warning GMC ACADIA 2008 Owner's Guide

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few seconds
when you start the engine. If the light does not come
on then, have it xed immediately. If there is a problem
with the airbag system, an airbag Driver Information
Center (DIC) message may also come on. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-66for more
information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. Your
instrument panel has a passenger airbag status indicator.
When you start the vehicle, the passenger airbag status
indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on
and off, for several seconds as a system check. If you
use remote start to start your vehicle from a distance,
if equipped, you may not see the system check.United States
Canada
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If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may
be a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer/retailer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-42for more on this, including
important safety information.
Charging System Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn
on the ignition, but
the engine is not
running, as a check to
show you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have
a problem with the charging system. A charging system
Driver Information Center (DIC) message may also
appear. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66
for more information. This light could indicate that
you have problems with a generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as
the radio and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter Gage
When the engine is not
running, but the ignition
is turned on, this gage
shows the battery’s state
of charge in DC volts.
When the engine is running, this gage shows the
condition of the charging system. The vehicle’s
charging system regulates voltage based on the state
of charge of the battery. The voltmeter may uctuate.
This is normal. Readings between the low and high
warning zones indicate the normal operating range.Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating
in the vehicle and the engine is left idling for an
extended period.
If there is a problem with the battery charging system,
a SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM message
will appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
and/or the charging system light will come on. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66and
Charging System Light on page 3-45for more
information.
However, readings in either warning zone may
indicate a possible problem in the electrical system.
Have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
This light may also come on due to low brake uid.
SeeBrakes on page 5-35for more information.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake
is fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. Make sure the parking brake
is fully released. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push or, the pedal may go closer to the oor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service. United StatesCanada
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Antilock Brake System
Warning Light
For vehicles with
the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this
light will come on
briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you
do not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have antilock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-47
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-66for
all brake related DIC messages.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
This warning light should
come on briey when
the engine is started.
If the warning light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you are driving,
there may be a problem with your StabiliTrak
®system
and your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system is off and will not limit wheel
spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
This light will also ash when the StabiliTrak
®system
is active.
If the StabiliTrak
®system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when
the system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-6for more
information.
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Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning light
will come on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and turn off the
engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-25for more information.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant temperature
warning light on could cause your vehicle to
overheat. SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-25.
Your vehicle could be damaged, and it might not
be covered by your warranty. Never drive with
the engine coolant temperature warning light on.
This light will also come on briey when starting
your vehicle. If it does not, have your vehicle serviced.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
Under normal driving conditions the gage will read
210°F (100 °C) or less. If the gage pointer is near
260°F (125 °C), the engine is too hot.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-25for more
information.
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Tire Pressure Light
Your vehicle has a
tire pressure light.
This light comes on briey when the engine is
started and provides information about tire pressures
and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
When the Light is Solid
This indicates that one or more of your tires are
signicantly underinated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), may accompany the light. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-66for more
information. Stop and check your tires as soon as it
is safe to do so. If underinated, inate to the proper
pressure. SeeTires on page 5-48for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is Solid
This indicates that there may be a problem with the
Tire Pressure Monitor System. The light will ash for
about a minute and then stay on solid for the remainder
of the ignition cycle. This sequence will repeat with
every ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 5-57for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It makes sure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment.
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Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about
how much fuel you have left in your tank.
The gage will rst indicate empty before you are out of
fuel, and you should get more fuel as soon as possible.When the fuel tank is low on fuel, the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message will appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). For more information seeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-66.
Here are some situations you may experience with your
fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem with the
fuel gage.
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the
fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the tank’s
capacity to ll the tank.
The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition. United States
Canada
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Driver Information Center (DIC)
Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC).
The DIC displays information about your vehicle.
It also displays warning messages if a system problem
is detected.
All messages will appear in the DIC display located at
the top of the instrument panel cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay, the DIC will display the information that was
last displayed before the engine was turned off.
The DIC also displays a shift lever position indicator on the
bottom line of the display. SeeAutomatic Transmission
Operation on page 2-30for more information.
The outside air temperature also displays on the DIC
when viewing the trip and fuel information. The outside
air temperature automatically appears in the top right
corner of the DIC display. If there is a problem with
the system that controls the temperature display,
the numbers will be replaced with dashes. If this occurs,
have the vehicle serviced.
If your vehicle has DIC buttons, see “DIC Operation
and Displays (With DIC Buttons)” later in this section
andDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons)
on page 3-75for the displays available.
If your vehicle does not have DIC buttons, see
“DIC Operation and Displays (Without DIC Buttons)”
later in this section for the displays available.
DIC Operation and Displays
(With DIC Buttons)
If your vehicle has DIC buttons, the information below
explains the operation of this system.
The DIC has different displays which can be accessed
by pressing the DIC buttons located on the instrument
panel. SeeInstrument Panel Overview on page 3-4
for more information.
The DIC displays trip, fuel, and vehicle system
information, and warning messages if a system problem
is detected.
The DIC also allows some features to be customized.
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC Buttons)
on page 3-75for more information.
If your vehicle has DIC buttons, you can also use the
trip odometer reset stem to view the odometer and
trip odometers.
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DIC Buttons
The buttons are the set/reset, customization, vehicle
information, and trip/fuel buttons. The button functions
are detailed in the following pages.
V(Set/Reset):Press this button to set or reset certain
functions and to turn off or acknowledge messages
on the DIC.
U(Customization):Press this button to customize
the feature settings on your vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization (With DIC Buttons) on page 3-75for
more information.
T(Vehicle Information):Press this button to display
the oil life, park assist on vehicles with this feature,
units, tire pressure readings, and Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter programming.
3(Trip/Fuel):Press this button to display the
odometer, trip odometers, fuel range, average economy,
timer, fuel used, and average speed.
Vehicle Information Menu Items
T
(Vehicle Information):Press this button to scroll
through the following menu items:
OIL LIFE
Press the vehicle information button until OIL LIFE
REMAINING displays. This display shows an estimate
of the oil’s remaining useful life. If you see 99% OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the display, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains. The engine oil life system
will alert you to change the oil on a schedule consistent
with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message will appear on the display. See
“CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON” underDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-66. You should change the
oil as soon as you can. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-15.
In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring the
oil life, additional maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this manual. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information.
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