traction control GMC CANYON 2010 Owner's Guide

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.TheStabiliTrak
®System on page 5-6improves the
ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but slow down
and adjust your driving to the road conditions. When
driving through deep snow, it might be beneficial to turn
off the traction control part of the StabiliTrak
®System
to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds.
Once beyond the deep snow, push the StabiliTrak
®
button again to turn traction control back on.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 5-5improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry
pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
5-29

Service
For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer.
You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added to
the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes,
traction control, and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting from the
installation or use of non-GM certified parts, including
control module modifications, are not covered under the
terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer/
retailer and ask for GM Accessories, you will know
that GM-trained and supported service technicians
will perform the work using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 2-80.
6-3

You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
•You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
•You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
•The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
•The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
•The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they are
not being used. This is also true for the spare tire, if your
vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how fast this
aging takes place, including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure maintenance. With
proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out
before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure about
the need to replace your tires as they get older, consult
the tire manufacturer for more information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specific tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed
to meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that you
get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give the same performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specifications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and
tire pressure monitoring performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC
spec number will be followed by an MS for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 6-58for
additional information.
6-73

Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may affect
the way your vehicle performs, including its braking, ride
and handling characteristics, stability, and resistance
to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle has electronic
systems such as, antilock brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the performance of these
systems can be affected.
{WARNING:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle may
not provide an acceptable level of performance and
safety if tires not recommended for those wheels
are selected. You may increase the chance that you
will crash and suffer serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems developed for your
vehicle, and have them properly installed by a GM
certified technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 6-73andAccessories
and Modications on page 6-3for additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
which grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
6-75

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5)
times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. It should be noted that
the temperature grade for this tire is established for
a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
6-76

Used Replacement Wheels
{WARNING:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is dangerous.
You cannot know how it has been used or how
far it has been driven. It could fail suddenly and
cause a crash. If you have to replace a wheel,
use a new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{WARNING:
If your vehicle has P215/70R16, P235/75R16,
P265/70R17, or P235/50R18 size tires, do not use
tire chains. They can damage your vehicle because
there is not enough clearance. Tire chains used on
WARNING: (Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
a vehicle without the proper amount of clearance
can cause damage to the brakes, suspension, or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and you or others may be injured
in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s instructions.
To help avoid damage to your vehicle, drive
slowly, readjust, or remove the device if it is
contacting your vehicle. Do not spin the vehicle’s
wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit, install
them on the rear tires.
6-78

J
Jump Starting.................................................6-43
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System................................... 3-3
Keyless Entry System....................................... 3-3
Keys............................................................... 3-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................6-58
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL)................................4-11
Dome ........................................................4-13
Dome Lamp Override...................................4-14
Exterior Cargo.............................................4-13
License Plate..............................................6-54
Malfunction Indicator....................................4-28
Lap Belt........................................................2-33
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................2-27
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................2-46
Latches, Seatback............................................ 2-9
Leaving After Parking on a Hill.........................5-59Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission)..............................3-32
Lighting
Exit...........................................................4-14
Lights
Airbag Readiness........................................4-22
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............4-26
Brake System Warning.................................4-25
Charging System.........................................4-24
Cruise Control.............................................4-32
Exterior Lamps............................................4-10
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 4-5
Highbeam On.............................................4-32
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 4-5
Oil Pressure...............................................4-31
On Reminder..............................................4-11
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................4-23
Safety Belt Reminders..................................4-21
Security.....................................................4-32
StabiliTrak
®/Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light..........................................4-26
Tire Pressure..............................................4-28
Up-Shift.....................................................4-24
Limited-Slip Rear Axle....................................... 5-9
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................5-33
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving..........5-14
9

Tires (cont.)
Changing a Flat Tire....................................6-80
Cleaning...................................................6-108
Different Size..............................................6-75
High-Speed Operation..................................6-65
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................6-79
Inflation - Tire Pressure................................6-64
Inspection and Rotation................................6-71
Installing the Spare Tire................................6-85
Pressure Light.............................................4-28
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................6-67
Pressure Monitor System..............................6-66
Removing the Flat Tire.................................6-85
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............6-81
Secondary Latch System..............................6-93
Sidewall Labeling.........................................6-58
Spare Tire................................................6-101
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............6-96
Terminology and Definitions...........................6-61
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................6-75
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................6-77
Wheel Replacement.....................................6-77
When It Is Time for New Tires......................6-72
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................3-20
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)...............3-32
Total Weight on the Vehicle’s Tires....................5-54Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................5-41
Towing a Trailer..........................................5-48
Trailer Recommendations..............................5-60
Your Vehicle...............................................5-41
TPMS Malfunction Light and Message...............6-68
TPMS Sensor Matching Process.......................6-69
TRAC (Traction) OFF......................................4-41
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 5-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.................................... 5-9
StabiliTrak®System....................................... 5-6
TRACTION FAULT ..........................................4-41
Traction – AA, A, B, C.....................................6-76
Trailer
Towing Recommendations.............................5-60
Trailer Brakes.................................................5-55
Trailer Wiring Harness.....................................5-60
Transfer Case................................................6-48
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................6-21
Fluid, Manual..............................................6-25
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................3-21
Transmission Operation, Manual........................3-23
Transportation Options.....................................8-10
Transportation Program, Courtesy......................8-10
16

Traveling to Remote Areas...............................5-15
Treadwear.....................................................6-76
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A.........6-75
Trip Information..............................................4-34
Trip Odometer................................................4-20
Truck-Camper Loading Information....................5-40
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 4-4
TURN SIGNAL ...............................................4-41
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 4-4
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................5-57
Two-Tiered Loading.........................................5-40
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................6-75
United States................................................... 8-6
Up-Shift Light.........................................3-24, 4-24
Used Replacement Wheels..............................6-78
Using ABS....................................................... 5-5
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 5-3
Loading......................................................5-33
Parking Your...............................................3-33
Running While Parked..................................3-34
Symbols......................................................... ivVehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................8-16
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)............................................6-110
Service Parts Identification Label..................6-110
Vehicle Personalization....................................1-16
Vehicle Storage..............................................6-42
Ventilation Adjustment......................................4-18
Visors...........................................................3-12
W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............4-18
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................4-37
Hazard Flashers............................................ 4-3
Safety and Symbols......................................... iv
Weight of the Trailer........................................5-49
Weight of the Trailer Tongue.............................5-52
Weight-Distributing Hitches and Weight Carrying
Hitches......................................................5-55
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use........................6-17
What to Do with Used Oil ................................6-19
What to Use ..................6-30, 6-37, 6-38, 6-47, 6-49
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................6-77
Different Size..............................................6-75
Replacement...............................................6-77
When It Is Time for New Tires..........................6-72
17