2021 GMC CANYON automatic transmission

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Introduction 5
1.Air Vents 0169.
2. Trailer Brake Control Panel (If Equipped) (Out of View). See “Integrated Trailer
Brake Control System” underTowing
Equipment 0224.
3. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0105.
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) Controls (If Equipped). See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 94 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 96.
4. Instrument Cluster 081.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer 077.
6. Light Sensor. See Automatic Headlamp
System 0103.
Vehicle Alarm System Indicator (If
Equipped). See Vehicle Alarm System
0 14.
7. Infotainment Controls. See Overview
0 110.
8. Climate Control Systems 0164 (If
Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control System 0166
(If Equipped). 9.
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 025
(If Equipped).
10. Power Outlets 078 (If Equipped).
11. Shift Lever. See Automatic Transmission
0 192 or
Manual Mode 0195.
12. Auxiliary Jack. See the infotainment manual.
USB Port. See the infotainment manual.
13. Hazard Warning Flashers 0104.
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0204.
Exterior Cargo Lamps 0105.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) 0213 (If
Equipped).
Hill Descent Control (HDC) 0205 (If
Equipped).
Tow/Haul Mode 0196 (If Equipped).
14. Steering Wheel Controls 076 (If
Equipped).
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
Controls (If Equipped). See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 94 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 96.
15. Horn 077. 16.
Steering Wheel Adjustment 076 (Out
of View).
17. Cruise Control 0206.
18. Transfer Case Knob (If Equipped). See Four-Wheel Drive 0197.
19. Hood Release. See Hood0236.
20. Parking Brake 0203.
21. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 087.
22. Exterior Lamp Controls 0102.
Fog Lamps 0105 (If Equipped).
23. Instrument Panel Illumination Control
0106.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 13
WhenQis pressed on the power door lock
switch with the door open, a chime will
sound three times indicating that delayed
locking is active.
The doors will then lock automatically
five seconds after all doors are closed. If a
door is reopened before five seconds have
elapsed, the five-second timer will reset once
all the doors are closed again.
Press
Qon the door lock switch again,
or press
Qon the RKE transmitter, to
override this feature and lock the doors
immediately.
Delayed locking can be programmed. See
Vehicle Personalization 099.
Automatic Door Locks
If equipped, the doors will lock
automatically when all doors are closed, the
ignition is on, and the shift lever is moved
out of P (Park). If a vehicle door is unlocked
and then opened and closed, the doors will
lock either when your foot is removed from
the brake or the vehicle speed becomes
faster than 13 km/h (8 mph).
To unlock the doors:
.PressKon a power door lock switch.
.Shift the transmission into P (Park).
Automatic door locking cannot be disabled.
Automatic door unlocking can be
programmed. See Vehicle Personalization
0 99.
Lockout Protection
When locking is requested with the driver
door open and the key in the ignition, all
the doors will lock and then the driver door
will unlock. This can be manually overridden
by pressing and holding
Qon the power
door lock switch.
Open Door Anti-Lockout
If Open Door Anti-Lockout has been turned
on and the vehicle is off, the driver door is
open, and locking is requested, all the doors
will lock and the driver door will remain
unlocked. The Open Door Anti-Lockout
feature can be turned on or off. See Vehicle
Personalization 099.
Safety Locks
If equipped, the rear door safety locks
prevent passengers from opening the rear
doors from inside the vehicle.
Press{to activate the safety locks on the
rear doors. The indicator light comes on
when activated. The vehicle must be on, in
ACC/ACCESSORY, or in Retained Accessory
Power (RAP). See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0190.
If the indicator light flashes, the feature
may not be working properly.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Instruments and Controls 95
Fuel Range :Displays the approximate
distance the vehicle can be driven without
refueling. The fuel range estimate is based
on an average of the vehicle's fuel economy
over recent driving history and the amount
of fuel remaining in the fuel tank. Fuel
range cannot be reset.
Average Vehicle Speed : Displays the
average vehicle speed of the vehicle in
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph). This average is based on the
various vehicle speeds recorded since the
last reset. Reset the average speed by
pressing SET/CLR when it is displayed.
Timer : To start the timer, press SET/CLR
while Timer is displayed. The display will
show the amount of time that has passed
since the timer was last reset, not including
time the ignition is off. Time will continue
to be counted as long as the ignition is on,
even if another display is being shown on
the DIC. The timer will record up to
99 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds
(99:59:59) after which the display will return
to zero. To stop the timer, press SET/CLR
briefly while Timer is displayed. To reset the
timer to zero, press and hold SET/CLR.
Blank Display : Displays no information.Vehicle Information Menu (VEHICLE)
Items
Press MENU on the turn signal lever until
the VEHICLE menu is displayed. Use
w x
to scroll through the menu items. Not all
items are available on every vehicle. The
following is a list of all possible menu items:
Remaining Oil Life : Displays an estimate of
the oil's remaining useful life. If REMAINING
OIL LIFE 99% is displayed, that means 99%
of the current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message will
appear on the display. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See Engine Oil
0 240. In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this manual. See
Maintenance Schedule 0310.
The Oil Life display must be reset after each
oil change. Do not reset the Oil Life display
accidentally at any time other than when
the oil has just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil change. To
reset the engine oil life system, see Engine
Oil Life System 0242. Oil Pressure :
Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi).
Tire Pressure : Displays a vehicle with the
approximate pressures of all four tires. Tire
pressure is displayed in either
kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per square
inch (psi). See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 273 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0274.
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 087. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message.
Engine Hours : Shows the total number of
hours the engine has run.
Transmission Fluid Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid in either degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake (If Equipped) : TRAILER GAIN
shows the trailer gain setting. This setting
can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
98 Instruments and Controls
Instantaneous Fuel Economy :Displays the
current fuel economy in liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles per
gallon (mpg). This number reflects only the
approximate fuel economy that the vehicle
has right now and changes frequently as
driving conditions change. This display
cannot be reset.
Average Vehicle Speed : Displays the
average vehicle speed of the vehicle in
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph). This average is based on the
various vehicle speeds recorded since the
last reset. Reset the average speed by
pressing
Vwhen it is displayed.
Fuel Economy : The center displays the
approximate instantaneous fuel economy as
a number and bar graph. Displayed above
the bar graph is a running average of fuel
economy for the most recently traveled
selected distance. Displayed below the bar
graph is the best average fuel economy that
has been achieved for the selected distance.
The selected distance is displayed at the top
of the page as “last xxx mi/km.”
Press
Vto select the distance or reset best
value. Use
wandxto choose the
distance and press
V. Presswandxto select
“Reset Best Score.” Press
Vto reset
the best average fuel economy. After reset,
the best value displays “-,-”until the
selected distance has been traveled.
The display provides information on how
current driving behavior affects the running
average and how well recent driving
compares to the best that has been
achieved for the selected distance.
Engine Hours (Hourmeter) : Shows the total
number of hours the engine has run. This
display also shows the engine idle hours.
Timer : This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press
Vwhile this
display is active. The display will show the
amount of time that has passed since the
timer was last reset. To stop the timer,
press
Vbriefly while this display is active
and the timer is running. To reset the timer
to zero, press and hold
Vwhile this display
is active.
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 087. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message. Oil Pressure :
Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi).
Engine Hours : Shows the total number of
hours the engine has run.
Transmission Fluid Temperature : Shows the
temperature of the automatic transmission
fluid in either degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Trailer Brake (If Equipped) : TRAILER GAIN
shows the trailer gain setting. This setting
can be adjusted from 0.0 to 10.0 with either
a trailer connected or disconnected.
OUTPUT shows the power output to the
trailer anytime a trailer with electric brakes
is connected. Output is displayed as a bar
graph. Dashes may appear in the OUTPUT
display if a trailer is not connected.
Blank Page : Shows no information.
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.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Infotainment System 153
.Sort Contacts: Touch to sort by first or
last name.
.Re-sync Device Contacts:
This allows the device contacts to re-sync
if you are having difficulty accessing all of
the contacts on your cell phone.
.Delete All Vehicle Contacts: Touch to
delete all vehicle stored contacts.
.OnStar Phone TTY Mode: This enables
OnStar cell phone TTY mode.
Touch Disable or Enable.
Vehicle
This menu allows adjustment of different
vehicle features. SeeVehicle Personalization
0 99.
Teen Driver
If equipped, this allows multiple keys to be
registered for beginner drivers to encourage
safe driving habits. When the vehicle is
started with a Teen Driver key, it will
automatically activate certain safety
systems, allow setting of some features, and
limit the use of others. The Report Card will
record vehicle data about driving behavior
that can be viewed later. When the vehicle is started with a registered key, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) displays a message
that Teen Driver is active.
To access:
1. Touch Settings on the Home Page, then touch Vehicle, and then Teen Driver.
2. Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by choosing a four-digit PIN.
Re-enter the PIN to confirm. To change
the PIN, touch Change PIN.
The PIN is required to:
.Register or unregister keys.
.Change Teen Driver settings.
.Change or clear the Teen Driver PIN.
.Access or delete Report Card data.
Register keys to activate Teen Driver and
assign restrictions to the key:
Any vehicle key can be registered, up to a
maximum of eight keys. Label the key to
tell it apart from the other keys.
For a pushbutton start system: 1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For manual
transmissions, the vehicle must be
stopped with the parking brake set. 3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle
and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Place the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter key you wish to register in
the transmitter pocket. The key does not
need to be the one that started the
vehicle. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 09for transmitter
pocket location.
6. From the Teen Driver menu, touch Setup Keys.
.If the transmitter key has not
previously been registered, the option
to add the key displays. Touch Setup
and a confirmation message displays.
Teen Driver restrictions will be
applied whenever this key is used to
operate the vehicle.
.If the transmitter key has already
been registered, the option to
remove the key displays. If Remove is
touched, the transmitter key is no
longer registered. A confirmation
message displays, and Teen Driver
restrictions will not be applied if this
transmitter key is used to operate
the vehicle.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
154 Infotainment System
In vehicles with a pushbutton start system,
if a Teen Driver and a non-Teen Driver key
are both present at start up, the vehicle will
recognize the non-Teen Driver key to start
the vehicle. The Teen Driver settings will not
be active.
For a keyed ignition system:1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For manual
transmissions, the vehicle must be
stopped with the parking brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Touch Setup Keys. The system displays instructions for registering or
unregistering a key. A confirmation
message displays.
Manage Settings
Audio Volume Limit : Allows the audio
volume limit to be turned on or off. Touch
Set Audio Volume Limit to choose the
maximum allowable audio volume level. Set Audio Volume Limit :
Allows a
maximum radio volume to be set. Use the
arrows to choose the maximum allowable
level for the audio volume.
Teen Driver Speed Limiter : Limits the
maximum speed of the vehicle. When the
speed limiter is turned on and the vehicle is
started with a Teen Driver key, the DIC
displays a message that the top speed is
limited.
On certain vehicles, when the Speed Limiter
is turned ON, the vehicle’s maximum
acceleration will be limited. The DIC will
display a message that the acceleration is
limited.
Teen Driver Speed Warning : Allows the
speed warning to be turned on or off. Touch
Set Teen Driver Speed Warning to set the
warning speed.
Set Teen Driver Speed Warning : Displays a
warning in the DIC when exceeding a
selectable speed. Choose the desired speed
warning level. The speed warning does not
limit the speed of the vehicle.
SiriusXM Explicit Content Filter (if
equipped) : Allows the SiriusXM Explicit
Content Filter to be turned ON or OFF.
When ON, the teen driver will not be able to listen to SiriusXM stations that contain
explicit content, and the Explicit Content
Filter selection in the Audio Settings will be
unavailable for change.
When Teen Driver is Active:
.If equipped with Buckle to Drive, shifting
out of P (Park) will be prevented if the
driver seat belt, and in some vehicles the
front passenger seat belt, is not buckled.
.The radio will mute when the driver seat
belt, and in some vehicles the front
passenger seat belt, is not buckled. The
audio from any device paired to the
vehicle will also be muted.
.An object placed on the front passenger
seat, such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic
device, could cause the passenger sensing
system to falsely sense an unbuckled
front passenger and mute the radio.
If this happens, remove the object from
the seat. See
Passenger Sensing System
0 39.
.Some safety systems, such as Forward
Collision Alert, if equipped, cannot be
turned off.
.The gap setting for the Forward Collision
Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control,
if equipped, cannot be changed.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
170 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 171
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 185
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 190
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 191
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 192
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 202
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . 211 Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 213
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 216
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 232

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14430430) - 2021 - CRC - 9/9/20
Driving and Operating 175
Warning (Continued)
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading the
vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits 0180 and
Tires 0266.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that have been set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn 0191.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of what the
vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for any
vehicle. Driving up hills can cause the
vehicle to stall. Driving down hills can
cause loss of control. Driving across hills
can cause a rollover. You could be injured
or killed. Do not drive on steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions. If the
terrain ahead cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before driving
further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up or down
the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the top of
the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the day to
make the vehicle more visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high speed
can cause a crash. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be seriously
injured or killed. As you near the top of a
hill, slow down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or backward
with either the transmission or transfer
case in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose control.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two-speed
automatic or electronic transfer case,
shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral)
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in P (Park). This is because
the N (Neutral) position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission. You or
someone else could be injured. If leaving
the vehicle, set the parking brake and
shift the transmission to P (Park). Shift
the transfer case to any position but
N (Neutral).