battery GMC ACADIA 2009 User Guide

Shifting Out of Park
The vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in P (Park)
with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less
than 9 volt) battery.If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-28for more information.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever
button.
2. While holding down the brake
pedal, press the shift lever
button again.
3. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), see your
dealer/retailer.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
{CAUTION
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass, or
other things that can burn.
Features and Controls 2-29

OnStar Virtual Advisor
OnStar Virtual Advisor is a feature of
OnStar Hands-Free Calling that uses
minutes to access location-based
weather, local traffic reports, and
stock quotes. Press the phone button
and give a few simple voice
commands to browse through the
various topics. See the OnStar
Owner’s Guide for more information.
This feature is only available in the
continental U.S.
OnStar Steering Wheel
Controls
This vehicle may have a Talk/Mute
button that can be used to
interact with OnStar Hands-Free
Calling. SeeAudio Steering Wheel
Controls on page 3-121for more
information.
On some vehicles, the mute button
can be used to dial numbers into
voice mail systems, or to dial phone
extensions. See the OnStar Owner’s
Guide for more information.
How OnStar Service Works
The OnStar system can record and
transmit vehicle information. This
information is automatically sent to
an OnStar Call Center when the
OnStar button is pressed, the
emergency button is pressed, or if
the airbags or AACN system deploy.
This information usually includes
the vehicle’s GPS location and, in
the event of a crash, additional
information regarding the crash that
the vehicle was involved in (e.g.
the direction from which the vehicle
was hit). When the Virtual Advisor
feature of OnStar Hands-Free
Calling is used, the vehicle also
sends OnStar the vehicle’s
GPS location so they can provide
services where it is located.
OnStar service cannot work unless
the vehicle is in a place where
OnStar has an agreement with a
wireless service provider for service
in that area. OnStar service also
cannot work unless the vehicle is in
a place where the wireless service
provider OnStar has hired forthat area has coverage, network
capacity and reception when
the service is needed, and
technology that is compatible with
the OnStar service. Not all services
are available everywhere,
particularly in remote or enclosed
areas, or at all times.
Location information about the
vehicle is only available if the GPS
satellite signals are unobstructed
and available.
The vehicle must have a working
electrical system, including adequate
battery power, for the OnStar
equipment to operate. There are
other problems OnStar cannot
control that may prevent OnStar
from providing OnStar service at any
particular time or place. Some
examples are damage to important
parts of the vehicle in a crash,
hills, tall buildings, tunnels, weather
or wireless phone network
congestion.
Features and Controls 2-43

Universal Home Remote
System Operation
If there is one triangular Light
Emitting Diode (LED) indicator
light above the Universal Home
Remote buttons, follow the
instructions below.
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate devices
such as garage door openers,
security systems, and home
automation devices.
Do not use the Universal Home
Remote with any garage door
opener that does not have the stop
and reverse feature. This includes
any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982.Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program
the Universal Home Remote.
Because of the steps involved, it
may be helpful to have another
person available to assist you in the
programming the Universal Home
Remote.
Keep the original hand-held
transmitter for use in other vehicles
as well as for future Universal
Home Remote programming. It is
also recommended that upon
the sale of the vehicle, the
programmed Universal Home
Remote buttons should be erased
for security purposes. See “Erasing
Universal Home Remote Buttons”
later in this section.
When programming a garage door,
park outside of the garage. Park
directly in line with and facing
the garage door opener motor-head
or gate motor-head. Be sure that
people and objects are clear of the
garage door or gate that is being
programmed.It is recommended that a new
battery be installed in your
hand-held transmitter for quicker
and more accurate transmission of
the radio-frequency signal.
Programming the Universal
Home Remote System
For questions or help programming
the Universal Home Remote
System, call 1-800-355-3515 or go
to www.homelink.com.
Programming a garage door opener
involves time-sensitive actions,
so read the entire procedure before
starting. Otherwise, the device
will time out and the procedure will
have to be repeated.
Features and Controls 2-45

Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel
Overview
Instrument Panel
Overview...........................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers. . .3-5
Horn...................................3-5
Tilt and Telescopic
Steering Wheel.................3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever................................3-6
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals.............................3-6
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer..........3-7
Flash-to-Pass......................3-7
Windshield Wipers..............3-7
Windshield Washer.............3-8
Rear Window Wiper/
Washer.............................3-9
Cruise Control....................3-9
Exterior Lamps..................3-11
Delayed Headlamps..........3-12
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System
...........3-13
Fog Lamps.......................3-13
Instrument Panel
Brightness.......................3-14
Courtesy Lamps................3-14
Dome Lamps....................3-14
Dome Lamp Override........3-14
Entry Lighting....................3-14
Delayed Entry Lighting......3-15
Delayed Exit Lighting........3-15
Parade Dimming...............3-15
Reading Lamps.................3-15
Electric Power
Management...................3-15
Battery Run-Down
Protection........................3-16
Head-Up Display (HUD). . . .3-17
Accessory Power
Outlet(s)..........................3-20
Power Outlet 115 Volt
Alternating Current..........3-21
Climate Controls
Climate Control System. . . .3-22
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System................3-25
Outlet Adjustment.............3-30
Rear Air Conditioning and
Heating System...............3-31
Rear Air Conditioning and
Heating System and
Electronic Climate
Controls
..........................3-32
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators.................3-33
Instrument Panel Cluster. . .3-34
Speedometer and
Odometer........................3-35
Tachometer.......................3-35
Safety Belt Reminders......3-35
Airbag Readiness Light.....3-36
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator..........................3-36
Charging System Light......3-37
Voltmeter Gage.................3-38
Instrument Panel 3-1

they slowly dim after the delay time
until they go out. The delay time is
canceled if the ignition key is turned
to ON/RUN or the power door lock
switch is pressed. The lamps will dim
right away.
When the ignition is on, illuminated
entry is inactive, which means
the courtesy lamps will not come on
unless a door is opened.
Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting illuminates the
interior for a period of time after
all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for delayed
entry lighting to work. Immediately
after all the doors have been closed,
the delayed entry lighting feature
will continue to work until one of the
following occurs:
The ignition is in ON/RUN.
The doors are locked.
An illumination period of
25 seconds has elapsed.If during the illumination period a
door is opened, the timed
illumination period will be canceled
and the interior lamps will remain
on because a door is open.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates the interior
for a period of time after the key
is removed from the ignition.
The ignition must be off for delayed
exit lighting to work. When the
key is removed, interior illumination
will activate and remain on until
one of the following occurs:
The ignition is in ON/RUN.
The power door locks are
activated.
An illumination period of
20 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a
door is opened, the timed
illumination period will be canceled
and the interior lamps will remain
on because a door is open.
Parade Dimming
Parade mode automatically prohibits
the dimming of the instrument panel
displays during the daylight while the
headlamps are on so that the
displays are still able to be seen.
Reading Lamps
The vehicle has reading lamps that
also act as the dome lamp. Press
the button to turn them on and off.
Electric Power
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery’s temperature and
state of charge. It then adjusts the
voltage for best performance
and extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised
slightly to quickly bring the charge
back up. When the state of charge
is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging.
Instrument Panel 3-15

If the vehicle has a voltmeter gage
or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you
may see the voltage move up or
down. This is normal. If there
is a problem, an alert will be
displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are
very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the
generator (alternator) may not be
spinning fast enough at idle to
produce all the power that is needed
for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling
fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical
needs. It can increase engine
idle speed to generate more power,
whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of
some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable
to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE,
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or
LOW BATTERY. If this message is
displayed, it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-56.Battery Run-Down
Protection
This feature helps prevent the
battery from being drained, if the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map
lamps, visor vanity lamps or trunk
lamp are accidentally left on.
If any of these lamps are left on,
they automatically turn off after
10 minutes, if the ignition is off.
The lamps will not come back on
again until one of the following
occurs:
The ignition is turned on.
The exterior lamps control is
turned off, then on again.
The headlamps will timeout after
10 minutes, if they are manually
turned on before the ignition is off.
3-16 Instrument Panel

If You Cannot See the HUD
Image When the Ignition Is On

Is anything covering the
HUD lens?
Is the HUD dimmer setting bright
enough?
Is the HUD image adjusted to the
proper height?
Are you wearing polarized
sunglasses?
Still no HUD image? Check the
fuse in the instrument panel
fuse block. SeeInstrument Panel
Fuse Block on page 5-90.
If the HUD Image Is Not Clear

Is the HUD image too bright?
Are the windshield and HUD
lens clean?
If the HUD image is not correct,
contact your dealer/retailer.
Keep in mind that the windshield is
part of the HUD system.
Accessory Power
Outlet(s)
The vehicle has three 12-volt outlets
which can be used to plug in
electrical equipment, such as a
cellular telephone, a compact disc
player, etc.
The power outlets are located on
the instrument panel below the
climate controls, at the rear of the
center console, and in the rear cargo
area. Lift the cover to access the
outlet. Close the cover when
not using the outlet.
Notice:Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain
the battery. Power is always
supplied to the outlets. Always
unplug electrical equipment when
not in use and do not plug in
equipment that exceeds the
maximum 20 ampere rating.Certain accessory plugs may not be
compatible to the accessory
power outlet and could result in
blown vehicle and adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced,
see your dealer/retailer for additional
information on the power accessory
outlets.
Notice:Adding any electrical
equipment to the vehicle can
damage it or keep other
components from working as
they should. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use equipment
exceeding maximum amperage
rating of 20 amperes. Check with
your dealer/retailer before
adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included with
the equipment.
3-20 Instrument Panel

vehicle from a distance, if equipped,
you may not see the system
check. Then, after several more
seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you
know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag is enabled
(may inate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag.
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 ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have
the vehicle serviced right away.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 3-36for more information,
including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briey when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running,
as a check to show the light is
working. It should go out when the
engine is started.If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer/retailer. Driving while this light
is on could drain the battery.
When this light comes on, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will also
display the SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM message.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-56for more information.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Instrument Panel 3-37

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. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-56and
Charging System Light on page 3-37
for 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.
Brake System Warning
Light
This vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system is divided into two parts.
If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop the
vehicle. For good braking both parts
need to be working.If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the
brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey
when the ignition key is turned
to ON/RUN. If it does not come on
then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn if there is a problem.
This light may also come on due
to low brake uid. SeeBrakes
on page 5-25for more information.
When the ignition is on, the
brake system warning light will also
come on when the parking brake
is set. The light will stay on if
the parking brake does not release
fully. If it stays on after the
parking brake is fully released, it
means there is a brake problem.
United StatesCanada
3-38 Instrument Panel

If the vehicle has been driven
through a deep puddle of water,
the vehicle’s electrical system
might be wet. The condition is
usually corrected when the
electrical system dries out.
A few driving trips should turn
the light off.
Make sure to fuel the vehicle with
quality fuel. Poor fuel quality
causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause: stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misring,
hesitation on acceleration, or
stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand
used. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on
page 5-5.If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer/retailer can
check the vehicle. The dealer/retailer
has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical
or electrical problems that might
have developed.Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local
governments have or might begin
programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on the vehicle.
Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle
registration.
Here are some things to know to
help the vehicle pass an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the check engine
light is on with the engine
running, or if the key is in
ON/RUN and the light is not on.
The vehicle will not pass this
inspection if the OBD II
(on-board diagnostic) system
determines that critical emission
control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by
the system. The vehicle would
be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the battery has recently been
replaced or if the battery has run
down. The diagnostic system
is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems
during normal driving. This can
take several days of routine
driving. If this has been done
and the vehicle still does not
pass the inspection for lack of
OBD II system readiness,
your dealer/retailer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
Instrument Panel 3-43