2023 GMC CANYON brake fluid

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 191
Mode Selection Attributes
MODESNormal
Default Off-Road Tow/Haul Terrain Baja
Steering Normal Normal Tow/Haul Terrain Normal
Transmission (2WD/4WD High) Normal Tow/Haul Tow/Haul Crawl Baja with DPM
Locking Rear Axle Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph) Unlimited Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph)Up to 80 km/h
(50 mph) Unlimited
Locking Front Axle Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph) Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph) Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph) Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph) Up to 40 km/h
(25 mph)
Throttle Progression (2WD/4WD High) Normal Normal Normal Crawl Baja
Traction Control (TCS) Normal Off-Road Normal Terrain Off-Road
Stability Control (ESC) Normal Off-Road Normal Off-Road Baja
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Normal Off-Road Normal Normal Baja
Limited-Slip Differential
If equipped, the limited-slip differential can
give more traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most
of the time, but when traction is low, thisfeature allows the drive wheel with the
most traction to move the vehicle. For
vehicles with the limited-slip differential,
driven under severe conditions, the rear axle
fluid should be changed. See
Maintenance
Schedule 0328.
Locking Rear Axle
If equipped, the locking rear axle can give
the vehicle additional traction from the rear
wheels when traveling in off-road situations
such as mud, snow, steep hills, and uneven
terrain.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 231
5. Gradually release the brake pedal toallow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer of the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedals.
2. Start the engine and shift into 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.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.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 0328. 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 to see 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 0264.
Trailer Towing
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 affects 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.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
252 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 253
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 254
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 277
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 288
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 292 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 297
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 299
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 300
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 301
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 312
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 314
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 257
1. Remote Negative (–) Grounding Point.See Jump Starting - North America
0 312.
2. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0266.
3. Battery. See Battery - North America
0 269.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. See Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0277.
5. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0262.
6. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 257.
7. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 257.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 268.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter 0261.
10. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0262.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance and
long life, careful attention must be paid to
engine oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly and
maintain the proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate
time. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0259.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0256 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
266 Vehicle Care
If the vehicle has electric cooling fan(s), the
fans may be heard spinning at low speed
during most everyday driving. The fans may
turn off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing, high
outside temperatures, or operation of the air
conditioning system, the fans may change
to high speed and an increase in fan noise
may be heard. This is normal and indicates
that the cooling system is functioning
properly. The fans will change to low speed
when additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans may run
after the engine has been turned. off. This is
normal and no service is required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
Use a washer fluid designed for the climate
your vehicle operates in. For example,
vehicles that operate in climates where
temperatures fall below freezing should use
a washer fluid that provides sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
When washer fluid is low, a message
displays on the Driver Information Center
(DIC). Always read the manufacturer's
instructions before adding fluid.
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Engine Compartment Overview0256 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.
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.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 Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
268 Vehicle Care
How to Disable the Brake Pad Life
System
The brake pad life system can be turned off.
This may be necessary if aftermarket brake
pads without wear sensors are installed.
When the system is turned off, the front
and rear brake pad life percentages will not
display. However, the built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn can
still determine when the pads should be
replaced. SeeBrakes0266.
To turn off the brake pad life system: 1. Display Brake Pad Life on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 098 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 100.
2. Select DISABLE.
To turn the brake pad life system back on,
follow the above steps but select ENABLE in
Step 2.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0256 for the
location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well. Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it can
spill on the engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could
be burned, and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See Brake
System Warning Light 091.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0328.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Vehicle Care 269
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants0332.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid. The vehicle has an Absorbed Glass Mat
(AGM) 12-volt battery. Installation of a
standard 12-volt battery will result in
reduced 12-volt battery life.
Some 12-volt battery chargers have an AGM
battery setting. If available, use the AGM
setting on the charger to limit charge
voltage to 14.8 volts.
Refer to the replacement number shown on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0256 for battery location.
{Warning
Do not use a match or flame near a
vehicle's battery. If you need more light,
use a flashlight.
Do not smoke near a vehicle's battery.
When working around a vehicle’s battery,
shield your eyes with protective glasses.
Keep children away from vehicle
batteries.
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be hurt
badly if you are not careful.
Follow instructions carefully when
working around a battery.
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds which can cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories can expose you to
chemicals including lead and lead
compounds, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling. For more
information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 01.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Vehicle Care 271
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check the
rear axle fluid unless a leak is suspected or
an unusual noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it inspected and
repaired. This service can be complex. See
your dealer.
Do not directly power wash the transfer
case and/or front/rear axle output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the fluid. Contaminated
fluid will decrease the life of the transfer
case and/or drive axles and should be
replaced.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and property
could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle
facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's holding
ability: With the engine running and the
transmission in N (Neutral), slowly remove
foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by
the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the parking brake
followed by the regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected
for wear or cracking. Replacement blades come in different types
and are removed in different ways. For
proper windshield wiper blade length and
type, see
Maintenance Replacement Parts
0 333.
Caution
Allowing the wiper arm to touch the
windshield when no wiper blade is
installed could damage the windshield.
Any damage that occurs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not
allow the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
To replace the windshield wiper blade: 1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from the windshield.