Black plate (2,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
2012 GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner ManualM
Driving and Operating. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-15
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-23
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-30
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-34
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-53
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-29 Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-14
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2 Customer Information
. . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-2
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-19
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
Black plate (5,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
t:Traction Control/StabiliTrak
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Black plate (1,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-18
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-20
Storage Compartments . . . . . . 1-21
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-23
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Black plate (3,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑12.
B. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑5.
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑12.
D. Head-Up Display (HUD) on
page 5‑33 (If Equipped).
E. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
USB Port (Inside IP Storage).
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑36.
F. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Navigation/Radio System
(If Equipped). See the separate
navigation manual.
G. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
H. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑4.
I. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5. J. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑18.
K. Cruise Control on page 9‑32.
L. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
M. Horn on page 5‑5.
N. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
O. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Without DIC Buttons) on
page 5‑30 orDriver Information
Center (DIC) (With DIC Buttons)
on page 5‑25.
P. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑4.
Q. Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See “Console
Shift Lever” underShifting Into
Park on page 9‑20. R.
Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑4.
S. Power Outlets on page 5‑9.
T. Rear Window Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑6.
Traction Control System
(TCS) Disable Button.
See StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑30.
Tow/Haul Button (If Equipped).
See Tow/Haul Mode on
page 9‑26.
Power Liftgate Button
(If Equipped). See Liftgate on
page 2‑10.
U. Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats on page 3‑9
(If Equipped).
V. Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑17
(If Equipped).
Black plate (13,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-13
Interior Mirror
The automatic dimming rearview
mirror reduces the glare from
other vehicle headlamps. Each time
the vehicle is started, the dimming
feature comes on.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑20.
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever (A) down.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down. 3. Pull or push the steering wheel
closer or away from you.
4. Push the lever (A) up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console and above the
rear seat passengers.
The dome lamps come on when a
door is opened, unless the dome
lamp override button is pressed in.
To manually turn them on, turn the
instrument panel brightness control
clockwise to the farthest position. Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is
next to the exterior lamps control.
E
DOME OFF: Press the top of the
button in and the dome lamps
remain off when a door is opened.
An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the dome
lamps are off. Press near the bottom
of the button so the dome lamps
come on when a door is opened.
Black plate (14,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
1-14 In Brief
Reading Lamps
Press the button near each lamp to
turn them on or off.
For more information, see:
.Dome Lamps on page 6‑5.
.Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑5.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel.
O:Turns the automatic light
control on or off. AUTO:
Automatic operation of the
headlamps at normal brightness and
other exterior lamps.
;: Manual operation of the
parking lamps and other exterior
lamps.
5: Manual operation of the
headlamps and other exterior
lamps.
#: Use to turn on or off the fog
lamps (if equipped).
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System on
page 6‑3.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑5.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the left side of the
steering column.
Turn the band with the wiper symbol
to control the windshield wipers.
8: Use for a single wiping cycle.
9:Use to turn the wipers off.
6:Delays wiping cycle. Turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.
1: Slow wipes.
2: Fast wipes.
Black plate (19,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-19
Bluetooth®
The Bluetooth system allows users
with a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone
to make and receive hands-free
calls using the vehicle audio system
and controls.
The Bluetooth-enabled cell phone
must be paired with the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system before it can be
used in the vehicle. Not all phones
will support all functions.
SeeBluetooth on page 7‑49.
Steering Wheel Controls
worc/x:Press to change
favorite radio stations, select tracks
on a CD/DVD, or navigate tracks or
folders on an iPod
®or USB device.
b/g: Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems. +
eand
−e:Increase or
decrease volume.
c/x: Press to reject an
incoming call, or to end a call.
SRCE: Press to switch between
the radio, CD, and for equipped
vehicles, DVD, front auxiliary, and
rear auxiliary.
¨: Press to seek the next radio
station, track, or chapter while
sourced to the CD or DVD slot, or to
select tracks and folders on an
iPod
®or USB device.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Black plate (22,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
Vent:Press the front or rear of the
switch to vent or close the sunroof.
Express-open/Express-close:
From the closed position,
press and release the rear or front
of the switch to express-open or
express-close the sunroof.
Manual Sunshade
The front sunshade must be opened
and closed manually. To open the
sunshade, press the button on the
sunshade handle to release it
and guide it back. To close the
sunshade, pull the sunshade
forward until it latches.
For more information see Sunroof
on page 2‑23.
Performance and
Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin, and
the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions. Both
systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release
tlocated on the
instrument panel, and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑42.
.Press and releasetagain to
turn on the traction control
system. The StabiliTrak system
remains on.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑30.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑10. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early