automatic transmission GMC TERRAIN 2018 User Guide

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
208 Driving and Operating
To shift into D (Drive):1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the D (Drive) switch on the front shift console.
To shift out of D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0173.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS or manual mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the L
indicating the highest available gear
under manual mode and the driving
conditions when manual mode was
selected. To use this feature:
1. Press the L (Low) button.
2. Press the plus/minus button on the front shift console to
increase or decrease the gear
range available.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset
range, the highest gear available is
displayed next to the L in the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0 136. All gears below that number
are available to use. For example,
when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to the
L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears
are shifted automatically. To shift to
5 (Fifth) gear, press the + (Plus)
button or shift into D (Drive).
L (Low) will prevent shifting to a
lower gear range if the engine
speed is too high. If vehicle speed is
not reduced within the time allowed,
the lower gear range shift will not be
completed. Slow the vehicle, then
press the −(Minus) button to the
desired lower gear range.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
Driving and Operating 209
While using ERS, cruise control can
be used.
Tow/Haul Mode
For information on the Tow/Haul
Mode, seeDriver Mode Control
0 216.
Automatic Engine Grade
Braking
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
assists when driving downhill.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The system will automatically
command downshifts to reduce
vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle
is on a low grade or when the
accelerator pedal is pressed. While in the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) mode, grade braking
is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade
braking is available for normal
driving and in Tow/Haul Mode.
See
Automatic Transmission 0204.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
For information on All-Wheel
Drive (AWD), see Driver Mode
Control 0216.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
Driving and Operating 217
Driver Mode Control Knobfor AWD
q(Vehicles without AWD) or5(AWD equipped vehicles) Tour
Mode :Use Tour Mode during
normal driving conditions. Tour
Mode either puts the vehicle in
Front-Wheel Drive (AWD vehicles)
or is the normal drive mode (FWD
vehicles). Tour Mode is the most
fuel efficient drive mode. See
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
0 26. When selecting Tour Mode,
the AWD light will flash briefly while
the system disables, and then
stays off.
4AWD Mode : In AWD Mode, the
AWD system delivers power to all
four wheels and the system adjusts
as needed to improve traction.
Selecting AWD Mode will activate
the system. The AWD light will flash
briefly while the system is engaging
and stay on to indicate AWD is
active. AWD Mode will stay selected
until the mode is changed. AWD is
active in Tow/Haul and Off-Road
Modes. AWD Mode is only available
on vehicles equipped with All-Wheel
Drive.
Tow/Haul and Off-Road Modes are
canceled with each ignition cycle
and will return to the Tour Mode.
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
tire with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare Tire
0 334.6Snow Mode : Snow Mode
improves vehicle acceleration on
snow and ice-covered roads. Snow
Mode is not available on vehicles
equipped with all wheel drive.
7Off-Road Mode : Use Off-Road
Mode for public off-road recreational
driving. See Off-Road Driving 0174.
Off-Road Mode is only available on
vehicles equipped with All-Wheel
Drive.
_Tow/Haul Mode : Tow/Haul
Mode can assist when towing or
hauling a heavy load. It changes
transmission shift patterns, turns on
AWD, if equipped, and increases
trailer sway control assistance.
When Tow/Haul is activated, the
Tow/Haul symbol will come on in the
instrument cluster. See Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 251. Tow/Haul Mode is only
available on vehicles with the towing
package.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
218 Driving and Operating
Automatic Engine Grade Braking
assists when driving downhill.
It maintains vehicle speed by
automatically implementing a shift
pattern that uses the engine and the
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The system will automatically
command downshifts to reduce
vehicle speed. The normal shift
pattern will return once the vehicle
is on a low grade or when the
accelerator pedal is pressed.While in the Electronic Range
Select (ERS) Mode, grade braking
is deactivated, allowing the driver to
select a range and limiting the
highest gear available. Grade
braking is available for normal
driving and in Tow/Haul Mode. See
Manual Mode
0208.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
238 Driving and Operating
occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries (Gasoline)
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see“Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel (Gasoline) 0236.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel (Gasoline)
0 236.
If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Fuel for Diesel Engines
The selection of a high quality fuel
is important for maintaining optimum
performance. Do not use diesel fuel
with more than 15 ppm sulfur
content. Do not use a diesel blend
containing more than 20% biodiesel
by volume. Both diesel and
biodiesel blends must meet all the
requirements as defined in the most
current versions of the local fuel
standards. See the recommended
fuels under
What Fuel to Use in the
U.S. (Diesel) 0239 andWhat Fuel
to Use in Canada and Mexico
(Diesel) 0240.
Caution
Engine damage may occur if
recommended fuels are not used,
which may void the vehicle
warranty. Some improper
fuels are:
. Diesel fuel with the addition
of gasoline.
. Diesel fuel mixed with
engine oil or automatic
transmission fluid.
. Triglyceride fuels, such as
raw vegetable oil or animal
fat, in any form, including
with blends of diesel or
biodiesel.
. Marine diesel fuel and
fuel oils.
. Diesel-water emulsions,
such as Aquazole.
(Continued)

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
254 Driving and Operating
3. When the wheel chocks are inplace, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0353.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 280.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.
The weight of the trailer
. The weight of the trailer tongue .
The total weight on the vehicle's
tires
Weight of the Trailer
Safe trailering requires monitoring
the weight, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature, the
dimensions of the front of the trailer,
and how frequently the vehicle is
used to pull a trailer. Take into
consideration any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information.
Trailer weight rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has the driver, a front seat
passenger, and all required trailering
equipment. Weight of additional
optional equipment, passengers,
and cargo in the tow vehicle must
be subtracted from the trailer weight
rating.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
Vehicle Care 259
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 260
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 261
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 273
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 274
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 280
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Battery - North America . . . . . . 284
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 285
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 286
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 286
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 287
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Front Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . 289
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 291
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 292
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 292
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
274 Vehicle Care
3. Fully press and release theaccelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
4. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at your dealer. Contact your dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see
Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 378.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 353, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0361.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0264.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 353.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
Vehicle Care 295
FusesUsage
F27 Antilock brake VAL
F28 LD trailer
F29 Rear window defogger
F30 Mirror defroster
F31 –
F32 Variable functions
F33 –
F34 Horn
F35 Vacuum pump
F36 Right high-beam headlamp
F37 Left high-beam headlamp
F38 Automatic headlamp leveling
F39 Fog lamps
F40 –
F41 Transmission range control module
F42 Motorized headlamp Fuses
Usage
F43 Fuel pump
F44 Interior rearview mirror
F45 Canister vent solenoid
F46 Driver side Ventilated Seat
F47 Steering column lock assembly
F48 Rear wiper
F49 –
F50 Heated steering wheel
F51 Right headlamp
F52 Engine control module/
Transmission control
F53 –
F54 Front wiper
F55 Front wiper speed/ Control
F56 – Fuses
Usage
F57 Left headlamp
Relays Usage
K01 Starter solenoid
K02 Air conditioning control
K03 –
K04 Wiper control
K05 Starter Solenoid
K06 –/Fuel
heater (diesel only)
K07 –
K08 –
K09 Wiper speed
K10 –
K11 –
K12 High-beam headlamps
K13 Headlamps/Daytime running lamps
K14 Run/Crank

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-10664916) - 2018 - crc - 9/15/17
Vehicle Care 305
(4) Construction Code:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B
means belted-bias ply
construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim. Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
0 307.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification