GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 257
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance. If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0230.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
262 Driving and Operating
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, measure distance (2) before
coupling the trailer to the hitch ball.
Measure the height again after the
trailer is coupled and adjust the
spring bars so the distance (2) is as
close as possible to halfway
between the two measurements.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if itbecomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Always leave just
enough slack so the combination
can turn. Never allow safety chains
to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lb) must be
equipped with its own brake system,
with brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State and local regulations may also
require the trailer to have its own
braking system if loaded above a
certain threshold. These
requirements vary from state to
state.
Read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so they are
installed, adjusted, and maintained
properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system
Trailer Wiring Harness
For vehicles not equipped with
heavy-duty trailering, a harness is
secured underneath the left side of
the vehicle, next to the spare tire.
The harness requires the installation
of a trailer connector, which is
available through your dealer. The
seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow: Left stop/turn signal
. Green: Right stop/turn signal
. Brown: Taillamps/parking lamps
. Black: Ground
. Gray: Back-up lamps
. Orange: Battery feed
. Blue: Trailer brake
To help charge a remote
(non-vehicle) battery, press the Tow/
Haul Mode button on the center
stack. If the trailer is too light for
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 263
Tow/Haul Mode, turn on the
headlamps to help charge the
battery.
Trailer Brake Control Wiring
Harness
A four-wire harness, without
connector, is secured behind the left
side kick panel. The harness
contains the following circuits:
.Red/Green: Battery feed
. Black: Ground
. White/Blue: Brake signal to
controller .
Blue: Trailer Brake power to
trailer connector
To remove the left side kick panel,
start at the front of the panel pulling
toward the rear of the vehicle and lift
upward to disengage the integral
clips.
Tow/Haul Mode
Press this button on the center
stack to turn 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. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0230.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0258. 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.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Vehicle Care 271
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 272
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 273
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 280
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 282
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 283
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 288
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Battery - North America . . . . . . 292
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 295
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 297
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 297
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 302
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 302
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Vehicle Care 281
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
On some vehicles, when the system
has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on to
indicate that an oil change is
necessary. Change the oil as soon
as possible within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). It is possible that, if driving
under the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. For vehicles without the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message, an oil change is needed
when the OIL LIFE REMAINING
percentage is near 0%. Your dealer
has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to checkthe oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the engine oil life system:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0129 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0131. If the vehicle
does not have DIC buttons, the
vehicle must be in P (Park) to
access this display. 2. Press and hold
Von the DIC,
or SET/CLR on the turn signal
lever if the vehicle does not
have DIC buttons, for several
seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level) 0129 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0131.
2. Fully press the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds.
If the display shows 100%, the
system is reset.
If the vehicle has a CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and it
comes back on when the vehicle is
started and/or the OIL LIFE
REMAINING is near 0%, the engine
oil life system has not been reset.
Repeat the procedure.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Vehicle Care 299
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, or any bulb changing
procedure not listed in this section,
contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{Warning
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
Driver Side
1. Low-Beam Headlamp
2. High-Beam Headlamp
3. Front Turn Signal/Sidemarker/Parking Lamp
See your dealer for passenger side
replacement.
Headlamp
1. Open the hood.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
300 Vehicle Care
2. Remove the headlamp bulbcover by turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
4. Unplug the electrical connector from the old bulb by releasing
the clip on the bulb socket.
Turn Signal/Sidemarker/
Parking Lamp
1. Open the hood.
2. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
3. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out of the bulb socket.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
1. Open the tailgate.
2. Remove the two rear lampassembly screws.
3. Pull the rear lamp assembly outboard away from the box
side until the retainers release.
There will be a noise when the
retainers release.4. Pull the rear lamp assemblystraight back to remove it from
the vehicle.
5. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise.
6. Pull the bulb straight out from the socket.
7. Replace the bulb, then insert the bulb socket into the rear
lamp assembly and turn
clockwise.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
11354423) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
306 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F38 Left high-beam headlamp
F39 –
F40 –
F41 –
F42 –
F43 Cooling fan
F44 Vacuum pump
F45 –
F46 Engine control module 2
F47 Miscellaneous 2/ Ignition
F48 Fog lamps (if equipped)
F49 –
F50 Trailer parking lamps
F51 Horn
F52 –
F53 – Fuses
Usage
F54 –
F55 –
F56 Washer pump
F57 –
F58 –
F59 –
F60 Mirrors defogger
F61 –
F62 Canister vent solenoid
F63 –
F64 Trailer reverse lamp
F65 Left trailer stoplamp/Turn
signal lamps
F66 Right trailer stoplamp/Turn
signal lamps
F67 Electric power steering
F68 – Fuses
Usage
F69 Battery regulated voltage control
F70 –
F71 –
F72 –
F73 –
F74 Generator
F75 –
Relays Usage
K1 Air conditioning clutch
K2 Starter
K3 –
K4 Wipers speed
K5 Wipers control
K6 Cargo lamp/Bed lighting (if
equipped)
K7 Powertrain
K8 –