
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 35
When the sunroof is opened, an air
deflector will automatically raise.
The air deflector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
The sunroof cannot be opened or
closed if the vehicle has an
electrical failure.
Automatic Reversal System
The sunroof has an automatic
reversal system that is only active
when the sunroof is operated in
express-close mode.
If an object is in the path while
express closing, the reversal system
will detect the object, stop, and
open the sunroof slightly.
If frost or other conditions prevent
closing, override the feature by
closing the sunroof in manual mode.
To stop movement, release the
switch.
Dirt and debris may collect on the
sunroof seal or in the track. This
could cause an issue with sunroof
operation or noise. It could also plug
the water drainage system.
Periodically open the sunroof and
remove any obstacles or loose
debris. Wipe the sunroof seal and
roof sealing area using a clean
cloth, mild soap, and water. Do not
remove grease from the sunroof.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
98 Instruments and Controls
satellites. When the compass
display shows CAL, drive the
vehicle for a short distance in an
open area where it can receive a
GPS signal. The compass system
will automatically determine when a
GPS signal is restored and provide
a heading again.
Clock
Set the time and date using the
infotainment system. See "Time /
Date" under“Settings”in the
infotainment manual.
Power Outlets
The vehicle has two 12-volt
accessory power outlets, which can
be used to plug in electrical
equipment, such as a cell phone or
MP3 player.
There are power outlets:
. On the center stack below the
climate control system.
. In the rear cargo area.
To use the outlet, remove the cover.
Caution
Leaving electrical equipment
plugged in for an extended period
of time while the vehicle is off will
drain the battery. Always unplug
electrical equipment when not in
use and do not plug in equipment
that exceeds the maximum
20 amp rating.
{Warning
Power is always supplied to the
rear cargo power outlet. Do not
leave electrical equipment
plugged in when the vehicle is not
in use because the vehicle could
catch fire and cause injury or
death.
Certain accessory plugs may not be
compatible with the accessory
power outlet and could overload
vehicle and adapter fuses. If a
problem is experienced, see your
dealer. When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included with
the equipment. See
Add-On
Electrical Equipment 0271.
Caution
Hanging heavy equipment from
the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. The power
outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Power Outlet 110/120 Volt
Alternating Current
If equipped, this power outlet can be
used to plug in electrical equipment
that uses a maximum limit of
150 watts.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Instruments and Controls 115
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
When this light comes on, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) also
displays a message.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine
Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’s
emission control on-board
diagnostic system. If this light is on
while the engine is running, a
malfunction has been detected and
the vehicle may require service. The
light should come on to show that it
is working when the ignition is in
Service Mode. SeeIgnition
Positions 0179.
This light may also come on when
the system has detected a problem
with the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
management system. See Diesel
Exhaust Fluid 0195.
Malfunctions are often indicated by
the system before any problem is
noticeable. Being aware of the light
and seeking service promptly when
it comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not
run smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to
(Continued)

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Lighting 151
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization0135.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed. The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, rear
window defogger, climate control fan
at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed and it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the interior
lamps if they are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is
off. This helps to prevent the battery
from running down.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minute
timer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then back to
the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
182 Driving and Operating
Gasoline Engine Starting
Procedure1. With the Keyless Access system, the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter must
be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) will
display a message. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 08.Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by trying to start
the engine immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor,
and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to let the cranking motor
cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you press ENGINE START/
STOP. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.
When the engine starts,
release the accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing. This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race
the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.
Diesel Engine Starting Procedure
The diesel engine starts differently
than a gasoline engine. 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied to start. If it
is too cold, the wait-to-start
light will come on and there will
be a short delay before
starting. See Wait-to-Start Light
0 121. This light may not come
on if the engine is warm.
The engine has a fast warm-up
glow plug system. The
wait-to-start light will illuminate
for a much shorter time than
most diesel engines, due to the
rapid heating of the glow plug
system.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 207
ABS does not change the time
needed to get a foot on the brake
pedal and does not always
decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop,
even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly.
Hearing or feeling ABS operate is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at
the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The EPB can always
be activated, even if the ignition is
off. To prevent draining the battery,
avoid repeated cycles of the EPB
system when the engine is not
running.
The system has a
Yor PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light or
Service Parking Brake message. See
Electric Parking Brake Light
0 118 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 118.
Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Yor PARK light to ensure that
the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The
Yor PARK light will flash and
then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the
Yor PARK light
flashes continuously, then the EPB
is only partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
will display. Release the EPB and
try to apply it again. If the light does
not come on, or keeps flashing,
have the vehicle serviced. Do not
drive the vehicle if the
Yor PARK

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
252 Driving and Operating
Caution
Do not use blends containing
more than 20% biodiesel. Any
engine, fuel system, or exhaust
after-treatment system damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
As a renewable fuel, biodiesel
provides some environmental
benefits. However, biodiesel has
unique properties and needs to be
handled differently than diesel fuel.
Its use presents additional risks and
may not be appropriate in all
situations. Certain vehicle operating
modes increase these risks and
should be avoided.
Biodiesel fuel quality degrades with
time and exposure to high
temperature quicker than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel. More frequent
refueling provides the best
opportunity to have a supply of fresh
fuel. Storage at hot ambient
temperatures will accelerate
biodiesel degradation. If the vehicle is not driven often and
uses little fuel, or if it is stored for
extended periods of time, avoid the
use of biodiesel blended fuels
above 5% by volume. When the
vehicle is stored for longer than one
month, it should be run out of
biodiesel to below one-quarter tank,
refueled with biodiesel-free fuel, and
driven several kilometers (miles)
before storage.
Cold Weather Operation
(Diesel)
In cold weather, the fuel filter may
become clogged by wax naturally
present in the fuel. To unclog it,
move the vehicle to a warm garage
area and allow the filter to warm up.
The fuel filter may need to be
replaced. See
Fuel Filter
Replacement (Diesel) 0256.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to avoid using
biodiesel blends above 5% blend.
This blend may cause fuel filter
plugging, system gelling, and
freezing that may affect vehicle
starting. You may need to turn the ignition on and off a few times
before the vehicle will start. Also,
idle the vehicle for a couple of
minutes before accelerating.
It is recommended to use Ultra Low
Sulfur No. 1-D diesel fuel or a blend
of No. 1-D and No. 2-D diesel fuel to
enhance vehicle operation in cold
weather at temperatures below 0 °C
(32 °F). Use of No. 1-D diesel fuel
may lower the fuel economy. For
additional information for better cold
weather operation, see
Engine
Heater 0186.Water in Fuel (Diesel)
Improper fuel tank inspection or
cleaning, or contaminated fuel from
suppliers, can cause water to be
pumped into the fuel tank along with
the diesel fuel. If a WATER IN FUEL
- CONTACT SERVICE message
displays, the water must be drained
immediately.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 253
{Warning
Diesel fuel containing water is still
combustible. You or others could
be burned. If the fuel needs to be
drained, keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from the
mixture.
Caution
Water in the diesel fuel can
corrode internal components of
the fuel system and lead to
severe damage. It can also
support fungus or bacteria
growth, which can damage the
fuel system and Fuel Operated
Heater (FOH), if equipped. Even
with a diesel fuel biocide, the fuel
system may still need to be
cleaned. Your dealer can advise
of the appropriate solution.(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
If the fuel tank needs to be
purged to remove water, see your
dealer or a qualified technician.
Improper purging can damage the
fuel system and block the FOH.
As an added precaution, drain the
diesel fuel filter of residual water at
every engine oil change. If the
WATER IN FUEL - CONTACT
SERVICE message comes on
frequently, even after draining water
from the fuel filter, see your dealer. Water in Fuel Troubleshooting
If the WATER IN FUEL - CONTACT
SERVICE message comes on:
Problem Recommended
Action
Message
displays but
goes off during
the ignition
cycle. The fuel filter is
partially filled
with water. Drain
the water as
soon as
possible. See
"Removing
Water from the
Fuel Filter"
following.