GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
Driving and Operating 235
PARK light is off. If either light stays
on after release is attempted, see
your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses thestability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Hill Start Assist (HSA) will activate
when the vehicle is stopped on a
moderate to steep grade to help
prevent it from rolling in an
unintended direction. After the brake
pedal has been released and before
the accelerator pedal has been
pressed, HSA uses braking
pressure to hold the vehicle
stationary. If HSA is holding the
vehicle, a DIC message displays.
HSA will not activate in a forward
drive gear when facing downhill,
or in R (Reverse) when facing uphill.
Select the duration of the HSA
feature through vehicle
personalization. See
”Extended Hill
Start Assist” under“Comfort and
Convenience” inVehicle
Personalization 0152. When
Standard Hold is selected, the
vehicle is held stationary for up to
two seconds after the brake pedal is
released. When Extended Hold is
selected, the vehicle is held
stationary for up to five minutes
after the brake pedal is released. In
either case, override the hold
feature by pressing the accelerator
pedal and attempting to drive away.
If Standard Hold is selected, it will
hold the vehicle for two seconds
unless the driver door is opened or
the driver seat belt is unbuckled
after releasing the brake pedal.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
Driving and Operating 273
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 Overheating0295.
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 0369. 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
0 295.
Trailer Towing
Three important considerations
have to do with weight:
.
The weight of the trailer.
. The weight of the trailer tongue.
. The total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
298 Vehicle Care
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0283 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
. Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up. .
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
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 0138.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0369.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0377.
{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.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
Vehicle Care 299
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number on
the original battery label when a
new battery is needed. For
replacement of the battery, see your
dealer.
Stop/Start System
If equipped with the 2.5L L4 engine,
the vehicle has a stop/start system
to shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. SeeStarting the
Engine 0223. It has an Absorbed Glass Mat
(AGM) 12-volt battery. Installation of
a standard 12-volt battery will result
in reduced 12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery
charger on the 12-volt AGM battery,
some chargers have an AGM
battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on
the charger, to limit charge voltage
to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING:
Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle. See
California Proposition
65 Warning 0280 and the back
cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0351 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
350 Vehicle Care
2. Lift the load floor.
3. Remove the cargomanagement system.
4. Put back the spare tire and all tools as they were stored in the
rear storage compartment.
5. Install the cargo management system and load floor.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time. If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the
vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of
the spare tire, have the standard tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the ABS and Traction Control
systems may engage until the spare
tire is recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip. Performance of the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system will be
automatically reduced to protect the
system when using the compact
spare. To restore the AWD and
prevent excessive wear on the
clutch in the AWD, replace the
compact spare tire with a full-size
tire as soon as possible.
Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
358 Vehicle Care
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory.
Use a de-icing agent only when
absolutely necessary, and have the
locks greased after using. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0377.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
Caution
Do not use petroleum-based,
acidic, or abrasive cleaning
agents as they can damage the
vehicle's paint, metal, or plastic
parts. If damage occurs, it would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
your dealer. Follow all
manufacturer directions regarding
correct product usage, necessary
safety precautions, and
appropriate disposal of any
vehicle care product.
Caution
Avoid using high-pressure
washes closer than 30 cm (12 in)
to the surface of the vehicle. Use
of power washers exceeding
8,274 kPa (1,200 psi) can result
in damage or removal of paint
and decals.
Caution
Do not power wash any
component under the hood that
has this
esymbol.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
This could cause damage that
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
If using an automatic car wash,
follow the car wash instructions. The
windshield wiper and rear window
wiper, if equipped, must be off.
Remove any accessories that may
be damaged or interfere with the car
wash equipment.
Rinse the vehicle well, before
washing and after, to remove all
cleaning agents completely. If they
are allowed to dry on the surface,
they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water
spotting.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat
sealant/wax materials is not
recommended. If painted surfaces
are damaged, see your dealer to
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
410 Index
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 242
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 278
Additional Information OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . 196
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 290
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 198, 201
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 85
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Airbag System (cont'd)
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 80
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 135
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 262
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 232, 300
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Antenna
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 233
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-11349114) - 2018 - crc - 9/21/17
Index 415
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198, 201
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 51
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 30
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 316
Lamps
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 166
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 263
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 265
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 140
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 169
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 138
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Check Engine (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 139
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 143
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 166
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . 140
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . 143, 144
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 134
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144