traction control GMC TERRAIN 2017 Owner's Guide

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
Driving and Operating 179
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster
and the appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control System
Messages 0122.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off. If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold
guntil the traction
off light
iand StabiliTrak OFF
light
gcome on and stay on in the
instrument cluster. The appropriate
DIC message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages 0122.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release
g. The
traction off light
iand StabiliTrak
OFF light
gin the instrument cluster
turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications 0204.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, the vehicle can
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
If equipped with the StabiliTrak
®
system, the system may begin to
limit wheel spin while you are using
cruise control. If this happens, the
cruise control will automatically

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
180 Driving and Operating
disengage. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0177.
If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0185.
When road conditions allow you to
safely use it again, cruise control
can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control is disengaged.
o: Press to turn cruise control on
or off.
n: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
RES/+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, move the thumbwheel up
briefly to resume to that speed or
hold upward to accelerate. If cruise
control is already active, use to
increase vehicle speed.
SET/− :Move the thumbwheel down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
speed.
Setting Cruise Control
If the
obutton is on when not in
use, SET/− or RES/+ could get
bumped and go into cruise when not
desired. Keep
oturned off when
cruise control is not being used.
1. Press
oto turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3. Move the thumbwheel toward SET/− and release it. The
desired set speed briefly appears in the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
display.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied or
nis pressed, the
cruise control is disengaged without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previously set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
. Move the thumbwheel up toward
RES/+ and hold it until the
vehicle accelerates to the
desired speed, then release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
Driving and Operating 201
When TSC is applying the brakes,
the TCS/StabiliTrak indicator light
flashes to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak is
turned off. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0177.
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)
0 107. 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.
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 072 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 072.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
204 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 072.
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 0304.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 072.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
250 Vehicle Care
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. GM recommends that
tires, including the spare if
equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacture date is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) which is molded into
one side of the tire sidewall. The
first two digits represent the week
(01–52) and the last two digits, the
year. For example, the third week of
the year 2010 would have a
four-digit DOT date of 0310.
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be freeof grease, gasoline, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tires are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec
system considers over a dozen
critical specifications that impact
the overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring
performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's
sidewall near the tire size. If the
tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC Spec number
will be followed by MS for mud
and snow. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0238.
GM recommends replacing worn
tires in complete sets of four.
Uniform tread depth on all tires
will help to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling
performance may be adversely
affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time.
If proper rotation and
maintenance have been done,
all four tires should wear out at
about the same time. See Tire
Rotation 0248. However, if it is

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
Vehicle Care 251
necessary to replace only one
axle set of worn tires, place the
new tires on the rear axle.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment
tires may not be available for H,
V, W, Y and ZR speed rated
tires. Never exceed the winter
tires’maximum speed capability
when using winter tires with a
lower speed rating.
{Warning
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting
to mount or dismount a tire
could cause injury or death.
Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should
mount or dismount the tires.
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may cause
loss of control of the vehicle,
resulting in a crash or other
vehicle damage. Use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels.
{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If the vehicle tires must be
replaced with a tire that does not
have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating, and
construction (radial) as the
original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire
pressure monitoring system
could give an inaccurate
low-pressure warning if non-TPC
Spec rated tires are installed.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0244.
The Tire and Loading
Information label indicates the
original equipment tires on the
vehicle. See Vehicle Load
Limits 0161.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
252 Vehicle Care
control, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, the performance
of these systems can also be
affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0250 and
Accessories and
Modifications 0204.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires,
compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
Vehicle Care 253
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to
the left or right, depending on the
crown of the road and/or other road
surface variations such as troughs
or ruts, is normal. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
262 Vehicle Care
8. Make sure the metal tube iscentered at the striker. Push
the tube toward the front of the
vehicle.
9. Close the liftgate and make sure it is latched properly.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the
vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of
the spare tire, have the standard tire repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the AWD (if equipped), ABS, and
Traction Control systems may
engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9919509) - 2017 - crc - 8/16/16
Index 321
Compass (cont'd)Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Connections OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Engine Temperature Gauge . . 104
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 144
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Cover Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 298 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Customer Assistance (cont'd)
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Customer Information
Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . . . 304
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 302
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 308
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 307
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Diagnostics
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 294
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 175, 224
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 23
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 158
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 160
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
ECO Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Economy Mode Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201