GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
Driving and Operating 271
The fuel cap is behind a hinged fuel
door on the driver side of the
vehicle. To open the fuel door, push
and release the rearward center
edge of the door.
Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise
to remove. Reinstall the cap by
turning it clockwise until it clicks.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:. Fuel spills
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Potential fuel fires
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0367.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, be
sure to get the right type of cap
from your dealer. The wrong type
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to light, and could
damage the fuel tank and
emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)0133.
Diesel fuel can foam when filling the
tank. This can cause the automatic
pump nozzle to shut off, even if the
tank is not full. If this happens, wait
for the foaming to stop, and then fill
the tank more slowly.
{Warning
Heat coming from the engine can
cause the fuel to expand and
force the fuel out of the tank.
If something ignites the fuel, a fire
could start. To help avoid this, fill
the tank slowly and only until the
nozzle shuts off. Do not top it off.
Clean up any spilled fuel.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
282 Driving and Operating
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each
trip, and periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When towing a
trailer, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or
the bulbs are burned out.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are
designed with stiff sidewalls to help
prevent sway and to support heavy
loads. These features can make it
difficult to determine if the trailer tire
pressures are low only based on a
visual inspection.Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip when the
tires are cool. Low trailer tire
pressure is a leading cause of trailer
tire blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time.
The trailer tire sidewall will show the
week and year the tire was
manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs. Never
load your trailer with more weight
than the tires are designed to
support. The load rating is located
on the trailer tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default
trailer tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).
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)
0133.
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 Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
284 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 285
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 286
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 298
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 299
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 305
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Battery - North America . . . . . . 309
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 310
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 311
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 311
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 313
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . 315
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 316
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 317
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 318
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 327
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
Vehicle Care 299
2. Display REMAINING OIL LIFEon the DIC menu.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base and Midlevel)
0 142 orDriver Information
Center (DIC) (Uplevel) 0147.
3. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
4. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible. Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in
Maintenance Schedule
0 378, and be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0387.
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 correct
automatic transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0387.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done by your dealer.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 289.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 378.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
308 Vehicle Care
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications 0392.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0289 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
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
384 Service and Maintenance
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required.
It is recommended that your dealer
perform these services—their
trained dealer technicians know
your vehicle best. Your dealer can
also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended to
explain the services and conditions
to look for that may indicate
services are required.
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories. .
To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
. Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping. .
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 0387 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.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
Index 421
IndexA
About Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 3
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 232
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 282
Additional Information
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .411
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 299
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 170, 172
Air Filter, Passenger
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
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? . . . . . . . . 81
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 132
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 255
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 218, 310
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 219
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-12146071) - 2019 - crc - 7/27/18
422 Index
Assistance Systems forParking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 243
Auto Stop Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
B
BatteryExterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Battery - North America . . . . 309, 360
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 311
Brake
Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 135
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Brakes (cont'd)
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Braking System Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . 253
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 195
Bulb Replacement Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . 315
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 316
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
California
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286 California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .285, 309, 360,
Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 109
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 133
Check Engine Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 93
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91