GMC Tow package/tow light

[JOhnH]

My2015 GMC Canyon has the tow package. It has a switch on the instrument panel to activate or deactivate "tow mode". When the button is pushed, a light on the dash either lights or goes out to indicate the status. But the button does not seem to work consistently. Sometimes I have to push it over and over before it lights, and the same to disengage it. But it seems to work pretty consistently if I am moving slowly, but not if I am moving very slowly or fast. The service advisor seems to think this is normal.

Does anyone have a similar button and have you had similar experiences with it?

 

[SoonerAviator]

The wife's GMC Sierra ('07) has it, but I thought it had 3 selections (off, mode 1, mode 2). But it cycles through each one after you hit the button.


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[Clip4]

My2015 GMC Canyon has the tow package. It has a switch on the instrument panel to activate or deactivate "tow mode". When the button is pushed, a light on the dash either lights or goes out to indicate the status. But the button does not seem to work consistently. Sometimes I have to push it over and over before it lights, and the same to disengage it. But it seems to work pretty consistently if I am moving slowly, but not if I am moving very slowly or fast. The service advisor seems to think this is normal.

Does anyone have a similar button and have you had similar experiences with it?

On my 16 canyon, the light stays on and the shaft points are very noticeably changed. I have never turned it on at like 70 mph.

 

[Zeldman]

My2015 GMC Canyon has the tow package. It has a switch on the instrument panel to activate or deactivate "tow mode". When the button is pushed, a light on the dash either lights or goes out to indicate the status. But the button does not seem to work consistently. Sometimes I have to push it over and over before it lights, and the same to disengage it. But it seems to work pretty consistently if I am moving slowly, but not if I am moving very slowly or fast. The service advisor seems to think this is normal.

Does anyone have a similar button and have you had similar experiences with it?

Moving slowly for it to engage/disengage sounds normal for the 4WD modes, but not the tow/haul. Having to push it over and over is not normal.

 

[GRG55]

I have two GMC Sierras with tow packages. The switch just changes the shift points. Usually turn it on while stationary, or just getting moving after hitching the trailer. It just toggles on or off.

Having to push it several times in a row to activate does not seem that it is operating correctly.

 

[denverpilot]

Have older GMC Yukon, so can't say if there's multiple "modes" on the newer stuff, but... doesn't sound right to me. Mine just turns on when I press it, and off when I press it again. All it does in the Yukon is change the shift points, and changes the speed at which torque converter lockup occurs to keep from "slipping" the auto transmission while towing a load.

Frankly, I just use it to keep the engine revved up a bit more on the steep hills on the way out to the house... up, down, up, down... if you don't turn it on, the cruise control will hunt all over the place shifting the transmission in "stupid" mode... turn on Tow/Haul for that portion of the county road, and the cruise's slow response to speed changes matches the revs of the engine a bit better.

And of course, I also use it when actually towing...

Be glad you got a newer Canyon... I hear they fixed this silliness in later models... the mileage and the access to the timing chains is utterly ridiculous in the early 2.9L. Pull the transmission to change the rear balancer chain... stupid freaking GM "engineering"... horrid.

 

[GRG55]

A bit of an aside, but I have never understood the logic of a truck like the Canyon. Where I am the dealers charge about the same as for a comparably equipped full size pick-up without all the compromises. The parts (and insurance) are more expensive because they are made in much lower quantities. I guess they fit in the garage better...

 

[Clip4]

A bit of an aside, but I have never understood the logic of a truck like the Canyon. Where I am the dealers charge about the same as for a comparably equipped full size pick-up without all the compromises. The parts (and insurance) are more expensive because they are made in much lower quantities. I guess they fit in the garage better...

I average 23 mpg in my Canyon in my normal driving and get 25 highway, and paid no where near what a full size GMC truck costs. And yes, it fits in the garage very nicely.

 

[Tantalum]

A bit of an aside, but I have never understood the logic of a truck like the Canyon.

Mid-size trucks used to be an enigma to me too... especially the extended cab models with the tiny bed... always felt it doesn't make a very good SUV or a truck with such a small bed and still (relatively) small cabin. But then I started looking at Toyota Tacomas, the newer ones, and there does seem to be a market for it. I think a lot of folks like having a truck they can dump some material into at Home Depot who don't need a legitimate "truck" and can still park downtown, garages, etc. I know the hard core trail and overland off road community prefers the small/mid size trucks for their trail friendliness and overall handling and the new Canyon/Colorado have a trail purpose version that's been getting good reviews

 

[JOhnH]

A bit of an aside, but I have never understood the logic of a truck like the Canyon. Where I am the dealers charge about the same as for a comparably equipped full size pick-up without all the compromises. The parts (and insurance) are more expensive because they are made in much lower quantities. I guess they fit in the garage better...

Perhaps you need to re-evaluate your logical thought process. Remember, not everyone has the same needs.

I used to think any truck without an 8ft bed was for sissies. But I used to haul a lot of lumber and plywood. No more.

Now I haul bags of mulch and pool supplies. My wife is always buying potted plants, bushes and trees for the yard. I haul ice chests and small quantities of luggage to the hangar. I had to haul my so-called "portable" generator to the repair shop. So the Canyon is the perfect size for my needs.

And it fits in the garage and allows me to walk in front of it and in back of it with the garage door closed, and I can open the driver's door and the passenger door without banging anything.

A bigger truck would just be a pain in the ass for me.

 

[JGoodish]

A bit of an aside, but I have never understood the logic of a truck like the Canyon. Where I am the dealers charge about the same as for a comparably equipped full size pick-up without all the compromises. The parts (and insurance) are more expensive because they are made in much lower quantities. I guess they fit in the garage better...

In my area at least, the reason that the full size and mid size trucks are so close in price is because there are thousands in additional incentives for the full size trucks which are not offered on the mid size.

As to why someone would choose "less truck" for about the same price? It usually boils down to the fact that they don't want "more truck." Most of the full size trucks are huge, especially in length. Not only do they not fit into residential garages well, they also don't fit into parking garages, parking lots, small driveways, parallel parking spaces, or off-road trails very well, either. The mid-size trucks are just large enough to be both useful and maneuverable, but in my experience, you pay a premium for those conveniences through fewer rebate incentives.

Also, I have seen no evidence to support a general statement that parts and insurance are more expensive for mid-size trucks. Most of the mid-size trucks share common parts with similarly sized, higher-volume SUVs. When I shopped insurance last year, I do not recall a significant difference between the mid and full-size trucks. However, other factors (such as theft rate) which vary from one location to the next may cause variability in premiums.


JKG

 

[Clark1961]

Be glad you got a newer Canyon... I hear they fixed this silliness in later models... the mileage and the access to the timing chains is utterly ridiculous in the early 2.9L. Pull the transmission to change the rear balancer chain... stupid freaking GM "engineering"... horrid.

Ford is about the same. The 4L OHC engine has to be pulled to access the rear timing chain...and they used a plastic slider to tension the timing chain...and the plastic slider has no wear indicator. When the slider wears out it just disinigrates and the cam timing is lost on the interference engine.

 

[denverpilot]

Ford is about the same. The 4L OHC engine has to be pulled to access the rear timing chain...and they used a plastic slider to tension the timing chain...and the plastic slider has no wear indicator. When the slider wears out it just disinigrates and the cam timing is lost on the interference engine.

This stuff just makes me want to keep the older cars and trucks. At least we can have Karen's 5.8L Ford magnafluxed when the lovely spark plug breakage thing happens. LOL. Yay Ford. Putting spark plugs in blocks much in the last 125 years?

Already have the Cummins all nice and fixed up and the head studded. That bastard will probably run until after I'm dead. Ha. Looking more and more like the trailer it pulls will be sold off though, and it'll become a fuel truck for the airplane. Heh.