
GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
180 Climate Controls
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be controlled.
1. Driver Temperature Control
2. A/C (Air Conditioning)
3. Air Delivery Mode Controls
4. Fan Control
5. Defrost
6. Passenger Temperature Control
7. SYNC (Synchronized Temperature)
8. Rear Window Defogger
9. Power Button
10. Air Recirculation
11. AUTO (Automatic Operation) Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls the
following four functions to heat or cool the
vehicle to the desired temperature:
.Fan Speed
.Air Delivery Mode
.Air Conditioning
.Recirculation
When the AUTO indicator light is lit, all four
functions are operating automatically. Each
function can be manually set and the
selected setting will be shown. This cancels full automatic operation and the AUTO
indicator light turns off. Functions that are
not manually set will continue to be
automatically controlled, although the AUTO
indicator light will not be lit.
To place the system in automatic mode:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the driver and passenger temperature.
To find your comfort setting, start with
22 °C (72 °F) and allow the system time
to stabilize. Then adjust the temperature
as needed for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to cool the
vehicle faster, recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm weather.
The recirculation light will not come on
when automatically controlled. Press
@to
manually select recirculation; press it again
to select outside air.
Do not cover the solar sensor on the top of
the instrument panel near the windshield.
This sensor regulates air temperature based
on sun load. See “Sensor”later in this
section.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Climate Controls 181
Manual Operation
O:Press to turn the climate control system
on or off. When off, no air will flow into the
vehicle. Turning the fan on, pressing any
other button, or turning a knob will turn the
system back on.
9: Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed. Press the
knob to turn the fan off.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Driver and Passenger Temperature Control :
The temperature can be adjusted separately
for the driver and passenger.
Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the driver or
passenger temperature setting.
SYNC : Press to link the passenger
temperature settings to the driver setting.
The SYNC indicator light will turn on. When
the passenger temperature settings are
adjusted, the SYNC indicator light is off.
The driver side or passenger side
temperature display shows the temperature
setting increasing or decreasing. Air Delivery Mode Control :
Press
Y,\,
[, or-to change the direction of the
airflow. An indicator light comes on in the
selected mode button.
Changing the mode cancels the automatic
operation and the system goes into manual
mode. Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
\: Air is divided between the instrument
panel and floor outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor outlets,
with some to the windshield, side window
outlets, and second row floor outlets.
-: This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield,
floor outlets, and side window vents.
0: Press to clear the windshield of fog or
frost more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and the side window vents. The
air conditioning compressor also comes on,
unless the outside temperature is below
freezing.
Do not drive the vehicle until all windows
are clear. See
Air Vents 0182.
A/C : Press to turn the air conditioning
system on or off. An indicator light comes
on to show that the air conditioning is
enabled. If the fan is turned off, the air
conditioner will not run. The A/C light will
stay on even if the outside temperatures are
below freezing and the A/C compressor may
be off.
@: Press to turn on recirculation. An
indicator light comes on. Air is recirculated
to quickly cool the inside of the vehicle.
It can also be used to help reduce outside
air and odors that enter the vehicle.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming
grid to remove fog from the rear window.
K: Press to turn the rear window defogger
on or off. An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the rear window
defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only works when
the vehicle is on. The defogger can be
turned off by turning the vehicle off or to
accessory mode.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
182 Climate Controls
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window can damage
the rear window defogger. Repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not clear the inside rear window with
sharp objects.
Heated Mirror : If equipped with heated
outside mirrors, the mirrors heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror when the rear window defog button
is pressed. See Heated Mirrors 026.
Sensor
The solar sensor, on top of the instrument
panel near the windshield, monitors the
solar heat.
The climate control system uses the sensor
information to adjust the temperature, fan
speed, recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort. To adjust the automatic
recirculation mode sensitivity, select Settings
> Climate and Air Quality > Air Quality
Sensor.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise the
automatic climate control system may not
work properly. Afterblow Feature
If equipped, 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.
Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air vents to
change the direction of the airflow.
To open or close off the airflow:
.On the center air vents, move the slider
knobs up or down.
.On the outer and rear air vents, move the
slider knobs right or left.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
air inlets at the base of the windshield
that could block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Clear snow off the hood to improve
visibility and help decrease moisture
drawn into the vehicle, which may
improve long term system performance.
.Keep the path under the front seats clear
of objects to help circulate the air inside
of the vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors
can adversely affect the performance of
the system. Check with your dealer
before adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
.Do not attach any devices to the air vent
slats. This restricts airflow and may cause
damage to the air vents.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and other
airborne irritants from outside air that is
pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part of
routine scheduled maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0328. To find out
what type of filter to use, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0333.
1. Open the glove box.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 195
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 342. 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.
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control Systems.”
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0207.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 214.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
If equipped, select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive 0211.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 253
that extend out from the back of the vehicle
do not move further back when a trailer is
towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death from
carbon monoxide (CO), when towing a
trailer:
.Do not drive with the liftgate, trunk/
hatch, or rear-most window open.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control system to a
setting that brings in only outside air.
See“Climate Control Systems” in the
Index.
For more information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust 0207.
Towing a trailer requires experience. The
combination of the vehicle and trailer is
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle
itself. Get used to the handling and braking
of the combination by driving on a level
road surface before driving on public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer 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 Equipment
0257. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check that 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.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
260 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 262
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 264
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 284
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 297
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 301
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 303
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 303
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 305
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 313
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . 315
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
262 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on your
vehicle if you do not have the proper
knowledge, service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow owner’s manual
procedures and consult the service
manual for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0346.
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
see Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 57.
If equipped with remote vehicle start, open
the hood before performing any service
work to prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote Vehicle Start 014. Keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service
work performed. See
Maintenance Records
0 334.
Caution
Even small amounts of contamination can
cause damage to vehicle systems. Do not
allow contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine stop/start,
turn the vehicle off before opening the
hood. If the vehicle is on, the engine will
start when the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood can get hot
from running the engine. To help avoid
the risk of burning unprotected skin,
never touch these components until they
have cooled, and always use a glove or
towel to avoid direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood before
opening.
To open the hood: 1. Pull the hood release lever with the
isymbol. It is on the lower left side
of the instrument panel.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
286 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F33 –
F34 Horn F35 –
F36 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Right
F37 –
F38 Automatic Headlamp Leveling
F39 –
F40 –
F41 Transmission Range Control Module
F42 Motorized Headlamp
F43 –
F44 Interior Rearview Mirror F45 Passenger Side Ventilated Seat
F46 Driver Side Ventilated Seat
F47 Steering Column Lock Assembly
F48 Rear Wiper Fuses
Usage
F49 –
F50 Heated Steering Wheel F51 –
F52 Engine Control Module/ Transmission Control
F53 –
F54 –
F55 Front Wiper Speed/ Control
F56 –
F57 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Left
Relays Usage
K01 Starter Solenoid
K02 Air Conditioning Control
K03 Engine Control Module
K04 Front Wiper Control K05 Starter Solenoid 2
K06 –
K07 – Relays
Usage
K08 –
K09 Front Wiper Speed K10 –
K11 –
K12 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Right
K13 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Left
K14 Run/Crank K15 Rear Window Defogger
Instrument Panel Fuse Block