2023 GMC CANYON steering wheel

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 149
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 150
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . 167
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 172
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 173
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 174
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Adaptive Cruise Control (Camera) . . . . . . 196
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 215
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 217
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 220
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Blind Zone Steering Assist (BZSA) . . . . . . 222
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
150 Driving and Operating
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 227
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Trailering App . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
152 Driving and Operating
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle is equipped with an electric
power steering system, which reduces the
amount of effort needed to steer the
vehicle. It does not have power steering
fluid. Regular maintenance is not required.
If the vehicle experiences a system
malfunction and loses power steering,
greater steering effort may be required.
Power steering assist also may be reduced if
you turn the steering wheel as far as it can
turn and hold it there with force for an
extended period of time.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
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.
.The 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.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 153
2. Turn the steering wheel aboutone-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:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator pedal
and steer the way you want the vehicle
to go. The vehicle may straighten out. Be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions. Stopping
distance can be longer and vehicle control
can be affected when traction is reduced
by water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough water,
ice, or packed snow on the road to make
a mirrored surface —and slow down
when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only
the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be used for
off-road driving. Vehicles without four-wheel
drive and vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR) tires must
not be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. For contact information about
the original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful off-road
driving is to control the speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily
throw you out of position. This could
cause you to lose control and crash. You
and your passengers should always wear
seat belts.
Off-Road Vehicle Features
If equipped, the following off-road features
may be available:
.Air Down Mode: Allows the driver to set
a custom tire pressure for off-road driving.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 292.
.Underbody Camera System: Provides a
view of the area underneath the vehicle
to avoid obstacles during off-roading
events. See Surround Vision System
0 209.
.Off-Road App: Provides access to off-road
performance data and to on-screen
auxiliary switches for controlling vehicle
accessories. See Off-Road App0158.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
154 Driving and Operating
Before Driving Your Vehicle Off-Road
Have all necessary maintenance and service
work completed.
Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels, and check
inflation pressure in all tires, including the
spare, if equipped.
Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
Remove any underbody air deflector,
if equipped. Re-attach the air deflector after
off-road driving.
Know the local laws that apply to off-road
driving.
To gain more ground clearance if needed, it
may be necessary to remove the front fascia
lower air dam, if equipped. However, driving
without the air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for extended
periods without the front fascia lower air
dam installed can cause improper airflow
to the engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the load floor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by flying objects. Secure
the cargo properly.
.Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible. The
heaviest things should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle's center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading the
vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits 0162 and
Tires 0284.
Environmental Concerns
Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that are reserved for public off-road
recreational driving. Obey all posted
regulations. Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.
Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn
0173.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of the
vehicle’s capabilities.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep for any
vehicle. Driving up hills can cause the
vehicle to stall. Driving down hills can
cause loss of control. Driving across hills
can cause a rollover. You could be injured
or killed. Do not drive on steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions. If the
terrain ahead cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before driving
further.
When driving on hills:
.Maintain a slow speed and keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
.Use headlamps even during the day to
make the vehicle more visible.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Driving and Operating 157
Warning (Continued)
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could roll
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing water if it
is deep enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles, or exhaust pipe. Deep water can
damage the axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep, drive
through it slowly. At faster speeds, water
can get into the engine and cause it to stall.
Stalling can occur if the exhaust pipe is
under water.
Do not turn off the ignition when driving
through water. If the exhaust pipe is under
water, the engine will not start.
Always drive in the direction of waves.
Avoid oncoming vehicles as they will
increase the water depth hitting your
vehicle. Be aware of submerged obstacles as they
can damage your vehicle or cause loss of
control.
Never open the vehicle doors while in the
water.
When going through water, the brakes get
wet and it may take longer to stop. After
exiting the water, repeatedly and gently
apply the brakes to dry them off and
restore effectiveness. See
Driving on Wet
Roads 0159.
After Driving Your Vehicle Off-Road
Be sure to switch out of Off-Road Mode or
Terrain Mode on your Driver Mode Control
to return to normal driving. See Driver Mode
Control 0187.
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. Clean the lens of the
underbody camera. These accumulations can
be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the
brake linings cleaned and checked. These
substances can cause glazing and uneven
braking. Check the body structure, driveline, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust
system for damage, and check the fuel lines
and cooling system for any leakage.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
The extreme conditions of off-road driving
require more frequent maintenance service.
See "Severe Conditions Requiring More
Frequent Maintenance" and "Additional
Required Services —Severe Service" on
Maintenance Schedule 0328.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
158 Driving and Operating
Off-Road App
Overview
The vehicle is equipped with an Off-Road
App to assist in monitoring the motion and
status of your vehicle, which can be
beneficial in off-road environments. See
Off-Road Driving0153.
The Off-Road App displays data such as the
vehicle’s compass bearing, altitude, axle
locker status, pitch/roll angle, and more,
depending on how your vehicle is equipped.
Some gauges track of the maximum values
you have achieved, and you can reset the
values to start over.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road for too
long or too often while using any
infotainment feature can cause a crash.
You or others could be injured or killed.
Do not give extended attention to
infotainment tasks while driving. Limit
your glances at the vehicle displays and
focus your attention on driving. Use voice
commands whenever possible.
Getting Started
To open the app, select the OFF ROAD icon
from the infotainment home screen. The
available off-road tools are displayed
horizontally across the screen. Scroll left or
right to view more tools. Additionally, the
tools are grouped by labels Baja, Terrain,
and Overlanding at the top of the screen.
These labels are shortcuts to the tools that
may be helpful in those respective driving
conditions, although all tools are actively
collecting data at all times. Baja and Terrain
are also selectable as a driving mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0187.
.Baja –High-speed driving on low traction
surfaces
.Terrain –For rough terrain at low speeds
.Overlanding –For exploring without using
roads
Certain tools save minimum and maximum
values for the data they are collecting,
which you can reset as needed. Touch the
Reset symbol
jon the screen to reset the
values. Depending on how the vehicle is equipped,
the off-road tools in the app may include:
Altimeter :
Displays current elevation.
Maintains lowest and highest values, which
can be reset as needed.
Axle locker status : Identifies each axle as
locked or unlocked. A tire will be highlighted
if slip due to low traction is detected. See
Locking Front Axle 0192 and
Locking Rear Axle 0191.
Camera app shortcut : Launches the Camera
App for exterior camera views. See Surround
Vision System 0209.
Compass : Displays direction of travel. If the
vehicle navigation system is actively routing
to a destination, an indicator on the
compass shows the bearing to the
destination. See Compass075.
G-Force : Displays longitudinal and lateral
acceleration and max G-force.
Pitch and roll : Shows real-time vehicle pitch
and roll in a 3D gauge.
Steering angle : Displays degrees of steering
rotation for the front wheels.
Tire pressure : Displays real-time tire
pressure plus indicator for under-inflation.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System 0291.

GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
160 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding roads,
long grades, passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear snow and
ice from inside the wheels and
underneath the vehicle before driving. Snow or ice between the tires and the road
creates less traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0185.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves
vehicle stability during hard stops, but
the brakes should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0183.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden
steering maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
Cold Weather Mode
In very low temperatures, a cold weather
message may display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The engine speed,
transmission shift patterns, and cabin fan
speed may operate differently to enable the
vehicle to warm up quicker. You can
manually override the cabin fan speed in
cold weather mode.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and signal
for help. Stay with the vehicle unless there
is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 341. 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.
(Continued)