warning GMC SAVANA 2021 Workshop Manual

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
80 Instruments and Controls
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), this light comes on briefly
when the engine is started. It provides
information about tire pressures and
the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires
are significantly underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC) tire
pressure message may also display. Stop as
soon as possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeTire Pressure
0 216.
When the Light Flashes First and Then Is On
Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute and
then stays on, there may be a problem with
the TPMS. If the problem is not corrected, the light will come on at every ignition
cycle. See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 217.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. Driving with the
engine oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check the oil
level as soon as possible. Add oil if
required, but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil pressure is
still low, have the vehicle serviced.
Always follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as the
engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. If the light comes on and stays on, it means
that oil is not flowing through the engine
properly. The vehicle could be low on oil
and might have some other system
problem. See your dealer.
Low Fuel Warning Light
English Shown, Metric Similar
A Low Fuel Warning Light near the fuel
gauge comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on as a check to show it is working.
It also comes on, and a chime sounds when
the fuel gauge indicator nears empty. The
light turns off when fuel is added. If it does
not, have the vehicle serviced.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Instruments and Controls 81
Security Light
The security light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine does
not start, there could be a problem with the
theft-deterrent system. SeeImmobilizer
Operation 016.
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the high-beam
headlamps are in use. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
0 91.
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on when the cruise control
is set.
This light goes out when the cruise control
is canceled. See Cruise Control0149.
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC)
This vehicle has a DIC.
All messages will appear in the DIC display
at the bottom of the instrument cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on.
After a short delay, the DIC will display the
information that was last displayed before
the engine was turned off. The DIC displays trip, fuel, and vehicle
system information, and warning messages
if a system problem is detected.
If the vehicle has these features, the DIC
also displays the compass direction and the
outside air temperature when viewing the
trip and fuel information. The compass
direction appears on the top right corner of
the DIC display. The outside air temperature
automatically appears in the bottom right
corner of the DIC display. If there is a
problem with the system that controls the
temperature display, the numbers will be
replaced with dashes. If this occurs, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see the
Duramax diesel supplement.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different displays which can be
accessed by pressing the DIC buttons on the
instrument panel, next to the instrument
cluster.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
90 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . 91
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . 91
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . 92
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel IlluminationControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Battery Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . 95
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering
wheel.
There are four positions:
O: Briefly turn the control to this position
to turn the automatic headlamps and
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) off or
back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the off
position only works for vehicles that are
shifted into the P (Park) position.
AUTO : Automatically turns the exterior
lamps on and off, depending on outside
lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps including
all lamps, except the headlamps.
2: Turns on the headlamps together with
the parking lamps and instrument panel
lights.
If the headlamps are turned on while the
vehicle is on, the headlamps turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition
is turned off. If the headlamps are turned on
while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will
continue to stay on. To prevent the battery
from being drained, turn the control to the
Oposition.
A warning chime sounds if the driver door is
opened while the ignition switch is off and
the headlamps are on.
To change the headlamps from low beam to
high beam, pull the turn signal lever all the
way toward you. Then release it.
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime sounds
when the headlamps or parking lamps are
manually turned on and the key is out of
the ignition. To turn off the chime, turn the
headlamp switch to
Oor AUTO and then
back on, or close and re-open the door. In

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
92 Lighting
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. SeeInstrument Panel
Illumination Control 093. To idle the vehicle with the automatic
headlamp system off, turn the control off.
The headlamps will also stay on after
exiting the vehicle. This feature may be
programmable. See
Vehicle Personalization
0 86.
If the feature is not programmable, exit
lighting is automatic. When it is dark
enough outside, the exterior lamps remain
on for 30 seconds after the ignition is
turned off.
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
Por;to
disable this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|: Press this button to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off.
This warns others that you are having
trouble. Press again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on,
the vehicle's turn signals will not work.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
96 Infotainment System
Infotainment System
Introduction
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Overview (AM-FM Radio) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Overview (Radio with CD/MP3) . . . . . . . . . 99
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Radio
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Multi-Band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Audio Players
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . 104
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
OnStar System
OnStar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Trademarks and License Agreements
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . 117
Introduction
Infotainment
Read the following pages to become familiar
with the features.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road for too
long or too often while using any
infotainment feature can cause a crash.
You or others could be injured or killed.
Do not give extended attention to
infotainment tasks while driving. Limit
your glances at the vehicle displays and
focus your attention on driving. Use voice
commands whenever possible.
The infotainment system has built-in
features intended to help avoid distraction
by disabling some functions when driving.
Many infotainment features are also
available through the instrument cluster and
steering wheel controls. Before driving:
.Become familiar with the operation,
center stack controls, and infotainment
controls.
.Set up the audio by presetting favorite
stations, setting the tone, and adjusting
the speakers.
.Set up phone numbers in advance so they
can be called easily by pressing a single
control or by using a single voice
command if equipped with Bluetooth
phone capability.
See Defensive Driving 0126.
To play the infotainment system with the
ignition off, see Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0138.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
If equipped, ANC reduces engine noise in the
vehicle’s interior. ANC requires the
factory-installed audio system, radio,
speakers, amplifier (if equipped), induction
system, and exhaust system to work
properly. Deactivation is required by your
dealer if related aftermarket equipment is
installed.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
112 Infotainment System
OnStar System
OnStar with 4G LTE
If equipped with OnStar 4G LTE, up to seven
devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and
laptops, can be connected to high-speed
Internet through the vehicle’s built-in Wi-Fi
hotspot.
Call 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) to
connect to an OnStar Advisor for assistance.
See www.onstar.com for a detailed
instruction guide, vehicle availability, details,
and system limitations. Services and apps
vary by make, model, year, carrier,
availability, and conditions. 4G LTE service is
available in select markets. 4G LTE
performance is based on industry averages
and vehicle systems design. Some services
require a data plan.
Phone
Bluetooth
For vehicles equipped with Bluetooth
capability, the system can interact with
many cell phones, allowing:
.Placement and receipt of calls in a
hands-free mode.
.Sharing of the cell phone’s address book
or contact list with the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction, before
driving, and with the vehicle parked:
.Become familiar with the features of the
cell phone. Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete duplicate
or rarely used entries. If possible,
program speed dial or other shortcuts.
.Review the controls and operation of the
infotainment system.
.Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle. The
system may not work with all cell
phones. See “Pairing”in this section for
more information.
.If the cell phone has voice dialing
capability, learn to use that feature to
access the address book or contact list.
See “Voice Pass-Thru” in this section for
more information.
.See “Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers” in this section for more
information.
{Warning
When using a cell phone, it can be
distracting to look too long or too often
at the screen of the phone or the
infotainment system. Taking your eyes
off the road too long or too often could
cause a crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
A Bluetooth system can use a
Bluetooth-capable cell phone with a
Hands-Free Profile to make and receive
phone calls. The system can be used while
the ignition is on or in ACC/ACCESSORY. The
range of the Bluetooth system can be up to
9.1 m (30 ft). Not all phones support all
functions, and not all phones work with the
in-vehicle Bluetooth system. See
www.gm.com/bluetooth for more
information on compatible phones in U.S.
and Canada only.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 125
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 126
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Fast Idle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 138
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 141
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 141
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 157
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 160
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 176

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
126 Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here
are some driving tips to get the best fuel
economy possible:
.Set the climate controls to the desired
temperature after the engine is started,
or turn them off when not required.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods
of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same
TPC Spec number molded into the tire's
sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and can
take your focus from the task of driving.
Exercise good judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away from
the road. Many local governments have
enacted laws regarding driver distraction.
Become familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your eyes
on the road, keep your hands on the
steering wheel, and focus your attention on
driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 028.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 127
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 129
.Ease your foot off the accelerator pedal
and steer the way you want the vehicle
to go. The vehicle may straighten out. Be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions. Stopping
distance can be longer and vehicle control
can be affected when traction is reduced
by water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues—such as enough water,
ice, or packed snow on the road to make
a mirrored surface —and slow down
when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only
the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop and
accelerate. Always drive slower in these
types of driving conditions and avoid driving
through large puddles and deep-standing or
flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick stop
and could cause pulling to one side. You
could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply
the brake pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through flowing water
could cause the vehicle to be carried
away. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build
up under the vehicle's tires so they actually
ride on the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road. There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
See
Tires 0211.
.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.