Page 304 of 426

Black plate (14,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
10-14 Vehicle Care
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished,
it indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on. See
Engine Oil Messages on page 5‑26.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a yearand, at this time, the system must
be reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
with the engine off.
2. Press the DIC MENU button to display the Vehicle
Information menu. 3. Press either the up or down
arrows to view REMAINING
OIL LIFE.
4. Press the SET/CLR button until 100% is displayed.
5. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
Or:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message goes off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
Page 310 of 426

Black plate (20,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
10-20 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Notice: In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to
stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper DEX-COOL coolant
mixture, to the COLD FILL line.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
upper radiator hose can be felt
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
Page 318 of 426

Black plate (28,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
10-28 Vehicle Care
What to Use
Refer toRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑6 to
determine what kind of lubricant
to use.
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. 2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9‑38.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑38.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
Page 319 of 426

Black plate (29,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-29
3. With the engine off, turn theignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move. Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift
to P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Page 323 of 426
Black plate (33,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
7. Locate the vertical headlampaiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape
line. Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.
9. Make sure that the light from the
headlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on
page 10‑38.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Page 324 of 426
Black plate (34,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
10-34 Vehicle Care
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
A. Low-Beam Headlamp
B. High-Beam headlamp
C. Side Marker Lamp
D. Park/Turn Signal Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Turn the tire to reach the accessport cap located in the front of
wheel well cover.
A. Screw
B. Access Port Cap
2. Remove the screw (A) and turn the access port cap (B)
counterclockwise to remove.
3. If replacing a headlamp bulb, remove the dust cover cap from
the back of the headlamp
housing by turning the cap
counterclockwise. 4. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly.
5. Remove the bulb from the socket or disconnect the bulb
assembly from the harness
connector.
6. Install the new bulb.
7. Reinstall the bulb socket to the lamp assembly, turning
clockwise.
8. Replace the dust cover cap on headlamps.
9. Reinstall the wheel well cover access port cap and secure by
installing the screw.
Page 325 of 426
Black plate (35,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-35
Fog Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Locate the fog lamp assemblyunder the front facia.
2. Disconnect the bulb socket from the electrical connector, turn,
and pull out the bulb assembly.
3. Remove the old bulb from the bulb socket and push the new
bulb straight into the bulb socket
until it connects. 4. Push the bulb socket into the
fog lamp assembly and turn
clockwise to lock it into place.
5. Reconnect the bulb socket to the electrical connector.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Stop/Tail/Turn Signal/ Sidemarker Lamp
B. Auxiliary Taillamp
C. Back-up Lamp
Stop/Tail/Turn Signal/
Sidemarker Lamp
To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
(Manual) on page 2‑8 orLiftgate
(Power) on page 2‑9.
A. Screw
B. Screw Cover
2. Remove the two screw covers (B) from the taillamp
assembly.
3. Remove the two screws (A) securing the taillamp assembly.
Page 326 of 426

Black plate (36,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual - 2011
10-36 Vehicle Care
4. Pull the taillamp assembly out ofthe vehicle body.
5. Disconnect the lamp wiring harness.
6. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull it out.
7. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
8. Install the new bulb.
9. Push the bulb socket in and turn it clockwise.
10. Reverse Steps 2 through 5 to reinstall the lamp assembly.
11. Verify that the taillampassembly tab, located at
the bottom of the taillamp
assembly, is aligned to the
facia bracket before securing
with screws.
Auxiliary Taillamp
To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
(Manual) on page 2‑8 orLiftgate
(Power) on page 2‑9.
2. Remove the interior trim access panel.
A. Attachment Nuts
B. Retaining Hook
3. Remove the five attachment nuts (A) securing the taillamp
assembly to the liftgate.
4. Disengage the retaining hook (B) and pull the taillamp assembly
out of the vehicle liftgate.
5. Disconnect the lamp wiring harness.