2023 GMC TERRAIN Recreation

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
190 Driving and Operating
.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
All-wheel-drive vehicles can be used for
off-road driving. Vehicles without all-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. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information about
the original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual. Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of the best
ways to control the vehicle 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.
Before Driving 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
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
.Make sure all underbody shields,
if equipped, are properly attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to 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 0196.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established trails, roads, and
areas that have been set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers, trees,
or grasses or disturb wildlife.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 219
When using a compact spare tire on an
AWD vehicle, the system automatically
detects the compact spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system. To
restore full AWD operation and prevent
excessive wear on the system, replace the
compact spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as possible. SeeCompact Spare Tire
0 312.6Snow Mode : Snow Mode improves
vehicle acceleration on snow and ice-covered
roads. Snow Mode is not available on
vehicles equipped with AWD.
7Off-Road Mode : Use Off-Road Mode for
public off-road recreational driving. See
Off-Road Driving 0190. Off-Road Mode is
only available on vehicles equipped
with AWD.
_Tow/Haul Mode : Tow/Haul Mode can
assist when towing or hauling a heavy load.
It changes transmission shift patterns, turns
on AWD, if equipped, and increases trailer
sway control assistance. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0252. Tow/
Haul Mode is only available on vehicles with
the towing package. Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking assists
when driving downhill. It maintains vehicle
speed by automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle. The system
will automatically command downshifts to
reduce vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle is on a
low grade or when the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
While in the Electronic Range Select (ERS)
Mode, grade braking is deactivated, allowing
a range to be selected and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade braking is
available for normal driving and in Tow/Haul
Mode. See
Manual Mode 0211.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 251
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait five seconds
after you have finished pumping before
removing the fill nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care0319. Push the fuel door
closed until it latches.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do
not remove the fill nozzle. Shut off the
flow of fuel by shutting off the pump or
by notifying the station attendant. Leave
the area immediately.
Filling the Tank with a Portable Fuel
Container
If the vehicle runs out of fuel and must be
filled from a portable fuel container:
1. Locate the capless funnel adapter from under the spare tire.
2. Insert and latch the funnel into the capless fuel system.
{Warning
Attempting to refuel from a portable fuel
container without using the funnel
adapter may cause fuel spillage and
damage the capless fuel system. This
could cause a fire. You or others could be
badly burned and the vehicle could be
damaged.
3. Remove and clean the funnel adapter and return it to the storage location.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{Warning
Never fill a portable fuel container while
it is in the vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite
the fuel vapor. You or others could be
badly burned and the vehicle could be
damaged. To help avoid injury to you
and others:
.Dispense fuel only into approved
containers.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Do not fill a container while it is
inside a vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, in
a pickup bed, or on any surface other
than the ground.
.Bring the fill nozzle in contact with
the inside of the fill opening before
operating the nozzle. Maintain contact
until filling is complete.
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
pumping fuel.
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information
Only use towing equipment that has been
designed for the vehicle. Contact your dealer
or trailering dealer for assistance with
preparing the vehicle to tow a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a trailer.
To tow a disabled vehicle, see Transporting
a Disabled Vehicle 0315. To tow the vehicle
behind another vehicle such as a motor
home, see Recreational Vehicle Towing 0317.

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
Vehicle Care 317
Install the tow eye into the socket and turn
it until it is fully tightened.
When the tow eye is removed, reinstall the
cover with the notch in the original position.
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes, such as behind a
motor home, seeRecreational Vehicle
Towing 0317.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing
the vehicle behind another vehicle –such as
behind a motor home. The two most
common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dinghy towing is towing the
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
Dolly towing is towing the vehicle with two
wheels on the ground and two wheels up
on a device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to consider
before recreational vehicle towing:
.Become familiar with the local laws that
apply to recreational vehicle towing.
These laws may vary by region.
.Be sure you know the towing capacity of
the towing vehicle. Read the tow vehicle
manufacturer's recommendations.
.Know how far the vehicle will be towed.
Some vehicles have restrictions on how
far and how long they can tow.
.Get the proper towing equipment. See
your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
.If the vehicle is ready to be towed, just
as preparing the vehicle for a long trip,
ensure the vehicle is prepared to be
towed.
Dinghy Towing
Caution
If the vehicle is towed with all four
wheels on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged. The
repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not tow the vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground.
The vehicle was not designed to be towed
with all four wheels on the ground. The
vehicle may be towed using a platform
trailer with all four wheels off the ground.
Some vehicles may be dolly towed. See the
following information on dolly towing.
Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
All-wheel-drive vehicles cannot be towed
with two wheels on the ground. To properly
tow these vehicles, they should be placed on
a platform trailer with all four wheels off of
the ground.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
366 Index
RecommendedFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . 332
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Remote Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Key Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Replacing
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . 70
Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Restraints
Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . 205
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Roads
Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . 207
S
Safety
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Safety Defects Reporting Canadian Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 43
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Heated and Ventilated, Front . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Heated, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 72
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 261
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . 327
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/-
Mexico-16540740) - 2023 - CRC - 6/16/22
368 Index
Tires (cont'd)Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrakLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . 214
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . 171
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . 344
Transporting
a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
TTY Users Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . 126U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Updates Map Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Using Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
VehicleAhead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Vehicle (cont'd)
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 87
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Windshield
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81