GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
86 Instruments and Controls
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
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle's
propulsion power is reduced. A reduction in
propulsion power can affect the vehicle's
ability to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your destination.
Under certain conditions the performance
may be reduced the next time the vehicle is
driven. The vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum acceleration
and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays repeatedly,
the vehicle should be taken to your dealer
for service as soon as possible. Under certain operating conditions,
propulsion will be disabled. Try restarting
after the ignition has been off for
30 seconds.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the vehicle speed
has been limited to the speed displayed. The
limited speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems, such as
lubrication, thermal, brakes, suspension,
Teen Driver if equipped, or tires.
Vehicle Personalization
This vehicle may have customization
capabilities that allow you to program
certain features to one preferred setting.
Customization features can only be
programmed to one setting on the vehicle
and cannot be programmed to a preferred
setting for two different drivers.
All of the customization options may not be
available on your vehicle. Only the options
available will be displayed on the DIC.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Driving and Operating 123
Hydraulic Power Steering
This vehicle has hydraulic power steering.
It may require maintenance. SeePower
Steering Fluid 0188.
If power steering assist is lost because the
engine stops or because of a system
malfunction, the vehicle can be steered but
may require increased effort. See your
dealer if there is a problem.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel, and is held
in that position for more than 15 seconds,
damage may occur to the power steering
system and there may be loss of power
steering assist.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the
edge of a road onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips: 1. Ease off the accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer the
vehicle so that it straddles the edge of
the pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three control
systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow these
suggestions:
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
172 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . 173
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 173
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 176
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 181
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . 194
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 199
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . 209 Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . 212
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 212
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . 217
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 219
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 219
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 220
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 231
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Vehicle Care 177
1.Battery - North America 0191.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0183.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling
System 0183.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0183.
5. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0182.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0179.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0179.
8. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0188.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0199.
10. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0190.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” underWasher
Fluid 0189.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
178 Vehicle Care
6.6L V8 Engine
1. Battery - North America 0191.
2. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System 0183.
3. Coolant Recovery Tank. See Cooling
System 0183. 4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See
“Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil 0179.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0183.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0182. 7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
“When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0179.
8. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid 0188.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0199.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
188 Vehicle Care
If the overheat warning is displayed with no
sign of steam:1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and
let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays, the
vehicle can be driven. Continue to drive the
vehicle slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a
safe vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have the
cooling system checked for proper fill and
function.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and
park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, push down
the accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle speed for
at least three minutes while parked. If the
warning is still on, turn off the engine until
it cools down. If the decision is made not to lift the hood,
get service help right away.
Engine Fan
The vehicle has a clutched engine cooling
fan. When the clutch is engaged, the fan
spins faster to provide more air to cool the
engine. In most everyday driving conditions,
the fan is spinning slower and the clutch is
not fully engaged. This improves fuel
economy and reduces fan noise. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing, and/or
high outside temperatures, the fan speed
increases as the clutch more fully engages,
so an increase in fan noise may be heard.
This is normal and should not be mistaken
as the transmission slipping or making extra
shifts. It is merely the cooling system
functioning properly. The fan will slow down
when additional cooling is not required and
the clutch partially disengages.
This fan noise may be heard when starting
the engine. It will go away as the fan clutch
partially disengages.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering fluid reservoir is in the
engine compartment on the driver side of
the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0176 for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power
steering fluid unless there is a leak
suspected in the system or an unusual noise
is heard. A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
Vehicle Care 189
4. Replace the cap and completelytighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the COLD FILL mark.
If necessary, add only enough fluid to bring
the level up to the mark.
To prevent contamination of brake fluid,
never check or fill the power steering
reservoir with the brake master cylinder
cover off.
What to Use
Caution
Use of the incorrect fluid may damage
the vehicle and the damages may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0251.
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0251.
Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use
the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage
hoses and seals.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield washer
fluid, be sure to read the manufacturer's
instructions before use. If operating the
vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview 0176 for
reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15555961) -
2022 - CRC - 4/14/22
246 Service and Maintenance
help the longevity and efficient operation of
the air conditioning system. This service can
be complex. See your dealer.
Tire Rotation and Required Services
Every 12 000 km (7,500 mi)
Rotate the tires, if recommended for the
vehicle, and perform the following services.
SeeTire Rotation 0215.
.Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed, change engine
oil and filter, and reset oil life system.
See Engine Oil 0179 and
Engine Oil Life System 0181.
.Check engine coolant level. See Cooling
System 0183.
.Check windshield washer fluid level. See
Washer Fluid 0189.
.Check tire inflation pressures, including
the spare. See Tire Pressure0211.
.Inspect tire wear. See Tire Inspection
0 215.
.Visually check for fluid leaks.
.Inspect engine air cleaner filter. See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0182.
.Inspect brake system. See Exterior Care
0 236.
.Visually inspect steering, suspension, and
chassis components for damage, including
cracks or tears in the rubber boots, loose
or missing parts, or signs of wear at least
once a year. See Exterior Care0236.
.Inspect power steering for proper
attachment, connections, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc.
.Visually inspect halfshafts and drive
shafts for excessive wear, lubricant leaks,
and/or damage including: tube dents or
cracks, constant velocity joint or universal
joint looseness, cracked or missing boots,
loose or missing boot clamps, center
bearing excessive looseness, loose or
missing fasteners, and axle seal leaks.
.Check restraint system components. See
Safety System Check 036.
.Visually inspect the fuel system including
the evaporative (EVAP) system for
damage or leaks. Visually check all fuel
pipes, vapor lines, and hoses for proper
attachment, connection, routing, and
condition.
.Visually inspect exhaust system and
nearby heat shields for loose or damaged
parts.
.Lubricate body components. See Exterior
Care 0236.
.Check starter switch. See Starter Switch
Check 0194.
.Check automatic transmission shift lock
control function. See Automatic
Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check 0194.
.Check ignition transmission lock. See
Ignition Transmission Lock Check 0194.
.Check parking brake and automatic
transmission park mechanism. See Park
Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check
0 194.
.Check accelerator pedal for damage, high
effort, or binding. Replace if needed.
.Lubricate the steering linkage (greasable
joints). See Normal and Severe
Maintenance Schedules. For severe
commercial use vehicles, see Special
Application Services 0248.
.Visually inspect the spare tire to ensure
that it is tightly stowed under the vehicle.
Push, pull, and try to turn the tire. If the
spare tire moves, tighten as necessary.
See Tire Changing 0223.