GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
154 Instruments and Controls
To set the maximum startup volume,
touch + or−to increase or
decrease.
Vehicle
Select and the following may
display:
. Climate and Air Quality
. Collision/Detection Systems
. Comfort and Convenience
. Lighting
. Power Door Locks
. Remote Lock, Unlock, Start
Climate and Air Quality
Select and the following may
display:
.Auto Fan Speed
. Auto Cooled Seats
. Auto Heated Seats
. Auto Defog
. Auto Rear Defog Auto Fan Speed
This feature will set the maximum
auto fan speed.
Select Low, Medium, or High.
Auto Cooled Seats
This setting automatically turns on
and regulates the ventilated seats
when the cabin temperature is
warm. See
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats 064.
Select Off or On.
Auto Heated Seats
This setting automatically turns on
and regulates the heated seats
when the cabin temperature is cool.
The auto heated seats can be
turned off by using the heated seat
buttons on the center stack. See
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
0 64.
If equipped with Auto Heated
Steering Wheel, this feature will turn
on when the Auto Heated Seats
turn on.
Select Off or On. Auto Defog
When set to On, the front defog will
automatically react to temperature
and humidity conditions that may
cause fogging.
Select Off or On.
Auto Rear Defog
If equipped, this allows the Auto
Rear Defog to be turned on or off.
This feature will automatically turn
on the rear window defogger when it
is cold outside.
Select Off or On.
Collision/Detection Systems
Select the Collision/Detection
Systems menu and the following
may be displayed if equipped:
.
Alert Type
. Forward Collision System
. Front Pedestrian Detection
. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
. Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier
. Lane Change Alert
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
Instruments and Controls 155
Alert Type
This feature will set crash alerts to
beeps or seat vibrations. This
setting affects all crash alerts
including Forward Collision, Lane
Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise
Control, Park Assist, and Backing
Warning alerts.
Select Beeps or Safety Alert Seat.
Forward Collision System
This feature will turn on or off the
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB).
The Off setting disables all FCA and
FAB functions. With the Alert and
Brake setting, both FCA and FAB
are available. The Alert setting
disables FAB. SeeForward
Automatic Braking (FAB) 0259.
Select Off, Alert and Brake, or Alert.
Front Pedestrian Detection
This feature may help avoid or
reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes with nearby
pedestrians. See
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System 0261.
Select Off, Alert, or Alert and Brake.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
This allows the Rear Cross Traffic
Alert feature to be turned on or off.
Select Off or On.
Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier
This feature will give a reminder that
Adaptive Cruise Control provides
when it has brought the vehicle to a
complete stop behind another
stopping vehicle, and then that
vehicle drives on.
Select Off or On.
Lane Change Alert
This allows the feature to be turned
on or off. See Lane Change Alert
(LCA) 0264.
When Lane Change Alert is
disabled, Side Blind Zone Alert is
also disabled.
Select Off or On.Comfort and Convenience
Select and the following may
display:
. Auto Memory Recall
. Easy Exit Options
. Chime Volume
. Hands Free Liftgate Control
. Reverse Tilt Mirror
. Auto Wipe in Reverse Gear
. Extended Hill Start Assist
Auto Memory Recall
This feature automatically recalls
the current driver ’s previously stored
1 or 2 button positions when the
ignition is changed from off to on or
ACC/ACCESSORY. See Memory
Seats 061.
Select Off or On.
Easy Exit Options
This feature automatically recalls
the previously stored Exit button
position when exiting the vehicle.
See Memory Seats 061.
Select Off or On.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
Driving and Operating 205
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 214
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 215
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 217
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 221
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 228
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 230
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 234
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 235
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 238
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 239
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 243
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 251
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 253
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 264
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 266
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 268
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 269
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
214 Driving and Operating
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. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0375.
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
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 Tires0319.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 239.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
216 Driving and Operating
.Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode for vehicles equipped with
AWD. Select Snow/Ice Mode for
FWD only vehicles.
See Driver Mode Control 0239
and All-Wheel Drive 0233.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0394. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0229.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
232 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose the
top-gear limit of the transmission
and the vehicle's speed while
driving downhill or towing a trailer.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument cluster. When using the
ERS mode a number will display
next to the L, indicating the highest
gear available for the range
selected.
To use this feature:1. Press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever to
L (Manual Mode).
2. Press + (Plus) or −(Minus) on
the shift lever to increase or
decrease the gear range
available.
When you shift from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode), the transmission
will shift to a pre-determined lower
gear range. The highest gear
available for this pre-determined
range is displayed next to the L in
the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base and Midlevel) 0145 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 148. The number displayed in the
DIC is the highest gear that the
transmission will be allowed to
operate in. This means that all
gears below that number are
available. For example, when
4 (Fourth) is shown next to the L,
1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are
automatically shifted by the vehicle.
The transmission will not shift into
5 (Fifth) until the + (Plus) button is
used or you shift back into D (Drive). If the transmission is in 6 (Sixth)
gear when L (Manual Mode) is
selected, a downshift to 4 (Fourth)
will be commanded. If in 5 (Fifth)
through 2 (Second) a single
downshift will occur.
While in L (Manual Mode), the
transmission will prevent shifting to
a lower gear range if the engine
speed is too high. You have a brief
period of time to slow the vehicle.
If vehicle speed is not reduced
within the time allowed, the lower
gear range shift will not be
completed. You must further slow
the vehicle, then press
−(Minus) to
the desired lower gear range.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking is
not available when the ERS is
active. It is available in D (Drive) for
both normal driving and Tow/Haul
Mode. While using the ERS, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used. See Tow/Haul Mode 0232.
Tow/Haul Mode
See Driver Mode Control 0239.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
Driving and Operating 237
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to
limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on when cruise control is set.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0217
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin
. Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message may display in
the Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If
dcomes on and stays on, the
vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the
condition persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146149) - 2019 - crc - 7/30/18
240 Driving and Operating
6Snow/Ice (FWD Only) :Snow/
Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice
covered roads.
_Tow/Haul : This feature can
assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. Use this mode to assist
in maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission. For AWD vehicles,
choosing Tow/Haul Mode also
engages AWD mode. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 271.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
assists when driving downhill.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The system will automatically
command downshifts to reduce vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle
is on a low grade or when the
accelerator pedal is pressed.
While in the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) mode, grade braking
is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade
braking is available for normal
driving and in Tow/Haul Mode.
See
Automatic Transmission 0230.
7Off-Road (AWD Only) : Use
this mode for off-road recreational
driving. Choosing Off-Road Mode
also engages AWD Mode. For more
information on Off-Road Mode, see
Off-Road Driving 0209.
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability