GMC TERRAIN 2016 Owner's Manual

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
170 Driving and Operating
.The vehicle's computer will more
aggressively shut off fuel to the
engine under deceleration.
. The engine idle speed will be
lower.
. Driving performance is more
conservative.
. The climate controls may take
longer to heat or cool the cabin.
. The rear defogger will stay on
for shorter periods of time.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature transfer
engine power, as required, to all
four wheels. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system.
To restore full AWD operation and
prevent excessive wear on the
system, replace the compact spare
with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare
Tire 0257.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
might be heard while this test is
going on, and it might even be
noticed that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light 0106.
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
Driving and Operating 171
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels
is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the
regular brake pedal down, then
push the parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning
Light 0105.
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.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake
system warning light will be on and
a chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
172 Driving and Operating
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0190.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has an HSA feature,
which may be useful when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade
sufficient enough to activate HSA.
This feature is designed to prevent
the vehicle from rolling, either
forward or rearward, during vehicle
drive off. After the driver completely
stops and holds the vehicle in a
complete standstill on a grade, HSA
will be automatically activated.
During the transition period between
when the driver releases the brake
pedal and starts to accelerate to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
Driving and Operating 173
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0155
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. 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
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center console.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
174 Driving and Operating
To turn off only TCS, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplays in the instrument
cluster and the appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride Control
System Messages 0117.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
the
gbutton is pressed, the system
will not turn off until the wheels stop
spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the
gbutton until
the traction off light
iand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on
and stay on in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride Control
System Messages 0117. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
g
button. The traction off lightiand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications 0199.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, the vehicle can
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
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.
If equipped with the StabiliTrak
®
system, the system may begin to
limit wheel spin while you are using
cruise control. If this happens, the
cruise control will automatically
disengage. See Traction Control/

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
Driving and Operating 175
Electronic Stability Control0172.
If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0180.
When road conditions allow you to
safely use it again, cruise control
can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control is disengaged.
o(On/Off) : Press to turn cruise
control on or off.
n(Cancel) : Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory. RES/+ (Resume/Accel) :
If there is
a set speed in memory, move the
thumbwheel up briefly to resume to
that speed or hold upward to
accelerate. If cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET/− (Set/Coast) : Move the
thumbwheel down briefly to set the
speed and activate cruise control.
If cruise control is already active,
use to decrease speed.
Setting Cruise Control
If the
obutton is on when not in
use, SET/− or RES/+ could get
bumped and go into cruise when not
desired. Keep
oturned off when
cruise control is not being used.
1. Press
oto turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3. Move the thumbwheel toward SET/− and release it. The
desired set speed briefly
appears in the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
display. 4. Remove foot from the
accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied or
nis pressed, the
cruise control is disengaged without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previously set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
. Move the thumbwheel up toward
RES/+ and hold it until the
vehicle accelerates to the
desired speed, then release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) faster.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
176 Driving and Operating
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster 098.
The increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
. Move the thumbwheel toward
SET/− and hold until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, move the
thumbwheel toward SET/−
briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 098.
The increment value used depends
on the units displayed. Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle slows down to the previously
set cruise control speed. While
pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to
override cruise control, briefly
moving the thumbwheel toward
SET/−
will result in cruise set to the
current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to maintain the
vehicle speed. When the brakes are
applied, the cruise control is
disengaged. Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
n.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. To turn off cruise control,
press
o.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
ois
pressed or if the vehicle is
turned off.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
Driving and Operating 177
Driver Assistance
Systems
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If equipped, the RVC can assist the
driver when backing up by
displaying a view of the area behind
the vehicle.
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any
other object outside of the
cameras’field of view, below the
bumper, or under the vehicle.
Shown distances may be different
from actual distances. Do not
drive or park the vehicle using
only these camera(s). Always
check behind and around the
vehicle before driving. Failure to
use proper care may result in
injury, death, or vehicle damage. An image appears on the
infotainment screen when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
The infotainment screen goes to the
previous screen after approximately
10 seconds once the vehicle is
shifted out of R (Reverse).
To see the previous screen sooner,
do one of the following:
.
Press a hard key on the
navigation system.
. Shift into P (Park).
Press MENU to adjust the display
brightness while viewing the rear
camera display.
Symbols and Guidelines
The RVC system may have a
feature that lets the driver view
parking assist symbols on the
infotainment screen while using the
RVC. The Rear Parking Assist
(RPA) system must not be disabled
to use the caution symbols. The
error message Rear Parking Assist
Symbols Unavailable may display if
RPA has been disabled and the
symbols have been turned on. See
Parking Assist 0179. Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
On vehicles with RCTA, a triangle
with an arrow may display on the
RVC screen to warn of traffic
coming from either direction. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left or
right side, behind the vehicle. When
an object is detected, three beeps
sound from the left or right side,
depending on the direction of the
detected vehicle.
The parking assist and RCTA
symbols appear and may cover an
object when viewing the
infotainment screen when an object
is detected by the RPA or RCTA
system.
The RVC system may also have a
guideline overlay that can help the
driver align the vehicle when
backing into a parking spot.
To turn the symbols or guidelines on
or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG button.
3. Select Display Settings.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
178 Driving and Operating
4. Select Rear Camera Options.
5. Select Symbols or Guide Lines.The feature is on when a check
mark appears next to it.
RCTA can be turned on or off
through vehicle personalization. See
“Collision Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0120.
Rear Vision Camera Error
Messages
SERVICE REAR VISION CAMERA
SYSTEM : This message can
display on the infotainment screen
when the system is not working
properly.
If any other problem occurs or if a
problem persists, see your dealer.Rear Vision Camera Location
The camera is above the license
plate.
The area displayed by the camera is
limited.
It does not display objects that are
close to either corner or under the
bumper and can vary depending on
vehicle orientation or road
conditions. Displayed images may
be farther or closer than they
appear.
The following illustrations show the
field of view that the camera
provides.
1. View Displayed by the
Camera
1. View Displayed by theCamera
2. Corner of the Rear Bumper

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-9234776) - 2016 - crc - 10/12/15
Driving and Operating 179
When the System Does Not
Seem To Work Properly
The RVC system may not work
properly or display a clear image if:
.It is dark.
. The sun or the beam of
headlamps is shining directly
into the camera lens.
. Ice, snow, mud, or anything else
builds up on the camera lens.
Clean the lens, rinse it with
water, and wipe it with a soft
cloth.
. The back of the vehicle is in an
accident. The position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have the
camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at your
dealer.
Parking Assist
For vehicles with the Rear Parking
Assist (RPA) system, it assists the
driver with parking and avoiding
objects while in R (Reverse). RPA
operates at speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph), and the sensors on the rear
bumper detect objects up to 2.5 m
(8 ft) behind the vehicle, and at least
20 cm (8 in) off the ground. The
distance objects can be detected
may be less during warmer or humid
weather.
{Warning
The parking 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 parking 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).
A detected obstacle is indicated by
audible beeps. The interval between
the beeps becomes shorter as the
vehicle gets closer to the obstacle.
When the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in) the beeping is
continuous for five seconds.
Turning the System On and Off
The RPA system can be turned on
and off using the infotainment
system controls. See
Vehicle
Personalization 0120 for more
information.
The On with Tow Bar Attached
setting allows for the parking assist
to work properly with a small item
attached to the trailer hitch.
When the system is off, PARK
ASSIST OFF displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
message disappears after a short
period of time.
RPA defaults to the on setting each
time the vehicle is started.
Turn RPA off when towing a trailer.