GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
144 Climate Controls
To change the current mode, select one or
more of the following. An indicator light will
illuminate:
z:Air is directed to the windshield,
outboard A/C outlets, and side window
outlets.
Y: Air is directed to the A/C outlets.
[:Air is directed to the floor outlets,
with some air directed to the windshield,
outboard A/C outlets, and side window
outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the windshield
and the fan runs at a higher speed if not
already above a medium fan speed. This
mode overrides the previous mode selected
and clears fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. When the control is pressed
again, the system returns to the previous
mode setting and fan speed.
For best results, clear all snow and ice from
the windshield before defrosting.
@: 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.
Avoid using recirculation for long periods of
time in cold or damp conditions. Using
recirculation in cold or damp conditions can
result in window fogging.
A/C : Press to turn the air conditioning on
or off. An indicator light comes on. 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.
Rear Window Defogger/Heated Mirrors
1REAR : If equipped, press to turn the
rear window defogger on or off. An indicator
light comes on.
The rear window defogger only works when
the engine is running. The defogger can be
turned off by turning the vehicle off or to
accessory mode. If equipped with heated outside mirrors,
press
fto turn them on or off. See
Heated
Mirrors 020.
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.
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the
vehicle can be controlled with this system.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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Climate Controls 147
.: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.
Avoid using recirculation for long periods of
time in cold or damp conditions. Using
recirculation in cold or damp conditions can
result in window fogging.
A/C : Press to turn the air conditioning 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.
Rear Window Defogger
1REAR : If equipped, 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 engine is running.The defogger can be
turned off by turning the vehicle off or to
accessory mode.
If equipped with heated outside mirrors,
press
fto turn them on or off. See Heated
Mirrors 020.
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.
Remote Start Climate Control Operation :
If equipped with remote start, the climate
control system may run when the vehicle is
started remotely. If equipped with heated or
ventilated seats or a heated steering wheel,
these features may come on during a
remote start. See Remote Vehicle Start 012,
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 031, and
Heated Steering Wheel 073.
Sensors
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.
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
Adjustable air vents are located at the
center and side of the instrument panel and
the rear of the console. Use the sliding
knobs on the air vents to change the
direction of the airflow. Slide the knob left
or right to open or close off the airflow.
Air vents blow warm air on the side
windows in cold weather. If Floor, Defog,
or Defrost modes are selected, a small
amount of air will come from the vents
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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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/
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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.
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Driving and Operating 151
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 033.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious —or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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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/
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Driving and Operating 155
.D (Drive) can be used when driving on
steep hills. If the transmission shifts too
often, move the shift lever to L (Manual
Mode) and choose an appropriate low
gear for current driving conditions. See
Manual Mode0177.
.When possible, drive straight up or down
the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the top of
the hill.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high speed
can cause a crash. There could be a
drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be seriously
injured or killed. As you near the top of a
hill, slow down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or backward
with the transmission in N (Neutral). The
brakes could overheat and you could lose
control.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two-speed
automatic or electronic transfer case,
shifting the transfer case to N (Neutral)
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in P (Park). This is because
the N (Neutral) position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission. You or
someone else could be injured. If leaving
the vehicle, set the parking brake and
shift the transmission to P (Park). Shift
the transfer case to any position but
N (Neutral).
.When driving down a hill, keep the
vehicle headed straight down. Use a low
gear because the engine will work with
the brakes to slow the vehicle and help
keep the vehicle under control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a hill
can cause your brakes to overheat and
fade. This could cause loss of control and
you or others could be injured or killed.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Apply the brakes lightly when descending
a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle
speed under control.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle across
the incline of the hill. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill
wheels, which could cause a downhill
slide or a rollover.
.Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it
can hit something and potentially
roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the steepness
of the incline more severe. If a rock is
driven across with the uphill wheels, or if
the downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt even more.
.If driving across an incline is not
avoidable and the vehicle starts to slide,
turn downhill. This should help straighten
out the vehicle and prevent side slipping.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking brake.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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156 Driving and Operating
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart theengine.
.If driving uphill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle around.
If the hill is steep enough to stall the
vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it
to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the hill,
back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in N (Neutral)
using only the brake. The vehicle can
roll backward quickly and you could
lose control.
.If driving downhill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to a lower gear, release
the parking brake, and drive straight
down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake, shift into
P (Park), and turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across an
incline is dangerous. If the vehicle rolls
over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud —the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear. Keep
the vehicle moving to avoid getting stuck.
See Manual Mode 0177.
Traction changes when driving on sand. On
loose sand, such as on beaches or sand
dunes, the tires tend to sink into the sand.
This affects steering, accelerating, and
braking. Drive at a reduced speed and avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
Traction is reduced on hard packed snow
and ice and it is easy to lose control. Reduce
vehicle speed when driving on hard packed
snow and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Ice conditions vary
greatly and the vehicle could fall through
the ice; you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Water Fording
Your vehicle is capable of driving through or
across deeper water depending on vehicle
trim level as follows:
.AT4, Elevation, and Denali –Up to
66 cm (26 in)
.AT4X –Up to 71 cm (28 in)
Before entering any water, determine the
water depth. Enter the water slowly. As
water depth increases, reduce the vehicle
speed to prevent potential vehicle damage
or loss of control.
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only (Continued)