GMC SAVANA 2017 Owner's Manual

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
210 Driving and Operating
VehicleAxle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR (a)
G3500 Passenger Van 2WD Long Wheelbase 4.8L V8 3.423 583 kg (7,900 lb) 6 623 kg (14,600 lb)
6.0L V8 3.424 218 kg (9,300 lb) 7 257 kg (16,000 lb)
3500 Series Cutaway –353 cm (139 in) Wheelbase
4.8L V8 3.42/3.73(b)6 623 kg (14,600 lb)
6.0L V8 3.42/3.73(b)7 257 kg (16,000 lb)
3500 Series Cutaway –404 cm (159 in) Wheelbase
4.8L V8 3.42/3.73(b)6 623 kg (14,600 lb)
6.0L V8 3.42/3.73(b)7 257 kg (16,000 lb)
6.0L V8 4.10(b)8 618 kg (19,000 lb)
6.0L V8 4.10(b)9 072 kg (20,000 lb)
3500 Series Cutaway –450 cm (177 in) Wheelbase
6.0L V8 3.42/3.73(b)7 257 kg (16,000 lb)
6.0L V8 4.10(b)8 618 kg (19,000 lb)
6.0L V8 4.10(b)9 072 kg (20,000 lb)
(a) *The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle
and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment, and conversion. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
(b) Maximum Trailer Weight cannot be provided because total vehicle weight is unknown.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Driving and Operating 211
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (1) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers, or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight the vehicle can carry, which
will also reduce the trailer weight the
vehicle can tow. If towing a trailer,
the tongue load must be added to
the GVW because the vehicle will
be carrying that weight, too. See
Vehicle Load Limits0173 for more
information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity.
The trailer tongue weight (1) should
be 10 percent to 15 percent of the
total loaded trailer weight (2), up to a
maximum of 181 kg (400 lb) with a
weight carrying hitch. The trailer
tongue weight (1) should be
10 percent to 15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (2), up to a
maximum of 454 kg (1,000 lb) with a
weight distributing hitch.
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer
tongue weight on the rear axle. After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or
the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating). The effect of
additional weight may reduce the
trailering capacity more than the
total of the additional weight.
It is important that the vehicle does
not exceed any of its ratings
—
GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, Maximum
Trailer Rating, or Tongue Weight.
The only way to be sure it is not
exceeding any of these ratings is to
weigh the vehicle and trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle tires are inflated
to the upper limit for cold tires.
These numbers can be found on the
Certification label at the rear edge of

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
212 Driving and Operating
the driver door, or seeVehicle Load
Limits 0173. Make sure not to go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle,
or the GAWR, including the weight
of the trailer tongue. If using a
weight distributing hitch, make sure
not to go over the rear axle limit
before applying the weight
distribution spring bars.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps
maintain combination control. Many
trailers can be towed with a
weight-carrying hitch which simply
features a coupler latched to the
hitch ball, or a tow eye latched to a
pintle hook. Other trailers may
require a weight-distributing hitch
that uses spring bars to distribute
the trailer tongue weight among the
two vehicle and trailer axles. See
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue” under
Trailer Towing 0208 for rating limits
with various hitch types. Consider using sway controls with
any trailer. Ask a trailering
professional about sway controls or
refer to the trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and instructions.
Weight-Distributing Hitches
and Weight Carrying Hitches
A weight distributing hitch may be
useful with some trailers. Use the
following guidelines to determine if a
weight distributing hitch should
be used.
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, the hitch must be adjusted so
the distance (2) remains the same
both before and after coupling the
trailer to the tow vehicle.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. 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 rig can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 680 kg (1,500 lb) must be
equipped with its own brake system,
with brakes working on all axles.
Trailer braking equipment
conforming to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Driving and Operating 213
State and local regulations may also
require the trailer to have its own
braking system if loaded above a
certain threshold.
Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic brake system.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The optional heavy-duty trailer
wiring package includes a wiring
harness, with a seven-pin connector
at the rear of the vehicle and a
four-wire harness assembly under
the driver side of the instrument
panel. The four-wire harness
assembly comes without a
connector.
If the vehicle does not have a trailer
hitch, the seven-wire harness
assembly with connector is taped
together and located in a frame
pocket at the driver side rear left
corner of the frame.If the vehicle has a trailer hitch, the
seven-wire harness assembly with
connector is attached to a bracket
on the hitch platform. In both cases,
the seven-wire harness has a
connector and includes a 30-amp
feed wire.
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications
for proper electrical connectivity.
The seven-wire harness connector
contains the following trailer circuits:
.
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
(10A fuse)**
. White: Ground
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Signal
. Dark Green: Right Rear Stop
and Turn Signal*
. Red/Black Stripe: Battery Feed
(30A Fuse)
. Brown: Trailer Park Lamp
Supply Voltage (15A fuse)**
. Yellow: Left Rear Stop and Turn
Signal * The four-wire harness (without
connector) contains the following
circuits:
.
Black: Ground
. Red/White: Battery Feed
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Signal
. Light Blue: CHMSL/Stoplamp
Supply Voltage
* If the vehicle is a cutaway with
trailer provisions, a 15 amp fuse will
be shared for both left/stop trailer
turn and right/stop trailer turn
signals. However, the cutaway
lighting connector will have a
10 amp fuse for each signal.
** If the vehicle is a cutaway with
trailer provisions, a 15 amp fuse will
be shared for trailer park lamps and
cutaway rear lighting connector park
lamps. Also, a 10 amp fuse will be
shared for trailer back-up lamps and
cutaway rear lighting connector
back-up lamps.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
214 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul Mode
This button is on the instrument
panel, to the right of the steering
wheel.
Pressing this button turns on and off
the Tow/Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/
Haul Mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0190.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). See
“Weight of the Trailer” inTrailer
Towing 0208. Tow/Haul is most
useful under the following driving
conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or with no
trailer at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0103.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Driving and Operating 215
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 066 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 66.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
216 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 217
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 217
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 223
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 227
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . 234
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Battery - North America . . . . . . 238
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . 239
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 240
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 241
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 241Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . 244
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . 246
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 246
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 247
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 248 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . 252
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Dual Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 274

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Vehicle Care 217
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 284
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
WARNING: Most motor vehicles,
including this one, as well as many
of its service parts and fluids,
contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
See
Battery - North America 0238
and Jump Starting - North America
0 285.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
218 Vehicle Care
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 066.
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 Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 324.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 066.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-9967828) -
2017 - crc - 6/29/17
Vehicle Care 219
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records0310.
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
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is in front of the driver
side door frame near the floor.
2. Go to the front of the vehicleand lift up the secondary hood
release, which is underneath
the middle of the hood.
3. Lift the hood, release the hoodprop from its retainer, and put
the hood prop into the slot in
the hood.
If the vehicle has an underhood
lamp, it will automatically come on
and stay on until the hood is closed.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
of the filler caps are on properly.
Then lift the hood to relieve
pressure on the hood prop. Remove
the hood prop from the slot in the
hood and return the prop to its
retainer. Let the hood down and
close it firmly.