GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
In Brief 21
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in
pressure of one of the vehicle's
tires. If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits0170. The
warning light will remain on until the
tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the
tire pressures are getting low and
the tires need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0258.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly three
times within five seconds.
3. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System 0219.
E85 or FlexFuel
Vehicles with a yellow fuel cap can
use either unleaded gasoline or
ethanol fuel containing up to 85%
ethanol (E85). See E85 or FlexFuel 0
198. For all other vehicles, use
only the unleaded gasoline
described under Fuel0197.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.
Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
. Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
. Combine several trips into a
single trip.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
Keys, Doors, and Windows 27
Caution
When replacing the battery, do
not touch any of the circuitry on
the transmitter. Static from your
body could damage the
transmitter.
To replace the battery:1. Separate the transmitter with a flat, thin object, such as a flat
head screwdriver.
.Carefully insert the tool into
the notch located along the
parting line of the transmitter. Do not insert
the tool too far. Stop as
soon as resistance is felt.
. Twist the tool until the
transmitter is separated.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing down. Replace with
a CR2032 or equivalent
battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Remote Vehicle Start
This vehicle may have a remote
start feature. This feature allows you
to start the engine from outside the
vehicle. It may also start the
vehicle's heating or air conditioning
systems. See Climate Control
Systems 0157.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
may require a person using remote
start to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements on
remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature
if the vehicle is low on fuel. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
The RKE transmitter range may be
less while the vehicle is running.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter, see
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System 025.
/(Remote Vehicle Start) : This
button will be on the RKE
transmitter if you have remote start.
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Press and release
Qon the
transmitter.
2. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps
flash. If you cannot see the
vehicle's lamps, press and hold
for at least four seconds.
When the engine starts, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on while the engine is
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
100 Instruments and Controls
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. For
example, the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag could
inflate even though the airbag
on-off switch is turned off.
To help avoid injury to yourself or
others, have the vehicle serviced
right away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light 098 for more information,
including important safety
information.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit, it means that the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag is enabled,
and may inflate. See Airbag On-Off
Switch 061 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition key is turned to START, but
the engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the
engine starts. If it stays on,
or comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the
charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can also appear. See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages 0111 for more
information. This light could indicate
that there are problems with a
generator drive belt, or that there is
an electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. If the vehicle
must be driven a short distance with the light on, turn off accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine
Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’s
emission control on-board
diagnostic system. If this light is on
while the engine is running, a
malfunction has been detected and
the vehicle may require service. The
light should come on to show that it
is working when the ignition is in
ON/RUN and the engine is not
running. See
Ignition
Positions 0174.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
168 Driving and Operating
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0188.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes
should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0187.
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
282 Vehicle Care
Caution
The vehicle uses the unpainted
radio antenna bracket as a
remote negative (-) terminal.
Move the antenna coaxial cable
out of the way before clamping
the negative jumper cable to the
fixed antenna bracket. Avoid
touching the negative cable clamp
to the air conditioning line. Failure
to do either of these could
damage the vehicle. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
9. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the
engine for a while.
10. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Caution
If the jumper cables are
connected or removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always connect and remove the
jumper cables in the correct order,
making sure that the cables do
not touch each other or other
metal.
Jumper Cable Removal
Reverse the sequence exactly when
removing the jumper cables.
After starting the disabled vehicle
and removing the jumper cables,
allow it to idle for several minutes.
Towing the Vehicle
Caution
Incorrectly towing a disabled
vehicle may cause damage. The
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Do not lash or hook to
suspension components. Use the
proper straps around the tires to
secure the vehicle.
Have the vehicle towed on a flatbed
car carrier or a wheel lift tow truck. If
a wheel lift tow truck is used, the
drive wheels cannot contact the
road while the vehicle is being
towed. A wheel dolly must be used
to lift all drive wheels off the ground.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9159232) -
2016 - crc - 11/11/15
336 Index
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 247
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 243
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Emergency
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 216
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 97
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Cooling System Messages . . . .112
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 182 Engine (cont'd)
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Enhanced Technology Glass . . . . 38
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 321
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 123
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 124
F
Fan Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 126
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
FlexFuel E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 220
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Front Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Front Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 105
Requirements, California . . . . . 198
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 247
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 243