transmission GMC SAVANA 2018 Owner's Manual

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
In Brief 5
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Airbag On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . . . 11
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . . . 18
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 20
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fuel (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Fuel (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 22
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
In Brief 7
1.Air Vents 0159.
2. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons (Out of View). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0109.
3. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 123.
Windshield Wiper/Washer 091.
4. Horn 091.
5. Hazard Warning Flashers
0123.
6. Instrument Cluster 097.
7. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0180.
Manual Mode 0183 (If
Equipped).
8. Climate Control Systems
0154.
9. Infotainment 0127. 10.
Power Outlets 094.
11. USB Port (If Equipped). See Auxiliary Devices 0141.
12. Power Outlet 110/120 Volt Alternating Current. See Power
Outlets 094.
13. Rear Heating System 0156 (If
Equipped).
14. Passenger Airbag On-Off Switch (If Equipped). See
Airbag On-Off Switch 063.
15. Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0186.
16. Tow/Haul Mode Button (If Equipped). See Tow/Haul
Mode 0184.
17. Steering Wheel Controls 090
(If Equipped).
18. Steering Wheel Adjustment
089 (Out of View), (If
Equipped). 19. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake 0185.
20. Cruise Control 0189 (If
Equipped).
Fast Idle System 0174 (If
Equipped).
21. Parking Brake 0185.
22. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0103.
23. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0124.
Dome Lamp Override. See
Dome Lamps 0124.
24. Exterior Lamp Controls 0120.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
16 In Brief
Vehicles with Air Conditioning
1. Fan Control
2. Temperature Control
3. Air Delivery Mode Control
4. Rear Window Defogger
See Climate Control Systems 0154.
See Rear Heating System 0156,
if equipped or Rear Climate Control
System 0156, if equipped.
Transmission
Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Mode
helps control the vehicle's
transmission and vehicle speed while driving downhill or towing a
trailer by letting you select a desired
range of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the +/− buttons on the
shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current
driving conditions.
When M (Manual Mode) is selected,
the transmission will downshift and
a number displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) next to the
M indicating the current gear.
Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active.
See Tow/Haul Mode 0184.
While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul
Mode can be used. See Manual
Mode 0183.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
104 Instruments and Controls
Malfunctions are often indicated by
the system before any problem is
noticeable. Being aware of the light
and seeking service promptly when
it comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not
run smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
affect the vehicle’s ability to pass
an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications
0213.
If the light is flashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service
may be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as possible.
If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle
off and wait at least 10 seconds
before restarting the engine. If the
light is still flashing, follow the previous guidelines and see your
dealer for service as soon as
possible.
If the light is on steady :
A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. A loose or missing fuel cap may
cause the light to come on. See
Filling the Tank 0198. A few
driving trips with the cap
properly installed may turn the
light off.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed
up. If this occurs, change the
fuel brand. It may require at
least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off. See Fuel
0 195.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
114 Instruments and Controls
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is
performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears,
see your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
. Service Messages
. Fluid Levels
. Vehicle Security .
Brakes
. Ride Control Systems
. Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is
reduced. Reduced propulsion power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on, but there is no observed reduction
in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be driven
while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays
repeatedly, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO
XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the
vehicle speed has been limited to
the speed displayed. The limited
speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems,
such as lubrication, thermal,
suspension, Teen Driver if
equipped, or tires.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
122 Lighting
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior
lamp control to
Oand then release
it. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the DRL can only be turned off
when the vehicle is parked.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside and
the headlamp switch is in AUTO,
the automatic headlamp system
turns on the headlamps, along with
the taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
parking lamps, and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will
also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamp
control to the off position and then
release. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, the transmission must be
in the P (Park) position, before the
automatic headlamp system can be
turned off.The vehicle has a light sensor on
the top of the instrument panel. Do
not cover the sensor; otherwise the
system will come on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
There is a delay in the transition
between the daytime and nighttime
operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic
headlamp system so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the
system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system are only affected
when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer
than the delay. If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system comes on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it takes approximately 30 seconds
for the automatic headlamp system
to change to DRL if it is light
outside. During that delay, the
instrument cluster may not be as
bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness control
is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control
0124.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
P
or;to disable this feature.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
160 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 164
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 165
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 166
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 171
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 175
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 180
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 186
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 191
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 196
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 209
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
Driving and Operating 165
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0253.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident). .
Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0186.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes
should be applied sooner than

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
Driving and Operating 167
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 186.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, 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. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0287.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the 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 the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to 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).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11374214) -
2018 - CRC - 2/2/18
172 Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal applied.
0 (STOPPING THE ENGINE/LOCK/
OFF) :When the vehicle is stopped,
turn the ignition switch to LOCK/
OFF to turn the engine off. Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0175. This position locks the ignition and
transmission.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF. On
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position. 4. Set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0185.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.