Black plate (33,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Driving and Operating 9-33
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has this feature,
engine power is sent to all four
wheels when extra traction is
needed. This is like four-wheel
drive, but there is no separate lever
or switch to engage or disengage
the front axle. It is fully automatic,
and adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑24. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Black plate (37,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Driving and Operating 9-37
TCS may activate on dry or rough
roads or under conditions such as
heavy acceleration while turning or
abrupt upshifts/downshifts of the
transmission. When this a reduction
in acceleration may be noticed, or a
noise or vibration may be heard.
This is normal.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3 for more information.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but
when traction is low, this feature will
allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
For vehicles with cruise control, a
speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) or
more can be maintained without
keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about 40 km/h
(25 mph).
When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off. If the vehicle has StabiliTrak and the
system begins to limit wheel spin,
cruise control will automatically
disengage. See
StabiliTrak
®System
on page 9‑35. When road conditions
allow the cruise control to be safely
used again, it can be turned
back on.
I(On/Off): Press to turn the
system on or off. The indicator light
is on when cruise control is on and
turns off when cruise control is off.
Black plate (48,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
9-48 Driving and Operating
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this
so the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping. When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you may
think other drivers are seeing the
signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear
beforestarting down a
long or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
Black plate (27,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Vehicle Care 10-27
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc
brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes —for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
Black plate (64,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
10-64 Vehicle Care
Any time unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check the wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10‑65andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑70.
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.
If the vehicle has a compact
spare tire, do not include it in the
tire rotation. Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated. See
Tire Pressure on page 10‑57
and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑10.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑60.
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
Black plate (73,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed. When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Black plate (10,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
i-10 INDEX
Safety Defects ReportingCanadian Government . . . . . . 13-14
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . 13-8
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 3-3
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Secondary Latch System . . . . . 10-82
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . 3-54, 3-56, 3-60
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Service Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3 Service (cont'd)
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Maintenance Records . . . . . . .11-15
Maintenance, General
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 12-1
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-12
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 13-8
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Side Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Sidemarker Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Sliding Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Storage Areas Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Swing-out Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Switches
Airbag On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
System
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Noise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Black plate (11,1)GMC Savana Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd - 11/11/11
INDEX i-11
T
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-4
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-13Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Tires Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Dual Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Full-Size Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-84
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-60
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-58
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-82
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51 Tires (cont'd)
Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-70
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 9-46
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-90
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25 Trailer
Tow Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25, 9-28
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . 10-11, 10-14
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
U
Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv