GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
228 Driving and Operating
starts, let go of the button and
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops
again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Stop/Start System
{Warning
Exiting the vehicle without first
shifting into P (Park) may cause
the vehicle to move. You or others
may be injured. Because the
vehicle has the auto engine stop/
start feature, the vehicle's engine
might seem to be shut off;
however, once the brake pedal is
released, the engine will start up
again.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before
exiting the vehicle.If equipped with the 2.5L L4 engine,
the vehicle has a fuel saving stop/
start system to shut off the engine to
help conserve fuel.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When
stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. See
Tachometer
0 127. When the brake pedal is
released or the accelerator pedal is
pushed, the engine will restart.
Auto Stop may be deactivated if:
. A minimum vehicle speed is not
reached.
. The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range,
typically between −10 °C (14 °F)
and 50 °C (122 °F).
. The shift lever is in any gear
other than D (Drive).
. The battery charge is low. .
The interior comfort level has not
reached the required level for
the climate control system or
defog settings.
. The Auto Stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below 0 °F (−18 °C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater
should be plugged in at least four
hours before starting. Some models
may have an internal thermostat in
the cord which will prevent engine
coolant heater operation at
temperatures above 0 °F (−18 °C).
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 229
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The bundled
cord is on the driver side of the
engine compartment, in front of
the battery. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0285.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly. 3. Plug the cord into a normal,
grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
230 Driving and Operating
4. Before starting the engine, besure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories
may be used for up to 10 minutes
after the engine is turned off:
. Audio System
. Power Windows
. Sunroof (if equipped)
Power to the windows and sunroof
will work up to 10 minutes or until
any door is opened.
The audio system continues to work
for 10 minutes or until the driver
door is opened. For an additional 10 minutes of
operation, close all the doors and
place the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, and then
back to LOCK/OFF.
All of these features will work when
the ignition is in the ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY positions.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0237.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the
button on the shift lever and
pushing the shift lever all the
way toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0230.
If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0272.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
294 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Caution
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner. Any repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant needs to be
checked and replaced at
appropriate intervals. See
Maintenance Schedule 0368.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0297.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
296 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
the cap when the cooling system,
including the surge tank pressure
cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling
system and surge tank pressure
cap to cool.
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Caution
In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core, and other parts. Use
the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
{Warning
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you
hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any
pressure still left to be vented
out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper mixture to the
indicated level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
298 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
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.
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. When it is safe to do so, pull off
the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the
overheated area, the vehicle can be
driven. Continue to drive the vehicle
slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a
safe distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function.
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.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. 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. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0285 for
reservoir location.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
410 Index
Drive SystemsAll-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 236, 302
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 254
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141, 144
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 259
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 27
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 218
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 220
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 237
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 135
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 Electrical System
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 307
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 285
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Cooling System Messages . . . 150
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Engine (cont'd)
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 233
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 396
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 169
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 171
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
F
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 173
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 291
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Index 411
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 261
Forward Collision Alert(FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 61
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 139
Requirements, California . . . . . 269
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Fuses (cont'd)
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 307
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 165Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Gauges Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 367
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Hands-Free Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 173
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 140
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 171
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 140
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202, 205
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . 324