t eve nly ..N eve r sta ck he avie r
t h in gs, lik e su it c a se s,
i n sid e th e ve hic le so th at
s o m e of th e m are ab ove
t h e to ps of th e se ats ..D o not le a ve an
u nse cu re d ch il d re str a in t
i n yo ur ve hic le ..W he n yo u ca rry so m eth in g
i n sid e th e ve hic le , se cu re
i t w hen eve r yo u ca n ..D o not le a ve a se at fo ld e d
d ow n unle ss yo u ne ed to . T
here is als o im porta nt lo adin g
i n fo rm atio n fo r off - ro ad driv in g in
t h is m anual.
S ee L oadin g Your
V eh ic le fo r O ff- R oad Driv in g
u nd er
O ff- R oad Driv in g on page 97 .
R em em ber not to exce ed
t h e Gro ss Axle W eig ht
r a tin g (G AW R)of th e fr o nt or
r e ar axle .
T w o-T ie re d Load in g
F or ve hic le s wit h asix fo ot bed ,
a n upper lo ad pla tfo rm ca n be
c re ate d by posit io nin g fo ur 5 cm
( 2 in ch es) by 15 cm (6 in ch es)
w ooden pla nks acro ss th e wid th
o f th e pic ku p box. T he pla nks
m ust be in se rte d in th e pic k u p
b ox depre ssio ns.
W hen usin g th is upper lo ad
p la tfo rm ,be su re th e lo ad is
s e cu re ly tie d dow n to pre ve nt it
f r o m sh if tin g. T he lo ad's ce nte r
o f gra vit y sh ould be posit io ned
i n a zo ne ove r th e re ar axle .
Page 210 of 406

Bla ck pla te (2 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -2 8 Driv in g an d Opera tin gA ny lo ad th at exte nd s beyo nd
t h e ve hic le 's ta il la m p are a must
b e pro perly m ark e d acco rd in g to
l o ca lla w s and re gula tio n s.
R em em ber not to exce ed
t h e Gro ss Axle W eig h t
R atin g (G AW R)of th e re ar axle .
A dd-O n Equip m en t
W hen yo u ca rry re m ova b le
i t e m s, yo u may ne ed to put a
l im it on how many pe ople yo u
c a rry in sid e yo ur ve hic le . B e
s u re to weig h yo u r ve h ic le
b efo re yo u buy an d in sta ll th e
n ew equip m ent.
N otic e: Overlo ad in g th e
v eh ic le m ay cau se dam ag e.
R ep air s would not be co vere d
b y th e veh ic le warra n ty . D o
n ot overlo ad th e veh ic le . R
em em ber not to exce ed
t h e Gro ss Axle W eig ht
R atin g (G AW R)of th e re a r axle .
A re in fo rc e m ent kit fo r m ountin g
a to olb ox is re co m m en ded . S ee
y o ur dea le r.
T ru ck-C am per Load in g
I n fo rm atio nT he ve hic le was neit h e r
d esig ned nor in te nd ed to
c a rry a sli d e-in ty p e ca m per.
N otic e: Addin g aslid e-in
c am per or sim ila r eq uip m en t
t o th e veh ic le can dam ag e it ,
a n d th e re p air s would not
b e co ve re d by th e veh ic le
w arr a n ty . D o not in sta ll a
s lid e-in ca m per or sim ila r
e q uip m en t on th e ve h ic le .
S ta rtin g an d
O pera tin gN ew Veh ic le Bre ak-InN otic e: The veh ic le does not
n eed an ela b o ra te bre ak-in .B ut it
w il l p erfo rm bett e r in th e lo ng ru n
i f yo u fo llo w th ese guid elin es:.K eep yo ur sp eed at 88 km /h
( 5 5 m ph) or le ss fo r th e
f ir s t 805 km (5 00 m ile s)..D o no t driv e at an y
o ne co nsta n t sp eed ,fa st
o r slo w ,fo r th e fir s t 805 km
( 5 0 0 m ile s). D o not m ake
f u ll- th ro tt le sta rts . A vo id
d ow nsh if t in g to bra ke or
s lo w th e veh ic le .
Page 211 of 406

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 .
Page 212 of 406

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 .
Page 213 of 406

Bla ck pla te (3 1,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-3 1
M an u al Tra n sm is sio nT he sh if t le ve r sh o uld be in
N (N eutr a l) and th e pa rk in g bra ke
e nga ged. H old th e clu tc h pedal
d ow n to th e flo or and sta rt th e
e ngin e . T he ve hic le will n ot sta rt
i f th e clu tc h ped alis no t all th e
w ay dow n.S ta rtin g Pro ced u re1 . Wit h yo ur fo ot off th e acc e le ra to r
p edal, tu rn th e ig n it io n ke y to
S TA R T. W hen th e eng in e sta rts ,
l e t go of th e ke y. T he id le sp ee d
w ill g o dow n as th e engin e
w arm s. D o not ra ce th e engin e
i m media te ly afte r sta rtin g it .
O pe ra te th e eng in e and
t r a nsm is sio n gently to all o w th e
o il to warm up and lu bric a te all
m ovin g pa rts . T
he ve h ic le has a
C om pu te r-C on tr o ll e d Cra nkin g
S yste m .T his fe atu re ass is ts
i n sta rtin g th e en gin e and
p ro te cts co m pon ents . If th e
i g nit io n ke y is tu rn ed to th e
S TA R T posit io n, an d th en
r e le ase d when th e engin e
b egin s cra nkin g, th e engin e
w il l co ntin u e cra n kin g fo r a
f e w se co nd s or un til th e ve h ic le
s ta rts . If th e eng in e does not
s ta rt an d th e ke y is held in
S TA R T fo r m any se co nd s,
c ra nkin g will b e sto p ped afte r
1 5 se co n ds to pre ve n t cra nkin g
m oto r dam age . To pre ve nt
g ear dam age , th is sys te m als o
p re ve n ts cra n kin g if th e eng in e
i s alr e ad y ru n nin g. E ngin e
c ra nkin g ca n be sto p ped by
t u rn in g th e ig nit io n sw it c h
t o AC C/A C CES SO RY or
L O CK/O FF. N
otic e: Cra n kin g th e en gin e fo r
l o ng perio ds of tim e, b y re tu rn in g
t h e key to th e STA RT po sit io n
i m med ia te ly aft e r cra n kin g has
e n ded ,can overh eat an d dam ag e
t h e cra n kin g moto r, an d dra in th e
b att e ry . W ait at le ast 15 seco nd s
b etw een each tr y , to le t th e
c ra n kin g moto r co o ld o w n.
2 . If th e engin e does not sta rt
a fte r 51 0 se co nds, esp ecia lly
i n ve ry co ld weath er (b elo w 0°F
o r 18°C ), it co uld be flo oded
w it h to o much gaso li n e. P ush
t h e acce le ra to r pedala ll th e way
t o th e flo or and hold in g it th ere
a s yo u hold th e ke y in STA R T
f o r a maxim um of 15 se co nds.
W ait at le ast 15 se co nds
b etw een each tr y , to allo w
t h e cra nkin g moto r to co ol.
W hen th e engin e sta rts , le t
g o of th e ke y and acc e le ra to r.
Page 214 of 406

Bla ck pla te (3 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -3 2 Driv in g an d Opera tin g
If th e ve hic le sta rts brie fly bu t
t h en sto ps aga in , re p eat th e
p ro ce du re . T his cle a rs th e extr a
g aso lin e fr o m th e engin e. D o not
r a ce th e engin e im m edia te ly
a fte r sta rtin g it . O pera te th e
e ngin e and tr a n sm is sio n gently
u ntil th e oil w arm sup and
l u bric a te s all m ovin g pa rts .
N otic e: The en gin e is desig ned
t o work wit h th e ele ctr o nic s in
t h e veh ic le . If yo u ad d ele ctr ic al
p arts or acce ss o rie s, yo u co uld
c h an ge th e way th e en gin e
o pera te s. B efo re ad din g ele ctr ic al
e q uip m en t, ch eck wit h yo ur
d ea le r. If yo u do not, th e en gin e
m ig ht not perfo rm pro p erly . A ny
r e su lt in g dam ag e would not be
c o vere d by th e veh ic le warra n ty .
E ngin e Hea te rT he engin e co ola n t heate r ca n
p ro vid e easie r sta rtin g and be tte r
f u ele co no m ydurin g engin e
w arm -u p in co ld wea th e r co nd it io ns
a t or belo w 18 °C (0 °F ). V ehic le s
w it h an eng in e co o la nt hea te r
s h ould be plu gg ed in at le ast
f o urh ours befo re sta rtin g .
A n in te rn alth erm osta t in th e
p lu g-e nd of th e co rd may exis t
w hic h wil l p re ve nt en gin e co o la nt
h eate r ope ra tio n at te m pe ra tu re s
a bove 18°C (0 °F ).T o Use th e Engin e Hea te r1 . Turn off th e engin e .
2 . Open th e hood an d unw ra p
t h e ele ctr ic a lco rd . T he co rd
i s lo ca te d in th e eng in e
c o m pa rtm en t beh in d th e
u nderh oo d fu se blo ck on th e
d riv e r sid e of th e ve h ic le .
3 . Plu g it in to anorm al, gro und ed
1 1 0-v o lt A C ou tle t.
{
W ARNIN G
Plu ggin g th e co rd in to an
u n gro unded outle t co uld ca use an
e le ctr ic a lsh ock. A ls o , th e wro ng
k in d of exte nsio n co rd co uld
o ve rh eat and ca use afir e . Y ou
c o uld be se rio usly in ju re d. P lu g
t h e co rd in to apro perly gro unded
t h re e -p ro ng 11 0-v o lt A C outle t.
I f th e co rd wil l n ot re ach , use a
h e avy-d uty th re e-p ro ng exte nsio n
c o rd ra te d fo r at le ast 15 am ps.
4 . Befo re sta rtin g th e engin e, be
s u re to unplu g and sto re th e
c o rd to pre ve nt dam age.
T he le ngth of tim e th e heate r sh ould
r e m ain plu gged in depends on
s e ve ra lfa cto rs . A sk a deale r in th e
a re a where yo u will b e park in g th e
v e hic le fo r th e best advic e on th is .
Page 215 of 406

Bla ck pla te (3 3,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-3 3
R eta in ed Access o ry
P ow er (R AP)These ve h ic le acce ss o rie s ca n be
u se d fo r up to 20 m in ute s afte r th e
e ngin e is tu rn e d off:.
A udio Syste m
.
W ip e rs
.
P ow er W in do w s
T hese fe a tu re s work when th e
k e y is in ON/R UN or A C C/
A C CESSO RY. O nce th e ke y is
t u rn ed fr o m ON/R UN to LO CK/O FF,
p ow er to th ese fe atu re s co ntin ue to
w ork fo r up to 20 m in ute s or until a
d oor is op ene d.
S hif tin g In to Park
( A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n)
{
W ARNIN G
It ca n be da nge ro us to get out of
t h e ve hic le if th e sh if t le ve r is not
f u ll y in P (P ark ) w it h th e pa rk in g
b ra ke fir m ly se t. T he ve hic le ca n
r o ll. If yo u have le ft th e engin e
r u nnin g , th e ve hic le ca n move
s u ddenly . Y ou or oth ers co u ld be
i n ju re d. To be su re th e ve hic le will
n ot m ove , eve n when yo u are on
f a ir ly le ve lg ro und , use th e ste ps
t h at fo ll o w .If yo u are pu ll in g a
t r a il e r, se e Driv in g Cha ra cte ris tic s
a nd To w in g Tip s on pa ge 95 9.
1 . Hold th e bra ke pe dald ow n
w it h yo u r rig ht fo ot and se t th e
p ark in g bra ke .
S ee Park in g Bra ke on pag e 94 7
f o r m ore in fo rm atio n .
{
W ARNIN G
If yo u have fo ur-w heeld riv e , th e
v e hic le will b e fr e e to ro ll eve n
i f th e sh if t le ve r is in P (P ark ) if
t h e tr a nsfe r ca se is in Neutr a l.
S o, be su re th e tr a nsfe r ca se
i s in adriv e gear, tw o-w heel
h ig h (2 H )or fo ur- w heelh ig h (4 H )
o r fo ur- w heello w (4 L) not in
N eutr a l.
2 . Move th e sh if t le ve r in to P (P ark )
b y pullin g th e le ve r to w ard yo u
a nd movin g it up as fa r as it
w ill g o.
3 . Turn th e ig nit io n ke y to
L O CK/O FF.
4 . Rem ove th e ke y and ta ke it w it h
y o u. If y o u ca n le ave th e ve hic le
w it h th e ke y, th e ve hic le is in
P (P ark ).
Page 216 of 406

Bla ck pla te (3 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -3 4 Driv in g an d Opera tin gLeavin g th e Veh ic le W it h th e
E ng in e Runn in g (A uto m atic
T ra n sm is sio n)
{
W ARNIN G
It ca n be da nge ro u s to le a ve th e
v e hic le wit h th e en gin e ru nnin g.
T he ve h ic le co uld move su ddenly
i f th e sh if t le ve r is not fu ll y in
P (P ark ) w it h th e park in g bra ke
f ir m ly se t. A nd , if yo u le ave th e
v e hic le wit h th e en gin e ru nnin g, it
c o uld ove rh ea t an d eve n ca tc h
f ir e . Y ou or oth e rs co uld be
i n ju re d. D o not le a ve th e ve hic le
w it h th e eng in e ru nnin g .
I f yo u have to le ave th e ve hic le wit h
t h e engin e ru nn in g, be su re th e
v e hic le is in P (P ark ) and th e
p a rk in g bra ke is fir m ly se t befo re
y o u le ave it . A fte r yo u have move d
t h e sh if t le ve r in to P (P ark ), hold
t h e re g ula r bra ke peda ld ow n. T
hen, se e if yo u ca n move th e sh if t
l e ve r aw ay fr o m P(P ark ) w it h out
f ir s t pull in g it to w ard yo u . If yo u ca n,
t h e sh if t le ve r w as no t fu lly lo ck e d
i n to P (P ark ).
T o rq u e Lo ck (A uto m atic
T ra n sm is s io n)If yo u are park in g on ahill a n d
y o u do not sh if t th e tr a nsm is s io n
i n to P (P ark ) pro pe rly , th e weig ht
o f th e ve hic le may pu t to o much
f o rc e on th e park in g paw lin th e
t r a nsm is sio n . Y ou may fin d it dif fic u lt
t o pull th e sh if t le ve r ou t of P (P ark ).
T his is ca ll e d to rq ue lo ck . To
p re ve nt to rq ue lo ck, se t th e park in g
b ra ke and th en sh if t in to P (P ark )
p ro perly befo re yo u le ave th e driv e r
s e at. To fin d out ho w ,se e S hif tin g
I n to Park (A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n)
i n th is se ctio n .
W hen yo u are re a dy to driv e , m ove
t h e sh if t le ve r out of P (P ark ) befo re
y o u re le ase th e park in g bra ke . I
f to rq ue lo ck does occu r, yo u may
n e ed to have anoth er ve hic le push
y o urs a lit tle uphil l to ta ke so m e of
t h e pre ssu re fr o m th e park in g paw l
i n th e tr a nsm is sio n, so yo u ca n pu ll
t h e sh if t le ve r out of P (P ark ).
S hif tin g Out of P ark
( A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n)T he ve hic le has an auto m atic
t r a nsm is s io n sh if t lo ck co ntr o l
s yste m .Y ou have to fu lly apply th e
b ra ke pedalb efo re yo u ca n sh if t
f r o m P(P ark ) w hen th e ig nit io n
i s ON/R UN.S ee Auto m atic
T ra nsm is sio n on page 93 7.
T he sh if t lo ck co ntr o lsys te m is
d e sig ned to do th e fo llo w in g:.
P re ve nt th e ig nit io n ke y fr o m
b ein g re m ove d unle ss th e sh if t
l e ve r is in P (P ark ).
.
P re ve nt m ove m ent of th e sh if t
l e ve r out of P (P ark ), unle ss th e
i g n it io n is in ON/R UN and th e
b ra ke pedalis applie d.