2012 GMC TERRAIN tow

Black plate (62,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-62 Driving and Operating
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight the vehicle can carry, which
will also reduce the trailer weight the
vehicle can tow. If towing a trailer,
the tongue load must be added to
the GVW because the vehicle will
be carrying that weight, too. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑16.
If a weight-carrying hitch or a
weight-distributing hitch is being
used, the trailer tongue (A) should
weigh 10 to 15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (B).After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or
the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating). The effect of
additional weight may reduce the
trailering capacity more than the
total of the additional weight.
It is important that the vehicle
does not exceed any of its
ratings
—GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Maximum Trailer Rating or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings
is to weigh the vehicle and trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Inflate the vehicle's tires to the
upper limit for cold tires. These
numbers can be found on the
Certification label or see Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16 for more
information. Do not go over the
GVW limit for the vehicle, or the
GAWR, including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight
distributing hitch, do not go over the
rear axle limit before applying the
weight distribution spring bars.

Black plate (63,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-63
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Use the correct hitch equipment.
See your dealer or a hitch dealer for
assistance.
.The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
.Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, seal the holes when the
hitch is removed. If the holes are
not sealed, dirt, water, and
deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
from the exhaust can get into the
vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust on
page 9‑28.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Leave enough slack so the rig can
turn. Never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does the trailer have its own
brakes? Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Because the vehicle has antilock
brakes, do not tap into the vehicle's
brake system. If this is done, both
brake systems will not work well,
or at all.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If TSC detects
that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle's brakes are automatically
applied.
When TSC is applying the brakes,
the TCS/StabiliTrak indicator light
flashes to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak is
turned off. See StabiliTrak
®System
on page 9‑36 for more information.

Black plate (2,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-2 Vehicle Care
Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-75
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people. Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:

Black plate (10,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-10 Vehicle Care
4. Lift and remove the enginecover.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to reinstall engine cover.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and of
the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑12.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow
loop. See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading. 2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it
with a paper towel or cloth, then
push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip
down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.4L L4 Engine
3.0L V6 Engine
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of

Black plate (21,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-21
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
.Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary. 3. In heavy traffic, let the engine
idle in N (Neutral) while stopped.
If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down.

Black plate (22,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-22 Vehicle Care
Power Steering Fluid
(2.4L L4 Engine)
The vehicle has electric power
steering and does not use power
steering fluid.
Power Steering Fluid
(3.0L V6 Engine)
The power steering fluid reservoir is
located toward the rear of the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
The power steering fluid does not
need to be checked unless there is
a leak in the system or you hear an
unusual noise. Have the system
inspected and repaired if there is a
fluid loss.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Notice:Extremely small amounts
of contamination can cause
steering system damage and
cause it to not work properly. Do
not allow contaminants to contact
the fluid side of the reservoir cap/
dipstick or from entering the
reservoir.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the engine off and let it cool down.
2. Remove the engine cover. Refer toEngine Cover on page 10‑9. 3. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
4. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
5. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
6. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The fluid level should be between
MAX and MIN line at room
temperature. If the fluid is on or
below MIN line, add fluid.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, refer to Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Always use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.

Black plate (29,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-29
Front Wiper Blade
Replacement
To replace the front wiper blades:
1. Lift the wiper arm from thewindshield until no further
movement is possible.
2. Press the square button on thetop side, at the end of the wiper
arm, and pull the wiper blade out
of the end of the wiper arm.
3. Install the wiper blade connector by sliding into the end of the
wiper arm until the square button
on the wiper blade clicks into
place with the wiper arm.
4. Place the wiper arm with the wiper blade in place back on the
windshield.
Rear Wiper Blade Replacement
The rear wiper blade and wiper arm
have a cover for protection. The
cover must be removed before the
wiper blade can be replaced.
To remove the cover:
1. Slide a plastic tool under thecover and push upward to
unsnap.
2. Slide the cover towards the wiper blade tip to unhook it from
the blade assembly.
3. Remove the cover.
4. After wiper blade replacement, ensure that cover hook slides
into the slot in the blade
assembly.
5. Snap the cover down to secure. To remove the wiper blade:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from the
windshield.
A. Wiper Arm
B. Release Lever
C. Blade Assembly
2. Push the release lever (B) to disengage the hook and push
the wiper arm (A) out of the
blade assembly (C).
3. Push the new blade assembly securely on the wiper arm until
the release lever clicks into
place.
4. Replace the wiper cover.

Black plate (36,1)GMC Terrain Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
Back–Up Lamp
Removal of the lamp assembly is
not required to replace the back-up
lamp bulb.
To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the liftgate. SeeLiftgate
on page 2‑9.
2. Remove the interior trim access panel.
3. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull it out.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
5. Install the new bulb.
6. Push the bulb socket in and turn it clockwise.
7. Reinstall the interior trim access panel.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate partway. SeeLiftgate on page 2‑9.
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
2. Push the left end of the lamp assembly toward the right.
3. Pull the lamp assembly down to remove it from the liftgate.