2023 GMC CANYON brakes

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 177
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.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
Normal Mode Grade Braking is enabled
when the vehicle is started, but is not
enabled in Range Selection Mode. It assists
in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when
driving on downhill grades by using the
engine and transmission to slow the vehicle.
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
Range Selection Mode helps control the
vehicle's transmission and vehicle speed
while driving downhill or towing a trailer by
letting you select a desired range of gears.
To use this feature:1. Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever to select the desired range of gears
for current driving conditions. When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a number
displays next to the L, indicating the current
transmission range.
This number is the highest gear that the
transmission will command while operating
in L (Manual Mode). All gears below that
number are available. As driving conditions
change, the transmission can automatically
shift to lower gears. For example, when L5 is
selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are
automatically shifted by the transmission,
but 6 (Sixth) cannot be used until the
plus/minus button on the shift lever is used
to change to the range.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a downshift
may occur. The gear that the transmission is
operating in when the shift lever is moved
from D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode)
determines if a downshift occurs. See the
following chart.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
178 Driving and Operating
8-Speed Automatic TransmissionGear before shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul not engaged L6 L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L2 L1
Range after shifting
from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul engaged L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L3 L2 L1
Grade Braking is not available when Range
Selection Mode is active. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0178.
While using Range Selection Mode, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used.
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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.
Low Traction Mode
If equipped, Low Traction Mode assists in
vehicle acceleration when road conditions
are slippery, such as with ice or snow. While
the vehicle is at a stop, select L2 using Range Selection Mode. This will limit torque
to the wheels and help to prevent the tires
from spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
If equipped, Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern to reduce shift
cycling. While towing heavy loads, this
mode provides increased performance and
vehicle control.
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and off by
pressing the button on the center stack.
When the Tow/Haul Mode is enabled, a
light on the instrument cluster will come on.
See
Driver Mode Control Light 095 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0159.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 183
Once the 4x4 shift has completed, the DIC
message disappears, the 4x4 graphic stops
flashing, and the current setting is indicated.
The actual 4x4 shift request is only made
after the button is released. The 4x4 graphic
will remain flashing until the shift request
has completed.
A DIC message displays. Once the 4x4 shift
has completed, the DIC message disappears,
the 4x4 graphic stops flashing, and the
current setting is indicated.
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
prevent a braking skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light stays on. SeeAntilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 092. ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing and feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. See
Electric Parking Brake
Light 091 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 092.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 185
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature. HSA does
not replace the need to pay attention
and drive safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. SeeDefensive Driving
0 151.
When the vehicle is stopped on a grade, Hill
Start Assist (HSA) temporarily prevents the
vehicle from rolling in an unintended
direction during the transition from brake
pedal release to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator pedal is
applied or automatically release after a few
seconds. The brakes may also release under
other conditions. Do not rely on HSA to hold
the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is facing
uphill in a forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade for HSA
to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin and
assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the drive
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to the spinning wheels and reduces
vehicle power to limit wheel spin.
The TCS and ESC calibrations are different
while in Off Road, Terrain, or Baja mode,
if equipped. They provide optimum
performance in various off-road
environments.
ESC activates when the vehicle senses a
difference between the intended path and
the direction the vehicle is actually traveling.
ESC selectively applies braking pressure to
one or more of the vehicle wheel brakes to
assist the driver in keeping the vehicle on
the intended path. Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is also on automatically when the
vehicle is started. See
Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) 0242.
If using cruise control and ESC begins
limiting wheel spin, cruise control will
automatically disengage. You can turn cruise
control back on when road conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0161 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 187
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications 0253.
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
If equipped, HDC can be used when driving
downhill. It sets and maintains vehicle speed
while descending a very steep incline in a
forward or reverse gear.
To activate HDC, in the controls app on the
infotainment home screen, select Controls >
Drive & Park > Hill Descent Control.
Press ON or OFF to enable or disable HDC.
Vehicle speed must be below 60 km/h
(37 mph).
The HDC light displays on the instrument
cluster when enabled.
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds between
4 and 30 km/h (3 and 19 mph) on an incline
greater than or equal to a 10% grade. A blinking HDC light indicates that the
system is actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
Set speed is established as soon as you
enable HDC. Apply the accelerator to
increase, or the brake pedal to decrease, the
set speed.
Smaller HDC speed control adjustments are
accomplished using the cruise up or down
buttons. Each tap of the +RES will increase
the set speed by 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph), while
each tap of the SET–
will decrease the set
speed by 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph). This adjusted
speed becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between 30 and
60 km/h (19 and 37 mph); however, vehicle
speed cannot be set or maintained in this
range. It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h (50 mph) or
above 60 km/h (37 mph) for at least
30 seconds.
5must be pressed again to
re-enable HDC.
When enabled, if the vehicle is at a speed
above 30 km/h (19 mph) and less than
60 km/h (37 mph), a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message will display instructing
the driver to reduce speed for HDC
operation. Cruise control will not function while HDC is
enabled and vehicle speed is below 40 km/h
(25 mph).
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) allows you to
adjust the overall driving experience by
selecting different driving modes.
If equipped, driver mode control may have
the following modes: Normal, Off-Road,
Tow/Haul, Terrain, and Baja. Drive mode
availability and affected vehicle subsystems
are dependent upon vehicle trim level,
region, and optional features.
All modes, other than the default (Normal),
display a unique and persistent indicator on
the instrument cluster when selected.
When entering a mode, there is an
information icon on the infotainment screen.
Select the information icon to get more
information and helpful hints on the
selected mode.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
188 Driving and Operating
Mode Activation
To activate each mode, turn the MODE knob
on the center console in either direction.
Mode Descriptions
Normal Mode :Use this mode for normal
city and highway driving. This setting
provides balance between comfort and
handling. This is the setting the vehicle will
default to every time it is started, unless
Tow/Haul mode has been activated within
the last four hours. See “Tow/Haul Mode”
later in this section.
7Off-Road Mode : Use this mode only
for off-road recreational driving. Off-Road
Mode should be used to improve driving at
moderate speeds on grass, gravel, dirt,
unpaved roads, or deep snow. If equipped,
this mode modifies steering, pedal map,
transmission shift points, Four-Wheel Drive
AUTO, Antilock Brake System (ABS),
Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and
Traction Control System (TCS) performance.
Off-Road mode optimizes ABS performance
to decrease stopping distances for
deformable or loose surfaces.
For more information on off-road driving,
see Off-Road Driving 0153.
gTerrain Mode : Use this mode when
traveling on challenging road conditions at
lower speeds, such as a two-track, difficult
terrain, or rock crawling. This mode allows
for one pedal driving which automatically
applies the vehicle brakes when the
accelerator pedal position is decreased. This
can also be used for pulling a boat out of
the water on a trailer. Terrain mode functions when the vehicle is
in 4
mor 4n, and in D (Drive), R (Reverse),
or L (Low). When the vehicle is in L (Low),
the lower the gear, the more aggressive the
braking.
The following are the braking calibrations
for each gear:
.L1: Most aggressive
.L2 or D (Drive): Moderately aggressive
.L3–L8: Least aggressive
The vehicle uses more aggressive braking
calibrations for the above drive states when
it is in 4
ncompared to 4m.
When in Terrain Mode, the vehicle shifts
automatically, but holds a lower gear longer
to maximize engine torque. This is done so
vehicle momentum is not lost when driving
up a hill. This mode modifies steering, pedal
map, transmission shift points, ABS, ESC, and
TCS performance for better control at lower
speeds and over rough terrain.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
194 Driving and Operating
that ABS is off, which may result in the
wheels locking during deceleration. See
Driver Mode Control0187.
If HDC was enabled prior to axle lock, it will
be automatically enabled when the locking
front axle is disengaged.
After pressing the switch to unlock the axle,
it may remain locked due to torque in the
driveline. The axle is more easily unlocked
by turning the steering wheel to the right
and to the left while traveling at a low
speed.
Cruise Control
With cruise control a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you cannot drive safely at a steady
speed. Do not use cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could lose
control. Do not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
If the cruise control is being used and the
Traction Control (TCS) system or StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) begins to
limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0185. If a
collision alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System 0215.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be turned
back on.
If equipped with Hill Descent Control (HDC),
cruise control will disengage if HDC is Active.
If the brakes are applied, the cruise control
disengages.
5: Press to turn the system on or off.
A white indicator comes on in the
instrument cluster when cruise control is
turned on.
+RES : If there is a set speed in memory,
press briefly to resume to that speed or
press and hold to accelerate. If cruise control
is already active, use to increase vehicle
speed.
−SET : Press briefly to set the speed and
activate cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease vehicle
speed.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from memory.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 195
Setting Cruise Control
If
5is on when not in use,−SET or +RES
could get pressed and go into cruise when
not desired. Keep
5off when cruise is not
being used.
1. Press
5to turn the cruise system on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release −SET.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
The cruise control indicator on the
instrument cluster turns green after cruise
control has been set to the desired speed.
See Cruise Control Light 098.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied or
*is
pressed, the cruise control is disengaged
without erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press +RES
briefly. The vehicle returns to the previous
set speed. Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold +RES until the desired
speed is reached, then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, briefly press +RES. For each
press, the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See Settings
0 135. The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is already
activated:
.Press and hold –SET until the desired
lower speed is reached, then release it.
.To slow down in small increments, briefly
press –SET. For each press, the vehicle
goes about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See Settings
0 135. The increment value used depends on
the units displayed. Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise
Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the
vehicle speed. When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed. While pressing the
accelerator pedal or shortly following the
release to override cruise control, briefly
pressing
–SET will result in cruise control set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on
hills depends on the vehicle speed, load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you might have to
brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. If the brake pedal is applied,
cruise control will disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.To turn off cruise control, press5.