2020 GMC TERRAIN Driver mode

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 203
Caution (Continued)
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to
stay in N (Neutral) for extended
periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P (Park).
To shift into N (Neutral), press the
N (Neutral) switch until the N
indicator displays.
To shift out of N (Neutral): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Car Wash Mode
This vehicle includes a Car Wash
Mode that allows the vehicle to
remain in N (Neutral) for use in
automatic car washes. Car Wash Mode is not to be used
for vehicle towing. If the vehicle
needs to be towed, see
Towing the
Vehicle 0352
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to
stay in N (Neutral) for extended
periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P (Park) if
left in Car Wash Mode.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –
Driver in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal. 5. The indicator should continue
to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle is now ready for the car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
204 Driving and Operating
8. The vehicle may automaticallyshift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Car Wash Mode (Engine On –
Driver in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine On –
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal. 5. The indicator should continue
to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down. To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the D (Drive) switch on the center stack.
To shift out of D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0167.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 205
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS or manual mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the L
indicating the highest available gear
under manual mode and the driving
conditions when manual mode was
selected.To use this feature:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), press the L (Low) button.
2. Press the plus or minus button on the center stack to increase
or decrease the gear range
available.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset
range, the highest gear available is
displayed next to the L in the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base and Midlevel) 0124 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0130. All gears below that
number are available to use. For
example, when 4 (Fourth) is shown
next to the L, 1 (First) through
4 (Fourth) gears are shifted
automatically. To shift to 5 (Fifth)
gear, press the + (Plus) button or
shift into D (Drive). L (Low) will prevent shifting to a
lower gear range if the engine
speed is too high. If vehicle speed is
not reduced within the time allowed,
the lower gear range shift will not be
completed. Slow the vehicle, then
press the
−(Minus) button to the
desired lower gear range.
While using ERS, cruise control can
be used.
Tow/Haul Mode
For information on the Tow/Haul
Mode, see Driver Mode Control
0 214.
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.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
206 Driving and Operating
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.
SeeAutomatic Transmission 0201.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
For information on All-Wheel
Drive (AWD), see Driver Mode
Control 0214.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while
braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 118.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
214 Driving and Operating
HDC light indicates the system is
actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
When HDC is activated, the initial
HDC speed is set to the current
driving speed. It can be increased or
decreased by pressing +RES or–
SET on the steering wheel or by
applying the accelerator or brake
pedal. This adjusted speed
becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between
22 and 60 km/h (14 and 37 mph);
however vehicle speed cannot be
set or maintained in this range.
It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h
(50 mph) or above 60 km/h
(37 mph) for at least 30 seconds.
Press
5again to re-enable HDC.
Driver Mode Control
Depending on the option package
and available features, the Driver
Mode Control can have the
following modes: Tour (Front-Wheel
Drive (FWD)), All-Wheel Drive
(AWD), Snow/Ice, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. Rotate the Driver Mode
Control knob on the center console
to make a mode selection. Continue
turning the knob through the
available modes. Upon selection of
a mode, the selected mode’s icon
will light up on the knob and a
message will be displayed in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
Driver Mode Control Knob for
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Driver Mode Control Knob for All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
q(Vehicles without AWD) or5(AWD equipped vehicles) Tour
Mode : Use Tour Mode during
normal driving conditions. Tour
Mode either puts the vehicle in
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) for AWD
vehicles, or is the normal drive
mode for FWD vehicles. Tour Mode
is the most fuel efficient drive mode.
See Driving for Better Fuel
Economy 0163. When selecting
Tour Mode, if equipped, the AWD
light will flash briefly while the
system disables, and then stays off.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 221
J:Press to turn the system on or
off. The indicator turns white on the
instrument cluster when ACC is
turned on.
RES+ : Press briefly to resume the
previous set speed or to increase
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To increase speed by
about 1 km/h (1 mph), press RES+
briefly. To increase speed to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, hold RES+.
SET– :Press briefly to set the
speed and activate ACC or to
decrease vehicle speed if ACC is
already activated. To decrease
speed by about 1 km/h (1 mph),
press SET– briefly. To decrease
speed to the next 5 km/h (5 mph)
mark on the speedometer,
hold SET–.
*: Press to disengage ACC
without erasing the selected set
speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
setting for ACC of Far, Medium,
or Near. The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See
Instrument Cluster (Base
and Midlevel) 0103 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0107.
The increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular
cruise control, press and hold
*.
A Driver Information Display (DIC)
message displays. See Vehicle
Messages 0134.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise
Control Indicator When ACC is engaged, a green
o
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster and the following gap will be
displayed. When the regular cruise
control is engaged, a green
J
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster; the following gap will not
display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the
cruise control mode will be set to
the last mode used before the
vehicle was turned off.
{Warning
Always check the cruise control
indicator on the instrument cluster
to determine which mode cruise
control is in before using the
feature. If ACC is not active, the
vehicle will not automatically
brake for other vehicles, which
could cause a crash if the brakes
are not applied manually. You and
others could be seriously injured
or killed.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
242 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Due to poor visibility,
including nighttime
conditions, fog, rain,
or snow.
. If the FPB sensor is blocked
by dirt, snow, or ice.
. If the headlamps or
windshield are not cleaned
or in proper condition.
Be ready to take action and apply
the brakes. For more information,
see Defensive Driving 0164.
Keep the windshield, headlamps,
and FPB sensor clean and in
good repair.
FPB can be set to Off, Alert, or Alert
and Brake through vehicle
personalization. See “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0135.
Detecting the Pedestrian
Ahead
FPB alerts and automatic braking
will not occur unless the FPB
system detects a pedestrian. When
a nearby pedestrian is detected in
front of the vehicle, the pedestrian
ahead indicator will display amber.
Front Pedestrian Alert
When the vehicle approaches a
pedestrian ahead too rapidly, the
red FPB alert display will flash on
the windshield. Eight rapid
high-pitched beeps will sound from the front. When this Pedestrian Alert
occurs, the brake system may
prepare for driver braking to occur
more rapidly which can cause a
brief, mild deceleration. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as needed.
Cruise control may be disengaged
when the Front Pedestrian Alert
occurs.
Automatic Braking
If FPB detects it is about to crash
into a pedestrian ahead, and the
brakes have not been applied, FPB
may automatically brake moderately
or brake hard. This can help to
avoid some very low speed
pedestrian crashes or reduce
pedestrian injury. FPB can
automatically brake to detected
pedestrians between 8 km/h (5 mph)
and 80 km/h (50 mph). Automatic
braking levels may be reduced
under certain conditions, such as
higher speeds.
If this happens, Automatic Braking
may engage the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at a
stop. Release the EPB. A firm press

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 263
.It is recommended to perform
the first oil change before heavy
towing.
. During the first 800 km (500 mi)
of trailer towing, do not drive
over 80 km/h (50 mph) and do
not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
If the transmission downshifts
too often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode
See Manual Mode 0205.
If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned off when towing a trailer:
. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
. Super Cruise Control
. Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
. Park Assist
. Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
. Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB) If equipped, the following driver
assistance features should be
turned to alert or off when towing a
trailer:
.
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
. Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that
extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed.{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO),
when towing a trailer: . Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0191.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle itself. Get
used to the handling and braking of