2011 GMC CANYON Owner's Manual

Bla ck pla te (4 3,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-4 3
R eco m men ded Tra n sfe r C ase Settin gs
D riv in g Cond it io ns T
ra n sfe r C ase Settin gs
2
m
4m
4n
N
N orm al YES
S eve re YES
E xtr e m e YES
V ehic le in To w * YES
* S ee Recre atio n alV ehic le To w in g on page 109 4 or To w in g th e Veh ic le on
p age 109 3 fo r fu rth er in fo rm atio n.
S hif tin g in to FourW he elL ow
w ill tu rn Tra ctio n Contr o la nd
S ta biliT ra k
®off . S ee Tra ctio n
C ontr o lS yste m (T C S)on page 94 8
a nd Sta biliT ra k®S yste m on
p age 95 0 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n. U
se th ese butto ns to sh if t in to an d
o ut of fo ur-w heeld riv e . Y ou ca n
c h oose fr o m th e fo llo w in g:
2
m( T w o-W heel H ig h): This se ttin g
i s fo r driv in g in most str e et and
h ig hw ay sit u a tio ns. T he fr o nt axle is
n ot eng age d in tw o-w hee ld riv e .
{
W ARNIN G
Shif tin g th e tr a nsfe r ca se to
N (N eutr a l) ca n ca use th e ve hic le
t o ro ll e ve n if th e tr a nsm is sio n is
i n P (P ark ). Y ou or so m eone els e
c o uld be se rio usly in ju re d. B e
s u re to se t th e park in g bra ke
b efo re pla cin g th e tr a nsfe r ca se in
N (N eutr a l) . S ee Park in g Bra ke on
p age 94 7.
N (N eu tr a l) : Shif t th e ve hic le 's
t r a nsfe r ca se to N (N eutr a l) only
w hen to w in g th e ve hic le .
4m( F o ur-W heel H ig h): This se ttin g
e ngages th e fr o nt axle to help driv e
t h e ve hic le . U se fo ur-w heelh ig h
w hen yo u need extr a tr a ctio n, su ch
a s on sn ow y or ic y ro ads, or in most
o ff- ro ad sit u atio ns.

Bla ck pla te (4 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -4 4 Driv in g an d Opera tin g4n(F our-W hee l L ow ): This se ttin g
a ls o engag es th e fr o n t axle to giv e
y o u extr a tr a ctio n. It se nd s th e
m axim um pow er to all fo u rw heels .
Y ou mig ht ch o ose fo ur-w heello w if
y o u were driv in g off - ro ad in sa n d,
m ud, or deep sn o w and while
c lim bin g or desce nd in g ste ep hill s .
S hif tin g in to Four W he elL ow
w ill tu rn Tra ctio n Contr o la nd
S ta biliT ra k
®off . S ee Tra ctio n
C on tr o lS yste m (T C S)on page 94 8
a n d Sta biliT ra k®S yste m on
p a ge 95 0 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
I n dic a to r lig h ts in th e bu tt o ns sh o w
y o u whic h se ttin g yo u are in . T he
i n dic a to r li g hts will co m e on brie fly
w hen yo u tu rn on th e ig nit io n and
o ne will sta y on th e se le cte d se ttin g.
I f th e lig h ts do not co m e on, yo u
s h ould ta ke th e ve h ic le in fo r
s e rv ic e . A n in dic a to r lig ht w il l fla sh
w hile sh if tin g. It w ill sta y on when
t h e sh if t is co m ple te d.
I f th e tr a nsfe r ca se do es not sh if t, it
w ill re tu rn to th e la st ch o se n se ttin g. S
hif t in g fr o m Tw o-W heel H ig h to
F our-W heel H ig h
P re ss and re le ase th e Fou r- W he el
H ig h butto n. T his ca n be done at
a ny sp eed, an d th e fr o nt axle will
l o ck auto m atic a lly .
S hif t in g fr o m Four-W heel H ig h to
T w o-W heel H ig h
P re ss and re le ase th e Tw o-W he el
H ig h butto n. T his ca n be done at
a ny sp eed, an d th e fr o nt axle will
u nlo ck auto m atic a lly .
I t is norm alto hear and fe elth e
v e hic le 's tr a nsfe r ca se sh if t in to
F our- W heelH ig h. If yo u sh if t w it h
t h e ve hic le sto p ped, th e in d ic a to r
l i g ht m ay still fla sh slo w ly . It m ay be
n ece ssa ry to sh if t th e tr a nsm is sio n
m om enta rily in to R (R eve rs e )
a nd D (D riv e ), fo r an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n, or R (R eve rs e )
a nd 1(F ir s t) fo r a manu al
t r a nsm is sio n to have th e lig ht
s to p fla sh in g. S
hif tin g fr o m Tw o-W heel H ig h
o r Fo ur-W heel H ig h to
F our-W heel L ow
T o sh if t fr o m Tw o-W heelH ig h or
F our-W heelH ig h to Four-W heel
L o w ,th e ve hic le must be sto pped
o r m ovin g le ss th an 5km /h (3 m ph)
w it h th e tr a nsm is sio n in N (N eutr a l)
f o r an auto m atic tr a nsm is sio n or th e
c lu tc h pedalp re ss e d fo r a manual
t r a nsm is sio n. T he pre fe rr e d meth od
f o r sh if tin g in to Four- W heelL ow
i s to have yo ur ve hic le movin g
1 .6 to 3.2 km /h (1 to 2m ph).
P re ss and re le ase th e Four-W heel
L o w butto n. Y ou must w ait fo r th e
F our-W heelL ow in dic a to r lig ht to
s to p fla sh in g and sta y on befo re
s h if tin g th e tr a nsm is sio n in to gear or
r e le asin g th e clu tc h pedal.
I f th e Four- W heelL ow butto n is
p re sse d when th e ve hic le is in gear
a n d/o r m ovin g fa ste r th an 5km /h
( 3 m ph ), th e Four- W heelL ow
i n dic a to r li g ht w ill fla sh fo r
3 0 se co nds and not co m ple te th e
s h if t.

Bla ck pla te (4 5,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-4 5
S hif tin g fr o m Four-W heel L ow
t o Tw o-W heel H ig h or
F our-W heel H ig h
T o sh if t fr o m Four-W he elL ow to
T w o-W hee lH ig h or Four-W heel
H ig h, th e ve hic le must be sto ppe d
o r m ovin g le ss th an 5km /h (3 m ph)
w it h th e tr a n sm is sio n in N (N eutr a l)
f o r an auto m atic tr a nsm is s io n or th e
c lu tc h ped alp re sse d fo r a manual
t r a nsm is sio n. T he pre fe rre d meth od
f o r sh if tin g out of F ou r-W heelL ow
i s to have yo ur ve hic le movin g
1 .6 to 3.2 km /h (1 to 2m ph).
P re ss an d re le a se th e Four-W hee l
H ig h or Tw o-W hee lH ig h butto n. Y ou
m ust w ait fo r th e Fou r-W heelH ig h
o r Tw o-W he elH ig h in d ic a to r lig ht
t o sto p fla sh in g and sta y on befo re
s h if tin g th e tr a nsm is sio n in to gea r or
r e le asin g th e clu tc h pedal. I
f th e Four-W he elH ig h or
T w o-W heelH ig h bu tto n is
p re sse d whe n th e ve hic le is in
g ear and/o r m ovin g fa ste r th a n
5 km /h (3 m ph), th e Fou r- W he el
H ig h or Tw o-W he elH ig h in d ic a to r
l i g ht w ill fla sh fo r 30 se co n ds bu t no t
c o m ple te th e sh if t .
S hif t in g to Neu tr a l
U se N (N eutr a l) w he n yo u pla n to
t o w th e ve hic le . S ee Recre atio n al
V ehic le To w in g on pag e 109 4 fo r
t o w in g in str u ctio ns. To sh if t th e
t r a nsfe r ca se in to N (N eutr a l) do th e
f o ll o w in g :
1 . Set th e pa rk in g bra ke .
2 . Sta rt th e ve hic le .
3 . Pre ss th e re g ula r bra ke peda l
a nd sh if t th e tr a n sm is sio n in
N (N eutr a l) , or pre ss in th e
c lu tc h fo r ve h ic le s wit h a
m an ualtr a n sm is sio n.
4 . Shif t th e tr a n sfe r ca se to
T w o-W heelH ig h . 5
. Pre ss and hold th e Tw o-W hee l
H ig h and Four-W he elL ow
b utto ns at th e sa m e tim e fo r
1 0 se co nds. T he N (N eutr a l) lig ht
w ill co m e on when th e tr a nsfe r
c a se sh if t to N (N eutr a l) is
c o m ple te .
6 . Pre ss and hold th e re gula r bra ke
p edala nd sh if t th e tr a nsm is sio n
t o R (R eve rs e ) fo r one se co nd ,
t h en sh if t th e tr a nsm is sio n to
D (D riv e ) fo r one se co nd,
o r 1 (F ir s t) fo r ve hic le s wit h
m anualtr a nsm is sio ns, and le t
o ut th e clu tc h to in su re th e
t r a nsfe r ca se is in N (N eutr a l) .
I f th e tr a nsfe r ca se is not
i n N (N eutr a l) , re peat th is
p ro ce dure sta rtin g at S te p 3.
7 . Turn th e engin e off by tu rn in g
t h e ke y to AC C/A C CESSO RY.
8 . Pla ce th e tr a nsm is sio n sh if t
l e ve r in P (P ark ), or 1 (F ir s t) fo r
v e hic le s th at have amanual
t r a nsm is s io n.
9 . Turn th e ig nit io n to LO CK/O FF.

Bla ck pla te (4 6,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -4 6 Driv in g an d Opera tin gS hif tin g Out of N eu tr a l
A fte r to w in g th e ve hic le , yo u will
h ave to sh if t ou t of N (N eutr a l) in
o rd e r to driv e . To sh if t out of
N (N eutr a l) , do th e fo ll o w in g:
1 . Set th e pa rk in g bra ke and apply
t h e re gu la r bra ke pe dal.
2 . Sta rt a ve hic le wit h an auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n in P (P ark ).
U se 1(F ir s t) fo r ve hic le s wit h a
m anualtr a n sm is s io n .
3 . Shif t th e tr a nsm is s io n to
N (N eutr a l) , or pre ss th e clu tc h
p eda lfo r ve hic le s wit h amanual
t r a nsm is sio n.
4 . Pre ss th e butto n fo r th e desir e d
t r a nsfe r ca se sh if t posit io n
( T w o-W heelH ig h, F our-W heel
H ig h, or Four-W hee lL ow ).
5 . Afte r th e tr a nsfe r ca se has
s h if te d out of N (N eutr a l) , th e
i n dic a to r li g ht w ill g o out.
6 . Rele a se th e pa rk in g bra ke .
7 . Shif t th e tr a nsm is s io n to th e
d esir e d posit io n .
B ra ke sA ntilo ck Bra ke
S yste m (A B S)This ve hic le has th e Antilo ck Bra ke
S yste m (A BS ), an adva n ce d
e le ctr o nic bra kin g sys te m th at help s
p re ve nt a bra kin g sk id .
W hen th e engin e is sta rte d and th e
v e hic le begin s to driv e aw ay, A BS
c h ecks it s e lf . A mom en ta ry m oto r or
c li c k in g nois e mig ht be hea rd whil e
t h is te st is go in g on, and it m ig h t
e ve n be notic e d th a t th e bra ke
p edalm ove s a lit tle . T his is no rm al.I f th ere is a pro ble m wit h ABS ,th is
w arn in g lig ht sta ys on . S ee Antilo ck
B ra ke Syste m (A BS)W arn in g Lig ht
o n page 51 7. I
f driv in g sa fe ly on a wet ro ad and
i t beco m es nece ssa ry to sla m on
t h e bra ke s and co ntin ue bra kin g
t o avo id asu dden obsta cle , a
c o m pu te r se nse s th at th e wheels
a re slo w in g dow n. If one of th e
w he els is about to sto p ro ll in g, th e
c o m pu te r w il l se para te ly work th e
b ra ke s at each wheel.
A BS ca n ch ange th e bra ke pre ssu re
t o each wheel, as re quir e d, fa ste r
t h a n any driv e r co uld . T his ca n help
t h e driv e r ste er aro und th e obsta cle
w hile bra kin g hard .
A s th e bra ke s are appli e d, th e
c o m pu te r ke eps re ce iv in g update s
o n wheelsp eed and co ntr o ls
b ra kin g pre ssu re acco rd in gly .

Bla ck pla te (4 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-4 7
R em em be r: A BS does not ch ang e
t h e tim e ne ede d to get a fo ot up to
t h e bra ke peda lo r alw ays decre ase
s to ppin g dis ta n ce . If yo u get to o
c lo se to th e ve h ic le in fr o nt of yo u ,
t h ere wil l n o t be enou gh tim e to
a pply th e bra ke s if th a t ve hic le
s u ddenly slo w s or sto ps. A lw ays
l e ave eno ugh ro om up ahead to
s to p, eve n wit h ABS.U sin g AB SD o no t pu m p th e bra ke s. Ju st ho ld
t h e bra ke peda ld o w n fir m ly and le t
A BS work . Y ou mig ht hear th e ABS
p um p or m oto r op era tin g and fe el
t h e bra ke peda lp u ls a te , bu t th is is
n orm al.B ra kin g in Em erg en cie sA BS allo w s th e driv e r to ste er an d
b ra ke at th e sa m e tim e. In many
e m erg encie s, ste erin g ca n help
m ore th an eve n th e ve ry best
b ra kin g.
P ark in g Bra keT he park in g bra ke pe dalis lo ca te d
t o th e le ft of th e bra ke ped al, nea r
t h e driv e r door.
T o se t th e park in g bra ke , hold th e
b ra ke ped ald o w n, th en push th e
p ark in g bra ke pe dald o w n to it s
f u ll y -a pp li e d posit io n.
A ch im e will a ctiv a te an d th e
b ra ke warn in g li g h t, lo ca te d on th e
i n str u m en t pa nel, w ill fla sh when th e
p ark in g bra ke is applie d an d th e
v e hic le is m ovin g at le a st 5 km /h
( 3 m ph) fo r at le ast th re e se co nd s. T
he ch im e will d eactiv a te and th e
l ig ht w il l tu rn off w hen th e park in g
b ra ke is se t and th e ve hic le is
m ovin g belo w 5km /h (3 m ph). S ee
B ra ke Syste m Warn in g Lig ht on
p a ge 51 7.
To re le ase th e park in g bra ke ,
h old th e re gula r bra ke pedald ow n.
P ull th e botto m edge of th e le ve r,
l o ca te d above th e park in g bra ke
p edal, w it h th e park in g bra ke
s ym bol, dir e ctly re arw ard to re le ase
t h e park in g bra ke .

Bla ck pla te (4 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -4 8 Driv in g an d Opera tin gIf th e ig n it io n is on when th e park in g
b ra ke is re le ase d, th e bra ke syste m
w arn in g lig h t w ill g o off.
N otic e : Driv in g wit h th e park in g
b ra k e on ca n overh eat th e bra ke
s y ste m an d cau se pre m atu re
w ear or dam ag e to bra k e syste m
p arts . M ake su re th at th e park in g
b ra k e is fu lly re le a sed an d th e
b ra k e warn in g lig ht is off befo re
d riv in g.
I f yo u are to w in g atr a il e r and are
p a rk in g on any hill , se e Driv in g
C ha ra cte ris tic s an d To w in g Tip s on
p a ge 95 9.
B ra ke Assis tT his ve hic le has a bra ke assis t
f e atu re desig ned to assis t th e driv e r
i n sto ppin g or decre a sin g ve hic le
s p eed in em erg e ncy driv in g
c o ndit io ns. T his fe atu re use s th e
s ta bili t y syste m hyd ra u lic bra ke
c o ntr o lm odule to su p ple m en t
t h e pow er bra ke sys te m und er
c o ndit io ns where th e driv e r has
q uic kly an d fo rc e fu ll y app li e d th e
b ra ke pedalin an atte m pt to qu ic kly
s to p or slo w do w n th e ve hic le . T he
s ta bili t y syste m hyd ra u lic bra ke
c o ntr o lm odule in cre a se s bra ke
p re ssu re at each co rn er of th e
v e hic le until th e AB S activ a te s.
M in or bra ke ped alp uls a tio n or
p edalm ove m ent durin g th is tim e
i s norm ala nd th e driv e r sh ould
c o ntin ue to apply th e bra ke peda l
a s th e driv in g sit u a tio n dic ta te s.
T he bra ke assis t fe atu re will
a uto m atic a lly dis e n gag e whe n
t h e bra ke pe dalis re le ase d or
b ra ke pedalp re ssu re is quic kly
d ecre ase d.
R id e Contr o lS yste m sTra ctio n Contr o l
S yste m (T C S)The Tra ctio n Contr o lS yste m (T C S)
i s part of S ta biliT ra k. T C S li m it s
w heelsli p whic h is esp ecia lly use fu l
i n slip pery ro ad co ndit io ns. T he
s yste m opera te s only if it se nse s
t h a t any of th e wheels are sp in nin g
o r be gin nin g to lo se tr a ctio n. W hen
t h is ha ppens, T C S applie s th e
b ra ke s to lim it w heelsp in and als o
r e duce s engin e pow er. T he syste m
m ay be heard or fe lt w hile it is
w ork in g. T his is norm ala nd does
n o t m ean th ere is a pro ble m wit h
t h e ve hic le .
N otic e: If th e wheel( s ) of one ax le
i s all o w ed to sp in excessiv ely
w hil e th e Sta b iliT ra k
®, A BS,b ra ke
w arn in g lig h ts , an d an y re le van t
D IC messag es are dis p la yed ,th e
t r a n sfe r case co uld be dam ag ed .

Bla ck pla te (4 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-4 9
T he re p air s would not be co vere d
b y th e veh ic le warra n ty . R ed uce
e n gin e pow er an d do not sp in
t h e whee l( s ) ex ce ssiv ely while
t h ese lig hts an d messag es are
d is p la yed .
T C S ca n ope ra te on dry ro ads
u nde r so m e co n dit io n s. W hen
t h is happ ens, th e sy ste m may be
h eard work in g or a re d uctio n in
a cce le ra tio n may be notic e d . T his
i s norm ala nd do es not m ean th ere
i s a pro ble m wit h th e ve hic le .
E xa m ple s of th ese co n dit io ns
i n clu d e ha rd acc e le ra tio n in atu rn ,
a n abru pt up sh if t or do w nsh if t of th e
t r a nsm is sio n or driv in g on ro ugh
r o ads.
I f cru is e co ntr o lis be in g use d whe n
T C S be gin s to lim it w heelsp in ,
t h e cru is e co ntr o la uto m atic a lly
d is e ngage s. T he cru is e co ntr o l
c a n be re -e n gage d when ro ad
c o ndit io ns all o w .S ee Cru is e Contr o l
o n pag e 95 2 . T
he messa ge TR AC TIO N FA U LT
a ppears in th e Driv e r In fo rm atio n
C ente r (D IC )w hen a TC S or
A ntil o ck Bra ke Syste m (A BS)
p ro ble m has been dete cte d and th e
v e hic le nee ds se rv ic e . W he n th is
m essa ge is on , th e syste m will n o t
l i m it w hee lsp in . A dju st yo ur driv in g
a cc o rd in gly . S ee Rid e Contr o l
S yste m Messa g es on pa ge 52 7.
T he Sta bili T ra k/T C S lig ht w il l fla sh
o n th e in str u m en t pane lclu ste r
w hen th e TC S syste m or S ta bili T ra k
i s both on an d activ a te d.
T he Sta biliT ra k/T C S butto n is
l o ca te d on th e in str u m ent panel.
T o tu rn off T C S,pre ss and re le ase
t h e Sta bili T ra k/T C S butt o n. T he
S ta biliT ra k/T C S lig ht co m es on in
t h e in str u m ent panelclu ste r, and
T R AC OFF co m es on th e DIC .
T o tu rn TC S back on, pre ss and
r e le ase th e Sta bil iT ra k/T C S butto n.
A ddin g non-d eale r/n on-re ta ile r
a cce sso rie s ca n aff e ct th e ve hic le 's
p erfo rm ance . S ee Acc e ss o rie s and
M odif ic a tio ns on page 103 .

Bla ck pla te (5 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -5 0 Driv in g an d Opera tin gS ta b iliT ra k
®
S yste m
T he ve hic le has an ele ctr o nic
s ta bilit y co ntr o lsy ste m ca lle d
S ta biliT ra k. It is an ad va nce d
c o m pute r co ntr o lle d sy s te m th at
a ssis ts th e driv e r w it h dir e ctio nal
c o ntr o lo f th e ve h ic le in dif fic u lt
d riv in g co ndit io n s.
S ta biliT ra k activ a te s when th e
c o m pute r se nse s a dis c re p ancy
b etw een th e in te nd ed pa th and th e
d ir e ctio n th e ve h ic le is actu ally
t r a ve lin g. S ta biliT ra k se le ctiv e ly
a pplie s bra kin g pre ssu re at any one
o f th e ve h ic le 's bra ke s to ass is t th e
d riv e r w it h ke ep in g th e ve hic le on
t h e in te nde d path .
W hen th e ve hic le is sta rte d and
b egin s to move , th e sy s te m
p erfo rm sse ve ra ld ia g no stic ch ecks
t o in su re th e re are no pro ble m s.
T he sy ste m may be heard or
f e lt w hil e it is work in g. T his is
n orm ala nd do es not m ea n th ere
i s a pro ble m wit h th e ve h ic le . T
he syste m sh ou ld in it ia liz e be fo re
t h e ve hic le re a ch es 32 km /h
( 2 0 m ph). In so m e ca se s, it m ay
t a ke appro xim ate ly tw o mile s of
d riv in g befo re th e syste m in it ia liz e s.
I f cru is e co n tr o lis bein g use d
w hen Sta biliT ra k activ a te s, th e
c ru is e co ntr o la uto m atic a ll y
d is e ngages. T he cru is e co ntr o l
c a n be re -e nga ged whe n ro ad
c o ndit io ns all o w .S ee Cru is e Contr o l
o n page 95 2.
I f th ere is a pro ble m dete cte d wit h
S ta bili T ra k, a SER VIC E STA B SY S
m essa ge dis p la ys on th e Driv e r
I n fo rm atio n Cen te r (D IC ). S ee Rid e
C ontr o lS yste m Messa ges on
p age 52 7 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
W hen th is m essa ge is dis p la ye d,
t h e syste m is not w ork in g. A dju st
y o ur driv in g acco rd in g ly .
S ta bili T ra k an d Tra ctio n Contr o l
( T C S)co m e on au to m atic a ll y
w heneve r th e ve hic le is sta rte d
a nd th e syste m sare re se t w it h e
a ch ig nit io n cycle . H ow eve r,
w hen th e tr a nsfe r ca se is pla ce d
i n Fou r-W heel- L ow mode,
S ta biliT ra k is auto m atic a ll y
d is a ble d. S ee Four-W heelD riv e on
p a ge 10 3 1 fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
I t is re co m mended to le ave th e
s yste m on fo r norm ald riv in g
c o nd it io ns, but it m ay be nece ssa ry
t o tu rn th e TC S portio n of th e
s yste m off if th e ve hic le is stu ck in
s a nd , m ud, ic e , or sn ow ,and it is
n e ce ssa ry to ro ck  th e ve hic le to
a tte m pt to fr e e it . If tr a ctio n co ntr o l
i s tu rn ed off, only th e bra ke -tr a ctio n
c o ntr o lp ortio n of tr a ctio n co ntr o l
w ill w ork . T he engin e sp eed
m anagem ent w il l b e dis a ble d.
I n th is m ode, engin e pow er is
n o t re duce d auto m atic a lly and th e
d riv e wheels ca n sp in more fr e ely .
T his ca n ca use th e bra ke -tr a ctio n
c o ntr o lto activ a te co nsta ntly . S ee If
t h e Vehic le is Stu ck on page 92 1.