2021 GMC ACADIA towing

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
218 Driving and Operating
able to release the EPB using the EPB
switch. It should automatically release when
the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. It could
overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the vehicle is not in P (Park) with the
parking brake set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and shift
the vehicle to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park 0217. If you are towing a trailer,
see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0256. If you have to leave the vehicle with the
engine running, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
Confirm that the vehicle is in P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of the
vehicle puts too much force on the parking
pawl in the transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to shift out
of P (Park). To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into P (Park). To
find out how, see
“Shifting Into Park” listed
previously.
On certain steep grades, the transmission
will automatically set the parking brake to
prevent torque lock.
If torque lock does occur, the vehicle may
need to be pushed uphill by another vehicle
to relieve the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an electronic
transmission. If the vehicle has an
uncharged battery or a battery with low
voltage, try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting - North America
0 332.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Ensure the engine is running.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press or pull the desired shift switch on the center stack.
The P indicator will turn white and the gear
indicator will turn red when the vehicle is
no longer in P (Park).
If the vehicle cannot shift from P (Park), a
Driver Information Center (DIC) message will
be displayed. Check that the ignitionis on,
the engine is running, and the brake pedal
is applied when you are attempting to shift
out of P (Park). If all of these are met but
the vehicle will not shift out of P (Park), see
your dealer for service.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
220 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
If unusual fumes are detected or if it is
suspected that exhaust is coming into the
vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the engine
running in an enclosed area such as a
garage or a building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine running,
follow the proper steps to be sure the
vehicle will not move. See Shifting Into Park
0 217 and
Engine Exhaust 0219.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 256.
Automatic Transmission
The shift switches are on the center stack.
The selected gear position will illuminate red
on the shift switch, while all others will be
displayed in white. If the shift is not
immediate, as in very cold conditions, the
indicator on the shift switch may flash until
it is fully engaged.
The transmission does not operate when the
vehicle is off.
If the vehicle is in ACC/ACCESSORY, the
transmission can be shifted into P (Park). If ENGINE START/STOP is pressed twice while
at a relatively high speed, the engine will
turn off and the transmission will
automatically shift to N (Neutral). Once the
vehicle is stopped, P (Park) can be selected.
P :
This position locks the drive wheels. Use
P (Park) when starting the vehicle to ensure
the vehicle does not move.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the transmission is not in P (Park) with
the parking brake set. The vehicle
can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If the engine has been left
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and place the
transmission into P (Park). See Shifting
Into Park 0217 and
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 256.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
222 Driving and Operating
Car Wash Mode is not to be used for vehicle
towing. If the vehicle needs to be towed,
seeTowing the Vehicle 0334
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.
8. The vehicle may automatically shift 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.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 223
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” underLoss of Control 0203.
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. If equipped with the 2.0L L4 engine, engine
speeds may be increased while driving at
highway speeds while the engine is still
warming up.
L :
This position gives you access to gear
ranges. This provides more engine braking
but lower fuel economy than D (Drive). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep
snow or mud. See Manual Mode0223.
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) 0115
or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel and
Uplevel) 0117. 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

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 225
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. SeeElectric Parking Brake
Light 0109 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light (Uplevel
and Midlevel Cluster Only) 0109. There are
also parking brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages.
Before leaving the vehicle, check the red
parking brake status 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 red parking brake status light will flash
and then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the red parking brake status light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is only partially applied or there is a problem with
the EPB. A 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 red parking brake status light
is flashing. See your dealer.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, press the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle is
moving, the vehicle will decelerate as long
as the switch is pressed. If the switch is
pressed until the vehicle comes to a stop,
the EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply the EPB
in some situations when the vehicle is not
moving. This is normal, and is done to
periodically check the correct operation of
the EPB system, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.
If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by pressing and
holding the EPB switch. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake status
light is off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a
hill, see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0256.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 229
Driver Mode Control Knob (AWD)
Driver Mode Control Knob (FWD)
5orqTour (FWD) :Vehicle is in Tour
(FWD) Mode. Use this mode during normal
driving conditions. See Driving for Better Fuel
Economy 0200. Tour (FWD) Mode operates
in Front-Wheel Drive to improve fuel
economy.
8Sport : Sport Mode improves vehicle
handling and acceleration on dry pavement.
When active, Sport Mode modifies steering
efforts, transmission shifting, AWD torque,
and suspension tuning (when properly
equipped). For AWD vehicles, choosing Sport
Mode also engages AWD Mode.
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL)
feature is enabled in Sport Mode. PAL allows
the transmission to hold the current gear
after a quick release of a heavily applied
accelerator pedal. This provides greater
engine braking and enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may be an
additional green gear symbol which appears
in the instrument cluster display. See Gear
Shifting Light 0110.
4AWD (AWD Only) : AWD Mode
provides drive torque to all four wheels.
Select AWD to improve traction and control
on slippery road surfaces, such as gravel,
sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice. When in AWD Mode, the AWD Mode indicator will be
on. The AWD Mode will stay selected until
the mode is changed.
AWD is active in AWD, Sport, Tow/Haul, and
Off-Road Modes.
Sport, Tow/Haul, and Off-Road Modes are
cancelled with each ignition cycle and will
return to Tour (FWD) Mode.
When using a compact spare tire on an
AWD vehicle, the system automatically
detects the compact spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system. To
restore full AWD operation and prevent
excessive wear on the system, replace the
compact spare with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See
Compact Spare Tire 0331.
6Snow/Ice (FWD Only) : Snow/Ice Mode
improves vehicle acceleration on snow and
ice covered roads.
_Tow/Haul : This feature can assist
when towing or hauling a heavy load. Use
this mode to assist in maintaining desired
vehicle speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission. For AWD vehicles, choosing
Tow/Haul Mode also engages AWD mode.
See Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 256.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 239
Driving in Narrow Lanes
Vehicles in adjacent traffic lanes or roadside
objects may be incorrectly detected when
located along the roadway.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When Towing a
Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep hills
or when towing a trailer. ACC will not detect
a vehicle in the lane while driving on steep
hills. The driver will often need to take over
acceleration and braking on steep hills,
especially when towing a trailer. If the
brakes are applied, the ACC disengages.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.PressJ.Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
Jis pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Weather Conditions Affecting ACC
System operation may be limited under
snow, heavy rain, or road spray conditions.
Accessory Installations and Vehicle
Modifications
Do not install or place any object around
the front camera windshield area that would
obstruct the front camera view.
Do not install objects on top of the vehicle
that overhang and obstruct the front
camera, such as a canoe, kayak, or other
items that can be transported on a roof rack
system. See Roof Rack System 088.
Do not modify the hood, headlamps, or fog
lamps, as this may limit the camera’s ability
to detect an object.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield behind
the rearview mirror and the radar sensors
on the front of the vehicle can become blocked by snow, ice, dirt, or mud. These
areas need to be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the
Vehicle” underExterior Care 0337.
System operation may also be limited under
snow, heavy rain, or road spray conditions.
Driver Assistance Systems
This vehicle may have features that work
together to help avoid crashes or reduce
crash damage while driving, backing, and
parking. Read this entire section before
using these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver Assistance
Systems. These systems do not replace
the need for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by these systems.
Failure to use proper care when driving
may result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. See Defensive Driving 0201.
(Continued)

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
244 Driving and Operating
Top Down View :Displays an image of the
area surrounding the vehicle, along with
other views in the infotainment display. Top
Down can be enabled or disabled by
pressing the Top Down View button multiple
times.
Park Assist
With RPA, and if equipped with FPA, as the
vehicle moves at speeds of less than 8 km/h
(5 mph) the sensors on the bumpers may
detect objects up to 2.5 m (8 ft) behind the
vehicle and 1.2 m (4 ft) in front of the
vehicle within a zone 25 cm (10 in) high off
the ground and below bumper level.
These detection distances may be shorter
during warmer or humid weather.
Blocked sensors will not detect objects and
can also cause false detections. Keep the
sensors clean of mud, dirt, snow, ice, and
slush; and clean sensors after a car wash in
freezing temperatures.
{Warning
The Park Assist system does not detect
children, pedestrians, bicyclists, animals,
or objects below the bumper or that are
too close or too far from the vehicle. It is
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
not available at speeds greater than
8 km/h (5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with Park Assist,
always check the area around the vehicle
and check all mirrors before backing.
The instrument cluster may have a Park
Assist display with bars that show “distance
to object” and object location information
for RPA. As the object gets closer, more bars
light up and the bars change color from
yellow to amber to red.
When an object is first detected in the rear,
one beep will be heard from the rear,
or both sides of the Safety Alert Seat will
pulse two times. When an object is very
close (<0.6m (2 ft) in the vehicle rear,
or <0.3m (1 ft) in the vehicle front), five beeps will sound from the rear, or both
sides of the Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, RCTA shows a red warning
triangle with a left or right pointing arrow
on the infotainment display to warn of
traffic coming from the left or right. This
system detects objects coming from up to
20 m (65 ft) from the left or right side of
the vehicle. When an object is detected,
three beeps sound from the left or right,
depending on the direction of the detected
vehicle.
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.
Turning the Features On or Off
To turn RPA on or off, pressXon the
center console. The indicator light next to
the button comes on when the features are
on and turns off when the features have
been disabled.