wheel GMC CANYON 2008 Owner's Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-12
Child Restraints
.......................................1-33
Airbag System
.........................................1-60
Restraint System Check
............................1-75
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-19
Mirrors
....................................................2-39
OnStar
®System
......................................2-47
Storage Areas
.........................................2-50
Sunroof
..................................................2-52
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-38
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-46Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-38
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-46
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-47
Front Axle
...............................................5-48
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-54
Tires
......................................................5-56
Appearance Care
.....................................5-99
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-109
Electrical System
....................................5-110
Capacities and Specications
...................5-116
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-16
Index................................................................ 1
2008 GMC Canyon Owner ManualM

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on
wheels.
1-13

Airbag System
Your vehicle has the following airbags:
A frontal airbag for the driver.
A frontal airbag for the right front passenger
Your vehicle may also have the following airbags:
A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger
seated directly behind the driver.
A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and
the passenger seated directly behind the right
front passenger.
All of the airbags in your vehicle will have the word
AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on
the middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and
on the instrument panel for the right front passenger.
With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear
along the headliner or trim.Airbags are designed to supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbags
are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury
from the force of an inating bag, all airbags must
inate very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things to know about the
airbag system:{CAUTION:
You can be severely injured or killed in a crash
if you are not wearing your safety belt — even
if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt
during a crash helps reduce your chance of
hitting things inside the vehicle or being
ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental
restraints” to the safety belts. All airbags are
designed to work with safety belts, but do not
replace them.
1-60

Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s airbag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
1-63

If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right
front passenger, and second row outboard passengers,
they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly
or it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The
path of an inating airbag must be kept clear.
Do not put anything between an occupant and
an airbag, and do not attach or put anything
on the steering wheel hub or on or near any
other airbag covering.
If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tie down through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
inating roof-rail airbag will be blocked. Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
1-64

What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the
inator. Gas from the inator lls the airbag causing the
bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inator,
the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag
module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with roof-rail
airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the
vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant
seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the
inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. Roof-rail airbags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 1-65for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
1-67

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering Information on
page 7-15.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an airbag when
it inates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position,
which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger’s seat. The passenger sensing
system may not operate properly if the original
seat trim is replaced with non-GM covers,
upholstery or trim, or with GM covers, upholstery
or trim designed for a different vehicle.
1-74

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System.................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation.......................................2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks (Crew Cab)...............2-9
Lockout Protection..........................................2-9
Rear Doors (Extended Cab).............................2-9
Tailgate.......................................................2-10
Windows........................................................2-12
Manual Windows..........................................2-12
Power Windows............................................2-13
Sliding Rear Window.....................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
Passlock
®(U. S. Only)..................................2-16
PASS-Key®III+............................................2-17
PASS-Key®III+ Operation (Canada Only).........2-17Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-19
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-21
Starting the Engine.......................................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-22
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-23
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-26
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-28
Parking Brake..............................................2-32
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-34
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-36
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)...............................2-37
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-37
Engine Exhaust............................................2-37
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-38
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing a
Trailer on page 4-44for the trailer towing
capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn to four
different positions.
To shift out of PARK (P), the ignition must be in
ON/RUN and the regular brake pedal must be applied.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If
none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.
(A) LOCK/OFF:This position locks the ignition. It also
locks the transmission on automatic transmission
vehicles. It locks the steering wheel on manual
transmission vehicles when the key is removed. It is a
theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove
your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF.
2-19

If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK/OFF unless the shift
lever is in PARK (P).
If the steering wheel is locked, move it from right to left
and turn the key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
(B) ACC/ACCESSORY:This is the position in which
you can operate your electrical accessories or items
plugged into the accessory power outlets. On automatic
transmission vehicles, this position unlocks the ignition.
On manual transmission vehicles, it unlocks the ignition
and steering wheel. Use this position if your vehicle must
be pushed or towed.
(C) ON/RUN:This is the position that the switch returns
to after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in ON when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON/RUN to operate the electrical accessories and
to display some instrument panel cluster warning and
indicator lights. The transmission is also unlocked in
this position on automatic transmission vehicles.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ACC/ACCESORY or ON/RUN position with the engine
off. You may not be able to start your vehicle if the battery
is allowed to drain for an extended period of time.START (D):This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC/ACCESSORY
and ON/RUN allows you to operate the electrical
accessories, such as the radio or items plugged into
the accessory power outlets.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door
when the ignition is in ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF and the key is in the ignition.
Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys inside, as it is an
easy target for joy riders or thieves. If you leave the key in
the ignition and park your vehicle, a chime will sound,
when you open the driver’s door. Always remember to
remove your key from the ignition and take it with you.
This will lock your ignition and transmission. Also, always
remember to lock the doors.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in the
ignition while your vehicle is parked. You may not be
able to start your vehicle after it has been parked for an
extended period of time.
2-20