GMC TERRAIN 2020 Owner's Manual

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
208 Driving and Operating
light is flashing. See your dealer.
SeeElectric Parking Brake Light
0 118.
If the
8light or Service Parking
Brake message is on, press the
EPB switch and hold it. Continue to
hold the switch until the
Yor
PARK light remains on. If the
8light
or Service Parking Brake message
remains on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
pressed. If the switch is pressed
until the vehicle comes to a stop,
the EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the
rear wheels to prevent vehicle
movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the
Y
or PARK light is off.
If the
8light or Service Parking
Brake message is on, release the
EPB by pressing and holding the
EPB switch. Continue to hold the
switch until the
Yor PARK light is
off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your
dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
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

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 209
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
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving0164.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
prevents the vehicle from rolling in
an unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release
to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator
pedal is applied. HSA brake hold
duration may be selectable. Standard Hold automatically
releases the brakes after a few
seconds. Extended Hold applies the
Electric Parking Brake if the
accelerator pedal is not applied
within a few minutes. If hold
duration is selectable, see
"Extended Hill Start Assist" in
Vehicle Personalization
0135. The
brakes may also release under
other conditions. Do not rely on
HSA to hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade
for HSA to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
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/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
210 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC 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 0174
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/ESC 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 (Uplevel Cluster)
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
At speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
above, this ability to turn off or on is
disabled.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 211
TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC can be
turned off or on using the DIC
controls as follows:
Pressoorpto scroll to the
Options application.
Press
worxto scroll through the
items in the Options menu.
Press
Vto select the Traction and
Stability page, then press
Vto
select the menu. Use
worxto
select Traction (TCS) or
Stability (ESC). To turn TCS off, select Traction,
then press
V. The TCS icon on the
DIC will change from On to Off
and
iilluminates in the instrument
cluster.
To turn TCS back on, select
Traction, then press
V. The TCS
icon on the DIC will change from Off
to On and
igoes out in the
instrument cluster. TCS cannot be
on when StabiliTrak/ESC is off.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC off, select
Stability, then press
V. The
StabiliTrak/ESC icon on the DIC will
change from On to Off. If TCS was
on when StabiliTrak/ESC was
turned off, both will turn off and
i
andgilluminate.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC back on,
select Stability then press
V. The
StabiliTrak/ESC icon on the DIC will
change from Off to On and
ggoes
out in the instrument cluster. To turn both StabiliTrak/ESC and
TCS back on, select Traction, then
press
V. The StabiliTrak/ESC and
TCS icons on the DIC will change
from Off to On and
gandigo out
in the instrument cluster.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 275.
Turning the Systems Off and
On (Midlevel Cluster)
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
At speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
above, this ability to turn off or on is
disabled.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
212 Driving and Operating
TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC can be
turned off or on using the DIC
controls as follows:
Pressoto access the cluster
applications. Use
worxto scroll
through the list of available
applications.
Press
Vto select the Options
application, then press
pto enter
the Options menu. Use
worxto
scroll through items in the
Options menu. Press
Vto select the Traction and
Stability page, then press
pto
select Traction menu. Use
worx
to select Traction (TCS) or
Stability (ESC).
To turn TCS off, select Traction,
then press
V. The TCS icon on the
DIC will change from On to Off
and
iilluminates in the instrument
cluster.
To turn TCS back on, select
Traction, then press
V. The TCS
icon on the DIC will change from Off
to On and
igoes out in the
instrument cluster. TCS cannot be
on when StabiliTrak/ESC is off.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC off, select
Stability, then press
V. The
StabiliTrak/ESC icon on the DIC will
change from On to Off. If TCS was
on when StabiliTrak/ESC was
turned off, both will turn off and
i
andgilluminate. To turn StabiliTrak/ESC back on,
select Stability then press
V. The
StabiliTrak/ESC icon on the DIC will
change from Off to On and
ggoes
out in the instrument cluster.
To turn both StabiliTrak/ESC and
TCS back on, select Traction, then
press
V. The StabiliTrak/ESC and
TCS icons on the DIC will change
from Off to On and
gandigo out
in the instrument cluster.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 275.
Turning the Systems Off and
On (Base Level DIC)
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-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 213
At speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
above, this ability to turn off or on is
disabled.
TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC can be
turned off or on using the DIC
controls as follows:
Pressoorpto select VEHICLE
menu, then use
worxto scroll
through the menu items to select
TCS/StabiliTrak/ESC.
Press
Vto enter TCS/StabiliTrak/
ESC, and then use
worxto
select TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC. To turn TCS off, select TCS, then
press
V.iwill illuminate in the
instrument cluster.
To turn TCS back on, select TCS,
then press
V.igoes out in the
instrument cluster. TCS cannot be
on when StabiliTrak/ESC is off.
To turn StabiliTrak off, select
StabiliTrak/ESC, then press
V.
If TCS was on when StabiliTrak/
ESC was turned off, both will turn
off and
iandgilluminate in the
instrument cluster.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC back on,
select StabiliTrak/ESC then
press
V.ggoes out in the
instrument cluster.
To turn both StabiliTrak/ESC and
TCS back on, select Traction, then
press
V.gandigo out in the
instrument cluster.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 275.
Hill Descent
Control (HDC)
HDC can be used when driving
downhill. It sets and maintains
vehicle speed while descending a
very steep incline in a forward or
reverse gear.
The HDC switch is on the center
console.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC.
Vehicle speed must be below
50 km/h (31 mph).
The HDC light displays on the
instrument cluster when enabled.
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds
between 3 and 22 km/h (2 and
14 mph) on an incline greater than
or equal to a 10% grade. A blinking

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
214 Driving and Operating
HDC light indicates the system is
actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
When HDC is activated, the initial
HDC speed is set to the current
driving speed. It can be increased or
decreased by pressing +RES or–
SET on the steering wheel or by
applying the accelerator or brake
pedal. This adjusted speed
becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between
22 and 60 km/h (14 and 37 mph);
however vehicle speed cannot be
set or maintained in this range.
It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h
(50 mph) or above 60 km/h
(37 mph) for at least 30 seconds.
Press
5again to re-enable HDC.
Driver Mode Control
Depending on the option package
and available features, the Driver
Mode Control can have the
following modes: Tour (Front-Wheel
Drive (FWD)), All-Wheel Drive
(AWD), Snow/Ice, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. Rotate the Driver Mode
Control knob on the center console
to make a mode selection. Continue
turning the knob through the
available modes. Upon selection of
a mode, the selected mode’s icon
will light up on the knob and a
message will be displayed in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
Driver Mode Control Knob for
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Driver Mode Control Knob for All-Wheel Drive (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 (FWD) for AWD
vehicles, or is the normal drive
mode for FWD vehicles. Tour Mode
is the most fuel efficient drive mode.
See Driving for Better Fuel
Economy 0163. When selecting
Tour Mode, if equipped, the AWD
light will flash briefly while the
system disables, and then stays off.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 215
If the vehicle is in Tour (FWD) or
AWD, it will stay in that mode
through future ignition cycles. If the
vehicle is in any other mode, it will
revert back to Tour (FWD) when the
vehicle is restarted.
4AWD Mode :AWD Mode
provides drive torque to all four
wheels. Select AWD to improve
traction and control on slippery road
surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet
pavement, snow, and ice. When
selecting AWD Mode, the AWD light
will flash briefly while the system is
engaging and then stay on to
indicate AWD is active. AWD is
active in Tow/Haul and Off-Road
Modes. AWD Mode is only available
on vehicles equipped with AWD.
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
0 348.6Snow Mode : Snow Mode
improves vehicle acceleration on
snow and ice-covered roads. Snow
Mode is not available on vehicles
equipped with AWD.
7Off-Road Mode : Use Off-Road
Mode for public off-road recreational
driving. See Off-Road Driving 0167.
Off-Road Mode is only available on
vehicles equipped with AWD.
_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. See
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0262. Tow/Haul Mode is only
available on vehicles with the towing
package. 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 a range to
be selected and limiting the highest
gear available. Grade braking is
available for normal driving and in
Tow/Haul Mode. See
Manual Mode
0 205.

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
216 Driving and Operating
Mode Name In Cluster Menu: Tour AWD Snow Off-Road Tow/Haul
Mode Availability AWD & FWD AWD FWD AWD Towing Package
(AWD
& FWD)
Retained Across Ignition Cycles Yes Yes No No No
Pedal Map Normal Normal Off-Road Off-Road Normal
Auto Transmission Schedule Normal Normal Normal Normal Tow/Haul
AWD (If Equipped) Normal FWD Normal AWD NA Off-Road AWDNormal AWD
Steering Normal Normal Normal Normal Normal
Trailer Sway Control Normal Normal Normal Normal Tow/Haul
StabiliTrak Setting Normal Normal Normal Off-Road Normal
Traction Control Setting Normal Normal Normal Off-Road Normal

GMC Terrain/Terrain Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-13556230) - 2020 - CRC - 9/4/19
Driving and Operating 217
Cruise Control
The cruise control lets the vehicle
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.With the Traction Control System
(TCS) or StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), 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/Electronic Stability
Control
0209. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0237. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be
turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if
either TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC is
turned off.
If Hill Descent Control (HDC) is
engaged, cruise control disengages.
See Hill Descent Control (HDC)
0 213.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
5: Press to turn the cruise control
system on and off. A white indicator
comes on in the instrument cluster
when cruise control is turned on.
*: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
+RES : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume that
speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.