GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
228 Driving and Operating
Driving with a Trailer
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 towing a
trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with, and follow all state
and local laws that apply to trailer
towing. These requirements vary from
state to state.
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. If your
visibility is limited or restricted while
towing, install extended side view mirrors
on your vehicle, even if not required.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first
800 km (500 mi) of vehicle use to prevent
damage to the engine, axle, or other
parts.
.Perform the first oil change before heavy
towing.
.Do not drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle during
the first 800 km (500 mi) of trailer
towing.
.Tow in D (Drive). Tow/Haul Mode is
recommended for heavier trailers. See
Tow/Haul Mode0178. If the transmission
downshifts too often, a lower gear may
be selected using Manual Mode. See
Manual Mode 0177.
The following advanced driver assistance
features should be turned off when towing
a trailer, and may turn off automatically
when a trailer is detected:
.Park Assist
.Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)
.Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
.Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB)
.Lane Change Alert (LCA)
.Super Cruise and Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC), unless equipped with trailering
functionality, see Adaptive Cruise Control
(Camera) 0196.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) should be set
to Alert unless equipped with Super Cruise. Do not use Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
while towing a trailer.
{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 0174.
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 all be rated to carry the
intended cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the combination to
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Vehicle Care 315
Caution (Continued)
hook to any frame, underbody,
or suspension component not specified
below. Do not move vehicles with drive
axle tires on the ground. Damage is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
The vehicle may be equipped with an
electric parking brake and/or a
mechanical transmission range select
shifter. In the event of a loss of 12-volt
battery power, the electric parking brake
cannot be released, and the vehicle
cannot be shifted to N (Neutral). Tire
skates or dollies must be used under the
non-rolling tires to prevent damage while
loading/unloading the vehicle. Dragging
the vehicle will cause damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
The vehicle may be equipped with a tow
eye. Improper use of the tow eye may
cause damage to the vehicle and is not
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If equipped, use the tow eye to load the
vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck from a
flat road surface, or to move the vehicle
a very short distance at a walking pace.
The tow eye is not designed for off-road
recovery. The vehicle must be in
N (Neutral) with the electric parking
brake released when using the tow eye.
Contact a professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be transported. GM
recommends a flatbed tow truck to
transport a disabled vehicle. Use ramps to
help reduce approach angles, if necessary.
If equipped, a tow eye may be located near
the spare tire or emergency jack. Do not use
the tow eye to pull the vehicle from the
snow, mud, sand, or ditch. Tow eye threads
may have right or left-hand threads. Use
caution when installing or removing the
tow eye.
The vehicle must be in N (Neutral) and the
electric parking brake must be released
when loading the vehicle onto a flatbed tow
truck.
.If the 12-volt battery is dead and/or
electric parking brake is not released, the
vehicle will not move. Try to jump start
the vehicle with a known good 12-volt
battery, shift the car into N (Neutral), and
release the electric parking brake. Refer to
Jump Starting - North America 0312.
.If unsuccessful, the vehicle will not move.
Tire skates or dollies must be used under
the non-rolling tires to prevent vehicle
damage.
Front Attachment Points
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Service and Maintenance 329
not indicate the need for vehicle service
for up to a year. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once a year and
the oil life system must be reset. Your
trained dealer technician can perform this
work. If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle within
5 000 km/3,000 mi since the last service.
Reset the oil life system when the oil is
changed. SeeEngine Oil Life System
0 259.
.When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL CHANGE
message displays, the engine air filter
should be replaced at the next engine oil
change. When the REPLACE ENGINE AIR
FILTER SOON message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced at the
earliest convenience. Reset the engine air
filter life system after the engine air filter
is replaced. See Engine Air Filter Life
System 0260.
Every 36 000 km (22,500 mi)
.Replace passenger compartment air filter.
Or every 24 months, whichever comes
first. More frequent passenger
compartment air filter replacement may
be needed if driving in areas with heavy
traffic, poor air quality, high dust levels,
or environmental allergens. Passenger compartment air filter replacement may
also be needed if there is reduced airflow,
window fogging, or odors. Your GM
dealer can help determine when to
replace the filter.
Every 96 000 km (60,000 mi)
.Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug
wires and/or boots.
Every 161 000 km (100,000 mi)
.Replace hood and/or body lift support gas
struts. Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. See Gas Strut(s)0272.
.Change transfer case fluid, if equipped
with 4WD. 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
transfer case fluid. Contaminated fluid
will decrease the life of the transfer case
and/or axles and should be replaced.
Every 240 000 km (150,000 mi)
.Drain and fill engine cooling system. Or
every six years, whichever comes first.
See Cooling System 0262.
Severe Conditions Requiring More
Frequent Maintenance*
.Public service, military, or commercial use
vehicles to include the following:
‐ Ambulances, police cars, and
emergency rescue vehicles.
‐ Civilian vehicles such as light duty
pick-up trucks, SUVs, and passenger
cars that are used in military
applications.
‐ Recovery vehicles such as tow trucks
and flatbed single vehicle carriers or
any vehicle that is consistently used in
towing trailers or other loads.
‐ High use commercial vehicles such as
courier delivery vehicles, private
security patrol vehicles, or any vehicles
that operate on a 24–hour basis.
‐ Any vehicle consistently operated in a
high sand or dust environment such as
those used on oil pipelines and similar
applications.
.Vehicles that are regularly used for short
trips of 6 km (4 mi) or less.
The oil life indicator will show you when
to change the oil and filter. Under severe
conditions the indicator may come on
before 12 000 km (7,500 mi).
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
342 Customer Information
In the U.S., anyone driving the vehicle is
covered. In Canada, a person driving the
vehicle without permission from the owner
is not covered.
Roadside Assistance is not a part of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. General Motors
North America and GMC reserve the right to
make any changes or discontinue the
Roadside Assistance program at any time
without notification.
General Motors North America and GMC
reserve the right to limit services or
payment to an owner or driver if they
decide the claims are made too often, or the
same type of claim is made many times.
Services Provided
.Emergency Fuel Delivery:Delivery of
enough fuel for the vehicle to get to the
nearest service station.
.Lock-Out Service: Service to unlock the
vehicle if you are locked out. A remote
unlock may be available if you have
OnStar. For security reasons, the driver
must present identification before this
service is given.
.Emergency Tow from a Public Road or
Highway: Tow to the nearest GMC dealer
for warranty service, or if the vehicle was in a crash and cannot be driven.
Assistance is not given when the vehicle
is stuck in the sand, mud, or snow.
.Flat Tire Change:
Service to change a flat
tire with the spare tire. The spare tire,
if equipped, must be in good condition
and properly inflated. It is the owner's
responsibility for the repair or
replacement of the tire if it is not covered
by the warranty.
.Battery Jump Start: Service to jump start
a dead battery.
.Trip Interruption Benefits and Assistance:
If your trip is interrupted due to a
warranty event, incidental expenses may
be reimbursed within the Powertrain
warranty period. Items considered are
reasonable and customary hotel, meals,
rental car, or a vehicle being delivered
back to the customer, up to 500 miles.
Services Not Included in Roadside
Assistance
.Impound towing caused by violation of
any laws
.Legal fines
.Mounting, dismounting, or changing of
snow tires, chains, or other traction
devices Service is not provided if a vehicle is in an
area that is not accessible to the service
vehicle or is not a regularly traveled or
maintained public road, which includes ice
and winter roads. Off-road use is not
covered.
Services Specific to Canadian-Purchased
Vehicles
.Fuel Delivery:
Reimbursement is up to
7 liters. Propane and other fuels are not
provided through this service.
.Lock-Out Service: Vehicle registration is
required.
.Trip Interruption Benefits and Assistance:
Must be over 150 km from where your
trip was started to qualify.
Pre-authorization, original detailed
receipts, and a copy of the repair orders
are required. Once authorization has been
received, the Roadside Assistance advisor
will help to make arrangements and
explain how to receive payment.
.Alternative Service: If assistance cannot
be provided right away, the Roadside
Assistance advisor may give permission to
get local emergency road service. You will
receive payment, up to $100, after
sending the original receipt to Roadside
Assistance. Mechanical failures may be
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Customer Information 345
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing company
may require you to have insurance that
ensures repairs with Genuine GM Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts or
Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts.
Read the lease carefully, as you may be
charged at the end of the lease for poor
quality repairs.
If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call emergency
services for help. Do not leave the scene of
a crash until all matters have been taken
care of. Move the vehicle only if its position
puts you in danger, or you are instructed to
move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary information to
police and other parties involved in the
crash.
For emergency towing seeRoadside
Assistance Program 0341.
Gather the following information:
.Driver name, address, and telephone
number
.Driver license number
.Owner name, address, and telephone
number
.Vehicle license plate number
.Vehicle make, model, and model year
.Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.Insurance company and policy number
.General description of the damage to the
other vehicle
Choose a reputable repair facility that uses
quality replacement parts. See “Collision
Parts” earlier in this section.
If the airbag has inflated, see What Will You
See after an Airbag Inflates? 044.
Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair
Process
In the event that the vehicle requires
damage repairs, GM recommends that you
take an active role in its repair. If you have
a pre-determined repair facility of choice,
take the vehicle there, or have it towed
there. Specify to the facility that any
required replacement collision parts be
original equipment parts, either new
Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM
parts. Remember, recycled parts will not be
covered by the GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but
you must live with the repair. Depending on
your policy limits, your insurance company
may initially value the repair using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with the
repair professional, and insist on Genuine
GM parts. Remember, if the vehicle is
leased, you may be obligated to have the
vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts,
even if your insurance coverage does not
pay the full cost.
If another party's insurance company is
paying for the repairs, you are not obligated
to accept a repair valuation based on that
insurance company's collision policy repair
limits, as you have no contractual limits
with that company. In such cases, you can
have control of the repair and parts choices
as long as the cost stays within reasonable
limits.
Publication Ordering Information
Service Manuals
Service manuals have the diagnosis and
repair information on the engine/propulsion,
transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical system, steering system, body, etc.
GMC Canyon/Canyon Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Cana-
da/Mexico-16510661) - 2023 - CRC - 11/29/22
Index 361
DoorAjar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Drive Systems Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . 98, 100
Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 227
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Distracted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Driving (cont'd)
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . 144
E
ElectricParking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 277
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 89
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 95
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Engine (cont'd)
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Oil Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115