Black plate (23,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-23
Washer Fluid
What to Use
Read the manufacturer's
instructions before refilling the
windshield washer fluid. If operating
the vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it and add washer fluid
until full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for reservoir
location. Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
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.
Black plate (84,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-84 Vehicle Care
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal
Parts
Regularly clean bright metal parts
with water or chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim,
if necessary.
For aluminum, never use auto or
chrome polish, steam, or caustic
soap to clean. A coating of wax,
rubbed to a high polish, is
recommended for all bright metal
parts.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/
Lenses and Emblems
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a
soft cloth, and a car washing soap
to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under "Washing
the Vehicle" later in this section.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean rubber blades using a lint-free
cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the
blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and
a buildup of vehicle wash/wax
treatments may cause wiper
streaking.
Replace the wiper blades if they are
worn or damaged. Damage can be
caused by extreme dusty
conditions, sand, salt, heat, sun,
snow, and ice.
Weatherstrips
Apply silicone grease on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Tires
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Notice: Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle.
Black plate (3,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑10.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑51.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑57.
.Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.
Tire Rotation and Required
Services Every 12 000 km/
7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended for
the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑57.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑10 andEngine
Oil Life System on page 10‑12.
.Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑17.
.Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23.
.Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑83. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑28.
Black plate (9,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-9
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required. It is recommended that
your dealer perform these services
—their trained dealer technicians
know your vehicle best. Your dealer
can also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi‐point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention. The
following list is intended to explain
the services and conditions to look
for that may indicate services are
required. Battery
The battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break‐down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the belts and
recommend replacement when
necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for GM
approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Black plate (12,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
11-12 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
UsageFluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of
the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑10.
Engine Coolant 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑17.
Hydraulic Brake System DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 88862806, in
Canada 88862807).
Windshield Washer Optikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Hydraulic Power Steering System (V6 engines only) DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission DEXRON
®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Transfer Case (All-Wheel Drive) Transfer Case Fluid (GM Part No. 88861950, in Canada 88861951).
Key Lock Cylinders Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Black plate (4,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
i-4 INDEX
Driving (cont'd)Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
DVD Rear Seat EntertainmentSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
ECO Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Economy Mode
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Emergency, OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . 14-2 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-28
Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-28
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-20
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
F
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-3
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . 10-13
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Fog Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . 10-33, 6-4
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Front Fog Lamp
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Black plate (9,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
INDEX i-9
R
Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-21
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
Radios AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
Rear Seat Entertainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . . 7-32
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-45
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . 5-4
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Recommended
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Records
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15 Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-14
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-34
Replacing LATCH System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . 3-20
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-19
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Restraints
Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Ride Control Systems
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30 Roads
Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7, 13-9
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . 12-4
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . 3-20
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . 3-19
Black plate (12,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
i-12 INDEX
V
VehicleCanadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
IdentificationNumber (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
W
Warning
Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Warning Light Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Wheels Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64 When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-41
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-28
Wipers Rear Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4