GMC SAVANA PASSENGER 2008 Owners Manual

Tilt Wheel
For vehicles with a tilt steering wheel, it allows you to
lower or raise the steering wheel to give your legs more
room when entering or exiting the vehicle. Do not adjust
the steering wheel while driving.
The lever is located on the lower left side of the steering
column.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull
the lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable
level, then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
•GTurn and Lane Change Signals.Turn and
Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
•53Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9.
•Flash-to-Pass Feature. SeeFlash-to-Pass on
page 3-9.
•NWindshield Wipers. SeeWindshield Wipers on
page 3-9.
•LWindshield Washer. SeeWindshield Washer
on page 3-10.
3-7

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash
in the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to flash. The turn signals automatically
flash three times and if the tow-haul mode is active
it flashes six times. Holding the turn signal lever for
more than one second causes the turn signals to
flash continually until the lever is released. The lever
returns by itself when you release it.An arrow on the instrument panel cluster flashes in the
direction of the turn or lane change.
If arrows flash more quickly than normal when a turn or
lane change is signaled, a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers may not see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs or a blown
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-104.
Turn Signal On Chime
If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of the turn
signal and the message TURN SIGNAL ON also appears
in the Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-49. To turn off the chime and
message, move the turn signal lever to the off position.
3-8

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
23(Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer):
To change the headlamps from low to high beam,
pull the multifunction lever all the way toward you.
Then release it.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows you to use your high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you
want to pass. It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, but not so
far that you hear it click.
If your headlamps are off or on low-beam, your
high-beam headlamps will turn on and stay on as long
as you hold the lever toward you and the high-beam
indicator on the instrument panel will come on. Release
the lever to turn the high-beam headlamps off.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning the
band with the wiper symbol.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
mist. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one wipe. If more wipes
are needed, hold the band on mist longer.
6Delay:The wiper speed can be set for a long or short
delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain
or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to the top of the lever, the shorter the delay.
d(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed,
turn the band away from you to the first solid band past
the delay settings position.
a(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn
the band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
When driving during the day and the wipers are
activated, the head lamps will automatically turn on
after completing eight wipe cycles.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
worn or damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
3-9

Windshield Washer
L(Washer Fluid):There is a paddle marked with the
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction
lever. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, push
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and then
either stop or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, cruise control is turned off.
If your vehicle has the StabiliTrak
®system and begins
to limit wheel spin while you are using cruise control,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
3-10

SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-5. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
The cruise control buttons
are located on left side of
the steering wheel.
T(On/Off):This button can both activate and turn
off the system. The indicator light on the button turns on
when cruise control is on and turns off when cruise
control is off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):Press this button to
make the vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously
set speed.
SET−(Set/Coast):Press this button to set the speed
or make the vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel):Press this button to cancel cruise control
without erasing the set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control will not work if your parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake fluid level is low.
The cruise control light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on after the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed.
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control on when you
are not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you do not want to.
You could be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control On/Off button.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET−button located on the steering
wheel and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
3-11

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This shuts off the cruise
control. But you do not need to reset it.
Once you are driving about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
press the +RES button on your steering wheel.
The vehicle will go back to the previous set speed
and stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To increase the cruise speed while using cruise control:
•Press and hold the +RES button on the steering
wheel until you reach your new desired speed,
then release it.
•To increase vehicle speed in small increments,
press the +RES button. Each time you do this,
you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce your speed while using cruise control:
•Press and hold the SET– button on the steering
wheel until the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
•To slow down in very small amounts, press
the SET– button on the steering wheel briefly.
Each time you do this, the vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle
will slow down to the previous set cruise speed.
3-12

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you may have to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed down.
Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble
and do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
•Step lightly on the brake pedal.
•Press the cancel button on the steering wheel.
•Press the On/Off button on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
the cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps control
is located on the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
•Headlamps
•Taillamps
•Parking Lamps
•License Plate Lamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off):Briefly turn the control to this position to
turn off the automatic headlamps and daytime running
lamps (DRL). Briefly turn to this position again to turn
the automatic headlamps or DRL back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the off position only
works for vehicles that are shifted into the PARK (P)
position.
3-13

AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
•Parking Lamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamps
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the
following:
•Instrument Panel Lights
•Taillamps
•License Plate Lamps
2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps together with the following lamps
listed below.
•Parking Lamps
•Instrument Panel Lights
•Taillamps
•License Plate LampsWhen the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is
on, the headlamps will turn off automatically 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned off. When 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 off position.
A warning chime sounds if the driver’s door is opened
while the ignition switch is off and the headlamps are on.
To change the headlamps from low beam to high
beam, push the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
the instrument panel.
Headlamps on 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 off or auto and then
back on, or close and re-open the door. In the auto
mode, the headlamps turn off once the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF or may remain on until the headlamp
delay ends, if enabled in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See “Exit Lighting” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-58.
3-14

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime
running lamps are required on all vehicles first sold
in Canada.
The DRL system will come on in daylight when the
following conditions are met:
•The ignition is on.
•The exterior lamps control is in the AUTO position.
•The shift lever is not in PARK (P).
•The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only the DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will not
be on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior lamp control to the
off position and then release it. For vehicles first sold
in Canada, the transmission must be in the PARK
(P) position, before the DRL can be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside and the headlamp switch
is in AUTO, the automatic headlamp system will turn on
the headlamps at the normal brightness along with other
lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps,
roof marker lamps, and the instrument panel lights.
The radio lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then release.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the transmission must
be in the PARK (P) position, before the automatic
headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of
the instrument panel. Be sure it is not covered, or
the system will be on whenever the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and
nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the automatic headlamp systems so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not
affect the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor sees
a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay.
3-15

If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come 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 panel cluster may not be as bright as usual.
Make sure the instrument panel brightness control is in
the full bright position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness
on page 3-16.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob for this feature is located next to the exterior
lamps control.
D(Instrument Panel Lights):Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to brighten or dim the
instrument panel lights and the radio display. This only
works if the headlamps or parking lamps are on.
To turn on the dome lamps, with the vehicle doors
closed, turn the knob all the way clockwise.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps come on when any door is opened.
They turn off after all the doors are closed.
The dome lamps can also be turned on by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob, located next to
the exterior lamps control, clockwise to the farthest
position. In this position, the dome lamps remain
on whether a door is opened or closed.
Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is located next to the
exterior lamps control.
The dome lamp override is used to set the dome lamps
to remain off or come on automatically when a door
is opened.
E(Dome Lamp Override):Press the button in and
the dome lamps remain off when a door is opened.
Press the button again to return it to the extended
position so that the dome lamps come on when a
door is opened.
3-16