Black plate (5,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
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)
$: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
J:OnStar®
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
%: Steering Wheel Controls
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Black plate (3,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
In Brief 1-3
1.Air Vents on page 8‑6.
2. Turn and Lane-Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑3.
Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑4.
3. Horn on page 5‑3.
4. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑7.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
6. Power Door Locks on page 2‑7.
7. Touchscreen (If Equipped).
8. Forward Collision Alert (FCA) Display (If Equipped). See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9‑37.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Indicator (If Equipped). See
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
on page 9‑46. 9.
Safety Locks on page 2‑7.
10. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Navigation System (If
Equipped). See the
infotainment manual.
11. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑4.
12. Cruise Control on page 9‑35.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
Button (If Equipped). See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9‑37.
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) Button (If Equipped).
SeeLane Departure Warning
(LDW) on page 9‑46.
13. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑12.
14. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑4.
15. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2. 16.
Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
17. Ignition Positions on
page 9‑19.
18. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 (If Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑3 (If
Equipped).
19. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑26.
20. Fuel Economy Mode on
page 9‑29 (If Equipped).
21. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑33.
22. Power Outlets on page 5‑5.
23. CD Player Slot. See the infotainment manual.
24. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑21.
25. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑3.
Black plate (11,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
In Brief 1-11
2. Press the arrows on the controlpad to move each mirror in the
desired direction.
3. Return the selector switch to the middle position.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑14.
Interior
Vehicles with an automatic dimming
inside rearview mirror can
automatically reduce the glare from
the headlamps of the vehicle behind
you. The dimming feature comes on
and the indicator light comes on
each time the vehicle is started.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑16.
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel up or down.
3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you.
4. Pull the lever up to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.
Interior Lighting
Reading Lamps
These lamps are located on the
overhead console. These lamps
come on automatically when any
door is opened.
For manual operation, press the
button next to each lamp to turn it
on or off.
Dome Lamps
There are front and rear dome
lamps.
The dome lamp controls are located
in the overhead console. To change
the settings, press the following:
*: Turns the lamp off, even when
a door is open.
1: The lamps come on
automatically when a door is
opened.
+: Turns the dome lamps on.
The dome lamps can also be turned
on and off by pressing the buttons
next to the lamps.
Black plate (14,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
5-14 Instruments and Controls
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand used.
It may require at least one full tank
of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑48.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer can check
the vehicle. The dealer has the
proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems
that might have developed.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Depending on where you live, your
vehicle may be required to
participate in an emission control
system inspection and maintenance
program. For the inspection, the
emission system test equipment will
likely connect to the vehicle's Data
Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off. See your
dealer for assistance in verifying
proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp.
.The OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. The vehicle would be considered not
ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has
recently been replaced or run
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
Black plate (6,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
8-6 Climate Controls
Air Vents
Center Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow. Use the thumbwheels to
open or close off the airflow.
Side Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow or to open or close off the
airflow.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
.Do not attach any devices to the
air vent slats. This restricts
airflow and may cause damage
to the air vents.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
SeeMaintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for replacement intervals.
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 11‑13.
The passenger compartment air
filter can be accessed by removing
the entire glove box.
1. Open the glove box completely and locate the stop tab on top of
the glove box door.
Black plate (6,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
9-6 Driving and Operating
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
All-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without all-wheel drive and vehicles
not equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not
be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires, see the Limited Warranty and
Owner Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed.
{WARNING
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
.Read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
.Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice: Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the
front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re‐attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.
Black plate (9,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
Driving and Operating 9-9
3.2. Stay clear of the path thevehicle would take if it
rolled downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill.
A hill that can be driven straight
up or down might be too steep to
drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could
cause a downhill slide or a
rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can
cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it –a rock, a rut, etc.
– and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven
across, and the vehicle starts to
slide, turn downhill. This should
help straighten out the vehicle
and prevent the side slipping.
{WARNING
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could
be crushed or killed. Always get
out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud
–the deeper the mud, the lower the
gear. Keep the vehicle moving to
avoid getting stuck. Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires
tend to sink into the sand. This
affects steering, accelerating, and
braking. Drive at a reduced speed
and avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow
and ice.
{WARNING
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Black plate (14,1)GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc 1st edition - 5/8/12
9-14 Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑32.
{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑69.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
(Continued)