GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
Instruments and Controls 91
If equipped with auto heated seats, the
heated steering wheel will turn on when the
auto heated seat is activated. The heated
steering wheel indicator will display the
state of the steering wheel heat.
SeeHeated and Ventilated Front Seats 041
and
Vehicle Personalization 0123.
Horn
Pressaon the steering wheel pad to
sound the horn.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
With the ignition on or in ACC/ACCESSORY,
move the windshield wiper lever to select
the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Move the windshield wiper lever to
INT. Turn the band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move the
wiper lever down. For several wipes, hold
the wiper lever down.
f: Pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you to spray windshield washer fluid
and activate the windshield wipers. The
wipers will continue until the lever is
released or the maximum wash time is
reached. When the windshield wiper lever is
released, additional wipes may occur
depending on how long the windshield
washer had been activated. See Washer
Fluid 0286 for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
{Warning
In freezing weather, do not use the
washer until the windshield is warmed.
Otherwise the washer fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking your vision.
{Warning
Before driving the vehicle, always clear
snow and ice from the hood, windshield,
roof, and rear of the vehicle, including all
lamps and windows. Reduced visibility
from snow and ice buildup could lead to
a crash.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper blades
and windshield before using them. If frozen
to the windshield, carefully loosen or thaw
them. Damaged blades should be replaced.
See Wiper Blade Replacement 0290.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper
motor. See Electrical System Overload 0292.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are on LO, HI, or INT, they will
immediately stop.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
92 Instruments and Controls
If the windshield wiper lever is then moved
to OFF before the driver door is opened or
within 10 minutes, the wipers will restart
and move to the base of the windshield.
If the ignition is turned off while the wipers
are performing wipes due to windshield
washing, the wipers continue to run until
they reach the base of the windshield.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
The rear window wiper/washer controls are
on the end of the windshield wiper lever.
Turn the controls to adjust the setting.
OFF :Turns the wiper off.
INT : Turns on the rear wiper with a delay
between wipes.
ON : Turns on the rear wiper.
1:Push the windshield wiper lever
forward to spray washer fluid on the rear
window. The wipers will clear the rear
window and either stop or return to your
preset speed. For more washer cycles, press
and hold the lever.
The rear window wiper/washer will not
operate if the liftgate is open or ajar. If the
liftgate is opened while the rear wiper is on,
the wiper returns to the parked position and
stops.
Rear Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
When using an automatic car wash, move
the rear wiper control to OFF to disable the
rear wiper. In some vehicles, if the
transmission is in N (Neutral) and the
vehicle speed is very slow, the rear wiper
will automatically park.
The wiper operations return to normal when
the transmission is no longer in N (Neutral)
or the vehicle speed has increased.
Reverse Gear Wipes
If the rear wiper control is off, the rear
wiper will automatically operate
continuously when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse) and the front windshield wiper is
performing low or high speed wipes. If the
rear wiper control is off, the vehicle is in R (Reverse), and the front windshield wiper
is performing interval wipes, then the rear
wiper automatically performs interval wipes.
This feature can be turned on or off. See
Vehicle Personalization
0123.
The windshield washer reservoir is used for
the windshield and the rear window. Check
the fluid level in the reservoir if either
washer is not working. See Washer Fluid
0 286.
Rear Camera Washer
If equipped, push the windshield wiper lever
forward to spray washer fluid on the rear
camera lens. The lever returns to its starting
position when released. See Rear Camera
Mirror 028.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass display on
the Driver Information Center (DIC). The
compass receives its heading and other
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14608671) - 2021 - CRC - 10/26/20
122 Instruments and Controls
Navigation Turn-by-Turn Alerts shown in the
instrument cluster may also be displayed in
any HUD view.
Metric
English
Performance View : This displays digital
speed, indicators from speed view along
with rpm reading, transmission positions,
and gear shift indicator (if equipped).
Care of the HUD
Clean the inside of the windshield as needed
to remove any dirt or film that could reduce
the sharpness or clarity of the HUD image. Clean the HUD lens with a soft cloth
sprayed with glass cleaner. Wipe the lens
gently, then dry it.
HUD Troubleshooting
If you cannot see the HUD image when the
ignition is on, check that:
.Nothing is covering the HUD lens.
.The HUD brightness setting is not too
dim or too bright.
.The HUD is adjusted to the proper height.
.Polarized sunglasses are not worn.
.The windshield and HUD lens are clean.
If the HUD image is not correct, contact
your dealer.
The windshield is part of the HUD system.
See Windshield Replacement 0290.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC indicate the
status of the vehicle or some action that
may be needed to correct a condition.
Multiple messages may appear one after
another. The messages that do not require
immediate action can be acknowledged and
cleared by pressing
V. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken seriously;
clearing the message does not correct the
problem.
If a SERVICE message appears, see your
dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays messages
regarding the following topics:
.Service Messages
.Fluid Levels
.Vehicle Security
.Brakes
.Steering
.Ride Control Systems
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Driving and Operating 207
More frequent maintenance service is
required. SeeMaintenance Schedule 0346.
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.
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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires 0300.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD) mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0228.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in good
shape.
.Check all fluid levels, brakes, tires, cooling
system, and transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a
long downhill slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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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
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272 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0279.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0276.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0276.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0281.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 287.
6. Battery - North America 0288.
7. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0281.
8. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0332.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0286.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0293.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0332.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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274 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0279.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0276.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0276.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0281.
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0286.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 287.
7. Battery - North America 0288.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0281.
9. Positive (+) Battery Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0332.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0293.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0332.
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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276 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0279.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0276.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0276.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0281.
5. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0286.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 287.
7. Battery - North America 0288.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0281.
9. Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0332.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0293.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North America 0332.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance and
long life, careful attention must be paid to
engine oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly and
maintain the proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate
time. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0278.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0271 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.