
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-15170041) - 2022 - CRC - 10/6/21
196 Climate Controls
There is also an exterior temperature sensor
behind the front grille. This sensor reads the
outside air temperature and helps maintain
the temperature inside the vehicle. Any
cover on the front of the vehicle, could
cause a false reading in the displayed
temperature.
The climate control system uses the
information from these sensors to maintain
comfort settings by adjusting the outlet
temperature, fan speed, and air delivery
mode. The system may also supply cooler
air to the side of the vehicle facing the sun.
The recirculation mode will also be used as
needed to maintain cool outlet
temperatures.
Afterblow Feature
Under certain conditions, the fan may stay
on or may turn on and off several times
after you turn off and lock the vehicle. This
is normal.Rear Climate Control System
If equipped, the rear climate control system
is on the rear of the center console storage.
The rear climate settings can be adjusted
with this system.
1. Fan Control
2. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
3. MODE (Air Delivery Mode Control)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control)
5. Heated Rear Seats (If Equipped)
Rear Climate Control Display
1. Outside Temperature Display
2. Rear Climate Temperature Control
3. Fan Control
4. SYNC (Synchronized Temperatures)
5. REAR
O(On/Off)
6. Rear Auto (Automatic Operation)
7. Rear Control Lockout
8. Air Delivery Mode Control
REAR
O: Touch REAROto turn the rear
climate control on or off.
SYNC : Touch SYNC on the display to match
the rear climate control temperature to the
front climate control driver temperature. The

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Climate Controls 197
SYNC button will be lit. Adjust the rear
climate control temperature to change the
linked temperature. The SYNC button
turns off.
Rear Control Lockout :Touch Rear Control
Lockout on the display to lock or unlock
control of the rear climate control system
from the front seat. When locked the rear
climate control cannot be adjusted from the
rear climate controls.
Automatic Operation
AUTO : Touch AUTO or Rear Auto on the
display to automatically control air delivery
and fan speed. A is indicated in the display
when automatic operation is active. If any
of the climate control settings are manually
adjusted, this cancels full automatic
operation.
The display only indicates climate control
functions when the system is in rear
independent mode. When SYNC is active the
display is not shown.
Manual Operation
9: Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise, or touch and hold the fan
control on the display to increase or
decrease the fan speed. TEMP :
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise, or touch and hold the
temperature controls on the display to
adjust the rear passenger temperature. If
SYNC is lit, the rear climate temperature is
linked to the driver temperature setting.
Y/\/Yor MODE : Touch the desired
mode button on the display or press MODE
on the rear climate controls to change the
direction of the airflow in the rear seating
area. Repeatedly touch MODE until the
desired mode appears on the display.
MorL: If equipped, pressMorLto
heat the left or right outboard seat. See
Heated Rear Seats 046.
Air Vents
To adjust the center and side air outlets on
the instrument panel, use the slider switch
in the center of the outlet to change the
direction of the airflow and also to shut off
the airflow.
There may be outlets overhead in the rear
passenger area; adjust as needed.
Keep all outlets open whenever possible for
best system performance.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
the air inlets at the base of the
windshield that can block the flow of air
into the vehicle.
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
can adversely affect the performance of
the system.
.Keep the path under all seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside the
vehicle more effectively.
.If fogging reoccurs while inYor\
modes with mild temperature throughout
the vehicle, turn on the air conditioner to
reduce windshield fogging.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air filter
reduces dust, pollen, and other airborne
irritants from outside air that is pulled into
the vehicle. The filter will need to be
replaced periodically. See Maintenance
Schedule 0348.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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198 Climate Controls
Using the climate control system without an
air filter installed is not recommended.
Water or other debris could enter the
system and result in leaks or noises. Always
install a new filter when removing the old
filter.
For more information on filter replacement,
see your dealer.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood that
identifies the refrigerant used in the vehicle.
The refrigerant system should only be
serviced by trained and certified technicians.
The air conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be replaced
by a new evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants should be
reclaimed with proper equipment. Venting
refrigerants directly to the atmosphere is
harmful to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires periodic
maintenance. SeeMaintenance Schedule
0 348.

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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208 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0227.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves
vehicle stability during hard stops, but
the brakes should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0224.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden
steering maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode for
vehicles equipped with AWD. Select
Snow/Ice Mode for FWD only vehicles.
See Driver Mode Control 0229 and
All-Wheel Drive 0224.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and signal
for help. Stay with the vehicle unless there
is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 368. To get help and keep everyone in
the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the
vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to
get inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on
the vehicle side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
(Continued)

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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220 Driving and Operating
Engine Exhaust{
Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or smelled.
Exposure to CO can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas with poor
ventilation (parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or sounds strange
or different.
.The exhaust system leaks due to
corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system has been
modified, damaged, or improperly
repaired.
.There are holes or openings in the
vehicle body from damage or
aftermarket modifications that are not
completely sealed. (Continued)
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
0 218 and
Engine Exhaust 0220.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 258.
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).

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Driving and Operating 223
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. 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

GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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240 Driving and Operating
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 0338.
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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Failure to use proper care when driving
may result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. SeeDefensive Driving 0201.
Under many conditions, these systems
will not:
.Detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
.Detect vehicles or objects outside the
area monitored by the system.
.Work at all driving speeds.
.Warn you or provide you with enough
time to avoid a crash.
.Work under poor visibility or bad
weather conditions.
.Work if the detection sensor is not
cleaned or is covered by ice, snow,
mud, or dirt.
.Work if the detection sensor is
covered up, such as with a sticker,
magnet, or metal plate.
.Work if the area surrounding the
detection sensor is damaged or not
properly repaired. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Complete attention is always required
while driving, and you should be ready to
take action and apply the brakes and/or
steer the vehicle to avoid crashes.
Audible or Safety Alert Seat
Some driver assistance features alert the
driver of obstacles by beeping. To change
the volume of the warning chime, see
“Comfort and Convenience” underVehicle
Personalization 0124.
If equipped with the Safety Alert Seat, the
driver seat cushion may provide a vibrating
pulse alert instead of beeping. To change
this, see “Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0124.
Cleaning
Depending on vehicle options, keep these
areas of the vehicle clean to ensure the best
driver assistance feature performance. Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages may
display when the systems are unavailable or
blocked.

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Driving and Operating 245
When an object is first detected in the rear,
one beep will be heard from the rear, or the
driver's seat will pulse two times,
if equipped with Safety Alert Seat. When an
object is very close, five beeps will sound
from the front or rear (depending on the
object's location), or the driver's seat will
pulse five times. Beeps for front are higher
pitched than the rear.
Turning the System On and Off
The Park Assist System can be turned on or
off using the infotainment system. See
Vehicle Personalization0124.
The
Xbutton is used to turn on or off
the Park Assist, which also turns on or off
the Backing Warning and Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB) at the same time. When the system is turned off, a system off message
is shown on the display. This message
disappears after a short period of time.
Turn off Park Assist when towing a trailer to
prevent unwanted beeps and when a bike
rack is attached to ensure proper operation.
When the System Does Not Seem to Work
Properly
If a service message displays, check the
following conditions:
.The sensors may not be clean. Keep the
vehicle's front and rear bumpers free of
mud, dirt, snow, ice, and slush. For
cleaning instructions, see
Exterior Care
0 338.
.The Park Assist sensors may be covered
by frost or ice. Frost or ice can form
around and behind the sensors and may
not always be seen; this can occur after
washing the vehicle in cold weather. The
message may not clear until the frost or
ice has melted.
If a service message displays and the above
conditions do not exist, take the vehicle to
your dealer for repairs. If the Park Assist System does not activate
due to a temporary condition, a system off
message is shown on the display. This can
occur under the following conditions:
.The driver has disabled the system.
.An object is currently blocking the rear
sensors (for example, bike rack, tailgate,
trailer hitch, etc.). Once the object is
removed, Park Assist will return to normal
operation.
.The bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle
to your dealer for repairs.
.Other conditions, such as vibrations from
a jackhammer or the compression of air
brakes on a very large truck, are affecting
system performance.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
System
If equipped, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
displays 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, either three beeps sound from
the left or right or three Safety Alert Seat