
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
2 Introduction
Helm, Incorporated
Attention: Customer Service
47911 Halyard Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170
USA
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about the
vehicle, use the Index in the back of the
manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is
in the manual and the page number where
it can be found.
Danger, Warning, and Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle labels
and in this manual describe hazards and
what to do to avoid or reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a high
level of risk which will result in serious
injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that could
result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that could
result in property or vehicle damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a safety
symbol which means“Do not,” “Do not do
this,” or“Do not let this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that
use symbols instead of text. Symbols are
shown along with the text describing the
operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M:Shown when the owner’s manual has
additional instructions or information.
*: Shown when the service manual has
additional instructions or information.
0: Shown when there is more information
on another page — “see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may
be found on the vehicle and what they
mean. See the features in this manual for
information.
u:
Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components Properly
P:Do Not Apply High Pressure Water
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H: Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock Location
+:Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child Restraints

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Keys, Doors, and Windows 11
The remote vehicle start feature will not
operate if:
.The key is in the ignition.
.The hood is open.
.The hazard warning flashers are on.
.There is an emission control system
malfunction. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 077.
.The engine coolant temperature is
too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.Two remote starts or a start with an
extension have already been provided.
.The vehicle is not in P (Park).
To turn on or off, see Vehicle Personalization
0 86.
Door Locks
{Warning
.Passengers, especially children, can
easily open the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a door is locked,
the handle will not open it. The
chance of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
passengers should wear seat belts
properly and the doors should be
locked whenever the vehicle is driven.
.Young children who get into unlocked
vehicles may be unable to get out.
A child can be overcome by extreme
heat and can suffer permanent injuries
or even death from heat stroke.
Always lock the vehicle whenever
leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down
or stop the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from happening.
To lock the door from the inside, slide the
manual lever on the door down. To unlock
the door, slide the manual lever up.
From the outside, use the key.
If the vehicle is equipped with Keyless Entry,
seeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 08.
Power Door Locks
If equipped, pressTto lock or unlock the
doors.
When a door is locked, the inside door
handle will not work.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
66 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . 74
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Airbag On-Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . 79
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . 82
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment
For vehicles with a tilt steering wheel, the
lever is located on the left side of the
steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever to move the steering wheel up or down into a comfortable
position.
2. Release the lever to lock the steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
72 Instruments and Controls
Instrument Cluster
English Shown, Metric Similar
1.Engine Oil Pressure Gauge 073
2. Speedometer 072
3. Voltmeter Gauge 074
4. Fuel Gauge 072
5. Driver Information Center (DIC) 082
6. Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
074If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement for more
information.
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle speed in
kilometers per hour (km/h) and miles per
hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the vehicle has
been driven, in either kilometers or miles.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven since the trip
odometer was last reset.
The trip odometer is accessed and reset
through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center (DIC) 082.
Fuel Gauge
Metric

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Instruments and Controls 73
English
When the ignition is on, the fuel gauge
indicates about how much fuel is left in
the tank.
There is an arrow near the fuel gauge
pointing to the side of the vehicle the fuel
door is on.
When the indicator nears empty, the low
fuel light comes on. There still is a little fuel
left, but the vehicle should be refueled soon.
Here are three things that some owners ask
about. None of these show a problem with
the fuel gauge:
.It takes a little more, or less fuel to fill up
than the gauge indicated. For example,
the gauge may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a little
more, or less than half the tank's capacity
to fill the tank.
.The gauge moves a little while turning a
corner, speeding up or braking.
.The gauge takes a few seconds to
stabilize after the ignition is turned on
and goes back to empty when the
ignition is turned off.
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
Metric
English
The oil pressure gauge shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch)
or kPa (kilopascals) when the engine is
running.
Oil pressure may vary with engine speed,
outside temperature and oil viscosity, but
readings above the low pressure zone
indicate the normal operating range.
A reading in the low pressure zone may be
caused by a dangerously low oil level or
other problem causing low oil pressure.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
74 Instruments and Controls
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. Driving with the
engine oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check the oil
level as soon as possible. Add oil if
required, but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil pressure is
still low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
Metric
EnglishThis gauge shows the engine coolant
temperature.
It also provides an indicator of how hard the
vehicle is working. During a majority of the
operation, the gauge will read 100 °C (210 °F)
or less. If the vehicle is pulling a load or
going up hills, it is normal for the
temperature to fluctuate and approach the
122 °C (250 °F) mark. If the gauge reaches
the 125 °C (260 °F) mark, it indicates that the
cooling system is working beyond its
capacity.
See
Engine Overheating 0187.
Voltmeter Gauge

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Driving and Operating 157
equipment can cause the combination to
operate in an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer hitch parts
and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connectors, lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing Equipment0167. 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 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 0187.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Driving and Operating 159
5. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply theparking brake and shift into P (Park).
6. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer from the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0245. It is especially important to
check the automatic transmission fluid,
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 0187.
Trailer Towing
If equipped with a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
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. Trailering is different than just driving the
vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
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.