2012 GMC CANYON ignition

Black plate (21,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-21
Personalization Features
Language
This feature allows you to choose
the language in which the DIC
display shows information.
To set your choice for this feature:
1. With the engine off, turn the keyto ON/RUN, but do not start the
engine.
2. Close all doors so the DOORS message does not display in
the DIC.
3. Momentarily press and release the reset stem until the current
language is displayed: English
(default), Spanish, or French.
4. To select a different language, press and hold the reset stem
until the next language appears.
5. Repeat Step 4 until the desired language is displayed. Once the
desired language is shown on
the DIC display, the language
is set. 6. To exit the language selection,
momentarily press and release
the reset stem. All DIC
messages will now display in the
language selected.
Automatic Door Locks
This feature allows you to program
the door locks to a preferred setting.
To set your choice for this feature:
1. With the engine off, turn the key to LOCK/OFF. Do not remove
the key from the ignition.
2. Press and hold the power door lock button until the DIC display
shows the current door
lock mode.
3. To view the next available mode, press and hold the reset stem
until the mode appears. Release
the reset stem and press and
hold again to view the
next mode. 4. Once the desired mode is shown
on the DIC display, briefly press
the reset stem to set your
choice. The DIC display then
clears.
The following are the available
modes:
Lock 1 (default): On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, this
mode locks all of the doors when
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park)
and unlocks all of the doors when
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
On vehicles with a manual
transmission, this mode locks all of
the doors when the vehicle speed is
greater than 24 km/h (15 mph) and
unlocks all of the doors when the
key is removed from the ignition.
Lock 2: On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park) and
unlocks the driver's door when the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park).

Black plate (22,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
5-22 Instruments and Controls
On vehicles with a manual
transmission, this mode locks all of
the doors when the vehicle speed is
greater than 24 km/h (15 mph) and
unlocks the driver's door when the
key is removed from the ignition.
Lock 3:On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, this mode
locks all of the doors when the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
The doors will not automatically
unlock.
On vehicles with a manual
transmission, this mode locks all of
the doors when the vehicle speed is
greater than 24 km/h (15 mph). The
doors will not automatically unlock. Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
Feedback
This feature allows you to program
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
feedback to a preferred setting.
To set your choice for this feature:
1. With the engine off, turn the key
to LOCK/OFF. Do not remove
the key from the ignition.
2. Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the RKE
transmitter at the same time.
Hold both buttons until the DIC
display shows the current RKE
feedback mode.
3. To view the next available mode, press and hold the reset stem
until the mode appears. Release
the reset stem and press and
hold again to view the
next mode.
4. Once the desired mode is shown on the DIC display, briefly
press the reset stem to set
your choice. The DIC display
then clears. The following are the available
modes:
RFA 1 (default):
This mode flashes
the parking lamps when you press
the lock or unlock buttons on the
RKE transmitter.
RFA 2: This mode flashes the
parking lamps and sounds the horn
when you press the lock button on
the RKE transmitter. This mode also
flashes the parking lamps when you
press the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
RFA 3: This mode flashes the
parking lamps and sounds the horn
when you press the lock or unlock
buttons on the RKE transmitter.
RFA 4: This mode disables RKE
feedback. There will be no feedback
when you press the lock or unlock
buttons on the RKE transmitter.

Black plate (26,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
5-26 Instruments and Controls
Ride Control System
Messages
SERVICE STAB (Stability)
SYS (System)
This message displays if there is a
problem with the StabiliTrak system.
Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer. SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑45 for more information.
STAB (Stability)
SYS (System) OFF
This message displays when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑45
for more information.
TRAC (Traction) OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off by pressing the
StabiliTrak button. See StabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑45for more
information.
TRAC (Traction) ON
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned on when it was previously off
during the same ignition cycle.
TRAC (Traction) LOW
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS)
is active.
TRACTION FAULT
This message will display if there is
a problem with the TCS. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑45
for more information. Press and
release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and
clear it from the display.

Black plate (27,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Service Vehicle Messages
SERV (Service) VEH (Vehicle)
This message displays if your
vehicle needs service. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible.
Tire Messages
LOW TIRE
This message displays if a low tire
pressure is detected in any of the
vehicle's tires. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the
display. The message appears at
each ignition cycle until the tires
are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. SeeTires on page 10‑48
and Tire Pressure on page 10‑54 for
more information on tires and the
correct inflation pressures.
SERV (Service)
TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor)
This message displays if a part on
the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) is not working properly. The
tire pressure light also flashes and
then remains on during the same
ignition cycle. See Tire Pressure
Light on page 5‑17. Several
conditions may cause this message
to appear. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 10‑58 for
more information. If the warning
comes on and stays on, there may
be a problem with the TPMS. See
your dealer.
Transmission Messages
SERV (Service)
4WD (Four-Wheel Drive)
This message displays when there
is a problem with the transfer case
control system. Check the transfer
case on your vehicle and have it
serviced by your dealer. See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 9‑37 for
more information about the transfer
case. Press and release the reset
stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.

Black plate (2,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
6-2 Lighting
AUTO:Turns the headlamps on
automatically at normal brightness,
together with the following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.Parking Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
See Automatic Headlamp System
on page 6‑4 for more information.
;(Parking Lamps): Turns on the
parking lamps, together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
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 off and then
back on. In the automatic mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition
is in LOCK/OFF.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
if the parking lamps are turned on
manually, the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) will stay on.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
2 3
Headlamp High/Low Beam
Changer: Push the turn signal/
multifunction lever away from you to
turn the high beams on.
Pull the lever towards you to return
to low beams.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument panel cluster when the
high beam headlamps are on.

Black plate (3,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-3
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the
high-beam headlamps to signal a
driver in front of you that you want
to pass. It works even if the
headlamps are in the automatic
position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever
toward you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in the
automatic position or on low beam,
the high-beam headlamps will turn
on. They will stay on as long as the
lever is held toward you. The
high-beam indicator on the
instrument panel cluster will come
on. Release the lever to return to
normal operation.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when
the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
.The transmission is not in
P (Park) if you have an
automatic transmission.
.The light sensor determines
it is daytime.When the DRL are on, only the
parking lamps or reduced intensity
low beam headlamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarkers, and
other lamps will not be on. The
instrument panel will not be lit
up either.
When it begins to get dark, the
headlamps will automatically switch
from DRL to the regular headlamps.
The regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.

Black plate (4,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
6-4 Lighting
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside, the
automatic headlamp system will turn
on after the transmission has been
shifted from P (Park) to D (Drive).
The headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps, roof
marker lamps, and the instrument
panel lights turn on at normal
brightness. The radio lights will
become dimmer when the
headlights are off compared to
when the headlights are on.
The vehicle has a light sensor
located on the top of the instrument
panel. Do not cover the sensor,
or the system will be on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system can turn on the
headlamps when driving in a
parking garage, through a tunnel or
when there is overcast weather.
This is normal.There is a delay in the transition
between the daytime and nighttime
operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic
headlamp system so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the
system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system will only be
affected when the light sensor
detects a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system will come on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it will take about 1 minute for the
automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside.
During that delay, the instrument
panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure the instrument
panel brightness control is in the full
bright position. See
Instrument
Panel Illumination Control on
page 6‑7.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):
Press this button located on the
instrument panel, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash on
and off. This warns others that you
are having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the
flashers off.
The turn signals do not work while
the hazard warning flashers are on.

Black plate (8,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
6-8 Lighting
Lighting Features
Exit Lighting
The interior lamps will come on
when the key is removed from the
ignition. The lamps will not come on
if the dome override button is
pressed in.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see thevoltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed, such as BATTERY
SAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY
VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW BATTERY.
If one of these messages displays, it
is recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑20.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome
lamp if it is left on for more than
20 minutes when the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF. This helps to prevent
the battery from running down.