GMC CANYON 2011 Owner's Manual

Bla ck pla te (9 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-9
A . Engin e Air C le an er/F ilt e r on
p age 101 9 .
B . Air Filt e r R estr ic tio n In dic a to r
( If E qu ip ped ). S ee Engin e Air
C le aner/F ilt e r on page 101 9 .
C . Win dsh ie ld W ash er Flu id
R ese rv o ir . S ee A ddin g W ash er
F lu id  under W ash e r Flu id on
p age 102 7 .
D . Engin e Coo la nt R eco ve ry
T a nk. S ee Engin e Coola nt on
p age 102 1 . E
. Auto m atic Tra nsm is sio n Flu id
D ip stic k (If E qu ip ped ). S ee
 C heckin g th e Flu id Le ve l
u nder A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n
F lu id on pa ge 101 5.
F . Engin e Oil D ip stic k . S ee
 C heckin g Engin e Oil un der
E ng in e Oil o n page 101 0.
G . Eng in e Oil F ill C ap. S ee W hen
t o Add Eng in e Oil un der
E ng in e Oil o n page 101 0. H
. Bra ke Flu id Rese rv o ir . S ee
B ra ke Flu id on page 10 2 9.
I . Batte ry on page 10 3 1.
J . Pow er S te erin g Flu id Rese rv o ir .
S ee Pow er S te erin g Flu id on
p age 10 2 6.
K . Engin e Com partm ent F use
B lo ck on page 10 4 3.
L . Radia to r P re ss u re Cap. S ee
C oolin g Syste m on page 10 2 0.

Bla ck pla te (1 0,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-1 0 Veh ic le CareE ngin e OilT o en su re pro per engin e
p erfo rm an ce and lo ng lif e , ca re fu l
a tte ntio n must be paid to engin e
o il. F ollo w in g th e se sim ple , but
i m porta n t ste ps wil l h elp pro te ct
y o ur in ve stm ent:.
A lw ays use eng in e oil a ppro ve d
t o th e pro p er sp ecif ic a tio n an d of
t h e pro pe r vis co sit y gra de. S ee
 S ele ctin g th e Rig ht E ngin e Oil. 
.
C heck th e en gin e oil le ve l
r e gu la rly and main ta in th e
p ro p er oil le ve l. S ee C heckin g
E ngin e Oil an d W he n to Add
E ngin e Oil. 
.
C hang e th e engin e oil a t th e
a ppro p ria te tim e. S ee Engin e Oil
L if e Syste m on page 10 1 4.
.
A lw ays dis p o se of eng in e oil
p ro perly . S ee W hat to Do W it h
U se d Oil. 
C heckin g Eng in e OilI t is a good id ea to ch e ck th e eng in e
o il le ve la t each fu elfil l. In ord er to
g et an accu ra te re adin g , th e ve hic le
m ust be on le ve lg ro und. T he
e ngin e oil d ip stic k han dle is a ye ll o w
l o op. S ee Engin e Com pa rtm ent
O ve rv ie w on pag e 106 fo r th e
l o ca tio n of th e engin e oil d ip stic k . O
bta in in g an accu ra te oil le ve l
r e adin g is esse ntia l:
1 . If th e engin e has been ru nnin g
r e ce ntly , tu rn off th e engin e and
a llo w se ve ra lm in ute s fo r th e oil
t o dra in back in to th e oil p an.
C heck in g yo ur oil le ve lto o so o n
a fte r engin e sh ut off w ill n ot
p ro vid e an accu ra te oil le ve l
r e a din g.
2 . Pull o ut th e dip stic k and cle an
i t w it h apaper to w elo r clo th ,
t h e n push it back in all th e way.
R em ove it again , ke epin g th e tip
d ow n, and ch eck th e le ve l.

Bla ck pla te (1 1 ,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-1 1
W hen to Add Eng in e Oil
L 4 an d L5 Engin es
V 8 Engin e
I f th e oil is be lo w th e cro ss-h atc h ed
a re a at th e tip of th e dip stic k, add
o ne lit e r/q ua rt of th e re co m mended
o il a n d th en re ch eck th e le ve l. S
ee S ele ctin g th e Rig ht E ngin e Oil
f o r an exp la na tio n of w hat kin d of oil
t o use . F or engin e oil cra nkca se
c a pacit y , se e Capa cit ie s an d
S pecif ic a tio n s on page 12 2 .
N otic e: Do no t ad d to o much oil.
O il le vels ab ove or belo w th e
a ccep ta b le opera tin g ra n g e
s h ow n on th e dip stic k are harm fu l
t o th e en g in e. If yo u fin d th at
y o u have an oil le vel ab ove th e
o pera tin g ra n ge, i.e . th e en gin e
h as so much oil th at th e oil le v el
g ets ab ove th e cro ss-h atc h ed
a re a th at sh o w s th e pro per o
pera tin g ra n ge, th e en gin e co uld
b e dam ag ed .Y o u sh ou ld dra in
o ut th e excess oil o r lim it yo ur
d riv in g of th e veh ic le an d see k a
s erv ic e pro fe ssio n al to re m ove
t h e excess am ount of oil.
S ee Engin e Com partm ent O ve rv ie w
o n page 10 6 fo r th e lo ca tio n of th e
e ngin e oil fill ca p.
A dd enough oil to put th e le ve l
s o m ew here in th e pro per opera tin g
r a n ge. P ush th e dip stic k all th e way
b ack in when th ro ugh.

Bla ck pla te (1 2,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-1 2 Veh ic le CareS ele ctin g th e Rig ht E ngin e OilS ele ctin g th e rig ht en gin e oil
d epen ds on bo th th e pro per oil
s p ecif ic a tio n an d vis c o sit y gra d e:
S pecif ic atio n
U se an d ask fo r en gin e oils wit h
t h e dexo s" ce rtif ic a tio n mark . O il s
m eetin g th e re qu ir e m ents of yo ur
v e hic le sh ou ld have th e dexo s"
c e rtif ic a tio n mark on th e co nta in er.
T his ce rtif ic a tio n mark in d ic a te s th at
t h e oil h as be en ap pro ve d to th e
d exo s" sp ecif ic a tio n .Y our ve hic le was fil le d at th e fa cto ry
w it h dexo s" appro ve d engin e oil. N
otic e: Use only en gin e oil th at
i s ap pro ved to th e dexo s"
s p ecif ic atio n or an eq u iv ale n t
e n gin e oil o f th e ap pro pria te
v is co sit y gra d e. E ngin e oils
a p pro ved to th e dexo s"
s p ecif ic atio n will sh ow th e
d exo s" sy m bo lo n th e co nta in er.
F ailu re to use th e re co m men ded
e n gin e oil o r eq u iv ale n t can re su lt
i n en gin e dam ag e not co vere d
b y th e veh ic le warra n ty . If yo u
a re unsu re wheth er yo u r oil is
a p pro ved to th e dexo s"
s p ecif ic atio n ,ask yo u r serv ic e
p ro vid er. U
se of S ubstit u te Engin e Oils if
d e xo s" is unava ila ble : In th e eve nt
t h a t dexo s" appro ve d engin e oil is
n o t ava ila ble at an oil ch ange or fo r
m ain ta in in g pro per oil le ve l, yo u
m ay use su bstit u te engin e oil
d is p la yin g th e AP IS ta rb urs t sym bol
a n d of S A E 5W -3 0 vis co sit y gra de.
U se of oils th at do not m eet th e
d e xo s" sp ecif ic a tio n, how eve r, m ay
r e su lt in re duce d perfo rm ance under
c e rta in cir c u m sta nce s.
V is co sit y Gra d e
S AE 5W -3 0 is th e best vis co sit y
g ra de fo r th e ve hic le . D o not
u se oth er vis co sit y oil s su ch as
S AE 10W 3 0, 10W 4 0, or 20W -5 0.

Bla ck pla te (1 3,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-1 3
C old Te m pe ra tu re Opera tio n: In an
a re a of extr e m e co ld , w here th e
t e m pe ra tu re fa ll s belo w 29°C (
 20°F ), an SA E 0W -3 0 oil sh o uld
b e use d . A n oil o f th is vis co sit y
g ra de will p ro vid e easie r co ld
s ta rtin g fo r th e engin e at extr e m ely
l o w te m pera tu re s. W hen se le ctin g
a n oil o f th e ap pro pria te vis co sit y
g ra de, be su re to alw ays se le ct
a n oil th at m eets th e re quir e d
s p ecif ic a tio n, dexo s" .S ee
 S pecif ic a tio n fo r m ore in fo rm atio n.
E ng in e Oil A ddit iv es /E ng in e
O il F lu sh esD o not add an yth in g to th e oil.
T he re co m m ende d oils wit h th e
d exo s" sp ecif ic a tio n and dis p la yin g
t h e dexo s" ce rtif ic a tio n mark
a re all th at is nee ded fo r go od
p erfo rm an ce an d engin e pro te ctio n.
E ngin e oil syste m flu sh es are not
r e co m m ende d and co uld ca use
e ngin e dam ag e no t co ve re d by th e
v e hic le warra nty .
W hat to Do wit h Used OilU se d engin e oil co nta in s ce rta in
e le m ents th at ca n be unhealt h y fo r
y o u r skin and co uld eve n ca use
c a n ce r. D o not le t use d oil sta y on
y o u r skin fo r ve ry lo ng. C le an yo ur
s kin and nails wit h so ap and wate r,
o r a good hand cle aner. W ash or
p ro perly dis p ose of clo th in g or ra gs
c o n ta in in g use d engin e oil. S ee th e
m anufa ctu re r's warn in gs about th e
u se and dis p osa lo f oil p ro ducts .
U se d oil ca n be ath re at to th e
e nvir o nm ent. If yo u ch ange yo u r
o w n oil, be su re to dra in all th e oil
f r o m th e filt e r befo re dis p osa l. N eve r
d is p ose of oil b y puttin g it in th e
t r a sh or pourin g it on th e gro und,
i n to se w ers , or in to str e am sor
b odie s of w ate r. R ecy cle it by ta kin g
i t to apla ce th at co lle cts use d oil.

Bla ck pla te (1 4,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-1 4 Veh ic le CareE ngin e Oil L if e Syste mW hen to Chan ge Eng in e OilT his ve hic le has a co m pute r syste m
t h at in dic a te s when to ch ange th e
e ngin e oil a nd filt e r. T his is base d
o n engin e re vo lu tio n s and engin e
t e m pera tu re , and no t on mil e age.
B ase d on driv in g co nd it io n s, th e
m ile age at w hic h an oil ch ange is
i n dic a te d ca n va ry co n sid era bly . F or
t h e oil lif e syste m to work pro perly ,
t h e syste m must be re se t eve ry tim e
t h e oil is ch ang ed.
W hen th e sy ste m ha s ca lc u la te d
t h at oil lif e has be en dim in is h ed,
i t in dic a te s th at an oil ch a nge
i s nece ssa ry . A CHAN G E OIL
m essa g e co m es on. S ee Engin e Oil
M essa ges on pag e 52 6. C hange
t h e oil a s so o n as possib le wit h in
t h e next 1 00 0 km (6 0 0 m ile s). I
t is possib le th a t, if driv in g unde r
t h e best co n dit io ns, th e oil li f e
s yste m mig ht in dic a te th at an oil
c h ange is not nece ss a ry fo r up to a
y e ar. T he eng in e oil a n d fil t e r m ust
b e ch anged at le ast once a ye a r
a nd, at th is tim e, th e syste m must
b e re se t. Y ou r deale r has tr a in e d
p eople who will p e rfo rm th is work
a nd re se t th e syste m .It is als o
i m porta nt to ch e ck th e oil re gula rly
o ve r th e co urs e of an oil d ra in
i n te rv a la nd ke ep it at th e pro per
l e ve l.
I f th e syste m is eve r re se t
a cc id enta lly , th e oil m ust be
c h anged at 5 000 km (3 ,0 0 0 m ile s)
s in ce th e la st oil ch ang e.
R em em be r to re se t th e oil lif e
s yste m when eve r th e oil is ch a ng ed.
H ow to Reset th e Engin e Oil
L if e Syste mR ese t th e syste m wheneve r th e
e n gin e oil is ch anged so th at th e
s yste m ca n ca lc u la te th e next
e n gin e oil ch ange. To re se t th e
s yste m :
1 . Turn th e ig nit io n to ON/R U N,
w it h th e engin e off .
2 . Pre ss and re le ase th e ste m
i n th e lo w er ce nte r of th e
i n str u m ent clu ste r until th e
O IL LIF E messa ge is dis p la ye d.
3 . Once th e alt e rn atin g OIL LIF E
a nd RESE T messa ges appear,
p re ss and hold th e ste m until
s e ve ra lb eeps so und. T his
c o nfir m sth at th e oil lif e syste m
h as been re se t.
4 . Turn th e ke y to LO CK/O FF.
I f th e CH AN G E OIL messa ge
c o m es back on whe n th e ve hic le is
s ta rte d, th e engin e oil lif e sy ste m
h a s not been re se t. R epeat th e
p ro ce dure .

Bla ck pla te (1 5,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-1 5
A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n
F lu idW hen to Check an d Chan ge
A uto m atic Tra n sm is sio n Flu idA good tim e to ch eck th e auto m atic
t r a nsm is sio n flu id le ve lis when th e
e ngin e oil is ch ange d.
C hange th e flu id an d filt e r at th e
i n te rv a ls lis te d in Sch edule d
M ain te na nce on page 11 2 , and be
s u re to use th e tr a n sm is sio n flu id
l is te d in Reco m m end ed Flu id s and
L ubric a n ts on pa ge 11 6 .H ow to Check Auto m atic
T ra n sm is sio n Flu idB eca use th is ope ra tio n ca n be a
l it tle dif f ic u lt , it m ay be decid ed to
h ave th is do ne at th e deale r se rv ic e
d epa rtm en t.
I f not ta ke n to th e de ale r, be su re to
f o llo w all th e in str u ctio ns here , or a
f a ls e re a din g on th e dip stic k co uld
r e su lt . N
otic e: To o much or to o
l it tle flu id can dam ag e th e
t r a n sm is s io n.To o much can
m ean th at so m eof th e flu id co uld
c o m eout an d fa ll o n hot en gin e
p arts or ex h au st sy ste m parts ,
s ta rtin g afir e . To o li t t le flu id
c o uld cau se th e tr a n sm is sio n
t o overh ea t. B e su re to get an
a ccu ra te re ad in g if ch ec kin g th e
t r a n sm is s io n flu id .
W ait at le ast 30 m in u te s befo re
c h eckin g th e tr a nsm is sio n flu id le ve l
i f th e ve hic le has be en driv e n:
.
W hen ou ts id e te m pera tu re s are
a bove 32°C (9 0°F ).
.
A thig h sp ee d fo r qu it e awhile .
.
In he avy tr a ffic  esp e cia ll y in
h ot w eath er.
.
W hile pullin g atr a ile r.
T o get th e rig h t re a din g, th e flu id
s h ould be at norm alo pe ra tin g
t e m pera tu re , w hic h is 82 °C to 93°C
( 1 80°F to 200°F ). G
et th e ve hic le warm ed up by
d riv in g about 24 km (1 5 m i) w hen
o u ts id e te m pera tu re s are above
1 0 °C (5 0°F ). If it is co ld er th an 10°C
( 5 0°F ), driv e th e ve hic le in 3(T hir d )
u n til th e engin e te m pera tu re gauge
m ove s and th en re m ain s ste ady fo r
1 0 m in ute s.
A co ld flu id ch eck ca n be made
a ft e r th e ve hic le has been sit tin g
f o r eig ht hours or m ore wit h th e
e n gin e off, but th is is use d only
a s a re fe re nce . Let th e engin e ru n
a t id le fo r fiv e min ute s if outs id e
t e m pera tu re s are 10°C (5 0°F ) or
m ore . If it is co ld er th an 10°C
( 5 0°F ), th e engin e may have to
i d le lo nger. S hould th e flu id le ve lb e
l o w durin g th is co ld ch eck, ch eck
t h e flu id hot befo re addin g flu id .
C heck in g th e flu id hot giv e s a more
a cc u ra te re adin g of th e flu id le ve l.

Bla ck pla te (1 6,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-1 6 Veh ic le CareC heckin g th e Flu id Lev el
T o pre pare th e ve hic le :
1 . Park th e ve hic le on ale ve l
p la ce . K ee p th e en g in e ru nnin g.
2 . Wit h th e park in g bra ke applie d,
p la ce th e sh if t le ve r in P (P ark ).
3 . Wit h fo ot on th e bra ke peda l,
m ove th e sh if t le ve r th ro ugh
e ach gear ra ng e, pa usin g fo r
a bou t th re e se co nds in ea ch
r a nge . T he n, po sit io n th e sh if t
l e ve r in P (P ark ).
4 . Let th e eng in e ru n at id le fo r
t h re e m in u te s or m ore .
T hen, w it h ou t sh uttin g off th e
e ngin e:
1 . Fli p th e ha ndle up an d th en
p ull o ut th e dip stic k an d
w ip e it w it h acle a n ra g or
p ape r to w el.
T he auto m atic tr a n sm is sio n
d ip stic k hand le wit h th is sym bo l
o n it is lo ca te d in th e eng in e
c o m partm ent on th e passe n ger
s id e of th e ve hic le .
S ee Engin e Com pa rtm ent
O ve rv ie w on page 10 6 fo r m ore
i n fo rm atio n on lo ca tio n.
2 . Push it back in all th e way, w ait
t h re e se co n ds, and pu ll it back
o ut again .
3. Check both sid es of th e dip stic k ,
a nd re ad th e lo w er le ve l. T he
f lu id le ve lm ust be in th e CO LD a
re a, belo w th e cro ss -h atc h ed
a re a, fo r a co ld ch eck or in th e
H O T or cro ss-h atc h ed are a fo r a
h o t ch eck. B e su re to ke ep th e
d ip stic k poin te d dow n to get an
a ccu ra te re adin g.
4 . If th e flu id le ve lis in th e
a cce pta ble ra nge, push th e
d ip stic k back in all th e way; th en
f lip th e handle dow n to lo ck th e
d ip stic k in pla ce .
H ow to Add Auto m atic
T ra n sm is sio n Flu idR efe r to th e Main te nance
S ch edule to dete rm in e what kin d
o f tr a n sm is sio n flu id to use . S ee
R eco m mended Flu id s and
L u bric a nts on page 11 6 .
A dd flu id only afte r ch eckin g th e
t r a nsm is s io n flu id whil e it is hot.
A co ld ch eck is use d only as a
r e fe re nce . If th e flu id le ve lis lo w ,
a d d only enough of th e pro per
f lu id to brin g th e le ve lu p to
t h e HO T are a fo r a hot ch eck.

Bla ck pla te (1 7,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
V eh ic le Care 10-1 7
It does not ta ke much flu id ,
g ene ra lly le ss th a n 0.5 L (1 pt) .
D o no t ove rfill.
N otic e: Use of th e in co rre ct
a u to m atic tr a n sm is sio n flu id
m ay dam ag e th e ve h ic le , an d th e
d am ag es m ay not be co vere d by
t h e veh ic le 's warra n ty . A lw ays
u se th e au to m atic tr a n sm is sio n
f lu id lis te d in Reco m m en ded
F lu id s an d Lubric a n ts on
p ag e 11 6 ..
A fte r addin g flu id , re ch e ck th e
f lu id le ve la s describ ed under
 H ow to Check Auto m atic
T ra nsm is sio n Flu id , earlie r in
t h is se ctio n .
.
W hen th e co rre ct flu id le ve lis
o bta in ed , pu sh th e dip stic k
b ack in all th e way; th en fli p th e
h and le dow n to lo ck th e dip stic k
i n pla ce .
M an ual Tra n sm is sio n
F lu idW hen to CheckA good tim e to ch e ck th e man ual
t r a nsm is sio n flu id is when th e
e ngin e oil is ch ang ed. H ow eve r, th e
f lu id in th e manu altr a n sm is sio n
d oes not re q uir e ch angin g.H ow to Chec kB eca use th is ope ra tio n ca n be a
l i t tle dif f ic u lt , it m ay be decid e d to
h ave th is don e at th e dea le r se rv ic e
d epartm en t.
I f not ta ke n to th e dea le r, be su re to
f o ll o w all th e in str u ctio n s here , or a
f a ls e re adin g on th e dip stic k co uld
r e su lt .
N otic e: To o much or to o
l it tle flu id can dam ag e th e
t r a n sm is sio n.To o lit tle flu id
c o uld cau se th e tr a n sm is sio n
t o overh eat. B e su re to get an
a ccu ra te re ad in g if ch ec kin g th e
t r a n sm is sio n flu id . C
heck th e flu id le ve lo nly when
t h e engin e is off, th e ve hic le is
p a rk e d on a le ve lp la ce and th e
t r a n sm is sio n is co ole nough to
t o uch th e tr a nsm is sio n ca se .
A fte r th is is done:
1. Rem ove th e fill p lu g.
2 . Check th at th e lu bric a nt le ve l
i s up to th e botto m of th e fill
p lu g hole .

Bla ck pla te (1 8,1 )
G M C Can yon Owner M an ual - 2011
1 0-1 8 Veh ic le Care3 . If th e flu id le ve lis go od, in sta ll
t h e plu g an d be su re it is fu ll y
s e ate d . If th e flu id le ve lis lo w ,
a dd more flu id as de scrib ed in
t h e ne xt ste p s.H ow to Add Flu idH ere is ho w to ad d flu id . R efe r to
t h e Main te n ance Sch e du le to
d ete rm in e wha t kin d of flu id to use .
S ee Reco m m end ed Flu id s and
L ubric a nts on pag e 11 6 .
1 . Rem ove th e fill p lu g .
2 . Add flu id at th e fill p lu g hole .
A dd only en ou gh flu id to brin g
t h e flu id le ve lu p to th e bott o m of
t h e fil l p lu g ho le .
3 . In sta ll th e fill p lu g . B e su re th e
p lu g is fu lly se a te d .H yd ra u lic Clu tc hT he hyd ra u lic clu tc h li n ka ge in th e
v e hic le is se lf - a dju stin g. T he clu tc h
m aste r cy lin d er re se rv o ir is fill e d
w it h hyd ra u li c clu tc h flu id .
T he hyd ra u lic clu tc h flu id re se rv o ir
c a p has th is sym bo lo n it . S ee
E ngin e Com partm en t O ve rv ie w on
p age 10 6 fo r re se rv o ir lo ca tio n.
I t is not ne ce ssa ry to re g ula rly
c h eck clu tc h flu id unle ss a le a k in
t h e syste m is su sp ecte d. A ddin g
f lu id wil l n ot co rre ct a le ak.
A flu id lo ss in th is syste m co uld
i n dic a te a pro ble m .H ave th e
s yste m in sp ecte d and re p air e d.
W hen to Check an d W hat
t o UseR efe r to th e Main te nance Sch edule
t o dete rm in e how ofte n to ch eck
t h e flu id le ve lin th e clu tc h maste r
c yli n der re se rv o ir and fo r th e pro pe r
f lu id . S ee Reco m mended Flu id s and
L u bric a nts on page 11 6 .H ow to Check an d Add Flu idT he pro per flu id sh ould be added if
t h e le ve ld oes not re ach th e botto m
o f th e dia phra gm when it is in pla ce
i n th e re se rv o ir . S ee th e in str u ctio ns
o n th e re se rv o ir ca p.