
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Instruments and Controls 123
Up-Shift Light (Manual
Transmission)
This light comes on when an
up-shift is recommended for best
fuel economy. The number
displayed with the arrow indicates
the recommended gear.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
For vehicles with the Tow/Haul
Mode feature, this light comes on
when the Tow/Haul Mode has been
activated.
SeeTow/Haul Mode 0186.
Hill Descent Control Light
If equipped, the Hill Descent Control
light comes on when the system is
ready for use. When the light
flashes, the system is active.
See Hill Descent Control (HDC)
0 199.
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) Light
If equipped, this light comes on
briefly while starting the vehicle. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced. This light is green if LDW is on and
ready to operate.
This light changes to amber and
flashes to indicate that the lane
marking has been crossed without
using a turn signal in that direction.
See
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
0 209.
Vehicle Ahead Indicator
If equipped, this indicator will
display green when a vehicle is
detected ahead and amber when
you are following a vehicle ahead
much too closely.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0207.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
124 Instruments and Controls
Traction Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
turns off.
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak/ESC
button.
This light and the StabiliTrak/ESC
OFF light come on when StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is
turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited. Adjust driving accordingly.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0198.
StabiliTrak OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak/ESC is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If StabiliTrak/ESC and TCS are off,
the system does not assist in
controlling the vehicle. Turn on the
TCS and the StabiliTrak/ESC
systems, and the warning light
turns off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0198.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak/
ESC system have been disabled.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
message may display. Check the
DIC messages to determine which
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service.
If the light is on and flashing, the
TCS and/or the StabiliTrak/ESC
system is actively working.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
126 Instruments and Controls
Low Fuel Warning Light
(Base Level)
English Shown
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
The low fuel warning light comes on
and a chime sounds when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The light turns
off when fuel is added to the
fuel tank.
Low Fuel Warning Light
(Uplevel)
This light is near the fuel gauge and
comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is
working.
It also comes on when the fuel tank
is low on fuel. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced.
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See Immobilizer Operation
0 35.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer 0139.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
128 Instruments and Controls
Information Displays
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level)
The DIC displays information about
your vehicle. It also displays
warning messages if a system
problem is detected. SeeVehicle
Messages 0134. All messages
appear in the DIC display in the
center of the instrument cluster.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different displays
which can be accessed by using the
DIC buttons on the turn signal lever.
DIC Buttons
1. SET/CLR: Press to set,
or press and hold to clear, the
menu item displayed. 2.
w x:
Use the band to scroll
through the items in
each menu.
3. MENU: Press to display the
Trip/Fuel Menu, the Vehicle
Information Menu, and the
ECO Menu. This button is also
used to return to or exit the last
screen displayed on the DIC.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for additional DIC pages.
Trip/Fuel Menu (TRIP) Items
Press MENU on the turn signal
lever until the TRIP menu displays.
Use
w xto scroll through the
menu items. Not all items are
available on every vehicle. The
following is a list of all possible
menu items:
Digital Speed : Displays how fast
the vehicle is moving in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph). The speedometer
cannot be reset. Trip 1 or Trip 2, Average Fuel
Economy :
Displays the current
distance traveled, in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi), from
the last reset for the trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing and holding the
SET/CLR button while the trip
odometer display is showing.
Also displays the approximate
average liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). This number is based on the
number of L/100 km (mpg) recorded
since the last time this menu item
was reset. This number reflects only
the approximate average fuel
economy that the vehicle has right
now, and will change as driving
conditions change. Reset the
average consumption by pressing
SET/CLR when it is displayed.
Fuel Range : Displays the
approximate distance the vehicle
can be driven without refueling. The
fuel range estimate is based on an
average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
138 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 138
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 141
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . 142
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Battery Load Management . . . 144 Battery Power Protection . . . . . 145
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
O: Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp
control to
Oagain to turn the
automatic headlamps or DRL
back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, off
will only work when the vehicle is in
P (Park).

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
Lighting 141
is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control0143.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will turn off or may
change to Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
O
or;to disable this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|: Press to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps flash on and
off. Press again to turn the
flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, the vehicle's turn signals will
not work.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster
flashes in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the
way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less
than one second until the arrow
starts to flash to signal a lane
change. This causes the turn
signals to automatically flash three
times. Holding the turn signal lever
for more than one second will cause
the turn signals to flash until the
lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting
position whenever it is released.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
154 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 163
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 164
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 173
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 182
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 187
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 197
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 199
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 200
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 203
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 205
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 211
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 211
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
12461766) - 2019 - crc - 10/2/18
156 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts051.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you. .
Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.