tow GMC CANYON 2010 Owner's Guide

Turn Signal On Chime
If a turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal and the message TURN SIGNAL will also appear
in the DIC. To turn the chime and message off, move
the turn signal lever to the off position.
See “TURN SIGNAL” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4-37for more information.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
23Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer:Push
the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you to turn
the high beams on.
Pull the lever towards you to return to low beams.
This indicator light turns on in the instrument panel
cluster when the high beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if the headlamps are in the automatic
position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then
release it.
If the headlamps are in the automatic position or on
low beam, the high-beam headlamps will turn on.
They will stay on as long as the lever is held toward
you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument
panel cluster will come on. Release the lever to
return to normal operation.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper controls are located on the
multifunction lever. They are controlled by turning
the band with this
zsymbol.
The windshield wipers work in all ignition positions,
except off. This includes the Retained Access Power
mode. SeeRetained Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 3-18.
4-5

Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can still
work and stop the vehicle. For good braking though,
both parts need to be working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have the brake system inspected right away.
This light comes on briefly when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN. If it does not, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
comes on when the parking brake is set. SeeParking
Brake on page 3-30for more information. The light stays
on if the parking brake does not release fully. If it stays on
after the parking brake is fully released, it means there is
a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop. The brake pedal might be harder to push, or it
might go closer to the floor. It can take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-41.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service. United StatesCanada
4-25

If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage to the vehicle.
This system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If the vehicle is continually driven with
this light on, after a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, the vehicle’s fuel economy
might not be as good, and the engine might not
run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement of the original
tires with other than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle’s
emission controls and can cause this light to come
on. Modications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6-3.This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing:A misfire condition has been detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and could
damage the emission control system on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
•Reduce vehicle speed.
•Avoid hard accelerations.
•Avoid steep uphill grades.
•If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light is still flashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer for service as soon
as possible.
4-29

To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle
position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone
or speaker control displays. ALL CENTERED displays
and a beep sounds.
•For the AM-FM Radio, adjust both tone controls and
both speaker controls to the middle position, first
exit out of audio mode by pressing another button,
causing the radio to perform that function or wait
five seconds for the display to return to time of day.
Then press and hold for more than two seconds until
a beep sounds. CEN (center) displays.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press to
select customized equalization settings designed for
country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
To return to the manual mode, press the AUTO
EQ button until CUSTOM displays. Then manually
adjust the bass/treble, or bass/midrange/treble by
using the AUDIO knob.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
AUDIO:To adjust the balance between the right and
the left speakers, push and release until BAL (balance)
displays. Turn to move the sound toward the right or the
left speakers.
•For the AM-FM Radio, press and hold
the
wxarrows to move the sound toward
the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE
or depending on the radio, FAD displays. Turn the knob
to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
•For the AM-FM Radio, press and hold
the
wxarrows to move the sound toward
the right or the left speakers.
4-48

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunk Driving.................................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-3
Braking.........................................................5-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................5-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-5
StabiliTrak
®System........................................5-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.....................................5-9
Steering........................................................5-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-11
Passing.......................................................5-11
Loss of Control.............................................5-12
Off-Road Driving...........................................5-13
Driving at Night............................................5-25
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-26Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-27
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-27
Hill and Mountain Roads................................5-28
Winter Driving..............................................5-29
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................5-31
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................5-32
Recovery Hooks...........................................5-32
Loading the Vehicle......................................5-33
Truck-Camper Loading Information..................5-40
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab..................5-40
Towing..........................................................5-41
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-41
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-41
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-48
Trailer Recommendations...............................5-60
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the
area around the front wheels. For four-wheel drive
vehicles, shift into 4HI. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission, between 1 (First)
or 2 (Second) and R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent transmission wear, wait
until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission
is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get the vehicle out after
a few tries, it might need to be towed out. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle has them. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 5-41.
Recovery Hooks
{WARNING:
These hooks, when used, are under a lot of force.
Always pull the vehicle straight out. Never pull on
the hooks at a sideways angle. The hooks could
break off and you or others could be injured from
the chain or cable snapping back.
5-32

Notice:Never use recovery hooks to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged and it would
not be covered by warranty.
For vehicles with recovery hooks at the front of the
vehicle, you can use them if you are stuck off-road and
need to be pulled to some place where you can
continue driving.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certification/Tire label.
{WARNING:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of the vehicle.
5-33

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on page 5-48for important
information on towing a trailer, towing safety,
and trailering tips.
5-35

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed. SeeRoadside
Assistance Program on page 8-7.
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle for
recreational purposes, such as behind a motorhome,
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing the vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as dinghy towing and dolly towing.
Dinghy towing is towing the vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground. Dolly towing is towing the vehicle
with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.Here are some important things to consider before
recreational vehicle towing:
•What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
•What is the distance that will be travelled? Some
vehicles have restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
•Is the proper towing equipment going to be used?
See your dealer/retailer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
•Is the vehicle ready to be towed? Just as preparing
the vehicle for a long trip, make sure the vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a
Long Trip on page 5-27.
5-41

Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Notice:If the vehicle is towed with all four wheels
on the ground, the drivetrain components could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not tow the 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 procedure to dinghy tow a
four-wheel-drive vehicle:
1. Position the vehicle being towed behind the tow
vehicle.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in 1 (First).
5-42