Page 196 of 404

Black plate (16,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
9-16 Driving and Operating
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help
with the headlamps. Do this as little
as possible to save fuel.If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See“Rocking Your vehicle to get
It Out” later in this section.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method.{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 55 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑68.
Page 245 of 404

Black plate (1,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15 Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-17
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-23
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-25
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-32
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-34
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Taillamps, Turn Signal,Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . 10-38
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-39
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Page 280 of 404
Black plate (36,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
5. Be sure that the notches arelocked by the bottom claws.
Make sure that all other claws
are properly locked on both
sides of the insert slots.
A. Claw in Notch
B. Correct Installation
C. Incorrect Installation 6. Put the blade assembly pivot in
the wiper arm hook. Pull up until
the pivot locking tab locks in the
hook slot.
7. Carefully lower the wiper arm and blade assembly onto the
windshield.
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset at
the factory and should need no
further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged
in a crash, the headlamp aim may
be affected. Aim adjustment to the
low-beam headlamps may be
necessary if oncoming drivers flash
their high-beam headlamps at you
(for vertical aim).
If the headlamps need to be
re-aimed, it is recommended that
the vehicle be taken to the dealer
for service.
Page 281 of 404

Black plate (37,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs on
page 10‑39.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{WARNING
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps
A. Low-Beam Headlamp/Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
B. High-Beam Headlamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
2. Reach in and access the bulb sockets from inside the engine
compartment.
3. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
4. Unplug the electrical connector from the old bulb by releasing
the clips on the bulb socket.
5. Pull the old bulb straight out.
6. Push the new bulb straight in until it clicks to secure it.
7. Plug in the electrical connector to the new bulb socket.
8. Push the bulb socket straight in and turn it clockwise to secure it
in the headlamp assembly.
Page 283 of 404

Black plate (39,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-39
4. Push the new bulb into thesocket until it clicks.
5. Insert the bulb socket into the lamp assembly and turn it
clockwise to secure.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly and tighten the screws.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Reach under the rear bumper forthe bulb socket.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull the
bulb socket out of the connector. 3. Pull the old bulb straight out
from the bulb socket.
4. Push the new bulb straight in until it clicks to secure it.
5. Reach under the rear bumper to reinstall the bulb socket into the
connector.
6. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to secure it to the connector.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Cargo Lamp
and Center
High‐Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) 912LL
License Plate Bulb W5W LL
Headlamps High-beam 9005
Low-beam/
Daytime
Running
Lamp (DRL) 9006Exterior Lamp
Bulb
Number
Parking/Front Turn
Signal 3757KA
Parking Lamp
(Inboard) 3157A
Stoplamp, Rear
Turn Signal,
Taillamp, and
Back‐up Lamp 3057
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Page 284 of 404

Black plate (40,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
10-40 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using
the windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Page 287 of 404

Black plate (43,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-43
FusesUsage
DR/LCK Power Door
Locks (If Equipped)
DRL Daylight Running
Lamps
ERLS Mass Air
Flow (MAF)
Sensor, Can Purge
Solenoid,
Air Injector
Reactor (AIR)
Relay
ETC Electronic Throttle
Control (ETC)
FOG/LAMP Fog Lamps
(If Equipped)
FRT
PRK LAMP Front Park/Turn
Lamps, Driver and
Passenger Side
Power Window
Switches Lighting
FRT/AXLE Front Axle Actuator Fuses
Usage
FSCM Fuel System
Control Module
BACKUP
LAMP Backup Lamp
HORN Horn
HTD/SEAT Heated Seat
(If Equipped)
IGN Ignition, Clutch
Starter Switch,
Neutral Safety
Back‐Up Switch,
Ignition Coils 1‐5,
Air Conditioning
Relay
INJ Injectors
LT HDLP Driver Side
Headlamp
PCM B Power Control
Module (PCM) B
PCMI Power Control
Module (PCM) Fuses
Usage
PWR/SEAT Power Seat
Circuit Breaker
(If Equipped)
PWR/WNDW Power Windows
(If Equipped)
RDO Radio
REAR
PRK LAMP Rear Parking
Lamp 1, Passenger
Side Taillamp,
License Plate
Lamps
REAR PRK
LAMP2 Driver Side
Rear Taillamp,
Passenger Side
Airbag Indicator
Lighting,
Instrument Panel
Dimming Power
(2WD/4WD switch
lighting)
Page 288 of 404
Black plate (44,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
10-44 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
RT HDLP Passenger Side
Headlamp
RVC Regulated Voltage
Control
S/ROOF Not Used
STOP Stop Lamps
STRTR Starter Solenoid
Relay
TBC Truck Body
Controller
TCM Transmission
Control Module
TCCM Transfer Case
Control Module Fuses
Usage
TRAILER
BRAKE Trailer Brake
TRANS Transmission
Solenoid
TRN/
HAZRD FRT Turn/Hazard/
Courtesy/Cargo
Lamps/Mirrors
TRN/
HAZRD
REAR Rear Turn/Hazard
Lights
VSES/STOP Vehicle Stability
Enhancement
System/Stop
WPR Wiper
WSW Wiper/Washer
Switch Relays
Usage
A/C
CMPRSR Air Conditioning
Compressor
Backup Lamp Backup Lamp
BEAM SEL Beam Selection
DRL Daylight Running
Lamps
FOG/LAMP Fog Lamps
(If Equipped)
HDLP Headlamps
HORN Horn
IGN 3 HVAC Ignition 3, Climate
Control, Climate
Control Head
Fuse, Power
Seat Fuse
PRK/LAMP Front Parking
Lamp Fuse, Rear
Parking Lamps