2021 GMC ACADIA all wheel drive

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 253
Ais green if LKA is ready to assist. LKA
may assist by gently turning the steering
wheel if the vehicle approaches a detected
lane marking.
Ais amber when
assisting. It may also provide a Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) alert by flashing
Aamber if the vehicle crosses a
detected lane marking. Additionally, there
may be three beeps on the right or left,
depending on the lane departure direction.
Take Steering
The LKA system does not continuously steer
the vehicle. If LKA does not detect active
driver steering, an alert and chime may be
provided. Steer the vehicle to dismiss. LKA
may become temporarily unavailable after
repeated take steering alerts.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The system performance may be
affected by:
.Close vehicles ahead.
.Sudden lighting changes, such as when
driving through tunnels.
.Banked roads.
.Roads with poor lane markings, such as
two-lane roads. If the LKA system is not functioning
properly when lane markings are clearly
visible, cleaning the windshield may help.
A camera blocked message may display if
the camera is blocked. Some driver
assistance systems may have reduced
performance or not work at all. An LKA or
LDW unavailable message may display if the
systems are temporarily unavailable. This
message could be due to a blocked camera.
The LKA system does not need service. Clean
the outside of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror.
LKA assistance and/or LDW alerts may occur
due to tar marks, shadows, cracks in the
road, temporary or construction lane
markings, or other road imperfections. This
is normal system operation; the vehicle does
not need service. Turn LKA off if these
conditions continue.
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline to keep the engine clean,
reduce engine deposits, and maintain
optimal vehicle performance. Look for the
TOP TIER Logo or see www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
marketers and applicable countries.
Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 87
—(R+M)/2 —or higher.
Do not use gasoline with a posted octane
rating of less than 87, as this may cause
engine knock and will lower fuel economy.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
258 Driving and Operating
Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts
and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing Equipment0262. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check the trailer brakes
work. During the trip, occasionally check
that the cargo and trailer are secure and
that the lamps and any trailer brakes are
working.
Towing with a Stability Control System
When towing, the stability control system
might be heard. The system reacts to
vehicle movement caused by the trailer,
which mainly occurs during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle
ahead as you would when driving without a
trailer. This can help to avoid heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination of the
vehicle and trailer will not accelerate as
quickly and is much longer than the vehicle
alone. It is necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before returning
to the lane. Pass on level roadways. Avoid
passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. To move the trailer to the left,
move that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move that hand to the
right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make wider arcs
when towing a trailer to prevent damage
to your vehicle. Making very sharp turns
could cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle. Make wider turns than normal when towing,
so the trailer will not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road signs, trees,
or other objects. Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes may overheat and
result in reduced braking efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes, engine
coolant will boil at a lower temperature
than at lower altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle
could show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine
run, preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine
Overheating 0285.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 259
Viewing Systems
If equipped, the viewing systems on the
vehicle can improve visibility while hitching,
backing, and driving with a trailer. See
Driver Assistance Systems0239 and
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing
0 241.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your trailer
on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the wheels into
the curb if facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the
parking brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal:
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0346. It is especially important to
check the engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system before
and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and bolts on
the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0285.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs
not covered by the vehicle warranty. To
tow a trailer correctly, follow the
directions in this section and see your
dealer for important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity for
your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature, dimensions of the front of the
trailer, and how frequently the vehicle is
used to tow a trailer.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Driving and Operating 265
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer turn
signals should 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.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul
mode, seeDriver Mode Control 0228.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0224.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of the
vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0259.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when towing
a heavy trailer or carrying a large or
heavy load:
.through rolling terrain
.in stop-and-go traffic
.in busy parking lots Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode
when lightly loaded or not towing will not
cause damage; however, it is not
recommended and may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) have a Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) feature. Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while towing.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is increasing, the vehicle
brakes are selectively applied at each wheel,
to help reduce excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the trailer has an
electric brake system, StabiliTrak/ESC may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/ESC warning light
will flash on the instrument cluster. Reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0
226.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash and in
serious injury or death, even if the
vehicle is equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway, reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. Then pull over
to check the trailer and vehicle to help
correct possible causes, including an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
unrestrained cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly inflated or
incorrect vehicle or trailer tires. See
Towing Equipment 0262 for trailer
ratings and hitch setup recommendations.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 267
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 268
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 268
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 269
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 293
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 296
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . 304
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 310
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313 When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . 314
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 316
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 316
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 318
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . 320
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 332
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 287
Caution (Continued)
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound means
that soon the brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash. When the
brake wear warning sound is heard, have
the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
linings could result in costly brake
repairs.
Some driving conditions or climates can
cause a brake squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up following several
applications. 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 linings for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the proper
sequence to torque specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications 0359.
Brake pads should be replaced as complete
axle 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 can
change in many ways if the wrong 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 0271 for the
location of the reservoir.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 289
It has an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt
battery. Installation of a standard 12-volt
battery will result in reduced 12-volt
battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery charger on the
12-volt AGM battery, some chargers have an
AGM battery setting on the charger.
If available, use the AGM setting on the
charger, to limit charge voltage to 14.8 volts.
{Warning
WARNING:Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0268
and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. See Jump
Starting - North America 0332 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to keep
the battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving conditions, transfer
case fluid does not require maintenance
unless there is a fluid leak or unusual noise.
If required, have the transfer case serviced
by your dealer.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and property
could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it
begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle
facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's holding
ability: With the engine running and the
transmission in N (Neutral), slowly remove
foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by
the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the parking brake
followed by the regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is required.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Vehicle Care 297
The vehicle may not be equipped with all of
the fuses, relays, and features shown.Fuses Usage
F1 Body control module 6
F2 Diagnostic link/Central gateway module
F3 Electric steering column lock
F4 –
F5 Logistics
F6 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
F7 Body control module 3
F8 Park aid/Electronic range select hybrid
F9 Front passenger heated seat
F10 Airbag/Seat belt F11 –
F12 Amplifier
F13 Body control module 7
F14 Driver heated seat F15 Instrument panel switch bank
F16 Sunroof Fuses Usage
F17 Body control module 1
F18 Instrument cluster/Head up display
F19 –
F20 Rear seat entertainment F21 Body control module 4
F22 Infotainment USB data/ Aux jack
F23 Body control module 2
F24 USB charger/Wireless charging
F25 Park aid/Electronic transmission range
system
F26 CIM F27 Video/Night vision module
F28 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
display
F29 Radio
F30 Steering wheel adjustment controls