battery GMC ACADIA 2011 User Guide

Black plate (14,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
5-14 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
MetricEnglish
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. Under normal
driving conditions the gauge will
read approximately 100 °C (210°F)
or less. If the gauge pointer is
near 125 °C (260°F), the engine
is too hot.
It means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has
been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑19 for more information.
Voltmeter Gauge
When the engine is not running, but
the ignition is turned on, this gauge
shows the battery's state of charge
in DC volts.
When the engine is running, this
gauge 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 fluctuate.
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 comes on.
See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages on page 5‑37 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.

Black plate (17,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-17
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 for service.
{WARNING
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 5‑15 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes
on briefly 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. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
When this light comes on, the
Driver Information Center (DIC) also
displays the SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM message.
See
Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑37 for 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.

Black plate (20,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
5-20 Instruments and Controls
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and
local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle
emission control equipment.
For the inspection, the emission
system test equipment is connected
to the vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off.
.The critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the
system. This can happen if
the battery has recently been
replaced or if the battery has
run down. The diagnostic
system evaluates 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, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system
consists of two hydraulic circuits.
If one circuit is not working, the
remaining circuit can still work to
stop the vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
MetricEnglish
This light should come on briefly
when the ignition key is turned to
ON/RUN. If it does not come on
then, have it fixed so it will be ready
to warn if there is a problem.

Black plate (37,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-37
Vehicle 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 becleared. 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.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
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.Turn off all unnecessary
accessories to allow the battery
to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is
11.5 to 15.5 volts.
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.
See
Charging System Light on
page 5‑17. 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.

Black plate (41,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-41
Engine Power Messages
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 10‑19 for 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 for service
as soon as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays and a
chime sounds if the fuel level is
low. Refuel as soon as possible.
See Fuel Gauge on page 5‑13
and Fuel on page 9‑42 for more
information.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message may display along
with the check engine light on
the instrument panel cluster if the
vehicle's fuel cap is not tightened
properly. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5‑18. Reinstall the
fuel cap fully. See Filling the Tank
on page 9‑44. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with
the cap properly installed should
turn this light and message off.
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays if a Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
battery is low. The battery needs
to be replaced in the transmitter.
See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
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.

Black plate (47,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-47
Vehicle
Personalization
Vehicle Personalization
(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.The customization preferences are
automatically recalled.
To change customization
preferences, use the following
procedure.Entering the Feature
Settings Menu
1. Turn the ignition on and place
the vehicle in P (Park).
To avoid excessive drain on the
battery, it is recommended that
the headlamps are turned off.
2. Press the customization button to enter the feature
settings menu.
If the menu is not available,
FEATURE SETTINGS
AVAILABLE IN PARK will
display. Before entering the
menu, make sure the vehicle
is in P (Park).
Feature Settings Menu Items
The following are customization
features that allow you to program
settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a
language other than English has
been set. This feature allows you to
change the language in which the
DIC messages appear to English.
Press the customization button until
the PRESS
VTO DISPLAY IN
ENGLISH screen appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to display all DIC
messages in English.

Black plate (56,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
5-56 Instruments and Controls
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.
To program up to three devices:
1. From inside the vehicle,
press and hold down the two
outside buttons at the same
time, releasing only when
the Universal Home Remote indicator light begins to flash,
after 20 seconds. This step will
erase the factory settings or all
previously programmed buttons.
Do not hold down the buttons for
longer than 30 seconds and do
not repeat this step to program
the remaining two Universal
Home Remote buttons.
2. Hold the end of your hand-held transmitter about 3 to 8 cm
(1 to 3 inches) away from the
Universal Home Remote buttons
while keeping the indicator
light in view. The hand-held
transmitter was supplied by the
manufacturer of your garage
door opener receiver (motor
head unit).

Black plate (1,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-3
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Delayed Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . 6-6
Delayed Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Parade Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Battery Load Management . . . . 6-7
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.

Black plate (7,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-7
Delayed Exit Lighting
Delayed exit lighting 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
activates and remains 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
This feature automatically prohibits
the dimming of the instrument
panel displays in daylight while
the headlamps are on so that the
displays are still able to be seen.
Battery Load
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. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge 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 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.

Black plate (8,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
6-8 Lighting
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 one of
these messages displays, it is
recommended that the driver
reduce the electrical loads as
much as possible. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) (With
DIC Buttons) on page 5‑25 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Without DIC Buttons) on page 5‑30.Battery Power 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 while the ignition is on
or off.