GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
18 In Brief
INT :Move the windshield wiper
lever to INT. Turn the band up for
more frequent wipes or down for
less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the lever down. For several wipes,
hold the lever down.
f: Pull the lever toward you to
spray windshield washer fluid and
activate the wipers.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer
0 117 and Rear Window Wiper/
Washer 0118.
Climate Controls
Use this system to control the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
1. Driver Temperature Control
2. A/C (Air Conditioning)
3. Air Delivery Mode Controls
4. Fan Control
5. Defrost
6. Passenger Temperature
Control
7. SYNC (Synchronized Temperature) 8. Rear Window Defogger
9. Power Button
10. Air Recirculation
11. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
See Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0202. For more information
about the rear climate control, see
Rear Climate Control System 0205.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
114 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 115
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 116
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 116
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 117
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 130
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 131 Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 132
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 132
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 136
Hill Descent Control Light . . . . 136
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 136
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 137
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
StabiliTrak®OFF Light . . . . . . . . 137
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 138
Low Fuel Warning Light (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Low Fuel Warning Light (Midlevel and Uplevel) . . . . . . 139
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 140 Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . 140
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 140
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 140
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base and Midlevel) . . . . . . . . . 141
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Battery Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Brake System Messages . . . . . 148
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . . 149
Cruise Control Messages . . . . . 149
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . 149
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . 150
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 151
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . . 151
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 151
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Ride Control System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Airbag System Messages . . . . 155
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
150 Instruments and Controls
Engine Cooling System
Messages
AIR CONDITIONING OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gauge 0129. To avoid added strain
on a hot engine, the air conditioning
compressor automatically turns off.
When the coolant temperature
returns to normal, the air
conditioning compressor turns back
on. You can continue to drive your
vehicle.
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
ENGINE OVERHEATING, IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 0129. When towing, use Tow/Haul Mode
to prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0236.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the engine cooling
system reaches unsafe
temperatures for operation. Stop
and turn off the vehicle as soon as it
is safe to do so to avoid severe
damage. This message clears when
the engine has cooled to a safe
operating temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message. See Engine
Oil Life System 0290 for
information on how to reset the
message. See Engine Oil0288 and
Maintenance Schedule 0368.
ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL
On some vehicles, this message
displays when the engine oil level
may be too low. Check the oil level
before filling to the recommended
level. If the oil is not low and this
message remains on, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
See Engine Oil 0288.
ENGINE OIL HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil becomes hotter than the
normal operating temperature. Stop
and allow the vehicle to idle until it
cools down. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0129.
OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. See Engine
Oil 0288.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Instruments and Controls 151
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays and a chime
may sound when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the
engine further enters the engine
coolant protection mode. See
Engine Overheating0297 for more
information.
This message also displays when
the vehicle's engine power is
reduced. Reduced engine power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no reduction in
performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be driven
at a reduced speed while this
message is on, but acceleration and
speed may be reduced. Anytime
this message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
Key and Lock Messages
NO REMOTE KEY WAS
DETECTED PLACE KEY IN
TRANSMITTER POCKET THEN
START YOUR VEHICLE
This message displays when trying
to start the vehicle if an RKE
transmitter is not detected. The
transmitter battery may be weak.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 029.
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery may be weak.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 029.
NO REMOTE DETECTED
PRESS BRAKE TO RESTART
This message displays when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
and the RKE transmitter is no longer
detected. Restarting is allowed
without the RKE transmitter for
five minutes. Press the brake pedal
and ENGINE START/STOP to
restart the vehicle.
NUMBER OF KEYS
PROGRAMMED
This message displays when
programming new keys to the
vehicle.
REMOTE LEFT IN VEHICLE
This message displays when
leaving the vehicle with the RKE
transmitter still inside.
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the RKE transmitter needs
to be replaced.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
202 Climate Controls
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Rear Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be
controlled.
1. Driver Temperature Control
2. A/C (Air Conditioning)
3. Air Delivery Mode Controls
4. Fan Control
5. Defrost
6. Passenger Temperature
Control 7. SYNC (Synchronized
Temperature)
8. Rear Window Defogger
9. Power Button
10. Air Recirculation
11. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 217
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.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the
ignition system and the vehicle can
stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the exhaust pipe under water.
While the exhaust pipe is under
water, you will not be able to start
the engine. When going through water, the brakes get wet, and it
might take longer to stop. See
Driving on Wet Roads
0218.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody or
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. See Maintenance
Schedule 0368.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
218 Driving and Operating
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape. .
Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0315.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode
Control 0242.
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.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9803770) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 275
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 Overheating0297.
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.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill. 2. Have someone place chocks
under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0368.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine
Overheating 0297.