heating GMC ACADIA 2009 User Guide

DIC Warnings and
Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC
to notify the driver that the status
of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by
the driver to correct the condition.
Multiple messages may appear one
after another.
Some messages may not require
immediate action, but you can press
any of the DIC buttons on the
instrument panel or the trip odometer
reset stem on the instrument panel
cluster to acknowledge that you
received the messages and to clear
them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared
from the DIC display because
they are more urgent. These
messages require action before they
can be cleared. You should take
any messages that appear on
the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will
only make the messages disappear,
not correct the problem.The following are the possible
messages that can be displayed
and some information about them.ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF
If your vehicle has the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system, this message
displays when there is a compact
spare tire on the vehicle, when
the Antilock Brake System (ABS)
warning light comes on, or when the
rear differential uid is overheating.
This message turns off when
the differential uid cools.
The AWD system is disabled until
the compact spare tire is replaced
by a full-size tire. If the warning
message is still on after putting on
the full-size tire, you need to reset
the warning message. To reset
the warning message, turn
the ignition off and then back on
again after 30 seconds. If the
message stays on, see your
dealer/retailer right away. See
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System on
page 4-7for more information.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned off.
This message clears itself after
10 seconds.
AUTOMATIC LIGHT
CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
automatic headlamps are turned on.
This message clears itself after
10 seconds.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when
the system detects that the battery
voltage is dropping below
expected levels. The battery saver
system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that you may
be able to notice. At the point
that the features are disabled, this
message is displayed. It means that
the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery.
3-56 Instrument Panel

If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer/retailer as soon as possible to
avoid damage to the engine.
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
while the engine is overheating,
severe engine damage may occur.
If an overheat warning appears
on the instrument panel cluster
and/or DIC, stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Do not
increase the engine speed above
normal idling speed. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-21for
more information.
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is
too hot. Stop and allow the
vehicle to idle until it cools down.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-40.SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-23
for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
while the engine is overheating,
severe engine damage may occur.
If an overheat warning appears
on the instrument panel cluster
and/or DIC, stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-21for
more information.
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays and a
chime sounds when the cooling
system temperature gets too hot
and the engine further enters
the engine coolant protection mode.
SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-21for further information.
This message also displays
when the vehicle’s engine power is
reduced. Reduced engine power
can affect the vehicle’s ability
to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no reduction in
performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be
driven at a reduced speed while this
message is on, but acceleration
and speed may be reduced.
Anytime this message stays on,
the vehicle should be taken to your
dealer/retailer for service as soon
as possible.
3-58 Instrument Panel

FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the fuel level is low.
Refuel as soon as possible.
SeeFuel Gage on page 3-45
andFuel on page 5-5for more
information.
HEATED WASH (Washer)
FLUID SYSTEM OFF
This message displays when you
manually turn off the heated
windshield washer uid system or
when the system automatically turns
off. See “Heated Windshield
Washer” underWindshield Washer
on page 3-8for more information.
This message clears itself after
10 seconds.
HEATING WASH (Washer)
FLUID WASH (Washer) WIPES
PENDING
This message displays when you
turn on the heated windshield
washer uid system. See “Heated
Windshield Washer” under
Windshield Washer on page 3-8
for more information.
HOOD OPEN
On some models, this message
displays and a chime sounds if the
hood is not fully closed. Stop and
turn off the vehicle, check the hood
for obstructions, and close the
hood again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC.
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message displays when the
outside air temperature is cold
enough to create icy road
conditions. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the driver side rear
door is not fully closed and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstructions, and
close the door again. Check to see
if the message still appears on
the DIC.
LIFTGATE OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the liftgate is open
while the ignition is in ON/RUN.
Turn off the vehicle and check the
liftgate. Restart the vehicle and
check for the message on the DIC
display.
Instrument Panel 3-59

RIGHT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the passenger side rear
door is not fully closed and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstructions, and
close the door again. Check to see
if the message still appears on
the DIC.
SERVICE A/C (Air
Conditioning) SYSTEM
This message displays when the
electronic sensors that control
the air conditioning and heating
systems are no longer working.
Have the climate control system
serviced by your dealer/retailer
if you notice a drop in heating and
air conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Have your dealer/retailer inspect the
system for problems. SeeAirbagReadiness Light on page 3-36and
Airbag System on page 1-48for
more information.
SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
If your vehicle has the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system, this message
displays if there is a problem
with this system. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart
the vehicle after 30 seconds
and check for the message on the
DIC display. If the message is
still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the AWD
system needs service. See your
dealer/retailer.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem
with the battery charging system.
Under certain conditions, the
charging system light may also turn
on in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeCharging System Light onpage 3-37. Driving with this problem
could drain the battery. Turn off
all unnecessary accessories.
Have the electrical system checked
as soon as possible. See your
dealer/retailer.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with
the brake system warning light
if there is a problem with the brake
system. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-38. If this
message appears, stop as soon
as possible and turn off the vehicle.
Restart the vehicle and check for
the message on the DIC display.
If the message is still displayed or
appears again when you begin
driving, the brake system needs
service as soon as possible.
See your dealer/retailer.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
this message displays if there is a
problem with the URPA system.
Instrument Panel 3-61

TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle
while the transmission uid is
overheating and the transmission
temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster
and/or DIC, you can damage
the transmission. This could lead
to costly repairs that would
not be covered by your warranty.
Do not drive your vehicle with
overheated transmission uid
or while the transmission
temperature warning is displayed.
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the transmission uid in the
vehicle gets hot. Driving with the
transmission uid temperature high
can cause damage to the vehicle.
Stop the vehicle and let it idle to
allow the transmission to cool.
This message clears when the uid
temperature reaches a safe level.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime
sounds if a turn signal is left on
for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km). Move the
turn signal/multifunction lever to
the off position.
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID
This message displays when the
windshield washer uid is low.
Fill the windshield washer uid
reservoir as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 5-10for the location of
the windshield washer uid
reservoir. Also, seeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-24for more
information.
DIC Vehicle
Customization
(With DIC Buttons)
Your vehicle may have
customization capabilities that allow
you to program certain features to
one preferred setting. Customization
features can only be programmed to
one setting on the vehicle and cannot
be programmed to a preferred
setting for two different drivers.
All of the customization options may
not be available on your vehicle.
Only the options available will
be displayed on the DIC.
The default settings for the
customization features were set
when your vehicle left the factory,
but may have been changed
from their default state since then.
3-64 Instrument Panel

Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move that
hand to the left. To move the trailer
to the right, move your hand to
the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause
the trailer to come in contact with
the vehicle. The vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel
ash whenever signaling a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also ash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel ash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you may
think other drivers are seeing the
signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Because of the added load of the
trailer, the vehicle’s engine may
overheat on hot days, when going
up a long or steep grade with a
trailer. If the engine coolant
temperature gage indicates
overheating, turn off the air
conditioning to reduce engine load,
pull off the road and stop in a
safe spot. Let the engine run while
parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gearbeforestarting down a long
or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down
and reduce the vehicle speed
to around 55 mph (88 km/h) to
reduce the possibility of the engine
and the transmission overheating.
4-30 Driving Your Vehicle

Basic Trailer Wiring
The trailer wiring harness, with a
seven-pin connector, is located
at the rear of the vehicle and is
tied to the vehicle’s frame.
The harness connector can be
plugged into a seven-pin universal
heavy-duty trailer connector
available through your
dealer/retailer.
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
Brown: Taillamps
Black: Ground
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
Red/Black: Battery Feed
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuse for this circuit is installed
in the underhood electrical center,
but the wires are not connected.
They should be connected by your
dealer/retailer or a qualied
service center.
If the back-up lamp circuit is not
functional, contact your
dealer/retailer.If a remote (non-vehicle) battery is
being charged, press the Tow/Haul
mode switch located on the center
console near the climate controls.
This will boost the vehicle system
voltage and properly charge the
battery. If the trailer is too light for
Tow/Haul mode, turn on the
headlamps (Non-HID only) as a
second way to boost the vehicle
system and charge the battery.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-21.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-33

Service and
Appearance Care
Service
Service...............................5-3
Accessories and
Modications.....................5-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................5-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....5-3
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................5-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......5-4
Fuel
Fuel....................................5-5
Gasoline Octane.................5-5
Gasoline Specications.......5-5
California Fuel....................5-5
Additives.............................5-5
Fuels in Foreign
Countries..........................5-6
Filling the Tank...................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container..........................5-8
Checking Things
Under the Hood
Checking Things Under
the Hood..........................5-9
Hood Release.....................5-9
Engine Compartment
Overview.........................5-10
Engine Oil.........................5-11
Engine Oil Life System.....5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . .5-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid................................5-16
Cooling System.................5-16
Engine Coolant.................5-17
Engine Overheating...........5-21
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
...............5-23
Power Steering Fluid.........5-23
Windshield Washer Fluid. . .5-24
Brakes..............................5-25
Battery..............................5-28
Jump Starting...................5-28
All-Wheel Drive
All-Wheel Drive.................5-33
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............5-33
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............5-33
Halogen Bulbs..................5-33
License Plate Lamp..........5-34
Replacement Bulbs...........5-34
Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................5-34
Tires
Tires.................................5-35
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......5-36
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................5-38
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .5-41
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................5-42
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................5-44
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................5-47
Service and Appearance Care 5-1

Notice:Using coolant other
than DEX-COOL®can cause
premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition,
the engine coolant could require
changing sooner, at 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle
is lled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. The coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km),
whichever occurs rst.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-21.
What to Use
{CAUTION
Adding only plain water to the
cooling system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid
such as alcohol, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C), outside
temperature.
Gives boiling protection up to
265°F (129°C), engine
temperature.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
Will not damage aluminum parts.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice:If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
Notice:If extra inhibitors
and/or additives are used in the
vehicle’s cooling system, the
vehicle could be damaged.
Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this
manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12
for more information.
Service and Appearance Care 5-17

9. If the coolant level inside the
radiator ller neck is low, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL
coolant mixture through the
ller neck until the level is back
up to the base of the ller
neck. Replace the pressure cap.
Be sure to secure it tightly.
Notice:If the pressure cap is
not tightly installed, coolant loss
and possible engine damage
may occur. Be sure the cap is
properly and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gage on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-40.The vehicle may also display
an ENGINE OVERHEATED
IDLE ENGINE and ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-56.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, but
instead get service help right away.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 7-6.
If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are
not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle
serviced.Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice:If the engine catches re
while driving with no coolant, the
vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 5-23for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Service and Appearance Care 5-21