Transmission GMC ACADIA 2020 Owner's Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 2020, Model line: ACADIA, Model: GMC ACADIA 2020Pages: 406, PDF Size: 6.78 MB
Page 195 of 406
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13687875) - 2020 - CRC - 10/28/19
194 Driving and Operating
.The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
. The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range.
. The vehicle is in any gear other
than D (Drive).
. Tow/Haul Mode or other driver
modes have been selected.
. The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
. The driver door has been
opened or driver seat belt has
been unbuckled.
. The hood has been opened.
. The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time. Auto Stop Disable Switch
If equipped, the automatic engine
Stop/Start feature can be disabled
and enabled by pressing the switch
with the
hsymbol. Auto Stop is
enabled each time you start the
vehicle.
When
his illuminated, the system
is enabled.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provide
easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up in
cold weather conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with an
engine heater should be plugged in
at least four hours before starting.
An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord may exist,
which will prevent engine heater
operation at temperatures above
−18 °C (0 °F).
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
Page 198 of 406
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Driving and Operating 197
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the vehicle is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake
set. The vehicle can roll. If you
have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips0246.
To shift into P (Park): 1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0207.
2. Press P (Park).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the vehicle is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake
set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
shift the vehicle to P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park 0197. If you
are towing a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 246. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) with the parking
brake set.
Confirm that the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see
“Shifting Into Park”
listed previously.
On certain steep grades, the
transmission will automatically set
the parking brake to prevent
torque lock.
Page 199 of 406
GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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198 Driving and Operating
If torque lock does occur, the
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. If the
vehicle has an uncharged battery or
a battery with low voltage, try
charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0335.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Ensure the engine is running.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press or pull the desired shift switch on the center stack.
4. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator will turn
red when the vehicle is no
longer in P (Park). Manual Park Release
{Warning
The transmission will be placed in
N (Neutral) when the manual park
release is pulled. The vehicle can
roll and you or others could be
injured. Ensure the vehicle is on
level ground.
Caution
The manual park release is not
intended to be used for towing.
Damage may result from using
the manual park release in this
way. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Pulling the manual park release
while the vehicle is on, or turning
the ignition on while the manual
park release is pulled, will result in a
Service Transmission message
being displayed. To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
using the manual park release:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on level ground and set the parking
brake. Release the brake
pedal.
2. Turn the vehicle off.
3. Use a flat-bladed tool to remove the interior trim panel
on the center console to the
right of the accelerator pedal.
4. Ensure more than one minute has elapsed since Step 2.
Apply the brake pedal.
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Driving and Operating 201
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0197 and
Engine Exhaust 0200.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0246.
Automatic
Transmission
The shift switches are on the center
stack. The selected gear position
will illuminate red on the shift switch,
while all others will be displayed in
white. If the shift is not immediate,
as in very cold conditions, the
indicator on the shift switch may
flash until it is fully engaged.
The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off.
If the vehicle is in ACC/
ACCESSORY, the transmission can
be shifted into P (Park).
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GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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202 Driving and Operating
If ENGINE START/STOP is pressed
twice while at a relatively high
speed, the engine will turn off and
the transmission will automatically
shift to N (Neutral). Once the vehicle
is stopped, P (Park) can be
selected.
P :This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the vehicle to ensure the vehicle
does not move.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not
in P (Park) with the parking brake
set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine
has been left running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and place the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
transmission into P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park0197 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0246.
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronically controlled
transmission. The R (Reverse) and
D (Drive) shift switches are
designed to prevent inadvertent
shifting out of P (Park) unless the
ignition is on, and the brake pedal is
applied.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off
the vehicle. The transmission will
shift to P (Park) automatically.
The vehicle will not shift into
P (Park) if it is moving too fast. Stop
the vehicle and shift into P (Park).
To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park 0197 and
Shifting out of Park 0198.
R : Use this gear to back up. If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive),
or D (Drive) to R (Reverse) while the
speed is too high, the vehicle will
shift to N (Neutral). Reduce the
vehicle speed and try the shift
again.
To shift into R (Reverse):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the R (Reverse) switch on the center stack.
To shift out of R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse)
can be used to rock the vehicle
back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the
transmission. See If the Vehicle Is
Stuck 0185.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
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Driving and Operating 203
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to
stay in N (Neutral) for extended
periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P (Park).
To shift into N (Neutral), press the
N (Neutral) switch until the N
indicator displays.
To shift out of N (Neutral): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Car Wash Mode
This vehicle includes a Car Wash
Mode that allows the vehicle to
remain in N (Neutral) for use in
automatic car washes.
Car Wash Mode is not to be used
for vehicle towing. If the vehicle
needs to be towed, see Towing the
Vehicle 0338
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to
stay in N (Neutral) for extended
periods of time. It will
automatically shift into P (Park) if
left in Car Wash Mode.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –
Driver in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle is now ready for the car wash.
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GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
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204 Driving and Operating
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off–
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, start
the engine and repeat
Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
8. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry. Car Wash Mode (Engine On
–
Driver in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine On –
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal. 5. The indicator should continue
to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
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Driving and Operating 205
To shift into D (Drive):1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the D (Drive) switch on the center stack.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0177.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place. If equipped with the 2.0L L4 engine,
engine speeds may be increased
while driving at highway speeds
while the engine is still warming up.
L :
This position gives you access
to gear ranges. This provides more
engine braking but lower fuel
economy than D (Drive). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep
snow or mud. See Manual Mode
0 205.
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS or manual mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the L
indicating the highest available gear
under manual mode and the driving
conditions when manual mode was
selected.
To use this feature:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), press the L (Low) button.
2. Press the plus or minus button on the center stack to increase
or decrease the gear range
available.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset
range, the highest gear available is
displayed next to the L in the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base) 0137 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Midlevel and Uplevel) 0139. All
gears below that number are
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212 Driving and Operating
above 60 km/h (37 mph) for at least
30 seconds. Press
5again to
re-enable HDC.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped, the Driver Mode Control
has the following Modes: Tour
(FWD), Sport, All-Wheel Drive
(AWD), Snow/Ice, Tow/Haul, and
Off-Road. Rotate the Driver Mode
Control knob on the center console
to make a mode selection. Continue
turning the knob through the
available modes. The selected
mode’s icon will light up on the knob
and there may be additional
messages in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) and indicators in the
instrument cluster.
If the vehicle is in Tour (FWD) or
AWD, it will stay in that mode
through future ignition cycles. If the
vehicle is in any other mode, it will
revert back to Tour (FWD) when the
vehicle is restarted.
Driver Mode Control Knob (AWD)
Driver Mode Control Knob (FWD)
5orqTour (FWD) : Vehicle is in
Tour (FWD) Mode. Use this mode
during normal driving conditions.
See Driving for Better Fuel
Economy 0174. Tour (FWD) Mode
operates in Front-Wheel Drive to
improve fuel economy.
8Sport : Sport Mode improves
vehicle handling and acceleration
on dry pavement. When active,
Sport Mode modifies steering
efforts, transmission shifting, AWD
torque, and suspension tuning
(when properly equipped). For AWD
vehicles, choosing Sport Mode also
engages AWD Mode.
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) feature is enabled in Sport
Mode. PAL allows the transmission
to hold the current gear after a quick
release of a heavily applied
accelerator pedal. This provides
greater engine braking and
enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may
be an additional green gear symbol
which appears in the instrument
cluster display. See Gear Shifting
Light 0131.
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Driving and Operating 213
4AWD (AWD Only) :AWD Mode
provides drive torque to all four
wheels. Select AWD to improve
traction and control on slippery road
surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet
pavement, snow, and ice. When in
AWD Mode, the AWD Mode
indicator will be on. The AWD Mode
will stay selected until the mode is
changed.
AWD is active in AWD, Sport, Tow/
Haul, and Off-Road Modes.
Sport, Tow/Haul, and Off-Road
Modes are cancelled with each
ignition cycle and will return to Tour
(FWD) Mode.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system.
To restore full AWD operation and
prevent excessive wear on the
system, replace the compact spare
with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare Tire
0 334.6Snow/Ice (FWD Only) : Snow/
Ice Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice
covered roads.
_Tow/Haul : This feature can
assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. Use this mode to assist
in maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission. For AWD vehicles,
choosing Tow/Haul Mode also
engages AWD mode. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 246.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
assists when driving downhill.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The system will automatically
command downshifts to reduce
vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle
is on a low grade or when the
accelerator pedal is pressed. While in the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) mode, grade braking
is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade
braking is available for normal
driving and in Tow/Haul Mode.
See
Automatic Transmission 0201.
7Off-Road (AWD Only) : Use this
mode for off-road recreational
driving. Choosing Off-Road Mode
also engages AWD Mode. For more
information on Off-Road Mode, see
Off-Road Driving 0178.