2011 GMC CANYON Owner's Manual

Bla ck pla te (6 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-6 7
V eh ic le Axle Ratio Maxim um Tra ile r W eig h t GCW R*
4 W D Cre w Cab
3 .7 L L5 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3.7 3 249 5 kg (5 ,5 00 lb s) 4445 kg (9 ,8 00 lb s)
5 .3 L V8 Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n 3
.4 2
4 .1 0 2
72 2 kg (6 ,0 00 lb s) 4717 kg (1 0,4 00 lb s)
* T he Gro ss Com bin a tio n W eig ht R atin g (G CW R)is th e to ta la ll o w able weig h t of th e co m ple te ly lo ad ed ve h ic le an d
t r a ile r in clu din g any passe ngers , ca rg o, equip m en t and co nve rs io ns. T he GCW R fo r th e ve hic le sh o uld no t be
e xce ed ed.
A sk yo u r deale r fo r our tr a il e rin g
i n fo rm atio n or advic e , or w rit e us at
o ur C usto m er A ssis ta nce Offic e s.
S ee Custo m er A ssis ta nce Offic e s
( U .S .and Can ada) on page 13 5
o r C usto m er A ssis ta nce Offic e s
( M exic o ) on pag e 13 5 fo r m ore
i n fo rm atio n .
W eig ht of th e Tra ile r To n gueT he to ng ue lo ad (A )of any tr a ile r is
a n im porta nt w eig ht to measu re
b eca use it affe cts th e to ta lg ro ss
w eig ht of th e ve hic le . T he Gro ss
V ehic le W eig ht(G VW )in clu d es
t h e cu rb weig ht of th e ve hic le , an y
c a rg o ca rr ie d in it , and th e peop le
w ho will b e rid in g in th e ve hic le . I
f th ere are a lo t of optio ns,
e q uip m ent, passe ngers or ca rg o in
t h e ve hic le , it w ill re duce th e to ngu e
w eig ht th e ve hic le ca n ca rry , w hic h
w ill a ls o re duce th e tr a ile r w eig ht th e
v e hic le ca n to w .If to w in g atr a ile r,
t h e to ngue lo ad must be added to
t h e GVW beca use th e ve hic le will
b e ca rry in g th at w eig ht, to o. S ee
V eh ic le Load Lim it s on page 92 2
f o r m ore in fo rm atio n about th e
v e hic le 's m axim um lo ad ca pacit y .

Bla ck pla te (6 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -6 8 Driv in g an d Opera tin gT he tr a ile r to ngu e weig ht(A )sh ould
b e 10 pe rc e n t to 15 pe rc e nt of th e
t o ta llo ad ed tr a ile r w eig h t, up to a
m axim um of 226 kg (5 0 0 lb s) w it h a
w eig ht ca rry in g hit c h .
D o not exce ed th e maxim um
a llo w able to ng ue weig ht fo r th e
v e hic le . C hoo se th e sh o rte st hit c h
e xte n sio n th at w ill p osit io n th e hit c h
b all clo se st to th e ve h ic le . T his will
h elp re d uce th e effe ct of tr a ile r
t o ngue weig ht on th e re ar axle . A
ft e r lo adin g th e tr a ile r, w eig h
t h e tr a il e r and th e n th e to ng ue,
s e para te ly , to se e if th e weig h ts are
p ro per. If th ey are no t, adju stm ents
m ig ht be made by m ovin g so m e
i t e m saro un d in th e tr a ile r.
T ra ile rin g may be lim it e d by th e
v e hic le 's abili t y to ca rry to n gue
w eig ht. To ngu e weig h t ca n not ca use
t h e ve hic le to exce e d th e GVW R
( G ro ss Vehic le W eig h t R atin g) or
t h e RG AW R (R ear G ro ss Axle
W eig ht R atin g). T he effe ct of
a ddit io nalw eig ht m ay re duce th e
t r a il e rin g ca p acit y m ore th a n th e
t o ta lo f th e addit io n alw eig h t.
I t is im porta n t th at th e ve hic le
d oes not exce ed any of it s
r a tin gs  GCW R,G VW R,R G AW R,
M axim um Tra ile r R atin g or To ngu e
W eig ht. T he on ly way to be su re it is
n ot exce ed in g any of th ese ra tin gs
i s to weig h th e ve h ic le and tr a ile r.
T o ta l W eig ht on th e Veh ic le 's
T ir e sB e su re th e ve hic le 's tir e s are
i n fla te d to th e upper lim it fo r
c o ld tir e s. T hese num bers ca n be
f o u nd on th e Certif ic a tio n/T ir e la bel
l o ca te d at th e bott o m of th e ce nte r
p illa r on th e driv e r's sid e of th e
v e hic le , or se e Vehic le Load Lim it s
o n page 92 2 . M ake su re not to go
o ve r th e GVW lim it fo r th e ve hic le ,
o r th e GAW R,in clu din g th e weig ht
o f th e tr a ile r to ngue. If usin g a
w eig h t dis tr ib utin g hit c h , m ake
s u re not to go ove r th e re ar axle
l im it befo re apply in g th e weig ht
d is tr ib utio n sp rin g bars .

Bla ck pla te (6 9,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
D riv in g an d Opera tin g 9-6 9
To w in g Equip m en tH it c h esIt is im po rta nt to have th e co rre ct
h it c h equip m ent. C ro ssw in ds, la rg e
t r u ck s go in g by an d ro ug h ro ads are
a fe w re aso ns why th e rig ht hit c h is
n eed ed.W eig ht-D is tr ib utin g Hit c h es
a n d W eig h t C arr y in g Hit c h esA ste p bu m per hit c h ca n be use d fo r
t r a ile rs up to 907 kg (2 ,0 00 lb s) to ta l
w eig ht, and 90 kg (2 00 lb s) to ngue
w eig ht.
N otic e: If a ste p -b um per hit c h
i s used ,th e bum per co uld be
d am ag ed in sh arp tu rn s. M ake
s u re th ere is am ple ro om when
t u rn in g to av o id co nta ct betw een
t h e tr a ile r an d th e bu m per.
S afe ty Chain sA lw ays atta ch ch a in s betw een th e
v e hic le and th e tr a ile r. C ro ss th e
s a fe ty ch a in s und er th e to ngu e
o f th e tr a ile r to help pre ve n t th e
t o ngue fr o m co n ta ctin g th e ro ad if it
b eco m es se para te d fr o m th e hit c h .
I n str u ctio ns abou t sa fe ty ch a in s
m ay be pro vid ed by th e hit c h
m anufa ctu re r or by th e tr a il e r
m anufa ctu re r. F or tr a ile rs up to
9 07 kg (2 ,0 0 0 lb s) sa fe ty ch ain s
m ay be atta ch ed to th e atta ch in g
p oin ts on th e bu m per. F or hea vie r
t r a il e rs , fo llo w th e tr a ile r or hit c h
m anufa ctu re r's re co m mend atio n fo r
a tta ch in g sa fe ty ch ain s. A lw ays
l e ave ju st enou gh sla ck so th e rig
c a n tu rn . N eve r all o w sa fe ty ch ain s
t o dra g on th e gro und .
Tra ile r B ra kesA lo aded tr a ile r th at w eig hs m ore
t h a n 450 kg (1 ,0 00 lb s) needs to
h ave it s ow n bra ke sy ste m th at is
a dequate fo r th e weig ht of th e
t r a ile r. B e su re to re ad and fo llo w
t h e in str u ctio ns fo r th e tr a ile r bra ke s
s o th ey are in sta lle d, adju ste d and
m ain ta in ed pro perly .
S in ce th e ve hic le is equip ped wit h
S ta biliT ra k
®, th e tr a ile r ca nnot ta p
i n to th e ve hic le 's hyd ra ulic bra ke
s ys te m .

Bla ck pla te (7 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
9 -7 0 Driv in g an d Opera tin gTra ile r W ir in g Harn essT he ve hic le may be eq u ip ped wit h
a fo u rp in tr a ile r to w in g harn ess.
T his ha rn ess has a fo urp in tr a il e r
c o nnecto r th a t is atta ch e d to a
b ra cke t on th e hit c h pla tfo rm .T he
f o urw ir e harn ess co nta in s th e
f o llo w in g tr a ile r cir c u it s :.
Y ello w :Le ft S to p /T urn Sig n al
.
G re e n: R ig ht S to p /T urn Sig nal
.
B ro w n: Ta illa m ps/P ark la m ps
.
W hit e : G ro u nd
C onvers io ns an d
A dd-O nsA dd-O n Ele ctr ic al
E quip m en tN otic e: Do not ad d an yth in g
e le ctr ic al to th e ve h ic le un le ss
y o u ch eck wit h yo ur dea le r fir s t.
S om eele ctr ic al eq uip m en t ca n
d am ag e th e veh ic le an d th e
d am ag e would no t be co vere d
b y th e veh ic le 's warra n ty . S om e
a d d-o n ele ctr ic a l eq u ip m en t can
k eep oth er co m ponen ts fr o m
w ork in g as th ey sh ou ld .
A dd-o n equip m en t ca n dra in th e
v e hic le 's 12v o lt batte ry , eve n if th e
v e hic le is not opera tin g . T
he ve hic le has an air b ag sys te m .
B efo re atte m ptin g to add anyth in g
e le ctr ic a lto th e ve hic le , se e
S erv ic in g th e Air b ag-E quip ped
V ehic le on page 33 9 and Addin g
E quip m ent to th e Air b ag-E quip ped
V ehic le on page 34 0.
P ic k u p Convers io n to
C hassis CabW eare aw are th at so m e ve hic le
o w ners m ig ht co nsid er havin g
t h e pic ku p box re m ove d and a
c o m m erc ia lo r re cre atio nalb ody
i n sta lle d. H ow eve r, w e re co m m end
t h a t co nve rs io ns of th is ty p e not be
d o ne to pic ku ps. O wners sh ould be
a w are th at, as m anufa ctu re d, th ere
a re dif fe re n ce s betw een a ch assis
c a b and apic ku p wit h th e box
r e m ove d whic h co uld affe ct ve hic le
s a fe ty .

Bla ck pla te (1 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-1
V eh ic le CareG en era l In fo rm atio nG en era lIn fo rm atio n ... .. ... .. 10-2
C alif o rn ia Pro p osit io n
6 5 W arn in g ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10-3
C alif o rn ia Perc h lo ra te
M ate ria ls Req uir e m ents .. .. 10-3
A cce sso rie s and
M odif ic a tio ns .. .. . .. ... .. ... 10-3V eh ic le ChecksD oin g Your O wn
S erv ic e W ork ... . .. . .. .. .... 10-4
H ood .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. 10-5
E ngin e Com partm ent
O ve rv ie w ... . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10-6
E ngin e Oil .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 10-1 0
E ngin e Oil L if e Syste m ... . .10-1 4
A uto m atic Tra nsm is sio n
F lu id .... .. .......... ..... . 10-1 5
M anua lT ra nsm is sio n
F lu id .... .. .......... ..... . 10-1 7
H yd ra ulic Clu tc h .. .. .. .. .. .. 10-1 8
E ngin e Air C le a ner/F ilt e r ... . 10-1 9
C oolin g Syste m .. .. . ... ... . 10-2 0
E ngin e Coola n t ... . . ... ... .. 10-2 1 E
ngin e Ove rh ea tin g .. .. . .. . 10 -2 4
E ngin e Fan .. .. . ... .. ... .. .. 10-2 6
P ow er S te e rin g Flu id ... . ... 10-2 6
W ash er Flu id ... . ... ........ 10-2 7
B ra ke s ... . ... ....... ...... . 10-2 8
B ra ke Flu id .. .. . .. .. .. ... .. . 10-2 9
B atte ry ... . .. .. . ... ... .. ... . 10 -3 1
F our- W heelD riv e .. .. ... ... . 10 -3 1
F ro nt A xle .. .. . ...... ..... . . 10-3 2
R ear A xle .. .. . .. .. ... ... . .. 10 -3 3
S ta rte r S w it c h Check ... . . .. 10-3 3
A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n Shif t
L ock Contr o lF unctio n
C heck ... . .. .. ... .. . ... .... 10-3 4
I g nit io n Tra nsm is sio n Lock
C heck ... . .. .. ... .. . ... .... 10-3 4
P ark Bra ke and P (P ark )
M ech a nis m Check .... .. .. 10-3 5
W ip er B la de
R epla ce m ent ... . .. ..... .. . 10-3 5
H ead la m p Aim in gH eadla m p Aim in g .. .. ... ... 10 -3 7B ulb Rep la ce m en tB ulb Repla ce m en t .. .. ..... . 10-3 7
H alo gen Bulb s .. .. ... . ... . .. 10 -3 7
H eadla m ps .... ....... ...... 10-3 8 F
ro nt T urn Sig nal, P ark in g,
a nd Daytim e Runnin g
L am ps (D RL) .. .. . .. .. .... 10-3 8
T a ill a m ps, T urn Sig nal,
S to pla m ps, and Back-U p
L am ps .. .. ... ... .... ... ... 10-3 9
C ente r H ig h-M ounte d
S to pla m p (C HM SL) ... . . .. 10-4 0
L ic e nse Pla te Lam p ... . . .. . 10-4 1
R epla ce m ent B ulb s ... .. . .. . 10 -4 1
E le ctr ic al S yste mE le ctr ic a lS yste m
O ve rlo ad ... . .............. 10 -4 2
F use s and Cir c u it
B re ake rs .... ... .. .. ... .. .. 10-4 3
E ngin e Com partm ent F use
B lo ck ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 10-4 3W heels an d Tir e sT ir e s ... .. .. ... .. ... .. ... .. .. 10 -5 0
T ir e Sid ew all L abelin g .. .. . . 10-5 0
T ir e Desig natio ns .. .. . ..... . 10-5 3
T ir e Te rm in olo gy and
D efin it io ns .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . 10 -5 3
T ir e Pre ssu re ... . .. ... .. ... . 10-5 6
T ir e Pre ssu re fo r H ig h-S peed
O pera tio n .. .. .. ... .. ... .. . 10-5 8

Bla ck pla te (2 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-2 Veh ic le CareT ir e Pre ssu re Monit o r
S yste m .... ...... ... . .. ... 10-5 9
T ir e Pre ssu re Monit o r
O pe ra tio n .. .. .. ... .. ... .. . 10-6 0
T ir e In sp ectio n .. .. .. ... .. .. . 10-6 3
T ir e Rota tio n .. .. ... .. ... .. . 10-6 3
W hen It Is Tim e fo r N ew
T ir e s ... . . ..... .... ..... ... 10-6 5
B uyin g New Tir e s .... ... .. .. 10-6 5
D if fe re nt S iz e Tir e s an d
W heels .... ..... ...... .. .. 10-6 7
U nif o rm Tir e Qualit y
G ra d in g .. .. .. ... .. ... . .. .. 10-6 8
W heelA lig nm ent an d Tir e
B ala nce ... .. ... ..... . ... .. 10-6 9
W heelR epla ce m ent ... . . .. . 10-7 0
T ir e Cha in s .. .. . ... ... . ... . . 10-7 1 I
f a Tir e Goe s Fla t .. .. .. ... . 10-7 2
T ir e Chang in g .. .. ... ... .. .. 10-7 4
S eco ndary La tc h Syste m ... 10-8 5
C om pact S pare Tir e .. . . . .. . 10-8 8
F ull - S iz e Spa re Tir e .. .. . ... 10 -8 9
Ju m p Sta rtin gJu m p Sta rtin g .. .. . ... .. .. . . 10-9 0To w in gTo w in g th e Vehic le .... ... . . 10-9 3
R ecre atio nalV eh ic le
T o w in g ... . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 10 -9 4A ppeara n ce CareE xte rio r C are ... . . .. .. .. .. .. 10-9 9
I n te rio r C are .. .. ... .. ... .. . 10-1 03
F lo or M ats .. .. .. .. .. .... . . 10 -1 0 6
G en era l In fo rm atio nF or se rv ic e and parts needs,
v is it yo ur deale r. Y ou wil l re ce iv e
g e nuin e GM parts and GM -tr a in ed
a n d su pporte d se rv ic e people .
G enuin e GM parts have one of
t h e se mark s:

Bla ck pla te (3 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-3
C alif o rn ia Pro po sit io n 65
W arn in gM ost m oto r ve hic le s, in clu din g th is
o ne, co n ta in and /o r em it ch em ic a ls
k n ow n to th e Sta te of C alif o rn ia to
c a use ca nce r and bir th defe cts or
o th er re pro ductiv e harm .E ngin e
e xh aust, m any parts an d sy ste m s,
m any flu id s, and so m e co m pon ent
w ear by-p ro d ucts co n ta in and/o r
e m it th ese ch em ic a ls .
C alif o rn ia Perc h lo ra te
M ate ria ls Req uir e m en tsC erta in ty p es of auto m otiv e
a ppli c a tio n s, su ch as air b ag
i n it ia to rs , se at belt pre te nsio ners ,
a nd li t h iu m batte rie s co nta in e d in
R em ote Keyle ss Entr y tr a nsm it te rs ,
m ay co nta in perc h lo ra te mate ria ls .
S pecia lh an dlin g may be nece ssa ry .
F or addit io n alin fo rm atio n , se e
w ww.d ts c.c a .g o v/h aza rd ousw aste /
p erc h lo ra te .
A cc esso rie s an d
M odif ic atio nsA ddin g non d eale r acce ss o rie s
t o th e ve hic le ca n affe ct ve hic le
p erfo rm ance and sa fe ty , in clu din g
s u ch th in gs as air b ags, bra kin g,
s ta bil it y , rid e and handlin g,
e m is sio ns sy ste m s, aero dyn am ic s,
d ura bil it y , and ele ctr o nic sy ste m s
l ik e antilo ck bra ke s, tr a ctio n co ntr o l,
a nd sta bili t y co ntr o l. S om e of th ese
a cce sso rie s co uld eve n ca use
m alf u nctio n or dam age not co ve re d
b y th e ve hic le warra nty .

Bla ck pla te (4 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-4 Veh ic le CareD am age to ve h ic le co m ponents
r e su lt in g fr o m th e in sta lla tio n or use
o f non G M ce rtif ie d pa rts , in clu din g
c o ntr o lm odu le modif ic a tio ns, is not
c o ve re d un de r th e te rm sof th e
v e hic le warra nty and may aff e ct
r e m ain in g warra n ty co ve ra ge fo r
a ffe cte d pa rts .
G M Acce sso rie s are desig ned to
c o m ple m ent and fu nctio n wit h oth er
s yste m son th e ve h ic le . Y our G M
d eale r ca n acc e sso riz e th e ve hic le
u sin g ge nu in e GM Acc e sso rie s.
W hen yo u go to yo u r G M deale r
a nd ask fo r G M Acce sso rie s, yo u
w ill kn ow th a t G M -tr a in ed and
s u pporte d se rv ic e te ch n ic ia ns wil l
p erfo rm th e work usin g genuin e GM
A cce sso rie s.
A ls o , se e Addin g Equip m ent to th e
A ir b ag-E quip pe d Vehic le on
p a ge 34 0.
V eh ic le Check sD oin g Yo ur O wn
S erv ic e W ork
{
W ARNIN G
You ca n be in ju re d and th e
v e hic le co u ld be dam age d if yo u
t r y to do se rv ic e work on ave hic le
w it h out kn ow in g en oug h abo ut it ..B e su re yo u ha ve su ffic ie nt
k n ow le dge , exp e rie nce ,
t h e pro per re pla ce m ent
p arts , and to o ls befo re
a tte m ptin g any ve h ic le
m ain te na nce ta sk..B e su re to use th e pro p er
n uts , bolt s , and oth e r
f a ste ne rs . E nglis h and
m etr ic fa ste ners ca n be
e asily co nfu se d. If th e wro ng
f a ste ne rs are use d, parts ca n
l a te r bre ak or fa ll o ff . Y ou
c o uld be hurt. I
f do in g so m e of yo ur ow n se rv ic e
w ork , use th e pro per se rv ic e
m anual. It te lls yo u much more
a b out how to se rv ic e th e ve hic le
t h a n th is m anualca n. To ord er th e
p ro pe r se rv ic e manual, se e Serv ic e
P ubli c a tio ns Ord erin g In fo rm atio n
o n page 13 1 5.
T his ve hic le has an air b ag sy ste m .
B efo re atte m ptin g to do yo ur ow n
s e rv ic e work , se e Serv ic in g th e
A ir b ag-E quip ped Vehic le on
p a ge 33 9.
K eep are co rd wit h all p arts re ce ip ts
a n d lis t th e mil e age and th e date of
a n y se rv ic e work perfo rm ed. S ee
M ain te nance Reco rd s on
p a ge 11 1 0 .