
GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 213
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 221
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 222
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 224
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 231
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 240
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 245
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 252
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 255
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 258
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 264
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 275
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 225
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. See
Towing the Vehicle0349. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle
has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
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.
There are recovery hooks at the
front of the vehicle. Use them if the
vehicle is stuck off-road and needs
to be pulled some place to continue
driving.
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 may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire 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
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
(Continued)

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 227
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0269 for
important information on towing
a trailer, towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.Example 1
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1 = (453 kg)
(1,000 lb)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lb) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lb)
3. Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lb)
Example 2
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight forExample 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lb)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lb) × 5 =
340 kg (750 lb)
3. Available Cargo Weight = 113 kg (250 lb)

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
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Driving and Operating 231
accessory design, use a spacer
under the accessory at the load
points to remove gap. The holes for
GM approved accessories (3) are
not intended for aftermarket
equipment. See www.gmupfitter.com
for additional pickup box load
bearing structural information.
Truck-Camper Loading
Information
The vehicle was neither
designed nor intended to carry a
slide-in camper.Caution
Adding a slide-in camper or
similar equipment to the vehicle
can damage it, and the repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not install a
slide-in camper or similar
equipment on the vehicle.
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:. Keep the vehicle speed at
88 km/h (55 mph) or less for
the first 805 km (500 mi).
. Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
. Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
. Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
0 269 for the trailer towing
capabilities of the vehicle
and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
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Driving and Operating 233
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. It also
unlocks the steering wheel. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
2 (ON/RUN) : This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.
If the key is left in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. The vehicle may not
start if the battery is allowed to drain
for an extended period of time.
3 (START) :
This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened, the ignition is
in ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/
OFF, and the key is in the ignition.
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 275.
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
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236 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
can be used for up to 10 minutes
after the engine is turned off:
. Audio System
. Power Windows
. OnStar System (if equipped)
These features work when the key
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF,
the windows continue to work up to
10 minutes or until any door is opened. The radio continues to
work for up to 10 minutes or until the
driver door is opened.
Accessory Power Outlets (APOs)
The vehicle may have Accessory
Power Outlets (APOs) in several
locations. See
Power Outlets0106.
The APOs in the console or center
seat position are powered by
Retained Accessory Power (RAP).
They will continue to work for up to
10 minutes after the key is turned
from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF, or until
the driver door is opened.
The APOs on the center stack come
from the factory powered directly
from the vehicle battery, and supply
accessory power at all times,
regardless of ignition key position.
If electronic items are left plugged
into these APOs for long periods of
time with the vehicle off, the vehicle
battery could be drained. The
vehicle may not start if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be 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. 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, use the steps
that follow. With four-wheel drive,
if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be
free to roll, even if the shift lever
is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0267.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake 0251.

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
2017 - crc - 1/20/17
Driving and Operating 237
2. Hold the button on the shiftlever and push the lever toward
the front of the vehicle into
P (Park).
3. Be sure the transfer case (if equipped) is in a drive
gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the
vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear –not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without pressing the button
on the shift lever. If you can, it
means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver
seat. To find out how, see Shifting
Into Park 0236.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission. You will then be
able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).

GMC Canyon Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122677) -
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238 Driving and Operating
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is
designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
. Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN and the
regular brake pedal is applied.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the button on the shift lever.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal and pressing the shift
lever button, move the shift
lever all the way into P (Park). 3. While holding the shift lever
button, move the shift lever to
the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, then have the vehicle
serviced soon.
Parking
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before you get out of
the vehicle, move the shift lever into
R (Reverse), and firmly apply the
parking brake. Once the shift lever
has been placed into R (Reverse)
with the clutch pedal pressed in,
turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key and release the
clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if the
vehicle is pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0267.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.