
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
122 Infotainment System
Radio
AM-FM Radio
Radio Data System (RDS)
The radio may have an RDS. The
RDS feature is available for use
only on FM stations that broadcast
RDS information. This system relies
upon receiving specific information
from these stations and only works
when the information is available.
While the radio is tuned to an
FM-RDS station, the station name
or call letters display. In rare cases,
a radio station could broadcast
incorrect information that causes the
radio features to work improperly.
If this happens, contact the radio
station.
Finding a Station
BAND or SRCE :Press to switch
between FM1, FM2, AM, and SXM.
The selection displays.
f: Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the station frequency.
©SEEK or¨SEEK : Press©SEEK
to go to the previous or
¨SEEK to
go to the next station and stay
there.
To scan stations, press and hold
either button for two seconds until a
beep sounds. The radio goes to a
station, plays for a few seconds,
then goes to the next station. For
AM-FM Radio and Radio with CD,
the station frequency flashes while
the radio is in the scan mode. Press
either button again to stop scanning.
The radio seeks and scans stations
only with a strong signal that are in
the selected band.
Scan presets within the current
selected band by pressing and
holding either SEEK button for
four seconds until a double beep
sounds. The radio goes to a stored
preset, plays for a few seconds if a
strong signal is present, then goes
to the next stored preset. The
station frequency flashes while the
radio is in the scan mode.
Storing a Radio Station as a
Favorite
You are encouraged to set up radio
station favorites while the vehicle is
parked. Tune to favorite stations
using the presets, favorites button,
and steering wheel controls,
if equipped. See Defensive Driving
0 151.
FAV : If equipped with a FAV button,
a maximum of 36 stations can be
programmed as favorites by using
the six softkeys below the radio
station frequency tabs and by using
the radio favorites page button (FAV
button). Press FAV to go through up
to six pages of favorites, each
having six favorite stations available
per page. Each page of favorites
can contain any combination of AM
and FM stations.
The balance/fade and tone settings
that were previously adjusted, are
stored with the favorite stations.
To store a station as a favorite:
1. Tune to the desired radio station.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
124 Infotainment System
and steering wheel controls,
if equipped. SeeDefensive Driving
0 151.
FAV : If equipped with a FAV button,
a maximum of 36 stations can be
programmed as favorites using the
six softkeys below the radio station
frequency tabs and by using the
radio favorites page button (FAV
button). Press FAV to go through up
to six pages of favorites, each
having six favorite stations available
per page. Each page of favorites
can contain any combination of AM,
FM, or SXM stations.
The balance/fade and tone settings
that were previously adjusted are
stored with the favorite stations.
To store a station as a favorite:
1. Tune to the desired radio station.
2. Press FAV to display the page where the station is to be
stored. 3. Press and hold one of the
six softkeys until a beep
sounds. When that softkey is
pressed and released, the
station that was set returns.
4. Repeat the steps for each softkey radio station to be
stored as a favorite.
The number of favorites pages can
be set up using the MENU button.
To set up the number of favorites
pages: 1. Press MENU to display the radio setup menu.
2. Press the softkey below the FAV 1-6 tab.
3. Select the desired number of favorites pages by pressing the
softkey below the displayed
page numbers.
4. Press FAV, or let the menu time out, to return to the original
main radio screen showing the
radio station frequency tabs
and to begin the process of
programming favorites for the
chosen number of numbered
pages.Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with
each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Infotainment System 137
How to Speak :Speak clearly in a
calm and natural voice.
Audio System
When using the in-vehicle Bluetooth
system, sound comes through the
vehicle's front audio system
speakers and overrides the audio
system. Use the audio system
volume knob, during a call, to
change the volume level. The
adjusted volume level remains in
memory for later calls. To prevent
missed calls, a minimum volume
level is used if the volume is turned
down too low.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons on the steering
wheel to operate the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system. See Steering
Wheel Controls 079.
b/g:Press to answer incoming
calls, confirm system information,
and start speech recognition.
c/x: Press to end a call, reject
a call, or cancel an operation.
Pairing
A Bluetooth-enabled cell phone
must be paired to the Bluetooth
system and then connected to the
vehicle before it can be used. See
the cell phone manufacturer's user
guide for Bluetooth functions before
pairing the cell phone.
Pairing Information
. A Bluetooth phone with MP3
capability cannot be paired to
the vehicle as a phone and an
MP3 player at the same time.
. Up to five cell phones can be
paired to the Bluetooth system.
. The pairing process is disabled
when the vehicle is moving.
. Pairing only needs to be
completed once, unless the
pairing information on the cell
phone changes or the cell phone
is deleted from the system.
. Only one paired cell phone can
be connected to the Bluetooth
system at a time. .
If multiple paired cell phones are
within range of the system, the
system connects to the first
available paired cell phone in the
order that they were first paired
to the system. To connect to a
different paired phone, see
“Connecting to a Different
Phone” later in this section.
Pairing a Phone
1. Press and hold
b/gfor
two seconds.
2. Say “Bluetooth.” This command
can be skipped.
3. Say “Pair.”The system
responds with instructions and
a four-digit Personal
Identification Number (PIN).
The PIN is used in Step 5.
4. Start the pairing process on the cell phone that you want to
pair. For help with this process,
see the cell phone
manufacturer's user guide.
5. Locate the device named “Your
Vehicle” in the list on the cell
phone. Follow the instructions

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Driving and Operating 149
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 154
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 155
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 157
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 161
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 166
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 170
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 176
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 181
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 183
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 191
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 191
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
150 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 210
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible:
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them
off when not required.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
. Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated. .
Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
152 Driving and Operating
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.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane
dividers and speed bumps.
Damage caused by misuse of the
vehicle is not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require
maintenance. See
Power Steering
Fluid 0235.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or
because of a system malfunction,
the vehicle can be steered but may
require increased effort. See your
dealer if there is a problem.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
Driving and Operating 153
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking. .
Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips: 1. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13882574) -
2020 - CRC - 11/1/19
154 Driving and Operating
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.