GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
214 Driving and Operating
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. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0190.
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 0208. 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.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0103.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Vehicle Care 225
Caution (Continued)
fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine parts or exhaust
system parts, starting a fire. Too
little fluid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure
to get an accurate reading if
checking the transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes with the
engine off, before checking the
transmission fluid level if the vehicle
has been driven:
. In hot weather, when outside
temperatures are above 32 °C
(90 °F).
. The vehicle is heavily loaded.
. At high speed for quite a while in
hot weather.
. In heavy traffic and hot weather.
. While pulling a trailer.
After driving under these conditions,
a hot check can be performed. The
fluid should be hot, which is 71 °C to
93 °C (160 °F to 200 °F). A cold fluid level check can be
performed after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more
with the engine off, but this is used
only as a reference. Let the engine
run at idle for five minutes if the
outside temperature is between
15 °C to 32 °C (60 °F to 90 °F).
Should the fluid level be low during
this cold check, the fluid must be
checked warm or hot before adding
fluid. If the outside temperature is
colder than 15 °C (60 °F) or hotter
than 32 °C (90 °F), a cold check
cannot be performed.
A warm fluid level check can be
performed by driving the vehicle
under lightly loaded conditions and
outside temperatures between 10 °C
to 27 °C (50 °F to 80 °F). The
vehicle should be driven for at least
24 km (15 mi) before performing a
warm check. Checking the fluid
warm or hot will give a more
accurate reading of the fluid level
than a cold check.
Because the vehicle is equipped
with a high-efficiency air-to-oil
cooler, the transmission fluid
temperature may not reach therequired hot fluid level checking
temperature under normal lightly
loaded driving vehicle conditions.
Checking the Fluid Level
Prepare the vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With a foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever through
each gear range, pausing for
about three seconds in each
range. When M is reached,
move the selector from M1
through M3. Then, position the
shift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle for two minutes or more.
Then, without shutting off the
engine, use the steps that follow.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Vehicle Care 227
It does not take much fluid,
generally less than 0.5 L (1 pt). Do
not overfill.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage
the vehicle, and the damage may
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use the
automatic transmission fluid listed
inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0308.
. After adding fluid, recheck the
fluid level as described under
“How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier in
this section.
. When the correct fluid level is
obtained, push the dipstick back
in all the way; then flip the
handle down to lock the dipstick
in place.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The air cleaner/filter assembly is on
the front of the engine compartment
on the driver side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 220.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air filter, see
Maintenance Schedule 0300.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
filter housing open. Before removing
the engine air filter, make sure that
the engine air filter housing and
nearby components are free of dirt
and debris. Remove the engine air
filter. Lightly tap and shake the
engine air filter (away from the
vehicle) to release dust and dirt.
Inspect the engine air filter for
damage, and replace if damaged.
Do not clean the engine air filter or
components with water or
compressed air.
6.0L V8 Engine Shown, 4.8L V8 Engine Similar
1. Retaining Clips
2. Housing Base
3. Housing Cover
To inspect and replace the filter:
1. Unlock the two retaining clips (1) on the sides of the
housing cover (3) and on the
housing base (2) and pull the
cover off.
2. Remove the air cleaner/filter from the housing base. Take
care to dislodge as little dirt as
possible.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Vehicle Care 237
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light 0105. Brake fluid absorbs water over time.
Replace brake fluid at the specified
intervals to prevent increased
stopping distance. See
Maintenance
Schedule 0300.
Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0220.
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see if
there is a leak. After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level is above MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See
Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0308.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
286 Vehicle Care
ground connection you do not
want. You would not be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in Neutral
before setting the parking
brake.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn
off or unplug all accessories on
either vehicle when jump starting.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or the
accessory power outlet. Turn
off the radio and all lamps that
are not needed. This will avoid
sparks and help save both
batteries. And it could save the
radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations of the other
vehicle.
On your van, use the unpainted
radio antenna bracket as a
remote negative (−) terminal.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can
cause battery gas to explode.
People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded.
Use a flashlight if you need more
light.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing
insulation. If they do, you could
get a shock. The vehicles
could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables,
here are some basic things you
should know. Positive (+) will
go to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Negative (−)
will go to an unpainted metal
part or to a remote negative (−)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
306 Service and Maintenance
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0308 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed. Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
. Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
. As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money and fuel,
and can reduce the risk of tire
failure.
. Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Index 339
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 214
Additional Information OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 227
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 160, 162
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 58
Airbags
Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Light On-Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Airbags (cont'd)
On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Servicing Airbag-Equipped
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Antenna Fixed Mast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 190 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Assistance Program,
Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Audio Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 134
Audio Players
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
340 Index
Automatic (cont'd)Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Avoiding Untrusted Media
Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Axle, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
B
Battery Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Battery - North America . . . . 238, 285
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 241
Bluetooth
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 105
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 177
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Center High-MountedStoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 246
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242, 243
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 246
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .217, 238, 285
Camera Rear Vision (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Cargo Door Relocking . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 102
Check
Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 241
Malfunction IndicatorEngine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 69
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 83
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295