lock GMC SAVANA 2021 Repair Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: GMC, Model Year: 2021, Model line: SAVANA, Model: GMC SAVANA 2021Pages: 292, PDF Size: 6.38 MB
Page 147 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
146 Driving and Operating
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop, even
with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down firmly. Hearing or feeling ABS
operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can
help even more than braking.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake:1. Hold the regular brake pedal down. 2. Firmly push the parking brake
pedal down.
3. The brake system warning light will come on, if the ignition is on. See Brake
System Warning Light 077.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a
hill, see Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0160.
To release the parking brake: 1. Hold the regular brake pedal down.
2. Pull the handle with the parking brake symbol located just above the parking
brake pedal.
3. The brake system warning light will turn off, if the ignition is on.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving. Driving with the parking brake applied will
cause a warning chime to sound and a
Driver Information Center (DIC) message
may display. Release the parking brake or
stop the vehicle.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System (ABS) if
the brake pedal is not pushed hard enough
to activate ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature. HSA does
not replace the need to pay attention
and drive safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
(Continued)
Page 149 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
148 Driving and Operating
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The appropriate message will display in the
DIC. To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning. To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the StabiliTrak/ESC
OFF light
gcomes on and stays on in the
instrument cluster, then release. The
appropriate message will display in the DIC.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The StabiliTrak/ESC OFF
light
gin the instrument cluster turns off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn back
on if the vehicle exceeds 32 km/h (20 mph).
TCS will remain off until
gis pressed or the
ignition is cycled off then on.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
feature and a Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0175 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0146.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0178.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give
more traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard axle most
of the time, but when traction is low, this
feature will allow the rear wheel with the
most traction to move the vehicle.
Page 152 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 151
Warning (Continued)
.Detect vehicles or objects outside the
area monitored by the system.
.Work at all driving speeds.
.Warn you or provide you with enough
time to avoid a crash.
.Work under poor visibility or bad
weather conditions.
.Work if the detection sensor is not
cleaned or is covered by ice, snow,
mud, or dirt.
.Work if the detection sensor is
covered up, such as with a sticker,
magnet, or metal plate.
.Work if the area surrounding the
detection sensor is damaged or not
properly repaired.
Complete attention is always required
while driving, and you should be ready to
take action and apply the brakes and/or
steer the vehicle to avoid crashes. Audible Alert
Some driver assistance features alert the
driver of obstacles by beeping. To change
the volume of the warning chime, see
Vehicle Personalization
086.
Cleaning
Depending on vehicle options, keep these
areas of the vehicle clean to ensure the best
driver assistance feature performance. Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages may
display when the systems are unavailable or
blocked.
.Front and rear bumpers and the area
below the bumpers
.Front grille and headlamps
.Front camera lens in the front grille or
near the front emblem
.Front side and rear side panels
.Outside of the windshield in front of the
rearview mirrors
.Side camera lens on the bottom of the
outside mirrors
.Rear side corner bumpers
.Rear Vision Camera above the license
plate
Page 154 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 153
Park Assist
If equipped, the Rear Park Assist (RPA)
system uses sensors on the rear bumper to
assist with parking and avoiding objects
while in R (Reverse).
{Warning
The Park Assist system does not detect
children, pedestrians, bicyclists, animals,
or objects below the bumper or that are
too close or too far from the vehicle. It is
not available at speeds greater than
8 km/h (5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with Park Assist,
always check the area around the vehicle
and check all mirrors before backing.
How the System Works
RPA comes on automatically when the shift
lever is moved into R (Reverse). A single
beep sounds to indicate the system is
working.
RPA operates only at speeds less than
8 km/h (5 mph).An obstacle detection is indicated by beeps.
The time between beeps gets shorter as the
vehicle approaches the obstacle. Repeated
beeps are heard when the distance is less
than 30 cm (12 in).
To be detected, objects must be at least
25 cm (10 in) off the ground and below rear
door level. Objects must also be within 2.5 m
(8 ft) from the rear bumper. This distance
may be less during warmer or humid
weather.
Turning the System On and Off
The system can be disabled through the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See
“Park
Assist” underDriver Information Center (DIC)
0 81.
RPA defaults to the on setting each time the
vehicle is started.
Turn RPA off when towing a trailer.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The following messages may be displayed
on the DIC:
SERVICE PARK ASSIST : If this message
occurs, take the vehicle to your dealer for
repair. PARK ASSIST OFF :
This message occurs if
the driver disables the system or if the
vehicle is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph) in
R (Reverse).
PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE OWNERS
MANUAL : This message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The sensors are not clean. Keep the rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow, ice, slush,
and frost. The message may not clear
until frost or ice has melted all around
and inside the sensor.
.A trailer is attached to the vehicle, or a
bicycle or an object hanging out of the
rear door during the current or last drive
cycle. RPA will return to normal operation
after it is determined the object is
removed. This could take a few drive
cycles.
.A tow bar is attached to the vehicle.
Other conditions may affect system
performance, such as vibrations from a
jackhammer or the compression of air
brakes on a very large truck.
Page 155 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
154 Driving and Operating
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System
If equipped, the FCA system may help to
avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching a
vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA provides a
red flashing alert on the windshield and
rapidly beeps. FCA also lights an amber
visual alert if following another vehicle
much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance of
approximately 60 m (197 ft) and operates at
speeds above 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and does not
apply the brakes. When approaching a
slower-moving or stopped vehicle ahead
too rapidly, or when following a vehicle
too closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help avoid
a crash. It also may not provide any
warning at all. FCA does not warn of
pedestrians, animals, signs, guardrails,
bridges, construction barrels, or other(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
objects. Be ready to take action and
apply the brakes. SeeDefensive Driving
0 126.
FCA can be disabled with the
[button on
the center stack.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead
FCA warnings will not occur unless the FCA
system detects a vehicle ahead. When a
vehicle is detected, the vehicle ahead
indicator will display green. Vehicles may
not be detected on curves, highway exit
ramps, or hills, due to poor visibility; or if a
vehicle ahead is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects. FCA will not
detect another vehicle ahead until it is
completely in the driving lane.
{Warning
FCA does not provide a warning to help
avoid a crash, unless it detects a vehicle.
FCA may not detect a vehicle ahead if
the FCA sensor is blocked by dirt, snow,
or ice, or if the windshield is damaged.
It may also not detect a vehicle on
winding or hilly roads, or in conditions
that can limit visibility such as fog, rain,
or snow, or if the headlamps or
windshield are not cleaned or in proper
condition. Keep the windshield,
headlamps, and FCA sensors clean and in
good repair.
Collision Alert
When your vehicle approaches another
detected vehicle too rapidly, the red FCA
display will flash on the windshield. Also,
eight rapid high-pitched beeps will sound
from the front. When this Collision Alert
Page 158 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 157
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
If equipped, LDW may help avoid crashes
due to unintentional lane departures. LDW
uses a camera sensor to detect the lane
markings at speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
greater. It may provide an alert if the
vehicle is crossing a lane without using a
turn signal in that direction. LDW light will
not alert if the turn signal is active in the
direction of lane departure, or if LDW
detects that you are accelerating, braking or
actively steering.
{Warning
The LDW system does not steer the
vehicle. The LDW system may not:
.Provide enough time to avoid a crash.
.Detect lane markings under poor
weather or visibility conditions. This
can occur if the windshield or
headlamps are blocked by dirt, snow,
or ice; if they are not in proper
condition; or if the sun shines directly
into the camera.
.Detect road edges.
.Detect lanes on winding or hilly roads.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If LDW only detects lane markings on one
side of the road, it will only warn you
when departing the lane on the side
where it has detected a lane marking.
Always keep your attention on the road
and maintain proper vehicle position
within the lane, or vehicle damage,
injury, or death could occur. Always keep
the windshield, headlamps, and camera
sensors clean and in good repair. Do not
use LDW in bad weather conditions.
How the System Works
LDW utilizes a camera sensor installed on
the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror
to detect lane markings.
To turn LDW on and off, press
@on the
center stack. The control indicator will light
when LDW is on. When LDW is on,
@is
green if LDW is available to warn of a lane
departure. If the vehicle crosses a detected
lane marking without using the turn signal
in that direction,
@changes to amber and
flashes. Additionally, there will be three
beeps on the right or left, depending on the
lane departure direction. LDW will not alert if the turn signal is active in the direction of
lane departure, or if LDW detects that you
are accelerating, braking or actively steering.
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline to keep the engine clean,
reduce engine deposits, and maintain
optimal vehicle performance. Look for the
TOP TIER Logo or see www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline
marketers and applicable countries.
Page 160 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 159
Warning (Continued)
.Read and follow all the instructions on
the fuel pump island.
.Turn off the engine when refueling.
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
refueling.
.Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel.
.Keep children away from the fuel
pump and never let children
pump fuel.
.Before touching the fill nozzle, touch a
metallic object to discharge static
electricity from your body.
.Fuel can spray out if the fuel cap is
opened too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather. Open the
fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss
noise to stop, then unscrew the cap all
the way.
Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise to
remove. When refueling, hang the fuel cap
from the hook on the fuel door. Fully insert
and latch the fill nozzle, begin fueling.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more than
three clicks of a standard fill nozzle may
cause:
.Vehicle performance issues, including
engine stalling and damage to the fuel
system.
.Fuel spills.
.Under certain conditions, fuel fires.Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait five seconds
after you have finished pumping before
removing the fill nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care
0241. Reinstall the cap by
turning it clockwise until it clicks. Push the
fuel door closed.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are refueling, do
not remove the fill nozzle. Shut off the
flow of fuel by shutting off the pump or
by notifying the station attendant. Leave
the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, get the right
type of cap from your dealer. The wrong
type of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may turn on the malfunction indicator
lamp, and could damage the fuel system
and emissions system. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 076.
Page 174 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Driving and Operating 173
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing hitch,
measure the front fender height distance (2)
before connecting the trailer. Adjust the
spring bars until the front fender height
distance (2) is the same height before the
trailer was connected. Do not reduce the
front fender height below the initial
distance (2).
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the vehicle.
.Tires must be properly inflated to support
loads while towing a trailer. SeeTires
0 211 for instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the vehicle
and the trailer, and attach the chains to the
holes on the trailer hitch platform.
Instructions about safety chains may be
provided by the hitch manufacturer or by
the trailer manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it becomes separated
from the hitch. Always leave just enough
slack so the combination can turn. Never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 675 kg (1,500 lb) must
be equipped with brake systems and with
brakes for each axle. Trailer braking
equipment conforming to Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent, is
recommended. State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking system if
the loaded weight of the trailer exceeds
certain minimums that can vary from state
to state. Read and follow the instructions for
the trailer brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's hydraulic
brake system. If you do, both the vehicle
anti-lock brakes and the trailer brakes may
not function, which could result in a crash.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Basic Trailer Wiring
If the vehicle is not equipped with a trailer
connector on the rear bumper, a seven-wire
trailering harness is tied to the vehicle’s
frame. The harness requires the installation
of a trailer connector, which is available
through your dealer.
Use only a round, seven-wire connector with
flat blade terminals meeting SAE J2863
specifications for proper electrical
connectivity.
Page 175 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
174 Driving and Operating
The seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:Stop/Turn
Signal Left* Yellow
Stop/Turn Signal
Right* Dark Green
Tail/Parking
Lamps** Brown
Reverse Lamps** Light Green
Battery Feed Red/Black
Ground White
Electric Trailer Brake Dark Blue
*If the vehicle is a cutaway with trailer
provisions, a 15 amp fuse will be shared
for both left/stop trailer turn and right/
stop trailer turn signals. However, the
cutaway lighting connector will have a
10 amp fuse for each signal.
**If the vehicle is a cutaway with trailer
provisions, a 15 amp fuse will be shared
for trailer park lamps and cutaway rear
lighting connector park lamps. Also, a
10 amp fuse will be shared for trailer
back-up lamps and cutaway rear lighting
connector back-up lamps. Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness Package
lf equipped, the trailer wiring harness, with
a seven-pin connector is mounted on the
trailer hitch.
1. Left Turn/Brake
2. Taillamps
3. Reverse Lamps
4. Battery Feed
5. Right Turn/Brake
6. Electric Brakes
7. Ground
Electric Brake Control Wiring Provisions
If the vehicle is not equipped with an
integrated trailer brake controller, and the
trailer has electric brakes, a trailer brake
controller needs to be installed on the
vehicle. The brake controller should be
installed by your dealer or a qualified
service center.
If equipped, wiring provisions for an
aftermarket electric trailer brake controller
are included with the vehicle as part of the
trailer wiring package. The harness contains
the following circuits:
Electric Trailer
Brakes Dark Blue
Battery Feed Red/White
Brake Apply Signal Light Blue
Ground Black
There are four blunt cut wires under the
floor carpeting in front of the brake pedal.
It will be necessary to have a technician
connect the 12-volt power to the engine
compartment fuse block.
Page 178 of 292

GMC Savana Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14583543) -
2021 - crc - 7/10/20
Vehicle Care 177
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 178
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 178
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 179
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 180
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Automatic Transmission Fluid (6-Speed Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Automatic Transmission Fluid (8-Speed Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Noise Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . 201
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 206
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 214
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 217
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 222
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 224
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 224
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 225
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 236
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247