2023 GMC TERRAIN tow

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
256 Driving and Operating
VehicleMaximum Trailer Weight
with Trailer Brakes† GCWR*
1.5L Gas FWD 680 kg (1,500 lb) 2 580 kg (5,687 lb)
1.5L Gas AWD 680 kg (1,500 lb) 2 580 kg (5,687 lb)
† For trailers without trailer brakes the maximum trailer weight is 454 kg (1,000 lb). See
Towing Equipment 0257.
* The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the
completely loaded vehicle and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment, and
conversions. Do not exceed the GCWR for the vehicle.
Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight
The Maximum Trailer Tongue Weight Rating
is the allowable trailer tongue weight that
the vehicle can support using a conventional
trailer hitch. It may be necessary to reduce
the overall trailer weight to stay within the
maximum trailer tongue weight rating while
still maintaining the correct trailer load
balance.
Do not exceed a maximum trailer tongue
weight of 68 kg (150 lb). The trailer tongue weight contributes to the
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). GVW includes
the CURB WEIGHT of your vehicle, any
passengers, cargo, equipment and the trailer
tongue weight. Vehicle options, passengers,
cargo, and equipment reduce the maximum
allowable tongue weight the vehicle can
carry, which also reduces the maximum
allowable trailer weight.
Trailer Load Balance
The correct trailer load balance must be
maintained to ensure trailer stability.
Incorrect load balance is a leading cause of
trailer sway.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 257
The trailer tongue weight (1) should be 10–
15% of the loaded trailer weight (2). Some
specific trailer types, such as boat trailers,
fall outside of this range. Always refer to
the trailer owner’s manual for the
recommended trailer tongue weight for each
trailer. Never exceed the maximum loads for
your vehicle, hitch and trailer.
After loading the trailer, separately weigh
the trailer and then the trailer tongue and
calculate the trailer load balance percentage
to see if the weights and distribution are
appropriate for your vehicle. If the trailer
weight is too high, it may be possible to
trasfer some of the cargo into your vehicle.
If the trailer tongue weight is too high or
too low, it may be possible to rearrange
some of the cargo inside of the trailer.
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
tongue weight for your vehicle. Use the
shortest hitch extension available to position
the hitch ball closer to your vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of the trailer tongue
weight on the trailer hitch and the rear axle.
If a cargo carrier is used in the trailer hitch
receiver, choose a carrier that positions the
load as close to the vehicle as possible.
Make sure the total weight, including thecarrier, is no more than half of the
maximum allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle or 227 kg (500 lb), whichever is less.
Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR-RR)
The GAWR-RR is the total weight that can be
supported by the rear axle of the vehicle. Do
not exceed the GAWR-RR for the vehicle,
with the tow vehicle and trailer fully loaded
for the trip including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight-distributing
hitch, do not exceed the GAWR-RR before
applying the weight distribution spring bars.
For additional assistance with trailering or
additional information, see your dealer.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Always use the correct hitch equipment for
your vehicle. Crosswinds, large trucks going
by, and rough roads can affect the trailer
and the hitch.
Proper hitch equipment for your vehicle
helps maintain control of the vehicle-trailer
combination. Many trailers can be towed
using a weight-carrying hitch which has a
coupler latched to the hitch ball, or a toweye latched to a pintle hook. Other trailers
may require a weight-distributing hitch that
uses spring bars to distribute the trailer
tongue weight between your vehicle and
trailer axles. See
“Maximum Trailer Tongue
Weight” underTrailer Towing 0254 for
weight limits with various hitch types.
Never attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches. Only use
frame-mounted hitches that do not attach to
the bumper.
Hitch Cover
To remove the hitch cover:
1. Remove two fasteners (2).

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
258 Driving and Operating
2. Pull the bottom edge of the coverrearward.
3. Disengage the cover at the upper attachments (1) and remove.
Consider using mechanical sway controls
with any trailer. Ask a trailering professional
about sway controls or refer to the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations and
instructions.
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the vehicle.
.Tires must be properly inflated to support
loads while towing a trailer. See Tires
0 290 for instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the vehicle
and the trailer, and attach the chains to the
holes on the trailer hitch platform.
Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by
the trailer manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Always leave just enough
slack so the combination can turn. Never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg (1,000 lb) must
be equipped with brake systems and with
brakes for each axle. Trailer braking
equipment conforming to Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.
State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking system if
the loaded weight of the trailer exceeds
certain minimums that can vary from state
to state. Read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both the vehicle
anti-lock brakes and the trailer brakes may
not function, which could result in a crash.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are working at
the beginning of each trip, and periodically
on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer turn
signals will illuminate to indicate the vehicle
is turning, changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or the bulbs
are burned out.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from vehicle
tires. Trailer tires are designed with stiff
sidewalls to help prevent sway and to
support heavy loads. These features can
make it difficult to determine if the trailer
tire pressures are low only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire pressures before
each trip when the tires are cool. Low trailer
tire pressure is a leading cause of trailer tire
blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The trailer
tire sidewall will show the week and year
the tire was manufactured. Many trailer tire
manufacturers recommend replacing tires
more than six years old.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
260 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 262
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 264
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 284
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 297
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 301
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 303
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 303
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 305
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 313
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . 315
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
262 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on your
vehicle if you do not have the proper
knowledge, service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow owner’s manual
procedures and consult the service
manual for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0346.
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
see Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 57.
If equipped with remote vehicle start, open
the hood before performing any service
work to prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote Vehicle Start 014. Keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service
work performed. See
Maintenance Records
0 334.
Caution
Even small amounts of contamination can
cause damage to vehicle systems. Do not
allow contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine stop/start,
turn the vehicle off before opening the
hood. If the vehicle is on, the engine will
start when the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood can get hot
from running the engine. To help avoid
the risk of burning unprotected skin,
never touch these components until they
have cooled, and always use a glove or
towel to avoid direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood before
opening.
To open the hood: 1. Pull the hood release lever with the
isymbol. It is on the lower left side
of the instrument panel.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 265
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0268.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0265.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0265.
4. Engine Cooling Fan. See Cooling System
0 270.
5. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 275.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0284.
7. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North
America 0313.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0270.
9. Battery - North America 0276.
10. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump
Starting - North America 0313.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0274.
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 0267.
.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 0264 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. If the
oil is not low and the low oil message
remains on, take the vehicle to your dealer
for service.
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 Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 273
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
6. Verify coolant level after the engine is shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the proper
level when the system cools down again,
see your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the instrument
cluster and overheat messages in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) to warn of engine
overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 097. The decision may be made not to lift the
hood when the engine coolant temperature
gauge is in the overheat zone or an engine
overheat DIC message displays, but instead
to get service help right away. See
Roadside
Assistance Program 0342.
If the decision to lift the hood is made,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface. Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan(s) are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan(s) should be running.
If they are not, do not continue to run the
engine, and have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
If the engine coolant temperature gauge is
in the overheat zone or an engine overheat
DIC message is displayed but no steam can
be seen or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
.Stops after high-speed driving
.Idles for long periods in traffic
.Tows a trailer

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
278 Vehicle Care
2. Lift up on the latch in the middle of thewiper blade where the wiper arm
attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down toward the windshield far enough
to release it from the J-hooked end of
the wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade replacement.
Rear Wiper Blade Replacement
To replace the wiper blade:
1. Lift the wiper arm away from thewindshield.
2. While holding the wiper arm, press downat the end of the wiper blade
assembly (1) where it attaches to the
wiper arm (2) to remove the wiper bade
assembly from the wiper arm.
3. Align the new wiper blade assembly (1)with the wiper arm (2) and install by
pushing up on the wiper blade assembly
until it clicks into place on the
wiper arm.
Windshield Replacement
Driver Assistance Systems
If the windshield needs to be replaced and
the vehicle is equipped with a front camera
sensor for the Driver Assistance Systems, a
GM replacement windshield is
recommended. The replacement windshield
must be installed according to GM
specifications for proper alignment. If it is
not, these systems may not work properly,
they may display messages, or they may
not work at all. See your dealer for proper
windshield replacement.