2011 GMC CANYON Owner's Manual

Bla ck pla te (3 5,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-3 5
T he sh if t lo ck co n tr o lsyste m is
a lw ays fu nctio nale xc e pt in th e ca se
o f a dea d batte ry or lo w vo lt a ge
( le ss th a n 9V)batte ry .
I f th e ve h ic le has an unch arg ed
b atte ry or a batte ry wit h lo w vo lt a g e,
t r y ch a rg in g or ju m p sta rtin g th e
b atte ry . S ee Ju m p Sta rtin g on
p age 109 0 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
T o sh if t ou t of P (P ark ) use th e
f o llo w in g:
1 . Apply th e bra ke pe dal.
2 . Move th e sh if t le ve r to th e
d esir e d posit io n.
I f yo u still a re unable to sh if t ou t of
P (P ark ):
1 . Ease th e pre ssu re on th e sh if t
l e ve r.
2 . While ho ld in g dow n th e bra ke
p edal, push th e sh if t le ve r all th e
w ay in to P (P ark ).
3 . Move th e sh if t le ve r to th e
d esir e d posit io n. I
f yo u are still h avin g apro ble m
s h if tin g, th en have th e ve hic le
s e rv ic e d.
P ark in g (M an ual
T ra n sm is sio n)If th e ve h ic le has a manu al
t r a nsm is sio n, befo re yo u ge t out
o f th e ve hic le , m ove th e sh if t le ve r
i n to R (R eve rs e ), and fir m ly apply
t h e park in g bra ke . O nce th e
s h if t le ve r ha s be en pla ce d in to
R (R eve rs e ) w it h th e clu tc h pe dal
p re sse d in , tu rn th e ig nit io n ke y to
L O CK/O FF, re m ove th e ke y an d
r e le ase th e clu tc h .
I f yo u are park in g on ahill, or if
t h e ve hic le is pu lli n g a tr a ile r, se e
D riv in g Chara cte ris tic s an d To w in g
T ip s on pa ge 95 9.
P ark in g Over Thin gs
T hat B urn
{
W ARNIN G
Thin gs th at ca n burn co uld to u ch
h ot exh aust parts under th e
v e hic le and ig nit e . D o not park
o ve r papers , le ave s, dry gra ss,
o r oth er th in gs th at ca n burn .

Bla ck pla te (3 6,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -3 6 Driv in g an d Opera tin gE ngin e Exh au st
{
W ARNIN G
Engin e exh aust co n ta in s Carb on
M onoxid e (C O )w hic h ca nnot be
s e en or sm elle d. E xp o su re to CO
c a n ca use un co nscio u sn ess and
e ve n death .
E xh aust m ay ente r th e ve hic le if :.T he ve h ic le id le s in are as
w it h poo r ve ntila tio n (p ark in g
g ara g es, tu n nels , deep sn ow
t h at m ay blo ck un d erb od y
a ir flo w or ta il p ip e s)..T he exh aust sm ells or
s o unds str a n ge or dif f e re nt..T he exh aust sy ste m le aks
d ue to co rro sio n or dam age..T he ve h ic le s exh a ust sy ste m
h as been modif ie d, dam aged
o r im pro p erly re p air e d.
( C ontin ued)
W ARNIN G (C ontin u ed ).There are hole s or openin gs
i n th e ve h ic le body fr o m
d am age or afte r- m ark e t
m odif ic a tio ns th a t are no t
c o m ple te ly se ale d.
I f unusu alfu m es are dete cte d or
i f it is su sp ecte d th a t exh aust is
c o m in g in to th e ve hic le :.D riv e it only wit h th e win do w s
c o m ple te ly dow n..H ave th e ve hic le re p air e d
i m media te ly .
N eve r park th e ve h ic le wit h th e
e ngin e ru nn in g in an enclo se d
a re a su ch as a ga ra ge or a
b uild in g th a t has no fr e sh air
v e ntila tio n.
R unnin g th e Veh ic le
W hile Park edIt is be tte r not to park wit h th e
e n gin e ru nnin g. B ut if yo u eve r have
t o , here are so m e th in gs to kn ow .
{
W ARNIN G
Id lin g ave hic le in an enclo se d
a re a wit h poor ve ntil a tio n is
d a ngero us. E ngin e exh aust m ay
e n te r th e ve hic le . E ngin e exh aust
c o nta in s Carb on Monoxid e (C O )
w hic h ca nnot be se en or sm elle d.
I t ca n ca use unco nsc io usn ess
a n d eve n death . N eve r ru n th e
e n gin e in an enclo se d are a th at
h a s no fr e sh air ve ntil a tio n. F or
m ore in fo rm atio n, se e Engin e
E xh aust on page 93 6.

Bla ck pla te (3 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-3 7
{
W ARNIN G
It ca n be dang ero us to get out
o f th e ve h ic le if th e auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n sh if t le ve r is not fu ll y
i n P (P ark ) w it h th e park in g bra ke
f ir m ly se t. T he ve hic le ca n ro ll. D o
n ot le ave th e ve hic le when th e
e ngin e is ru nn in g un le ss yo u
h ave to . If yo u ha ve le ft th e
e ngin e ru nnin g , th e ve hic le ca n
m ove su d de nly . Y ou or oth ers
c o uld be in ju re d. To be su re th e
v e hic le will n ot m ove , eve n when
i t is on fa ir ly le ve lg ro un d, alw ays
s e t th e pa rk in g bra ke and move
t h e auto m atic tr a nsm is s io n sh if t
l e ve r to P (P ark ), or th e manual
t r a nsm is sio n sh if t le ve r to Neutr a l.
{
W ARNIN G
Four-w heeld riv e ve hic le s wit h th e
t r a nsfe r ca se in N (N eu tr a l) w ill
a llo w th e ve hic le to ro ll, eve n if
t h e au to m atic tr a nsm is s io n sh if t
l e ve r is in P (P ark ). S o, be su re
t h e tr a nsfe r ca se is in a driv e
g ear  no t in N (N eu tr a l) . A lw ays
s e t th e park in g bra ke .
F oll o w th e pro p er ste ps to be su re
t h e ve hic le will n ot m ove . S ee
S hif tin g In to Park (A uto m atic
T ra nsm is sio n) on page 93 3.
I f pullin g atr a ile r, se e Driv in g
C hara cte ris tic s and To w in g Tip s on
p age 95 9.
A uto m atic
T ra n sm is sio nT he ve hic le has a sh if t le ve r on th e
s te erin g co lu m n.
I t fe atu re s an ele ctr o nic sh if t
p osit io n in dic a to r w it h in th e
i n str u m ent clu ste r. T his dis p la y
i s pow ere d anytim e th e sh if t
l e ve r is ca pable of bein g move d
o ut of P (P ark ). T his m eans th at
i f th e ig nit io n is tu rn ed off , but
n ot in LO CK/O FF, th ere will
b e a sm all cu rre nt dra in on th e
b atte ry whic h co uld dis ch arg e
t h e batte ry ove r a perio d of tim e.

Bla ck pla te (3 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -3 8 Driv in g an d Opera tin gIf yo u ne ed to le ave th e ke y in th e
i g nit io n but no t in LO CK/O FF fo r an
e xte n ded perio d, it is re co m mended
t h at yo u dis co nnect th e batte ry
c a ble fr o m th e batte ry to pre ve nt
d is ch a rg in g th e batte ry .
T here are se ve ra ld if fe re n t posit io ns
f o r th e sh if t le ve r.
P (P ark ): This po sit io n lo cks th e
r e ar w heels . It is th e best posit io n
t o use whe n yo u sta rt th e engin e
b eca use th e ve hic le ca n not m ove
e asil y .
{
W ARNIN G
It is dan ge ro us to get out of th e
v e hic le if th e sh if t le ve r is not fu ll y
i n P (P ark ) w it h th e park in g bra ke
f ir m ly se t. T he ve h ic le ca n ro ll.
D o not le ave th e ve hic le when
t h e en gin e is ru n nin g un le ss
y o u have to . If yo u have le ft th e
e ngin e ru nn in g, th e ve hic le ca n
m ove su dd enly . Y ou or oth ers
( C ontin ued)
W ARNIN G (C ontin u ed )
co uld be in ju re d. To be su re th e
v e hic le will n o t m ove , eve n when
y o u are on fa ir ly le ve lg ro und ,
a lw ays se t th e pa rk in g bra ke and
m ove th e sh if t le ve r to P (P ark ).
S ee Shif tin g In to Park (A uto m atic
T ra nsm is sio n) on pag e 93 3 .
I f yo u are pulli n g a tr a il e r, se e
D riv in g Chara cte ris tic s and
T o w in g Tip s on pa ge 95 9.
M ake su re th e sh if t le ve r is fu ll y in
P (P ark ) be fo re sta rtin g th e engin e .
T he ve hic le has an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n sh if t lo ck co ntr o l
s yste m .Y ou must fu ll y ap ply 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 ke y
i s in ON/R U N.If yo u ca nno t sh if t out
o f P (P ark ), ease pre ssu re on th e
s h if t le ve r by pu sh in g th e sh if t le ve r
a ll th e way in to P (P ark ) as yo u
m ain ta in bra ke applic a tio n. T he n
m ove th e sh if t le ve r in to an oth er g
e ar. S ee Shif tin g Out of P ark
( A uto m atic Tra nsm is sio n) on
p a ge 93 4.
R (R evers e): Use th is gear to
b a ck up.
N otic e: Shif tin g to R (R evers e)
w hile th e veh ic le is m ovin g
f o rw ard co u ld dam ag e th e
t r a n sm is sio n.T he re p air s would
n ot be co vere d by th e veh ic le
w arr a n ty . S hif t to R (R evers e) only
a fte r th e veh ic le is sto pp ed .
T o ro ck yo ur ve hic le back and fo rth
t o get out of sn ow ,ic e , or sa nd
w it h ou t dam agin g th e tr a nsm is sio n ,
s e e If th e Vehic le is Stu ck on
p a ge 92 1.
N (N eu tr a l) : In th is posit io n, th e
e n gin e does not co nnect w it h th e
w he els . To re sta rt th e engin e when
t h e ve hic le is are alr e ady m ovin g,
u se N (N eutr a l) only .

Bla ck pla te (3 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-3 9
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W ARNIN G
Shif tin g in to adriv e gear w hil e th e
e ngin e is ru nn in g at hig h sp eed is
d ange ro us. U nle ss yo ur fo ot is
f ir m ly on th e bra ke pedal, th e
v e hic le co uld move ve ry ra pid ly .
Y ou co u ld lo se co ntr o la n d hit
p eople or ob je cts . D o not sh if t
i n to adriv e gea r w hile th e engin e
i s ru n nin g at hig h sp e ed.
N otic e: Shif tin g out of P (P ark )
o r N (N eu tr a l) w it h th e en gin e
r u nnin g at hig h sp eed may
d am ag e th e tr a n sm is sio n.T he
r e p air s would not be co vere d by
t h e veh ic le warra n ty . B e su re th e
e n gin e is not ru nnin g at hig h
s p eed when sh if t in g th e veh ic le . D
(D riv e ): This po sit io n is fo r
n orm ald riv in g. It pro vid e s th e be st
f u ele co no m y. If yo u nee d more
p ow er fo r passin g, and yo u are :
.
G oin g le ss th an abo ut 55 km /h
( 3 5 m ph), push th e acce le ra to r
p eda la b out ha lf w ay dow n.
.
G oin g abou t 55 km /h (3 5 m ph ) or
m ore , pu sh th e acce le ra to r all
t h e way do w n.
T he tr a nsm is sio n will sh if t dow n
t o th e ne xt ge ar an d th e ve hic le
w il l h ave more po w er.
D ow nsh if tin g th e tr a nsm is s io n in
s li p pery ro ad co nd it io ns co uld re su lt
i n skid din g, se e S kid d in g  un der
L oss of C ontr o lo n page 96 . 3
(T hir d ): This posit io n is als o
u se d fo r norm ald riv in g. H ow eve r, it
r e d uce s ve hic le sp eed more th a n
D (D riv e ) w it h out usin g th e bra ke s.
Y ou mig ht ch oose 3(T hir d ) in ste ad
o f D (D riv e ) w hen driv in g on hilly ,
w in din g ro ads, or w hen to w in g a
t r a ile r, so th ere is le ss sh if tin g
b etw een gears and when goin g
d ow n a ste ep hill.
2 (S eco n d): This posit io n re du ce s
v e h ic le sp eed eve n more th an
3 (T hir d ) w it h out usin g th e bra ke s.
Y ou ca n use 2(S eco nd) to help
c o n tr o lve hic le sp eed on ste ep
m ounta in ro ads, but th en yo u wou ld
a ls o want to use th e bra ke s off
a nd on.

Bla ck pla te (4 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -4 0 Driv in g an d Opera tin g1 (F ir s t): This posit io n re duce s
v e hic le sp ee d eve n more
t h an 2(S eco nd) w it h o ut usin g
t h e bra ke s. Y ou ca n use it on ve ry
s te ep hil ls , or in dee p sn ow or m ud.
I f th e sh if t le ve r is put in 1(F ir s t)
w hile th e ve h ic le is m ovin g fo rw ard ,
t h e tr a nsm is s io n will n o t sh if t in to
f ir s t gea r un til th e ve hic le is goin g
s lo w ly enou gh.
N otic e : Spin nin g th e tir e s
o r hold in g th e ve h ic le in
o ne pla c e on ahill u sin g only
t h e accele ra to r ped al m ay
d am ag e th e tr a n sm is s io n.
T he re p air w ill n ot be co vere d by
t h e veh ic le warra n ty . If yo u are
s tu ck , d o not sp in th e tir e s. W hen
s to ppin g on ahill , u se th e bra kes
t o hold th e ve h ic le in pla ce.
M an ual Tra n sm is sio nT his is yo ur sh if t patte rn .
H ere is how to ope ra te th e manua l
t r a nsm is sio n :
1 (F ir s t): Pre ss th e clu tc h peda l
a nd sh if t in to 1(F ir s t) . T he n,
s lo w ly le t up on th e clu tc h pedal
a s yo u slo w ly pre ss dow n on th e
a cc e le ra to r pe dal. Y
ou ca n sh if t in to 1(F ir s t) w hen
y o u are goin g le ss th an 30 km /h
( 2 0 m ph). If yo u have co m e to a
c o m ple te sto p and it is hard to sh if t
i n to 1(F ir s t) , put th e sh if t le ve r in
N eutr a la nd le t up on th e clu tc h .
T hen pre ss th e clu tc h pedalb ack
d o w n and sh if t in to 1(F ir s t) .
2 (S eco n d): Pre ss th e clu tc h pedal
a s yo u le t up on th e acce le ra to r
p e dala nd sh if t in to 2(S eco nd).
T hen, slo w ly le t up on th e clu tc h
p e dala s yo u pre ss th e acce le ra to r
p e dal.
3 (T h ir d ), 4 (F o urth ) an d 5(F if th ):
S hif t in to 3(T hir d ), 4 (F ourth )
a n d 5(F if th ) th e sa m e way yo u
d o fo r 2 (S eco nd). S lo w ly le t up on
t h e clu tc h pedala s yo u pre ss th e
a cce le ra to r pedal.
T o sto p, le t up on th e acc e le ra to r
p e dala nd pre ss th e bra ke pedal.
J u st befo re th e ve hic le sto ps,
p re ss th e clu tc h pedala nd th e
b ra ke pedal, and sh if t to Neutr a l.

Bla ck pla te (4 1,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-4 1
N eu tr a l: Use th is posit io n when
y o u sta rt or id le th e en gin e.
R (R eve rs e): To ba ck up, pre ss th e
c lu tc h ped al. A fte r th e ve hic le sto ps,
s h if t in to R (R eve rs e ). S lo w ly le t up
o n th e clu tc h pe dala s yo u pre ss
t h e acce le ra to r ped al. If it is hard
t o sh if t, le t th e sh if t le ve r re tu rn to
N eutr a la nd re le ase th e clu tc h
p eda l. T hen pre ss th e clu tc h again
a nd sh if t in to R (R eve rs e ). D o no t
a tte m pt to sh if t in to 5(F if th ) prio r
t o sh if tin g in to R (R eve rs e ). T he
t r a nsm is sio n has a lo ck out fe atu re
w hic h pre ve n ts a 5(F if th ) gear
t o R (R eve rs e ) ge ar sh if t.
N otic e: Shif tin g to R (R evers e)
w hile th e veh ic le is m ovin g
f o rw ard co uld dam ag e th e
t r a n sm is sio n.T he re p air s would
n ot be co ve re d by th e veh ic le
w arra n ty . S hif t to R (R evers e)
o nly afte r th e veh ic le is sto pped .
U se R (R eve rs e ), alo n g wit h th e
p ark in g bra ke , fo r pa rk in g th e
v e hic le .
U p-S hif t Lig htT his lig h t w ill sh ow yo u whe n to sh if t
t o th e ne xt hig her gear fo r best fu e l
e co nom y.
W hen th is lig ht co m es on, yo u
c a n sh if t to th e next hig h er gear if
w eath er, ro a d and tr a ffic co n dit io ns
p erm it . F or th e be st fu e le co no m y,
a cc e le ra te slo w ly and sh if t w hen th e
l i g ht co m es on.
W hile yo u acce le ra te , it is norm al
f o r th e lig ht to go on and off if yo u
q uic k ly ch a nge th e posit io n of th e
a cc e le ra to r. Ig n ore th e sh if t lig h t
w hen yo u do w nsh if t. I
f th e ve hic le has fo ur-w heeld riv e
a n d has a manualtr a nsm is sio n ,
d is re gard th e sh if t lig ht w hen th e
t r a n sfe r ca se is in fo ur-w heello w .
Shif t S peed s
{
W ARNIN G
If yo u skip agear w hen yo u
d ow nsh if t, yo u co uld lo se co ntr o l
o f th e ve hic le . Y ou co uld in ju re
y o urs e lf or oth ers . D o not sh if t
d ow n more th an one gear at a
t im e when yo u dow nsh if t.

Bla ck pla te (4 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -4 2 Driv in g an d Opera tin gD riv e Syste m sFour-W heel D riv eIf th e ve hic le ha s fo u r- w heel
d riv e , yo u ca n se nd th e engin e's
d riv in g po w er to all fo urw heels
f o r extr a tr a ctio n. To ge t th e best
p erfo rm an ce out of fo ur- w he el
d riv e , yo u must be fa m ilia r w it h it s
o pera tio n. R ead th is se ctio n be fo re
u sin g fo ur-w hee ld riv e . Y ou sh ould
u se tw o-w he eld riv e hig h fo r m ost
n orm ald riv in g co n dit io n s.
N otic e : Driv in g on cle an ,d ry
p ave m en t in fo ur-w heel d riv e fo r
a n exte n ded perio d of tim ecan
c a u se pre m atu re wear on th e
v e h ic le 's pow ertr a in .D o not
d riv e on cle an ,d ry pave m en t in
F our-W hee l D riv e fo r ex te n ded
p erio ds of tim e. N
otic e: If th e veh ic le has
f o ur-w heel d riv e an d th e dif f e re n t
s iz e sp are tir e is in sta ll e d on th e
v eh ic le , d o not driv e in fo ur-w heel
d riv e until yo u can have yo u r fla t
t ir e re p air e d an d /o r re p la c ed .Y o u
c o uld dam ag e th e veh ic le , an d
t h e re p air co sts wou ld no t be
c o vere d by yo u r w arra n ty . N eve r
u se fo ur-w heel d riv e when th e
d if fe re n t siz e sp are tir e is
i n sta lle d on th e veh ic le .
N otic e: If th e veh ic le has
f o ur-w heel d riv e an d th e co m pact
s p are tir e is in sta lle d on th e
v eh ic le , d o not driv e in fo ur-w heel
d riv e until yo u can have th e fla t
t ir e re p air e d an d /o r re p la c ed .Y o u
c o uld dam ag e th e veh ic le , an d
t h e re p air co sts wou ld no t be
c o vere d by yo u r w arra n ty . N eve r
u se fo ur-w heel d riv e when th e
c o m pact sp are tir e is in sta lle d on
t h e veh ic le .
T he tr a nsfe r ca se butto ns are
l o ca te d to th e rig ht of th e ste erin g
w heelo n th e in str u m ent panel.