2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual

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2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner's Manual Litho in U.S.A. Part Number C2218 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2001 All Rights Reserved Table of Contents Section 1 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts Seats and Restraint Systems Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children Windows Keys and Door Locks Keyless Entry System Liftgate Automatic Transmission Operation Four-Wheel Drive Parking Brake Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Windshield Wipers Features and Controls Cruise Control Exterior and Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net Accessory Power Outlets OnStar® System (If Equipped) Sunroof (If Equipped) HomeLink® Transmitter (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Section 2 ii Table of Contents (cont'd) Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Section 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock Radio/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Section 4 Section 5 Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering Your Driving and the Road Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Off-Road Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle Problems on the Road Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck iii Table of Contents (cont'd) Service and Appearance Care Section 6 Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants GM Oil Life System™ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Passenger Compartment Air Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Section 7 Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records iv Table of Contents (cont'd) Customer Assistance Information Section 8 Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Service Publications Section 9 In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. Index Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide We support voluntary technician certification. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem are registered trademarks and the name AVALANCHE is a trademark of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. vi How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.” vii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle may be equipped with components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics in the index: D “Engine Compartment Overview” D “Instrument Panel” D “Comfort Controls” D “Audio Systems” Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index. Here are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle: viii ix Service Station Guide Cooling System See Section 5 Tire Pressure See Section 6 Spare Tire Pressure See Section 6 For a More Detailed Look at What's Under the Hood See Section 6 Hood Release See Section 6 Windshield Washer Fluid Engine Oil Dipstick See Section 6 See Section 6 Battery See Section 6 Oil Viscosity Engine Oil See Section 6 Fuel Use unleaded only. See Section 6 for octane ratings. Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 1-9 1-14 1-15 1-15 1-21 1-22 1-22 1-31 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Air Bag Systems Center Passenger Position 1-32 1-35 1-37 1-41 1-53 1-56 1-56 1-56 Rear Seat Passengers Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Children Restraint Systems for Children Older Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1- 1-1 Manual Lumbar Control If your vehicle has a lumbar adjustment knob, you can increase or decrease lumbar support in an area of the lower seatback. The lumbar knob is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. To increase or decrease support, turn the knob toward the front or rear of the vehicle. Seats and Seat Controls Manual Front Passenger Seat If your vehicle has a manual front passenger split bench seat, you can adjust it with this lever located at the front of the seat. Lift the lever at the front of the seat to unlock it. Using your body, slide the seat to where you want it. Then, release the lever and try to move the seat with your body to make sure that the seat is locked into place. 1-2 Power Seat(s) (If Equipped) Horizontal Control: If your vehicle has a power seat, you can adjust it with the horizontal control located on the outboard edge of the seat(s). D Raise or lower the front of the seat by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control. Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering the rear edge of the control. D Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the whole control toward the front or toward the rear of the vehicle. D Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowers the entire seat cushion. Vertical Control: If your vehicle has power reclining seats, you can use the vertical control to adjust the angle of the seatback. Move the reclining front seatback rearward or forward by moving the control toward the rear or toward the front of the vehicle. See “Reclining Seatbacks” in the Index for further information. Power Lumbar Control (If Equipped) If you have power lumbar adjustment, you can increase or decrease lumbar support in the lower seatback. The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. 1-3 D To increase support in the lower back area, press and hold the front of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. D To decrease support in the lower back area, press and hold the rear of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. D You can also reshape the back wing area of the lower seatback. D To increase support in the wing area of the lower seatback, press and hold the top of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. D To decrease support in the wing area of the lower seatback, press and hold the bottom of the control. Let go of the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of support. Memory Seat (If Equipped) The memory function recalls the driver’s seat cushion and recliner positions. The buttons are located on the driver’s side door panel. This feature does not store the lumbar or back support positions. To set your memory seat do the following: 1. Adjust the driver’s seat to the desired position. 2. Press the SET button and then press either the 1 or 2 memory button within five seconds. When your vehicle is in PARK (P), press the same memory button to recall the seat setting. To program the seat for a second driver, follow the preceding steps, but press the other memory button. 1-4 Heated Front Seats (If Equipped) Reclining Seatbacks If your vehicle has this feature the button used to control the driver’s side heated seat is located on the driver’s side door panel. The button for the passenger’s side heated seat is located on the passenger’s side door panel. The ignition must be in RUN for this feature to operate. To activate the heated seats, press the button once for the HI heat setting. Press the button again for the LO heat setting. To turn off the heated seats, press the button a third time. An indicator light near the button will illuminate any time the heated seat feature is in use. To adjust the front seatback, lift the lever. The lever is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want it. Lift the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will go to an upright position. If your vehicle has power seats with a power recliner, see “Power Seats” in the Index for further information on how to operate the reclining seatback feature. 1-5 CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this. The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-6 Head Restraints Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. The head restraints may tilt forward and rearward also. The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle are adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head restraints, except they do not tilt forward or rearward. To tilt the front head restraints forward, grasp the top of the restraint and move it forward to where you want it to go until you hear a click. It will then be locked into that position until you need to move it again. Pulling it forward past the last position will allow the restraint to return to its upright position. 1-7 Rear Seats The rear seat is a 60/40 split rear seat that can be folded to give you more cargo space and access to the folding midgate. See “Midgate” in the Index for more information on operation of the folding midgate. To fold either side of the seat do the following: 1. Push the rear head restraints all the way down. Passenger Side 2. Place the seat belt buckles through the loops/pockets on the seatback(s). This way, the seat belts will be easy to access when the seats are returned to the upright position. 3. Pull the seat loop located where the seatback and seat cushion meet. The seat will release and allow you to tilt it toward the front of the vehicle. Driver’s Side 1-8 4. Grasp the seatback and pull it toward the front of the vehicle. Push it down until it is flat. You may have to move the front seats forward slightly to do this. 5. Repeat the procedure for the other side. To return the seats to the normal position, pull the seatback up and fold the seat cushion down. Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. And it explains the air bag system. CAUTION: Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too. 1-9 CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work. You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index. 1-10 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels. 1-11 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ... 1-12 or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why safety belts make such good sense. 1-13 Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident -- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a safety belt? A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts -- not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-14 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We’ll start with the driver position. Driver Position This part describes the driver’s restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1-15 5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash. 1-16 Q: What’s wrong with this? CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly as much protection this way. 1-17 Q: What’s wrong with this? CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. 1-18 Q: What’s wrong with this? CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-19 Q: What’s wrong with this? CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-20 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. 1-21 The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see “Driver Position” earlier in this section. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt -- except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again. Air Bag Systems This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag systems. Your vehicle has four air bags -- a frontal air bag for the driver, another frontal air bag for the right front passenger, a side impact air bag for the driver, and another side impact air bag for the right front passenger. Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag. But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations. Here are the most important things to know about the air bag systems: CAUTION: You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you aren’t wearing your safety belt -- even if you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air bags are designed to work with safety belts but don’t replace them. Frontal air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to work only in moderate to severe crashes where the front of your vehicle hits something. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-22 CAUTION: (Continued) They aren’t designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear, side or low-speed frontal crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal air bags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful air bags have provided in the past. The side impact air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to inflate only in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle. They aren’t designed to inflate in frontal, in rollover or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly -- whether or not there’s an air bag for that person. CAUTION: Both frontal and side impact air bags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for air bag inflation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal air bags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door. 1-23 CAUTION: Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see the part of this manual called “Children.” There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system checks the air bag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index for more information. 1-24 How the Air Bag Systems Work Where are the air bags? The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side. The driver’s side impact air bag is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door. 1-25 CAUTION: If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. Don’t let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact air bag. The right front passenger’s side impact air bag is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door. 1-26 When should an air bag inflate? The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant. The side impact air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system’s designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Side impact air bags are not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal air bags, inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. The air bag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt. See “Off-Road Driving” in the Index for more tips on off-road driving. 1-27 What makes an air bag inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the steering wheel, instrument panel and the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those air bags. 1-28 Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bags. What will you see after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback closest to the door for the driver and right front passenger’s side impact air bags -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. CAUTION: When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but can’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. D Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an air bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system won’t be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include air bag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. D Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which records information about the frontal air bag system. The module records information about the readiness of the system, when the system commands air bag inflation and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment. The module also records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data. D Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for service. NOTICE: If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the air bag covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s seatback, the bag may not work properly. You may have to replace the air bag module in the steering wheel, both the air bag module and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s air bag, or both the air bag module and seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings. 1-29 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the air bag systems in several places around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner Publications” in the Index. CAUTION: For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air bag can still inflate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an air bag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the air bag systems. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualified to do so. The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance. 1-30 Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle Q: If I add a push bumper or bicycle rack to the front of my vehicle, will it keep the air bags from working properly? A: As long as the push bumper or bicycle rack is attached to your vehicle so that the vehicle’s basic structure isn’t changed, it’s not likely to keep the air bags from working properly in a crash. Q: Is there anything I might add to the front or sides of the vehicle that could keep the air bags from working properly? A: Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s frame, bumper system, front end or side sheet metal or height, they may keep the air bag system from working properly. Also, the air bag system may not work properly if you relocate any of the air bag sensors. If you have any questions about this, you should contact Customer Assistance before you modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See “Customer Satisfaction Procedure” in the Index. Lap Belt If your vehicle has front and rear bench seats, someone can sit in the center positions. Q: What if I add a snow plow? Will it keep the air bags from working properly? A: We’ve designed our air bag systems to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including snow plowing with vehicles equipped with the optional Snow Plow Prep Package (RPO VYU). But don’t change or defeat the snow plow’s “tripping mechanism.” If you do, it can damage your snow plow and your vehicle, and it may cause an air bag inflation. Center Passenger Position When you sit in a center seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make the belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. 1-31 Rear Seat Passengers It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until the belt is snug. Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lap part of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1-32 Lap-Shoulder Belt The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to wear one properly. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. 1-33 CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or a crash. 1-34 To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Rear shoulder belt comfort guides will provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger in the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and for smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on the shoulder belts. Here’s how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 1. Remove the guide from the storage clip on the side of the rear seatback. 1-35 2. Place the guide over the belt and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The guide must be on top of the belt. 1-36 Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. Infants and Young Children Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by the appropriate restraint. Young children should not use the vehicle’s safety belts, unless there is no other choice. 1-37 4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as described in “Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions” earlier in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Attach the guide onto the storage clip. CAUTION: (Continued) For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint. CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weigh much -- until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-38 CAUTION: Children who are up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer outstanding protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. 1-39 CAUTION: CAUTION: Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that’s unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints. 1-40 Restraint Systems for Children An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle. A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint. 1-41 A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window. 1-42 Q: How do child restraints work? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. For many years, add-on child restraints have used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt system secures the add-on child restraint in the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness system holds the child in place within the restraint. One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side. When choosing a child restraint, be sure the child restraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. 1-43 Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors, therefore, recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger seat. Here’s why: CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. You may secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, but before you do, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It’s better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. 1-44 Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle -- even when no child is in it. Top Strap Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.” It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision. For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top strap being anchored. Others require the top strap always to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap be anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored properly. If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available. Anchor the top strap to one of the following anchor points. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. If you have an adjustable head restraint, raise the head restraint and route the top strap under it. Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions say. An anchor loop bracket for a top strap is located on the back of the rear seat frame above the floor for each rear seating position. In order to get to the brackets, you’ll have to fold the rear seatback(s). See “Rear Seats” in the Index for information on folding the rear seatbacks. 1-45 In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be anchored. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position 3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1. Put the restraint on the seat. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put it behind the child restraint. 1-46 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If you’re using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. 1-47 Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position You’ll be using the lap belt. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 1-48 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch plate and pulling it along the belt. 2. Put the restraint on the seat. 3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child restraint. If you’re using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 6. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. 1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Don’t use child restraints in this position. The restraints won’t work properly. Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why: CAUTION: A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat. 1-50 Although a rear seat is a safer place, you can secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat. You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the top strap if the child restraint has one. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag, always move the seat as far back as it will go before securing a forward-facing child restraint. See “Seats” in the Index. 2. Put the restraint on the seat. 3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or neck, put it behind the child restraint. 4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1-51 5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-52 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. You may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. Older Children Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: If possible, an older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly. 1-53 CAUTION: Never do this. Here two children are wearing the same belt. The belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A belt must be used by only one person at a time. Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body would have the restraint that belts provide. If the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” in the Index. If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child’s face or neck, you might want to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one. 1-54 CAUTION: Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. 1-55 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts? After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary. But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn during a more severe crash, then you need new parts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt wasn’t being used at the time of the collision. If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt. Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.) 1-56 Section 2 Features and Controls Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting, shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem. 2-2 2-4 2-6 2-10 2-13 2-23 2-24 2-25 2-26 2-27 2-27 2-29 2-30 2-32 2-35 2-40 2-41 2-43 2-44 Windows Keys Door Locks Keyless Entry System Midgate Tailgate Theft Content Theft-Deterrent PasslockR New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped) Automatic Transmission Operation Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped) Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK (P) Shifting Out of PARK (P) Parking Over Things That Burn 2- 2-44 2-45 2-46 2-46 2-47 2-47 2-53 2-58 2-59 2-64 2-66 2-73 2-91 2-98 Engine Exhaust Running Your Engine While You’re Parked Locking Rear Axle Horn Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Exterior Lamps Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Tonneau Cover (If Equipped) Cargo Cover Panels (If Equipped) OnStarR System (If Equipped) The Instrument Panel - Your Information System Instrument Panel Cluster 2-100 2-101 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators 2-116 Message Center 2-1 Windows CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. A child can be overcome by the extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-2 Power Windows The controls for the power windows are located on each of the side doors in the front and rear. The driver’s door has a switch for the passenger’s window as well. Your power windows will work when the ignition has been turned to ACCESSORY or RUN or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See “Retained Accessory Power” in the Index. Press the rear or front of the switch with the power window symbol on it to lower or raise the window. Driver’s Express-Down Window The driver’s window has an express down feature that allows the window to be lowered without holding the switch. Press and hold the rear of the power window switch for one second to activate the express down mode. The express down mode can be canceled at any time by pressing the opposite side of the switch. To open the window partway, lightly tap the power window switch until the window is at the desired position. Window Lockout Switch The driver’s door power window switch has a lockout feature. This feature prevents the passenger’s windows from operating except from the driver’s position when the driver’s door button labeled WINDOW LOCK is engaged. 2-3 Keys CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t leave the keys in a vehicle with children. 2-4 Your vehicle has one double-sided key for the ignition, door locks and side storage boxes. Your vehicle may also have a key that locks and unlocks only the center floor console (if equipped). If you ever lose your keys, your dealer will be able to assist you with obtaining replacements. In an emergency contact roadside assistance. See “Roadside Assistance” in the Index for more information. 2-5 There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle. You can use the keyless entry system. You can use your key. You can also use the manual lock/unlock levers (from the inside). To lock the door from the inside, slide the manual lock/unlock lever rearward. To unlock the door, slide the manual lock/unlock lever forward. Door Locks CAUTION: Unlocked doors can be dangerous. D Passengers -- especially children -- can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle won’t open it. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors aren’t locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive. D Young children who get into unlocked vehicles may be unable to get out. A child can be overcome by extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle whenever you leave it. D Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can help prevent this from happening. 2-6 Power Door Locks Press the raised side of the switch, marked L on either front door to lock all the doors at once. Press the recessed side of the switch marked U to unlock all the doors at once. The power door locks will operate at any time without the ignition being on. The power door locks are also programmable. See “Programmable Automatic Door Locks” following. Operating the power locks may interact with the theft-deterrent system. See “Content Theft-Deterrent” in the Index. Programmable Automatic Door Locks Your vehicle is equipped with an auto lock/unlock feature which enables you to program your vehicle’s power door locks. Your vehicle left the factory programmed to lock all doors when the vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P) and the engine is running and then unlock all of the doors when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P). You can set the automatic lock feature to lock the doors you choose when the vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P) and unlock the doors you choose when the vehicle is shifted into PARK (P). You can also choose to have none of the doors lock or unlock. The following instructions detail how to program your door locks. Before you enter the program mode, you will want to choose one of the programming options following the programming instructions. 2-7 To enter the program mode you need to do the following: 1. Begin with the ignition in OFF. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever all the way toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step. 2. Turn the key to RUN and OFF twice. Then, with the key in OFF, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, you will hear the lock switch lock and unlock. 3. You are now ready to program the automatic door locks. Select one of the four programming options listed above, and follow the instructions. You will have 30 seconds to begin programming. If you exceed the 30 second limit, the locks will automatically lock and unlock to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1. You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN (the locks will automatically lock and unlock to indicate that you are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current auto lock/unlock setting will not be modified. 2-8 The following is a list of available programming options: D All doors lock/Driver’s door unlocks only: Press the lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel once and then the unlock side once. D All doors lock/All doors unlock: Press the lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel once, and then press the unlock side twice (this is the factory setting). D All doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel once, and then press the unlock side of the switch three times. D No doors lock/None of the doors unlock: Press the lock side of the power lock switch on the door panel twice. This turns off the automatic lock feature. See your dealer for more information. Lockout Prevention To protect you from locking your key in the vehicle, this feature stops the power door lock from locking the driver’s door when the key is in the ignition and a door is open. If the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock. Child Security Locks You will find a security lock lever on the inside edge of each rear door. Your vehicle may be equipped with one of the two labels shown. With this feature, you can lock the rear doors so they can’t be opened from the inside by passengers. To use the security locks do the following: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Move the lever up to engage the security lock. Move the lever down to disengage the security lock. 3. Close the door. 4. Do the same thing to the other rear door. The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened from the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to open the rear door when the security lock is on, unlock the door and open the door from the outside. 2-9 Keyless Entry System You can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment. At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this: D Check the distance. You may be too far from your vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather. D Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again. D Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See the instructions that follow. D If you’re still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualified technician for service. 2-10 Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four transmitters matched to it. Operation UNLOCK: Pressing this button once will unlock the driver’s door. The parking lamps will flash and the interior lights will come on. Pressing UNLOCK again within three seconds will cause the remaining doors to unlock. The parking lamps will flash and the interior lights will come on. LOCK: Pressing this button once will lock all of the doors. Press LOCK again within three seconds and the horn will chirp. Operating the keyless entry transmitter may interact with the theft-deterrent system. See “Content-Theft Deterrent” in the Index. Remote Panic Alarm When the button with the horn symbol on the keyless entry transmitter is pressed, the horn will sound and the headlamps and taillamps will flash for up to 30 seconds. This can be turned off by pressing the horn button again, waiting for 30 seconds, or starting the vehicle. 2-11 Battery Replacement Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless entry transmitter should last about two years. You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won’t work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works, it’s probably time to change the battery. NOTICE: When replacing the battery, use care not to touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body transferred to these surfaces may damage the transmitter. 2-12 To replace the battery in the keyless entry transmitter, do the following: 1. Insert a dime or similar object in the slot between the covers of the transmitter housing near the key ring hole. Remove the bottom by twisting the dime. 2. Remove and replace the battery with a three-volt CR2032 or equivalent battery, positive (+) side up. 3. Align the covers and snap them together. 4. Check the operation of the transmitter. Midgate CAUTION: It can be dangerous to drive with the cargo area covered and the tailgate and Midgate open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You can’t see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the cargo area covered and the tailgate and Midgate open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the Midgate: D Make sure all other windows are shut. D Turn the fan on your heating or cooling system to its highest speed with the setting on OUTSIDE AIR. That will force outside air into your vehicle. See “Comfort Controls” in the Index. D If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way. See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index. Midgate Operation Your vehicle is equipped with a Midgate and a removable rear glass panel. The Midgate allows you to extend the length of your vehicle’s cargo area. The following are the main components of the Midgate system: A. Latch Levers B. Grab Handles C. Glass-Catch Release Button D. Glass Lock Knobs E. Window Retaining Tabs F. Midgate Release Handle G. Window Alignment Arrows 2-13 Rear Glass Removal and Storage CAUTION: If the removable rear glass is not stored properly, it could be thrown about the vehicle in a crash or sudden maneuver. People in the vehicle could be injured. Whenever you store the rear glass in the vehicle, always be sure that it is stored securely in the Midgate storage pocket. Do not remove the rear glass when the rear defroster is on. If you remove the rear glass with the rear defroster on, you may see a discharge spark coming from the latch area. To remove the rear glass do the following: 1. Fold the rear seats. See “Rear Seats” in the Index for more information. The front seats will have to be moved forward slightly to allow the rear seats to fold completely. Although the rear glass can be removed without folding the rear seats, you will not be able to access the rear glass storage pocket. Be sure to fold the seats before removing the rear glass. 2-14 2. Squeeze and pull down the latch levers (A), located near the upper corners of the rear glass, so they unlatch. After both latch levers are unlatched, the glass-catch release button (C) will “catch” the rear glass and prevent it from falling forward. Follow the next step to release the button and remove the rear glass. 3. While holding the rear glass in place, press the glass-catch release button and pull the top of the rear glass toward you using the grab handle(s) (B) located at the top of the rear glass. 2-15 4. With the rear glass tilted toward you, lift it out from the lower window frame channel. Use the grab handles to assist you in removing the rear glass. 5. Load the rear glass in its storage pocket in the midgate using the lower edge of the rear glass to guide it behind the three rear glass retaining tabs (E). Hold the rear glass flat against the storage pocket (with grab handles facing you) until the next step. 2-16 6. Turn both glass lock knobs (D), located at both top corners of the storage pocket, to the locked position. You may need to push the corner of the rear glass to allow the lock knob to engage more easily. Once both glass lock knobs are in the locked position, the rear glass is securely stored. 7. Push both latch levers up to the locked position. You should hear a click when each latch lever locks correctly. Rear seats can be returned to the normal position when the rear glass is out and stored properly in the storage pocket. 2-17 Reinstalling the Rear Glass To reinstall the rear glass, do the following: 1. Squeeze and pull down the latch levers, located near the upper corners of the rear glass, so they unlatch. 2. Hold the rear glass in place with one hand and turn the glass lock knobs, located at both top corners of the glass storage pocket to the unlocked position. 3. Pull the rear glass out from the storage pocket using the grab handles. 2-18 4. With the rear glass tilted at an angle, place the bottom edge in the lower channel of the window frame applying a slight downward pressure and then push the rear glass flat against the window frame. Use the grab handles at the top of the rear glass to assist you. 5. Be sure to align the rear glass side-to-side using the alignment arrows (G) as shown in the picture. 6. Use one hand to push the rear glass flat against the window frame and with your free hand push each latch lever up until it locks. You should hear a click when each latch lever locks correctly. 2-19 Lowering the Midgate The Midgate can be lowered to allow the cargo area of your vehicle to extend into the cab. The rear glass can be either installed in its normal position, or it can be removed and stored in the rear glass storage pocket. To lower the Midgate, do the following: 1. Fold the rear seats. The front seats will have to be moved forward slightly to allow the rear seats to fold. See “Rear Seats” in the Index for more information. At this point you may choose to remove the rear glass following the instructions given previously or leave the rear glass in place. 2-20 Rear Glass in Normal Position 2. Standing outside of the vehicle, place one hand against the Midgate so it does not fall forward unexpectedly. Turn the Midgate handle clockwise and pull the Midgate toward you. 3. Lower the Midgate until it is flat. Rear Glass Stored in Glass Storage Pocket Standing outside of the vehicle, place one hand against the crossbar so the Midgate does not fall forward unexpectedly. Turn the Midgate handle clockwise and pull the Midgate toward you. 2-21 This is completely normal; however, since the crossbar lowers with the Midgate, it will be heavier. As you lower the Midgate in this configuration be ready for the extra weight and be careful not to let the midgate fall out of your hands as you lower it. Raising the Midgate To return the Midgate to its normal position, raise the Midgate up with a slight swinging motion (this will help to ensure that the Midgate closes with enough force to

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2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual