
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
Driving and Operating 195
2. Corners of the rear bumper
Displayed images may be further or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects that
are close to either corner of the
bumper or under the bumper do not
display.
When the System Does Not
Seem To Work Properly
The RVC system might not work
properly or display a clear image if:
.It is dark.
. The sun or the beam of
headlamps is shining directly
into the camera lens.
. Ice, snow, mud, or anything else
builds up on the camera lens.
Clean the lens, rinse it with
water, and wipe it with a soft
cloth.
. The back of the vehicle is in an
accident. The position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have the camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at your
dealer.
The RVC system display in the
rearview mirror may turn off or not
appear as expected due to one of
the following conditions. If this
occurs, the left indicator light on the
mirror will flash.
. A slow flash may indicate a loss
of video signal, or no video
signal present during the reverse
cycle.
. A fast flash may indicate that the
display has been on for the
maximum allowable time during
a reverse cycle, or the display
has reached an Over
Temperature limit.
The fast flash conditions are
used to protect the video device
from high temperature
conditions. Once conditions
return to normal, the device will
reset and the indicator will stop
flashing. During any of these fault conditions,
the display will be blank and the
indicator will flash while the vehicle
is in R (Reverse) or until the
conditions return to normal.
Parking Assist
If equipped, the Rear Parking Assist
(RPA) system uses sensors on the
rear bumper to assist with parking
and avoiding objects while in
R (Reverse).
{Warning
The parking assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
below the bumper or that are too
close or too far from the vehicle.
It is not available at speeds
greater than 8 km/h (5 mph). To
prevent injury, death, or vehicle
damage, even with parking assist,
always check the area around the
vehicle and check all mirrors
before backing.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
Driving and Operating 203
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so 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. 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 TurnsCaution
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.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. 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
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles 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.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0186. When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, see
Engine Overheating 0228.Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
Driving and Operating 209
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, the hitch must be adjusted so
the distance (2) remains the same
both before and after coupling the
trailer to the tow vehicle.
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.
Always leave just enough slack so
the rig can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 680 kg (1,500 lb) must be
equipped with its own brake system,
with brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.State and local regulations may also
require the trailer to have its own
braking system if loaded above a
certain threshold.
Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The optional heavy-duty trailer
wiring package includes a wiring
harness, with a seven-pin connector
at the rear of the vehicle and a
four-wire harness assembly under
the driver side of the instrument
panel. The four-wire harness
assembly comes without a
connector.
If the vehicle does not have a trailer
hitch, the seven-wire harness
assembly with connector is taped
together and located in a frame
pocket at the driver side rear left
corner of the frame.If the vehicle has a trailer hitch, the
seven-wire harness assembly with
connector is attached to a bracket
on the hitch platform. In both cases,
the seven-wire harness has a
connector and includes a 30-amp
feed wire.
The seven-wire harness connector
contains the following trailer circuits:
.
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
(10A fuse)**
. White: Ground
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Signal
. Dark Green: Right Rear Stop
and Turn Signal*
. Red/Black Stripe: Battery Feed
(30A Fuse)
. Brown: Trailer Park Lamp
Supply Voltage (15A fuse)**
. Yellow: Left Rear Stop and Turn
Signal *
The four-wire harness (without
connector) contains the following
circuits:
. Black: Ground
. Red/White: Battery Feed

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
210 Driving and Operating
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Signal
. Light Blue: CHMSL/Stoplamp
Supply Voltage
* If the vehicle is a cutaway with
trailer provisions, a 15 amp fuse will
be shared for both left/stop trailer
turn and right/stop trailer turn
signals. However, the cutaway
lighting connector will have a
10 amp fuse for each signal.
** If the vehicle is a cutaway with
trailer provisions, a 15 amp fuse will
be shared for trailer park lamps and
cutaway rear lighting connector park
lamps. Also, a 10 amp fuse will be
shared for trailer back-up lamps and
cutaway rear lighting connector
back-up lamps.
Tow/Haul Mode
This button is on the instrument
panel, to the right of the steering
wheel.
Pressing this button turns on and off
the Tow/Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/
Haul Mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0186.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” inTrailer
Towing 0204. Tow/Haul is most
useful under the following driving
conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic. .
When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or with no
trailer at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
212 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 213
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 213
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 219
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 223
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 229
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Battery - North America . . . . . . 233
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 234
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 235
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 236
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 237Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 240
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 241
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 242
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 243
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 243 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 247
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 250
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 268

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
240 Vehicle Care
Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps
1. Front Parking and TurnSignal Lamp
2. Front Sidemarker Lamp
To replace the front turn signal,
sidemarker, and/or parking lamp
bulb(s):
1. Use a small tool to unlatch the outboard clip on the lamp by
pushing inboard and prying the
lamp assembly forward.
2. Remove the lamp from the grille.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise one-quarter
turn and remove it from the
lamp assembly.
4. Remove the bulb from the socket by pulling it straight out.
5. Replace the bulb.
6. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to reinstall it in the lamp
assembly.
7. Reinstall the lamp assembly into the grille until the outboard
clip snaps into place.
Taillamps
To replace a taillamp/turn signal
lamp or back-up lamp bulb:
1. Remove the two inboard nutsfrom the inside of the taillamp
assembly.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
Vehicle Care 241
2. The third nut (3) is under theapplique piece (2) above the
lamp. Remove the two inboard
applique nuts. Pull the
applique (2) straight rearward
slightly to clear the studs. Then
rotate the applique (2) just far
enough to gain access to the
outer push pins (1).
3. Carefully disconnect the push pins (1) from the applique
bracket.
4. Remove the third nut (3) from the upper outboard side of
the lamp.
5. Remove the taillamp assembly from the vehicle.
6. Remove the taillamp/turn signal
lamp (1) or back-up lamp (2)
bulb socket by turning it
counterclockwise one-quarter
turn and pulling it out of the
lamp assembly.
7. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out.
8. Push the new bulb into the socket.
9. Reinstall the bulb socket by turning it clockwise into the
lamp assembly.
10. Reverse Steps 1–5 to reinstall the taillamp assembly and
applique.
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
The CHMSL is above the rear doors
at the center of the vehicle.
To replace a bulb:
1. Remove the two screws fromthe CHMSL assembly.
2. Remove the CHMSL assembly.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise one-quarter
turn to remove it from the lamp
assembly.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
242 Vehicle Care
4. Pull the old bulb straight out ofthe socket and push the new
bulb into the socket.
5. Turn the bulb socket clockwise one-quarter turn to install it in
the lamp assembly.
6. Reinstall the CHMSL assembly and two screws.
Do not block or damage the CHMSL
when items are loaded on the roof
of the vehicle.
License Plate Lamp
1. Bulb Socket 2. License Plate Bulb
Assembly
3. Screws
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Remove the screws (3) that secure the license plate bulb
assembly (2).
2. Turn the bulb socket (1) counterclockwise and pull the
bulb straight out of the socket.
3. Install the new bulb.
4. Reverse Steps 1 and 2 to reinstall the license plate bulb
assembly.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-up, Rear
Parking, Stoplamp,
and Turn
Signal Lamp 3157KX
Center
High-Mounted
Stoplamp
(CHMSL) 912LLExterior Lamp
Bulb
Number
Front Parking and
Turn Signal Lamp 3157KX
Front
Sidemarker Lamp 194LL
License
Plate Lamp 194LL
Headlamps Composite
High-Beam
Headlamp 9005LL
Composite
Low-Beam
Headlamp 9006LL
Sealed Beam
Headlamp H6054
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.