Page 2 of 404

Black plate (2,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2012 GMC Canyon Owner ManualM
Driving and Operating. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-24
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-33
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-44
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-64 Vehicle Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-91
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9 Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-10
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-13
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-17
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
Page 5 of 404
Black plate (5,1)GMC Canyon 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)
J:OnStar®Hands-Free Phone
J: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
}:Power
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Page 16 of 404

Black plate (10,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
1-10 In Brief
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
Vehicles with outside power mirrors
have controls on the driver door
armrest.To adjust the power mirrors:
1. Move the selector switch to the
L (left) or R (right) to choose the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Press one of the four arrows located on the control pad to
move the mirror to the desired
direction.
3. Return the selector switch to the center position once the mirrors
are adjusted.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑14.
Vehicles with manual outside
mirrors can be adjusted by pressing
the mirror up and down and left and
right so that you can see a clear
view behind you.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to
prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, push the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return to its original position.
See Manual Mirrors on page 2‑13.
Interior Mirror
On vehicles with a manual inside
rearview mirror, the mirror can be
adjusted by holding it in the center
to move it for a clear view behind
you. To avoid glare from the
headlamps behind you, push the tab
forward for daytime use and pull it
for nighttime use.
SeeManual Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑14.
The automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror will automatically
reduce the glare of lights from
behind the vehicle.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑15.
Page 18 of 404
Black plate (12,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
1-12 In Brief
Exterior Lighting
O:Turns off all exterior lamps
including the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
AUTO: Automatic operation of the
headlamps and other exterior lamps
at normal brightness.
;: Manual operation of the
parking lamps and other exterior
lamps.
5: Manual operation of the
headlamps and other exterior
lamps.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑3.
.Automatic Headlamp System on
page 6‑4.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑6.
.Exterior Cargo Lamps on
page 6‑6.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
8: For a single wipe, move the
band to
8and then release it. For
several wipes, hold the band on
8
longer.
N: For adjustable interval wipes,
turn the band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent
wipes.
Page 32 of 404

Black plate (4,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
deterrent system is not armed.
Pressing LOCK again while the horn
is sounding or within three seconds
after the horn stops sounding, the
doors lock but the content theft‐
deterrent system does not arm until
the opened door is closed.
Different feedback modes can be
programmed through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
“Remote Keyless Entry Feedback”
underDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 5‑20.
L(Panic): Press to make the
horn sound and the headlamps and
taillamps flash for up to 30 seconds.
To turn them off wait for 30 seconds,
or press
Lagain, or start the
vehicle.
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to the vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to the vehicle, all
remaining transmitters must also be
programmed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters no longer work once the
new transmitter is programmed.
Each vehicle can have up to four
transmitters programmed to it.
Battery Replacement
Notice: When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the
transmitter. To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a
flat, thin object inserted in the
slot between the covers of the
transmitter housing.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery. Replace with a CR2032 or equivalent
battery.
4. Put the transmitter back together.
Page 42 of 404

Black plate (14,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
2-14 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Mirrors
Vehicles with outside power mirrors
have controls on the driver door
armrest.
To adjust the power mirrors:
1. Move the selector switch to theL (left) or R (right) to choose the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Press one of the four buttons located on the control pad to
move the mirror to the desired
direction. 3. Return the selector switch to the
center position once the mirrors
are adjusted.
If the mirror begins making a
ratcheting sound, the mirror has
reached the end of its travel and
can go no farther in that direction.
To stop the sound, reverse the
mirror direction using the
control pad.
Manually fold the mirrors inward to
prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash.
To fold, push the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push outward, to return the
mirror to its original position.
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Adjust this mirror for a clear view of
the area behind the vehicle. Hold
the mirror in the center to move it
up, down, or side-to-side. To reduce
headlamp glare, push the tab
forward for daytime use and pull it
for nighttime use.
Vehicles with OnStar
®have three
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See your
dealer for more information on the
system and how to subscribe to
OnStar. See the OnStar Owner's
Guide for more information about
the services OnStar provides.
Page 129 of 404
Black plate (19,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-19
Security Light
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle's security system,
seeAnti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑10.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑2 for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light comes on
whenever the cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise
control is turned off. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑47 for more
information.
Page 139 of 404

Black plate (1,1)GMC Canyon Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lighting Features
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Battery Load Management . . . . 6-8
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is located
on the instrument panel on the left
side of the steering wheel.
O(Exterior Lamps): Turn the
knob, located to the right of this
symbol, to choose one of the four
exterior lamp positions.
O(Off): Turns off all exterior lamps
including the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).