warning GMC SAVANA 2021 Owner's Manual

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
226 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing a crash.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for replacement.
Caution
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used one is
dangerous. How it has been used or how
far it has been driven may be unknown.
It could fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a new GM
original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
Tire chains or other traction devices used
on a vehicle without the proper amount
of clearance can cause damage to the
brakes, suspension, or other vehicle parts.
Use tire chains or traction devices only if
the equipment manufacturer recommends
them for the vehicle tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow the
equipment manfacturer’s instructions. The
area damaged by the tire chains could
cause you to lose control of the vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a
crash. To help avoid damage to the
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust, or remove
the device if it is contacting the vehicle.
Do not spin the vehicle's tires.
Caution
Use tire chains only where legal and only
when necessary. Use chains that are the
proper size for the tires. Install them on
the tires of the rear axle. Do not use
chains on the tires of the front axle.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
Tighten them as tightly as possible with
the ends securely fastened. Drive slowly
and follow the chain manufacturer's
instructions. If the chains contact the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the
contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast or spinning the
wheels with chains on will damage the
vehicle.
For Cutaway models with LT245/75R16 or
LT225/75R16 size single or dual rear tires, use
Low Profile Z-Chain or SAE Class S cables.
For Cargo or Passenger models with LT225/
75R16 or LT245/75R16 size tires, use Low
Profile Z-Chain cables. SAE Class S chains are
not recommended.
If the vehicle has dual rear tires, do not use
individual tire chains. Use tire chains that fit
across both dual tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while
driving, especially if the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires0211. If air goes out of a
tire, it is much more likely to leak out

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 227
slowly. But if there ever is a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and
what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing
the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten
the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been driven
on while severely underinflated or flat
may cause a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
underinflated or flat. Have your dealer or
an authorized tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a level
place, well off the road, if possible. Turn on
the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers 092.
{Warning
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2), use the
following example as a guide to assist in the
placement of the wheel blocks (1),
if equipped.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 231
Front Position
Rear Position
Rear Alternative Position (Diesel Vehicles)
4. Position the jack under the vehicle, as shown.
The front position jacking point is on the
frame. The rear position jacking point is
on the rear axle.
If the exhaust system interferes with the
jack location in the rear axle, such as in
Diesel vehicles, place the jack (1) on the
rear axle between the axle housing and
the shock absorber bracket in order to
avoid any interference with the exhaust
pipe (2).
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked
up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off
the jack you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage the
vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To
help avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head
into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
(Continued)

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
232 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
Caution
Using a jack to raise the vehicle without
positioning it correctly could damage
your vehicle. When raising your vehicle
on a jack, be sure to position it correctly
under the frame and avoid contact with
the plastic molding.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough room
for the spare tire to fit.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts.
7. Take the flat tire off of the mountingsurface.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
cause wheel nuts to become loose
over time. The wheel could come off
and cause a crash. When changing a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, a cloth
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or paper towel can be used; however,
use a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
8. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces, and spare
wheel.
{Warning
Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts
because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a
crash.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 233
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with therounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each wheel nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the hub.
10. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
{Warning
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause the
wheels to become loose or come off. The
wheel nuts should be tightened with a
torque wrench to the proper torque
specification after replacing. Follow the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
torque specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when using
accessory locking wheel nuts. See
Capacities and Specifications0258 for
original equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper
sequence and to the proper torque
specification. See Capacities and
Specifications 0258 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
11. Use the wheel wrench to tighten the nuts firmly. Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise and in a crisscross sequence, as
shown.
12. Put the wheel cover or the center cap and plastic wheel nut caps back on.
Remove any wheel blocks.
Have a technician check the wheel nut
tightness of all wheels with a torque
wrench after the first 160 km (100 mi)
and then 1 600 km (1,000 mi) after that.
Repeat this service whenever a tire is
removed or serviced. See Capacities and
Specifications 0258 for more
information.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
234 Vehicle Care
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of the
vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden
stop or collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in the
proper place.
{Warning
Failure to follow these tire storage
instructions carefully could result in
personal injury or property damage if the
hoist cable fails or if the tire comes loose.
Make sure the tire is stored securely
before driving.
Caution
The tire hoist can be damaged if there is
no tension on the cable when using it. To
have the necessary tension, the spare or
road tire and wheel assembly must be
installed on the tire hoist to use it.
{Warning
An improperly stored spare tire could
come loose and cause a crash. To avoid
personal injury or property damage,
always store the spare tire when the
vehicle is parked on a level surface.
Store the tire under the rear of the vehicle
in the spare tire carrier.
1. Spare Tire
2. Tire/Wheel Retainer
3. Hoist Cable
4. Hoist Assembly
5. Hoist Shaft
6. Hoist Handle and Extension(s) 7. Wheel Wrench
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of
the vehicle with the valve stem pointed
down, and to the rear.
2. Pull the cable and spring through the center of the wheel. Tilt the wheel
retainer plate down and through the
center wheel.
Make sure the retainer is fully seated
across the underside of the wheel.
3. Assemble the wheel wrench (7) to thehoist handle and the extension(s) (6).
4. Open the passenger side rear door.
Caution
Use of an air wrench or other power
tools with the hoist mechanism is not
recommended and could damage the
system. Use only the tools supplied with
the hoist mechanism.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
236 Vehicle Care
After installing the spare tire on the vehicle,
stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare is correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds up to
112 km/h (70 mph) at the recommended
inflation pressure, so you can finish
your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire repaired
or replaced back onto the vehicle, as soon as
possible, so the spare tire will be available
in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of different
sizes, because they will not fit. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.
If this vehicle has a spare tire that does not
match the original road tires and wheels in
size and type, do not include the spare in
the tire rotation.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America
For more information about the vehicle
battery, seeBattery - North America 0198.
If the vehicle battery has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure
to use the following steps to do it safely.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0178
and the back cover.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can burn you.
.They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
.They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to the vehicle that would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Trying
to start the vehicle by pushing or pulling
it will not work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground
system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have a
12-volt system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can be damaged. Only use
a vehicle that has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the
vehicles are not touching each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would
not be able to start your vehicle, and the
bad grounding could damage the
electrical systems.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 237
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles
rolling, set the parking brake firmly on
both vehicles involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic transmission
in P (Park) or a manual transmission in
Neutral before setting the parking brake.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or plugged
in during the jump starting procedure,
they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn off or
unplug all accessories on either vehicle
when jump starting.
3. Turn the ignition off on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged
into the cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlet. Turn off the radio and all
lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. And it could save the radio!
4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and negative (−) terminal
locations of the other vehicle.
On your van, use the unpainted radio
antenna bracket as a remote negative (−)
terminal.
{Warning
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you need
more light.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn
you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on
your skin, flush the place with water and
get medical help immediately.
{Warning
Fans or other moving engine parts can
injure you badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts once the engine is
running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing insulation. If they
do, you could get a shock. The vehicles
could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some basic things you should know.
Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or to a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to an
unpainted metal part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has
one. On your van, use the unpainted
radio antenna bracket as a remote
negative (−) terminal.
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get a short that
would damage the battery and maybe
other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−)
terminal on the dead battery because
this can cause sparks.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one. Do not let the other end

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 247
Caution
Use of air fresheners may cause
permanent damage to plastics and
painted surfaces. If an air freshener
comes in contact with any plastic or
painted surface in the vehicle, blot
immediately and clean with a soft cloth
dampened with a mild soap solution.
Damage caused by air fresheners would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Cargo Cover and Convenience Net
If equipped, wash with warm water and
mild detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach.
Rinse with cold water, and then dry
completely.
Care of Seat Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt webbing.
It may severely weaken the webbing. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection. Clean and(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
rinse seat belt webbing only with mild
soap and lukewarm water. Allow the
webbing to dry.
Floor Mats
{Warning
If a floor mat is the wrong size or is not
properly installed, it can interfere with
the pedals. Interference with the pedals
can cause unintended acceleration and/or
increased stopping distance which can
cause a crash and injury. Make sure the
floor mat does not interfere with the
pedals.
Use the following guidelines for proper floor
mat usage.
.The original equipment floor mats were
designed for the vehicle. If the floor mats
need replacing, it is recommended that
GM certified floor mats be purchased.
Non-GM floor mats may not fit properly
and may interfere with the pedals.
Always check that the floor mats do not
interfere with the pedals.
.Use the floor mat with the correct side
up. Do not turn it over.
.Do not place anything on top of the
driver side floor mat.
.Use only a single floor mat on the
driver side.
.Do not place one floor mat on top of
another.
Cleaning Rubber Floor Mats (All-Weather
Mats and Floor Liners)
{Warning
Do not use cleaners that contain silicone,
wax-based products, or cleaners that
increase gloss on rubber floor mats/liners.
These cleaners can permanently change
the appearance and feel of the rubber
and can make the floor mats/liners
slippery. Your foot could slip while
operating the vehicle, and you could lose
control, resulting in a crash. You or
others could be injured.
Use a soft cloth and/or a brush dampened
with water to remove dust and loose dirt.
For more thorough cleaning, use a mild soap
solution.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Service and Maintenance 249
Because of the way people use vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. There may need to
be more frequent checks and services. The
Additional Required Services - Normal are for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeVehicle
Load Limits 0131.
.Are driven on reasonable road surfaces
within legal driving limits.
.Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuel 0158.
Refer to the information in the Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required Services -
Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services - Severe are
for vehicles that are:
.Mainly driven in heavy city traffic in hot
weather
.Mainly driven in hilly or mountainous
terrain
.Frequently towing a trailer
.Used for high speed or competitive
driving
.Used for taxi, police, or delivery service Refer to the information in the Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required Services -
Severe chart.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can be
dangerous and can cause serious injury.
Perform maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools, and
equipment are available. If they are not,
see your dealer to have a trained
technician do the work. See
Doing Your
Own Service Work 0179.
Maintenance Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
Check the engine oil level. See Engine Oil
0 184.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation pressures,
including the spare. See Tire Pressure
0 216.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See Tire
Inspection 0220.
.Check the windshield washer fluid level.
See Washer Fluid 0196.
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message displays, have the engine oil and
filter changed within the next 1 000 km
(600 mi). If driven under the best conditions,
the engine oil life system may not indicate
the need for vehicle service for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer technician
can perform this work. If the engine oil life
system is reset accidentally, service the
vehicle within 5 000 km (3,000 mi) since the
last service. Reset the oil life system when
the oil is changed. See Engine Oil Life
System 0186.
Extended Idle Use
When the vehicle is used in a way that
requires extended idle time, one hour of use
shall be deemed the same as 53 km (33 mi).
See Driver Information Center (DIC) 081 for
hourmeter.
Air Conditioning Desiccant (Replace Every
Seven Years)
The air conditioning system requires
maintenance every seven years. This service
requires replacement of the desiccant to