2011 GMC SAVANA tow

Black plate (2,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
6-2 Lighting
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
2(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following lamps listed below.
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
If the headlamps are turned on
while the vehicle is on, the
headlamps turn off automatically
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off. If the headlamps are
turned on while the vehicle is off,
the headlamps will continue to stay
on. To prevent the battery from
being drained, turn the control to the
Oposition. A warning chime sounds if the driver
door is opened while the ignition
switch is off and the headlamps
are on.
To change the headlamps from low
beam to high beam, push the turn
signal/multifunction lever toward the
instrument panel.
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime
sounds when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned
on and the key is out of the ignition.
To turn off the chime, turn the
headlamp switch to
Oor AUTO and
then back on, or close and re‐open
the door. In the auto mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition
is in LOCK/OFF or may remain on
until the headlamp delay ends,
if enabled in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See “Exit Lighting”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑40.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
2 3
(Headlamp High/Low‐Beam
Changer): Pull the turn signal lever
all the way toward you to change
the headlamps from low to high
beam. Then release it.
This instrument panel cluster light
comes on when the high beam
headlamps are on.

Black plate (3,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-3
Flash-to-Pass
This feature is used to signal to the
vehicle ahead that you want
to pass.
If the headlamps are off or in the
low‐beam position, pull the turn
signal lever toward you to
momentarily switch to high‐beams.
Release the lever to turn the
high-beam headlamps off.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of the vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.The DRL system comes on in
daylight when the following
conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamps control is in
the AUTO position.
.The shift lever is not in P (Park).
.The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker, instrument panel and
other lamps will not be on.
The automatic headlamp system
automatically switches from DRL to
the headlamps depending on the
darkness of the surroundings.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior
lamp control to
Oand then release
it. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the transmission must be in the
P (Park) position, before the DRL
can be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside and
the headlamp switch is in AUTO,
the automatic headlamp system
turns on the headlamps, along with
the taillamps, sidemarker, parking
lamps, roof marker lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamps
switch to the off position and then
release. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, the transmission must be
in the P (Park) position, before the
automatic headlamp system can be
turned off.

Black plate (5,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-5
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
G:An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster flashes in the direction
of the turn or lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all
the way up or down.
To signal a lane change, raise
or lower the lever until the arrow
starts to flash. The turn signal
automatically flashes three times
and if the tow‐haul mode is active it
flashes six times. Holding the turn
signal lever for more than
one second causes the turn signals
to flash continually until the lever is
released. The lever returns to its starting
position when released.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 10‑44.Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more
than 1.2 km (3/4 mi), a chime
sounds at each flash of the turn
signal and the message TURN
SIGNAL ON also appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See
Lamp Messages on page 5‑36. To
turn off the chime and message,
move the turn signal lever to the off
position.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The knob for this feature is located
to the left of the steering column.
D(Instrument Panel Lights):
Push the knob to extend and then
turn clockwise or counterclockwise
to brighten or dim the instrument
panel lights and the radio display.
This only works if the headlamps or
parking lamps are on.

Black plate (2,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
8-2 Climate Controls
)(Bi-Level):Air is divided
between the instrument panel and
floor outlets, with some air directed
toward the windshield.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets with some air directed
to the windshield and side windows.
-(Defog): This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Outside
air is directed to the floor and
defroster outlets. Adjust the
temperature knob for warmer or
cooler air. The air conditioning
compressor might turn on in this
setting to dehumidify the air.
1(Defrost): This mode clears the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield, with some to the floor
outlets and front side windows. The
air conditioning compressor might
turn on in this setting to dehumidify
the air.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
Vehicles With Air Conditioning
A. Fan Control
B. Temperature Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Rear Window Defogger
On hot days, open the windows to
let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time
needed for the vehicle to cool down
and the system operates more
efficiently.
#(Air Conditioning): Cools and
dehumidifies the air inside of the
vehicle.
V(Maximum Air Conditioning):
Cools the air inside the vehicle
faster, by recirculating the inside air.
Rear Window Defogger
For vehicles with a rear window
defogger, a warming grid is used to
remove fog or frost from the rear
window.

Black plate (1,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-8
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-11
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-17
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission (SixSpeed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Automatic Transmission (Four Speed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Gasoline Specifications (U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-43
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 9-44
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59

Black plate (12,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction or
stability system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑88.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.

Black plate (14,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
9-14 Driving and Operating
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the“XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs and
there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 −750 (5 x 150)
= 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle. See Trailer
Towing on page 9‑52 for
important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
Example 1
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 = 136 kg
(300 lbs)
C. Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = 317 kg (700 lbs)

Black plate (18,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
.Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 miles) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
.Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTrailer Towing
on page 9‑52 for the trailer
towing capabilities of the
vehicle and more
information.
Following break‐in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal applied. A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF):
When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑23.
This position locks the ignition and
transmission.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
In an emergency, if the vehicle must
be shut off while driving:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.