GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
Instruments and Controls 99
This light should come on briefly as the
engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it means
that oil is not flowing through the engine
properly. The vehicle could be low on oil
and might have some other system
problem. See your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
Base Level English Shown, Metric Similar
Uplevel
A Low Fuel Warning Light near the fuel
gauge comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is working.
It also comes on when the fuel gauge
indicator nears empty. The light turns off
when fuel is added. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced.
Security Light
The security light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off. If the light stays on and the engine does
not start, there could be a problem with the
theft-deterrent system. See
Immobilizer
Operation 023.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the high-beam
headlamps are in use. See Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer 0117.
IntelliBeam Light
This light comes on when the IntelliBeam
system, if equipped, is enabled. See Exterior
Lamp Controls 0116.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
Instruments and Controls 103
Midlevel DIC
Info Page Options
The info pages on the DIC can be turned on
or off through the Options menu.1. Press
oto access the cluster
applications.
2. Press
worxto scroll to the Options
application.
3. Press
Vto enter the Options menu.
4. Scroll to Info Pages and press
p.
5. Press
worxto move through the list
of possible information displays.
6. Press
Vwhile an item is highlighted to
select or deselect that item. When an
item is selected, a checkmark will appear
next to it.
Info Pages
The following is the list of all possible DIC
info page displays. Some may not be
available for your particular vehicle. Some
items may not be turned on by default but
can be turned on through the Options app.
See “Info Page Options” earlier in this
section. Speed :
Shows the vehicle speed in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph).
Trip A or Trip B : Shows the current distance
traveled, in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi), since the trip odometer was last
reset.
This also shows the approximate average
liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles
per gallon (mpg). This number is calculated
based on the number of L/100 km (mpg)
recorded since the last time this menu item
was reset. This number reflects only the
approximate average fuel economy that the
vehicle has right now, and will change as
driving conditions change.
Press and hold
Vwhile this display is active
to reset the trip odometer and the average
fuel economy. Trip A and Trip B can also be
reset by pressing
pand choosing reset.
Fuel Information or Fuel Range : Shows the
approximate distance the vehicle can be
driven without refueling. LOW will be
displayed when the vehicle is low on fuel.
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. Oil Life :
Shows 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
0 262. In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended. See
Maintenance Schedule 0331.
The Oil Life display must be reset after each
oil change. It will not reset itself. Do not to
reset the Oil Life display at any time other
than when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until the next
oil change. To reset, see Engine Oil Life
System 0264.
Tire Pressure : Shows the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 294 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0295.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
Instruments and Controls 105
engine speed, outside temperature, and oil
viscosity. On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according to engine
needs. Oil pressure may change quickly as
the engine speed or load varies. This is
normal. If the oil pressure warning light or
Driver Information Center (DIC) message
indicates oil pressure outside the normal
operating range, check the vehicle's oil as
soon as possible.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel)
The DIC displays are shown in the center of
the instrument cluster in the Info App.
SeeInstrument Cluster (Base and Midlevel)
0 85 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 088. The
displays show the status of many vehicle
systems.worx: Press to move up or down in
a list.
oorp: Press to move between the
interactive display zones in the cluster.
V: Press to open a menu or select a menu
item. Press and hold to reset values on
certain screens.
Info Page Options
The info pages on the DIC can be turned on
or off through the Options menu.
1. Press
oorpto scroll to the Options
application.
2. Press
worxto scroll to the Info Page
Options and press
V. 3. Press
worxto move through the list
of possible information displays.
4. Press
Vwhile an item is highlighted to
select or deselect that item. When an
item is selected, a checkmark will appear
next to it.
Info Pages
The following is the list of all possible DIC
info page displays. Some may not be
available for your particular vehicle. Some
items may not be turned on by default but
can be turned on through the Options app.
See “Info Page Options” earlier in this
section.
Speed : Shows the vehicle speed in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph). If equipped, press
Vto open
the menu and select to display speed limit
signs. The sign will show “− −”when there
is no detected speed limit or the system is
unavailable.
Speed Limit : Shows sign information, which
comes from a roadway database in the
onboard navigation, if equipped. The sign
will show “− −”when there is no detected
speed limit or the system is unavailable.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Instruments and Controls 107
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.
Average 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
Vwhile this
display is active to show a confirmation
window to select yes or no and press
V. Timer :
This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press
Vto open the
menu while this display is active. Use
w
andxto select Start Timer or Reset. Press
V. To stop the timer, pressVwhile this
display is active. The display will show the
amount of time that has passed since the
timer was last reset.
Follow Distance/Gap Setting : If equipped,
the current follow time to the vehicle ahead
is displayed as a time value on this page.
When Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has
been engaged, the display switches to the
gap setting page. This page shows the
current gap setting along with the vehicle
ahead indicator.
Driver Assistance : If equipped, shows
information for Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane
Departure Warning (LDW), and Forward
Collision Alert (FCA).
Battery Voltage : Displays the current
battery voltage, if equipped. Battery voltage
changes are normal while driving. See
Charging System Light 093. If there is a
problem with the battery charging system, a
DIC will display a message. Coolant Temperature :
Displays the coolant
temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
Economy Trend : Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press
Vto open
the menu while this display is active to clear
the graph. Select yes or no and press
V.
Oil Pressure : Oil pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). Oil pressure can vary with
engine speed, outside temperature, and oil
viscosity. On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according to engine
needs. Oil pressure may change quickly as
the engine speed or load varies. This is
normal. If the oil pressure warning light or
DIC message indicates oil pressure outside
the normal operating range, check the
vehicle's oil as soon as possible.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
Driving and Operating 193
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Ice conditions vary
greatly and the vehicle could fall through
the ice; you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could roll
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing water if it
is deep enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles, or exhaust pipe. Deep water can
damage the axle and other vehicle parts.If the standing water is not too deep, drive
through it slowly. At faster speeds, water
can get into the engine and cause it to stall.
Stalling can occur if the exhaust pipe is
under water. Do not turn off the ignition
when driving through water. If the exhaust
pipe is under water, the engine will not
start. When going through water, the brakes
get wet and it may take longer to stop. See
Driving on Wet Roads
0193.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These accumulations can
be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the
brake linings cleaned and checked. These
substances can cause glazing and uneven
braking. Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage and check the fuel lines
and cooling system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service is
required. See the Maintenance Schedule
0 331.
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
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
212 Driving and Operating
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking assists
when driving downhill. It maintains vehicle
speed by automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle. The system
will automatically command downshifts to
reduce vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle is on a
low grade or when the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
While in the Electronic Range Select (ERS)
mode, grade braking is deactivated, allowing
the driver to select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade braking is
available for normal driving and in Tow/
Haul Mode.
SeeAutomatic Transmission 0208.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
For information on All-Wheel Drive (AWD),
see Driver Mode Control 0218.
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when the
vehicle is first driven. A momentary motor
or clicking noise may be heard while this
test is going on, and the brake pedal may
move slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 096.
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 Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-14420055) - 2021 - CRC - 11/13/20
256 Driving and Operating
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is used for
vehicle service and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 093.
A device connected to the DLC —such as
an aftermarket fleet or driver-behavior
tracking device —may interfere with
vehicle systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored in the
vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can damage
the vehicle or cause components to not
work and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the vehicle's
12-volt battery, even if the vehicle is not
operating. The vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to the
vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 055 and
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 056.
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual(GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 257
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 258
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 258
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 259
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 281
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 284
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 285
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 294 Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 295
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 299
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 301
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 301
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 302
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . 305
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 316
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328