tow GMC CANYON 2004 User Guide

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You will shift down to the next gear and have more
power.
DRIVE (D) should not be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for
off-road driving. Select THIRD (3) when operating the
vehicle under any of these conditions.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills
or winding roads or for off-road driving.SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on. You can
also use SECOND (2) for starting your vehicle from a
stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into FIRST (1)
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you
are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a
hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
2-23

Four-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your
engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read
the part that follows before using four-wheel drive. You
should use two-wheel-drive high (2HI) for most
normal driving conditions.
Notice:Driving on pavement in four-wheel drive for
an extended period of time may cause premature
wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive
in four-wheel drive on pavement for extended
periods of time.
The transfer case buttons are located to the right of the
steering wheel on the instrument panel.Use these buttons to shift into and out of four-wheel
drive. You can choose from the following:
2m(2HI):This setting is for driving in most street and
highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged
in two-wheel drive.
N (Neutral):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-29.
4
m(4HI):This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.
2-26

Shifting from 4LO to 2HI or 4HI
To shift from 4LO to 2HI or 4HI, your vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 1.2 mph (2 km/h) with
the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) or the clutch pedal
engaged. The preferred method for shifting out of 4LO
is to have your vehicle moving 1.2 mph (2 km/h).
Press and release the 4HI button. You must wait for
the 4HI indicator light to stop ashing and remain
illuminated before shifting your transmission into gear
or releasing the clutch pedal.
If the 4HI button is pressed when your vehicle is in gear
and/or moving, the 4HI indicator light will ash for
30 seconds but not complete the shift.
On vehicles with an automatic transmission, if your
transfer case does not shift into 4HI, your transmission
indicator switch may require adjustment. With your
transmission in NEUTRAL (N), press and release the
4HI button. While the 4HI indicator light is ashing, shift
your transmission into PARK (P). Wait until the 4HI
indicator light remains illuminated before shifting your
transmission into gear. Press the 4HI button again
to complete the shift. This will get you into 4HI, but you
should take your vehicle in for service to restore
normal operation.
Shifting to NEUTRAL
Use NEUTRAL when you plan to tow your vehicle.
SeeRecreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-47
for towing instructions. To shift the transfer case into
NEUTRAL, set the parking brake, then press and hold
the 2HI and the 4LO buttons at the same time for
10 seconds.
Shifting out of NEUTRAL
After towing your vehicle, you will have to shift out of
NEUTRAL in order to drive. To shift out of NEUTRAL,
do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-29for more
information.
2. Start a vehicle with an automatic transmission in
PARK (P). Use FIRST (1) for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
3. Put an automatic transmission in NEUTRAL (N) or
press the clutch pedal for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
4. Press the button for the desired transfer case
position (2HI, 4HI or 4LO).
5. Shift the transmission to the desired gear. After the
transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL, the
indicator light will go out.
A re-engagement sound is normal when shifting out
of NEUTRAL.
2-28

Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located to the left of the
regular brake pedal,
near the driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three
seconds. The chime will deactivate and the light will
turn off when the parking brake is set and the vehicle is
moving below 3 mph (5 km/h). SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-28.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located
above the parking brake pedal, with the parking
brake symbol, to release the parking brake.
If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light will go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-60.
2-29

Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-60.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
2-30

Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold
the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can
move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without rst
pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P).
2-31

Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your vehicle has a manual transmission. Before you
get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever into
REVERSE (R), and rmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the
ignition key to LOCK, remove the key and release
the clutch.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-60.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
2-33

{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always set
your parking brake and move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
{CAUTION:
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll — even if your shift lever is
in PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL. So be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. SeeFour-Wheel
Drive on page 2-26.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission) on page 2-30.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-60.
2-35

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
You can adjust the mirror for day or night driving.
Press the tab forward (away from you) for day driving.
Pull the tab back (toward you) for night driving.
The mirror may have lamps. To manually turn the lamps
on or off, press the button next to each lamp.
Manual Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®
Your vehicle may have a manual rearview mirror with
the OnStar®System and map lamps.
Mirror Operation
You can adjust the mirror for day or night driving.
Press the tab forward (away from you) for day driving.
Pull the tab back (toward you) for night driving.
There are also three OnStar
®buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar
®. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-41for more
information about the services OnStar®provides.
Map Lamps
The mirror has map lamps located at the bottom of the
mirror. To manually turn the lamps on or off, press the
button next to each lamp.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror housing.
2-36

Temperature Display Operation
The outside air temperature is displayed in the window
located at the lower center of the mirror face.
Press and hold the far right button for four seconds and
release. This will change the temperature reading
between degrees Fahrenheit, degrees Celsius, or turn
the display off.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Outside Manual Mirrors
Adjust these mirrors by hand so that you can just see
the side of your vehicle when you are sitting in a
comfortable driving position.
The mirrors can be folded inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To fold,
push the mirror toward the vehicle. To return the mirror
to its original position, push outward. Be sure to
return both mirrors to the unfolded position before
driving.
2-39