transmission GMC CANYON 2004 Owner's Guide

If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you are stuck,
but you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others could
be injured. And, the vehicle can overheat.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
That could cause an engine compartment re
or other damage. When you are stuck, spin the
wheels as little as possible. Do not spin the
wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on
the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transmission
back and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 5-72.
4-44

Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into 4HI. If you have
traction control, turn the traction control system off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear (or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning
the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator
pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.
By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that
may free your vehicle. If that does not get you out
after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
Or, you can use your recovery hooks if your vehicle
has them. If you do need to be towed out, seeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-47.
Using the Recovery Hooks
Your vehicle may be equipped with recovery hooks.
The hooks are provided at the front of your vehicle.
You may need to use them if you are stuck off-road
and need to be pulled to some place where you
can continue driving.
4-45

Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground, the drivetrain components could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Do not tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed.
Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following steps to tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground:
1. Drive the vehicle to be towed into position behind
the tow vehicle.
2. Firmly set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-29for more information.
3. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
4. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P) for
an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle
is in gear, for a manual transmission. You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is rmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL.
4-48

5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-26for
more information.
6. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
Notice:If you exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) while towing
your vehicle, it could be damaged. Never exceed
55 mph (90 km/h) while towing your vehicle.
7. Turn the ignition to LOCK. To prevent your
battery from draining while towing, remove the
RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument
panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse
when you reach your destination. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-104for more information.
After towing see “Shifting out of NEUTRAL” under
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-26.Dolly Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Two-wheel drive vehicles should not be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground. Two-wheel drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed.
4-49

Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Front Towing (Front Wheels Off the Ground)
Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle from
the front:
1. Drive the vehicle up onto the dolly.
2. Firmly set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-29for more information.
3. Follow the dolly manufacturer’s instructions to
attach and secure the vehicle being towed to
the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow
vehicle.
4. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
{CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P) for
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle is
in gear, for a manual transmission. You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is rmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL.
5. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL. See
Four-Wheel Drive on page 2-26for instructions.
6. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is rmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
Notice:If you exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) while
towing your vehicle, it could be damaged. Never
exceed 55 mph (90 km/h) while towing your vehicle.
7. Turn the ignition to LOCK. To prevent your
battery from draining while towing, remove the
RDO BATT and CLSTR fuses from the instrument
panel fuse block. Be sure to replace the fuse
when you reach your destination SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-104for more information.
4-50

Rear Towing (Rear Wheels Off the Ground)
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Use the following steps to dolly tow your vehicle from
the rear:
1. Drive the vehicle up onto the dolly.
2. Follow the dolly manufacturer’s instructions to
attach and secure the vehicle being towed to
the dolly and then the loaded dolly to the tow
vehicle.3. Firmly set the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-29for more information.
4. Put an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in FIRST (1).
{CAUTION:
Shifting a four-wheel-drive vehicle’s transfer
case into NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in Park (P) for
an automatic transmission, or if your vehicle is
in gear, for a manual transmission. You or
others could be injured. Make sure the parking
brake is rmly set before you shift the transfer
case to NEUTRAL.
5. Shift the transfer case to 2HI. SeeFour-Wheel
Drive on page 2-26for instructions.
4-51

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3)
or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions). If you have a manual
transmission and you are towing a trailer, it’s
better not to use the highest gear.Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example,
speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and
how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all
important. And, it can also depend on any special
equipment that you have on your vehicle.
The following chart shows how much your trailer can
weigh, based upon your vehicle model and options.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the
driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle
must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.
The weight of the trailer tongue also affects trailering
capacity. See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue” next.
4-61

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
2WD Regular Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 3,500 lbs. (1 587 kg) 7 000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 855 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.42 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 2,500 lbs. (1 133 kg) 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 3,500 lbs. (1 587 kg) 7,000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 3,900 lbs. (1 769 kg) 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
2WD Extended Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 3,200 lbs. (1 451 kg) 7 000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 856 kg)
4-62

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.42 1,700 lbs. (771 kg) 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 2,200 lbs. (997 kg) 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 3,200 lbs. (1 451 kg) 7,000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 3,600 lbs. (1 633 kg) 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
2WD Crew Cab
®
Automatic Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 3,100 lbs. (1 406 kg) 7,000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.42 1,600 lbs. (725 kg) 5,500 lbs. (2 495 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 2,100 lbs. (952 kg) 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg)
4-63

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
4WD Regular Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 3,100 lbs. (1 406 kg) 7 000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
2.8 L Engine4.10 3,100 lbs. (1 406 kg) 7 000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs. (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5 L Engine4.10 4,000 lbs. (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs. (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine3.73 2,100 lbs. (952 kg) 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8 L Engine4.10 2,100 lbs. (952 kg) 6,000 lbs. (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.42 3,100 lbs. (1 406 kg) 7,000 lbs. (3 175 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine3.73 3,600 lbs. (1 632 kg) 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5 L Engine4.10 3,500 lbs. (1 587 kg) 7,500 lbs. (3 402 kg)
4-64