2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual

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1-42 {CAUTION: If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to its anchorage points, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchorage points, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. 4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage. The child restraint instructions will show you how. Also see Top Strap on page 1-39. 5. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top tether from the top tether anchorage and then disconnect the LATCH attachments from the LATCH anchorages. Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System 1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating position you want to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. 2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on the child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how. If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-41. See Top Strap on page 1-39 if the child restraint has one. 1-43 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. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. 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. 4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-44 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. Securing a Child Restraint in the Center Front Seat Position 5. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If you are 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. Don’t use child restraints in this position. The restraints won’t work properly. 1-45 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position {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. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the air bag is off. Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-38. In addition, your vehicle may have the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster seat is detected. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-59 and Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator on page 3-35 for more information on this including important safety information. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the air bag deploys. 1-46 When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag, the off indicator in the passenger air bag status indicator should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to RUN or START. See Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator on page 3-35. 2. Put the child 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 you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. See Power Seats on page 1-2 or Manual Passenger Seat on page 1-2. If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-41. You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. See Top Strap on page 1-39 if your 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. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal air bag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-59. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the air bag is off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See Power Seats on page 1-2 or Manual Passenger Seat on page 1-2. 1-47 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. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-48 7. Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 8. If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and the air bag is off, the off indicator will be lit and stay lit in the inside rearview mirror when the key is turned to RUN or START. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint. If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer. 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. 1-49 6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are 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. You should not be able to pull more of the belt from the retractor once the lock has been set. Air Bag Systems This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag systems. Your vehicle has air bags – a frontal air bag for the driver and another frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have side impact air bags. Side impact air bags are available for the driver and right front passenger. If your vehicle has a side impact air bag for the driver and/or the right front passenger, the words AIR BAG will appear on the air bag covering on the side of the seatback closest to the door. 1-50 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: (Continued) 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 are not 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 is an air bag for that person. {CAUTION: You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not 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 do not replace them. Frontal air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to deploy only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inﬂate in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many side 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. CAUTION: (Continued) 1-51 {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. {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 CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) belts offer the best protection for adults, butnot 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 “Older Children” or “Infants and Young Children.” There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, 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 on page 3-33 for more information. 1-52 Where Are the Air Bags? The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right front passernger’s frontal air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side. 1-53 If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door. If your vehicle has one, the right front passenger’s side impact air bag is in the side of the passenger’s seatback closest to the door. 1-54 In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal air bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags inﬂate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph (16 to 25 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is about 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 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. {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. When Should an Air Bag Inﬂate? Frontal Air Bags 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.” 1-55 Seat Position Sensors Vehicles with dual stage air bags are also equipped with special sensors which enable the sensing system to monitor the position of both the driver and passenger front seats. The seat position sensor provides information which is used to determine if the air bags should deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment. Side Impact Air Bags Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact air bag. See Air Bag Systems on page 1-50. 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. Air Bag Systems 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 with Your Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle in the Index for tips on off-road driving. 1-56 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, the air bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air bag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the air bag modules are located in the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s 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. 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 vehicles with a driver’s and right front passenger’s side impact air bag. 1-57 What Will You See After an Air Bag Inﬂates? After the 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 will be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag. For vehicles with side impact air bags, the side of the seatback closest to the driver’s and/or right front passenger’s door will be hot. 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. 1-58 {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. If you experience breathing problems following an air bag deployment, you should seek medical attention. 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. (cid:127) 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. (cid:127) Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal sensors which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate and a more severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also 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 and when the system commands air bag inﬂation. It records the status of the driver’s safety belt usage in a crash in which the air bag deploys or a crash in which the air bag nearly deploys. The module also records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data. 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. If you damage the covering for the driver’s Notice: 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. Passenger Sensing System If your rearview mirror has one of the indicators pictured in the following illustrations, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The indicator will be visible when you turn your ignition key to START or RUN. The words ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off, will be visible on the rearview mirror during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol for off will be visible. See Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator on page 3-35. If your rearview mirror does not have either of the indicators pictured, then your vehicle does not have the passenger sensing system. 1-59 (cid:127) The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag under certain conditions. The driver’s air bag and the side air bags are not part of the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the passenger’s frontal air bag should be enabled (may inﬂate) or not. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors 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. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the air bag deploys. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator – United States Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator – Canada 1-60 {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. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air bag if the system detects a rear-facing child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the air bag is off. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag if: the right front passenger seat is unoccupied the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat a right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time the right front passenger seat is occupied by a smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints or if there is a critical problem with the air bag system or the passenger sensing system. 1-61 (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air bag, depending upon the person’s seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an air bag for that person. If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger’s air bag. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the passenger’s frontal air bag, the off indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the air bag is off. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions and refer to Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position on page 1-46. If after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer. The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inﬂate) the right front passenger’s frontal air bag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the air bag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the air bag is active. 1-62 CAUTION: (Continued) vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the frontal air bag. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index for more on this, including important safety information. Aftermarket equipment, such as seat covers, can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. You may want to consider not using seat covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-64 for more information about modiﬁcations that can affect how the system operates. {CAUTION: Stowing of articles under the passenger’s seat or between the passenger’s seat cushion and seatback may interfere with the proper operation of the passenger sensing system. 1-63 {CAUTION: If the air bag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the air bag system. If this ever happens, have the CAUTION: (Continued) Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle 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 on page 7-2. Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There air bag system parts in several places around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to inﬂate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-11. {CAUTION: For up to 10 seconds 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 system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualiﬁed to do so. Air bag systems do not need regular maintenance. 1-64 Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modiﬁed. How can I ﬁnd out whether this will affect my advanced air bag system? A: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (located under the driver’s seat), or the inside rearview mirror can affect the operation of the advanced air bag system. If you have questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2. Restraint System Check 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.) 1-65 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash {CAUTION: A crash can damage the restraint systems in your vehicle. A damaged restraint system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure your restraint systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible. If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system parts? 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 the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system 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. 1-66 Section 2 Features and Controls Keys ...............................................................2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-4 Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-5 Doors and Locks .............................................2-8 Door Locks ....................................................2-8 Power Door Locks ..........................................2-9 Delayed Locking .............................................2-9 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ..............2-10 Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-12 Lockout Protection ........................................2-12 Midgate .......................................................2-13 Tailgate .......................................................2-22 Windows ........................................................2-24 Power Windows ............................................2-25 Sun Visors ...................................................2-25 Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-26 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................2-26 Passlock® ....................................................2-28 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-28 New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-28 Ignition Positions ..........................................2-29 Starting Your Engine .....................................2-30 Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal ................2-31 Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-31 Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-33 Four-Wheel Drive ..........................................2-36 Parking Brake ..............................................2-41 Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-42 Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-45 Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-45 Engine Exhaust ............................................2-46 Running Your Engine While You Are Parked ....2-46 Mirrors ...........................................................2-48 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®, Compass and Temperature Display ....................................................2-48 Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display ..............2-51 Outside Camper-Type Mirrors .........................2-54 Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-54 Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-55 Outside Heated Mirrors ..................................2-56 Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror with Curb View Assist ..............................................2-56 2-1 Section 2 Features and Controls OnStar® System .............................................2-57 HomeLink® Transmitter ...................................2-59 Programming the HomeLink® Transmitter .........2-59 Storage Areas ................................................2-63 Glove Box ...................................................2-63 Center Overhead Console ..............................2-63 Front Armrest Storage Area ...........................2-63 Center Console Storage Area .........................2-63 Luggage Carrier ...........................................2-63 Rear Storage Area ........................................2-64 Cargo Cover Panels ......................................2-65 All-Weather Cargo Area .................................2-75 Top-Box Storage ..........................................2-80 Tonneau Cover ............................................2-81 Sunroof .........................................................2-87 Vehicle Personalization ...................................2-88 Memory Seat ...............................................2-88 2-2 Keys {CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children. 2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System 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 interference, and 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. 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. Your vehicle has one double-sided key for the ignition, all door locks, tailgate and side storage boxes. 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 Program on page 7-6 for more information. If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle, you may be able to have your doors unlocked automatically with the OnStar® system if you have an active OnStar® subscription. For more information see OnStar® System on page 2-57. 2-4 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: (cid:127) Check the distance. You may be too far from your vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather. (cid:127) 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. (cid:127) Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5. If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a qualiﬁed technician for service. Remote Keyless Entry System Operation You can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 100 feet (30 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. K (Unlock): Pressing this button once will unlock the driver’s door. The interior lamps will come on. Pressing unlock again within three seconds will cause the remaining doors to unlock. 2-5 (cid:127) You can choose different feedback options for each press of the unlock button, such as having the vehicle’s perimeter lamps come on and/or having the horn chirp. See DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-50 for more information. Q (Lock): Pressing this button once will lock all of the doors. Pressing the button again within three seconds may cause the horn to chirp for lock conﬁrmation. You can choose different feedback options for each press of the lock button, such as having the vehicle’s perimeter lamps ﬂash and/or having the horn chirp. See DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-50 for more information. L (Panic): When this button 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 button again, or by waiting for 30 seconds, or by starting the vehicle. 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. 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. 2-6 To replace the battery in the keyless entry transmitter, do the following: Resynchronization Resynchronization may be necessary due to the security method used by this system. The transmitter does not send the same signal twice to the receiver. The receiver will not respond to a signal that has been sent previously. This prevents anyone from recording and playing back the signal from the transmitter. To resynchronize your transmitter, stand close to your vehicle and press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the transmitter at the same time for 15 seconds. The door locks should cycle to conﬁrm synchronization. If the locks do not cycle, see your dealer for service. 1. Insert a thin object, such as a coin, in the slot between the covers of the transmitter housing near the key ring hole. Remove the bottom by twisting the coin. 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. Resynchronize the transmitter. See “Resynchronization” next. 5. Check the operation of the transmitter. 2-7 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. Doors and Locks Door Locks {CAUTION: Unlocked doors can be dangerous. (cid:127) Passengers — especially children — can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive. (cid:127) 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. (cid:127) 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. 2-8 Power Door Locks The power door lock switches are located on the driver’s and front passenger’s armrests. Q (Lock): Remove the ignition key and press the lock symbol to lock all of the doors. If the delayed locking feature is on, the doors will not lock until ﬁve seconds after the last door is closed. Press the lock symbol twice to override this feature and lock all of the doors immediately. See Delayed Locking on page 2-9 for more information. K (Unlock): To unlock the doors, press the unlock symbol. Delayed Locking When locking the doors with the power lock switch or the keyless entry transmitter and a door or the liftgate (if equipped) is open, the delayed locking feature will delay locking the doors until ﬁve seconds after the last door is closed. You will hear three chimes to signal that the delayed locking feature is in use. Pressing the power lock switch or the lock button on the keyless entry transmitter twice will override the delayed locking feature and immediately lock all the doors. You can turn the delayed locking feature off or back on again by doing the following: 1. Press and hold the power door lock switch in the lock position. 2. Press unlock twice on the remote keyless entry transmitter. This feature will not operate if the key is in the ignition. You can also program this feature using the DIC. See “Delayed Locking” under DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-50. 2-9 Programmable Automatic Door Locks Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic lock/unlock feature which enables you to program your vehicle’s power door locks. You can program this feature through the Driver Information Center (DIC), or by the following method. Programmable Locking Feature The following is the list of available programming options: Mode 1: All doors lock when the transmission is shifted out of Park. This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for your vehicle. Mode 2: All doors lock when the vehicle speed is greater than 8 mph (13 km/h). Mode 3: No automatic door locking. The following instructions tell you how to change the automatic door lock mode. Choose one of the three programming options listed above before entering the program mode. To enter the program mode, do the following: 1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step. 2-10 2. Turn the key to RUN then back to LOCK twice. Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now ready to program the automatic door lock feature. 3. Press the lock side of the power lock switch once. You will hear one, two, or three chimes. The number of chimes tells you which lock mode is currently selected. Continue to press the door lock switch until the number of chimes that you hear matches the number of the mode that you want. If you take longer than 30 seconds, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode. You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN (the doors will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current automatic settings will not be modiﬁed. See your dealer for more information. 3. Press the unlock side of the power lock switch once. You will hear one, two, three, or four chimes. The number of chimes tells you which unlock mode is currently selected. Continue to press the door unlock switch until the number of chimes that you hear matches the number of the mode that you want. If you take longer than 30 seconds, the locks will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you have left the program mode. If this occurs, you can repeat the procedure beginning with Step 1 to re-enter the programming mode. You can exit the program mode any time by turning the ignition to RUN (the doors will automatically lock and unlock and the horn will chirp twice to indicate that you are leaving the program mode). If the lock/unlock switches are not pressed while in the programming mode, the current automatic settings will not be modiﬁed. See your dealer for more information. Programmable Unlocking Feature The following is the list of available programming options: Mode 1: Driver’s door unlocks when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P). Mode 2: All doors unlock when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P). This is the mode that is pre-programmed in the factory for your vehicle. Mode 3: All doors unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. Mode 4: No automatic door unlock. The following instructions tell you how to change the automatic door unlock mode. Choose one of the four programming options listed above before entering the program mode. To enter the program mode, do the following: 1. Begin with the ignition off. Then pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward you and hold it there while you perform the next step. 2. Turn the key to RUN and LOCK twice. Then, with the key in LOCK, release the turn signal/multifunction lever. Once you do this, the doors will lock and unlock, the horn will chirp twice, and a 30-second timer will begin. You are now ready to program the automatic door unlock feature. 2-11 Rear Door Security Locks With this feature, you can lock the rear doors so they can’t be opened from the inside by passengers. This feature is located on the inside edge of the rear doors. The rear doors cannot be opened from the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to open the rear door while the security lock is engaged, unlock the door and open the door from the outside. Move the lever rearward to disengage the child security lock feature. Lockout Protection This feature protects you from locking your key in the vehicle 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. To use the locks, do the following: 1. Open one of the rear doors. 2. Move the lever forward to engage the rear door security lock. 3. Close the door. 4. Do the same thing to the other rear door. 2-12 Midgate {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to drive with the cargo area covered and the tailgate and the midgate open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You can not see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the cargo covers on 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: CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) (cid:127) Make sure all windows are shut. (cid:127) 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 Automatic Climate Control System on page 3-22. If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-46. 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. 2-13 (cid:127) The following are the main components of the midgate system: 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 Seat Operation on page 1-7 for more information. The front seats may 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. 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 2-14 2. Squeeze and pull down the latch levers (A), located near the upper corners of the rear glass, to unlatch. Once 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 (C) 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 the storage pocket in the midgate, guiding the lower edge of the rear glass 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. 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 (A) 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 (A), located near the upper corners of the rear glass, to 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. Be sure to align the rear glass side-to-side using the alignment arrows (G) as shown in the picture. 5. Apply a ﬁrm 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. 6. Push the rear glass ﬂat against the window frame and push each latch lever up until it locks. You should hear a click when each latch lever locks correctly. 2-19 Lowering the Midgate with the Rear Glass in Place 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 might have to be moved forward slightly to allow the rear seats to fold. See Rear Seat Operation on page 1-7 for more information. 2-20 Rear Glass in Normal Position 2. Standing outside of the vehicle, hold the midgate securely so it does not fall forward. Turn the midgate handle clockwise and pull the midgate toward you. Lowering the Midgate with the Rear Glass in the Storage Pocket 3. Lower the midgate until it is ﬂat. Rear Glass Stored in Glass Storage Pocket 2-21 Raising the Midgate To return the midgate to its normal position, raise the midgate up with a ﬁrm swinging motion (this will help to ensure that the midgate closes with enough force to engage the latches) until it latches into place securely. If the rear glass is removed and you would like to put it back, do so using the instructions given previously. Tailgate Use the ignition/door key to unlock/lock the tailgate. Open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle while pulling the tailgate toward you. To shut the tailgate, ﬁrmly push it upward until it latches. Push and pull on the tailgate to be sure it is latched securely. Midgate Lowered with Crossbar Attached This procedure works the same as the procedure described previously (with the rear glass installed), but when you lower the midgate with the rear glass in the stored position, you will notice that the entire crossbar (the bar with the release handle) will lower with the midgate. 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 as you lower it. 2-22 Tailgate Removal The tailgate can be removed to allow for different loading situations. Although the tailgate can be removed without assistance, you may want someone to assist you with the removal to avoid possible damage to the vehicle. To remove the tailgate, do the following: 1. Hold the tailgate up, slightly raised. 2. Release the retaining cable clip by lifting the cable so it is level with the ground and then push the cable clip toward the vehicle. 3. Raise the tailgate at a slight upward angle, pull back on the tailgate at the right edge so it releases from the block hinge (arrow) and then move the tailgate to the right to release the left edge. Reverse the above procedure to reinstall. Make sure the tailgate is secure. 2-23 Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather. 2-24 Power Windows The controls for the power windows are located on the armrest on each of the side doors. The switches operate the windows when the ignition is in RUN, ACCESSORY or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See “Retained Accessory Power” under Ignition Positions on page 2-29. The driver’s door also has a switch for each of the passenger’s windows. Press the top of the switch to lower the window. Pull up the top of the switch to raise the window. Express-Down Windows The driver’s and front passenger’s window switches have an express-down feature that allows you to lower the window without continuously pressing the switch. Press the top of the window switch down fully to activate the feature. Lightly tap the switch to open the window slightly. The express-down feature can be interrupted at any time by pulling up on the top of the switch. Lockout Switch Press the lockout switch to prevent passengers from operating the power windows from their switches. A light in the lockout switch will come on to show that the switch has been activated. Press the lockout switch again to return to normal operation. Sun Visors To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You can also swing them out to help block glare at the front and side windows. Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors Pull the sunvisor down and lift the mirror cover to turn on the lamps. 2-25 Theft-Deterrent Systems Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal. Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle is equipped with a content theft-deterrent alarm system. With this system, the security light in the instrument panel cluster will ﬂash as you open the door if your ignition is off. This light reminds you to activate the theft-deterrent system. Here’s how to do it: 1. Open the door. 2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or the remote keyless entry transmitter. The security light should come on and stay on. 3. Close all doors. The security light should go off after about 30 seconds. The alarm is not armed until the security light goes off. If a locked door is opened without the key or the remote keyless entry transmitter, the alarm will go off. The headlamps and parking lamps will ﬂash for two minutes, and the horn will sound for 30 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power. You can choose different feedback options for the alarm. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-49. 2-26 Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate if you lock the doors with a key or use the manual door lock. It activates only if you use a power door lock switch with the door open, or with the remote keyless entry transmitter. You should also remember that you can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the alarm has been set off. Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident: If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent system, the vehicle should be locked with the door key after the doors are closed. (cid:127) Always unlock a door with a key, or use the remote keyless entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other way will set off the alarm. If you set off the alarm by accident, unlock any door with the key. You can also turn off the alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm won’t stop if you try to unlock a door any other way. Testing the Alarm The alarm can be tested by following these steps: 1. From inside the vehicle, lower the driver’s window and open the driver’s door. 2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the power door lock switch while the door is open, or with the remote keyless entry transmitter. 3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the security light to go out. 4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door with the manual door lock and open the door. This should set off the alarm. While the alarm is set, the power door unlock switch is not operational. If the alarm does not sound when it should but the headlamps ﬂash, check to see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown. To replace the fuse, see Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-114. If the alarm does not sound or the headlamps do not ﬂash, the vehicle should be serviced by your dealer. 2-27 (cid:127) Passlock® Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock® theft-deterrent system. Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system. Passlock® enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, the fuel system is disabled and the vehicle will not start. During normal operation, the security light will turn off approximately ﬁve seconds after the key is turned to RUN. If the engine stalls and the security light ﬂashes, wait about 10 minutes until the light stops ﬂashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to release the key from START as soon as the engine starts. If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle needs service. If the engine is running and the security light comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock® system is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock® at this time. You may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-114. See your dealer for service. In an emergency, call the Roadside Assistance Center. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6. 2-28 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle New Vehicle Break-In Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: (cid:127) Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). (cid:127) Do not drive at any one speed — fast or slow — for the ﬁrst 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts. (cid:127) Avoid making hard stops for the ﬁrst 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings. (cid:127) Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towing a Trailer on page 4-66 for more information. Ignition Positions With your key in the ignition switch you can turn it to four different positions. A (LOCK): This position locks your ignition and transmission. It’s a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK. If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you Notice: can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the key or the ignition switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle needs service. B (ACCESSORY): This position allows you to use things like the radio, power windows and the windshield wipers when the engine is off. C (RUN): This position is for driving. D (START): This position starts your engine. Retained Accessory Power (RAP) The Retained Accessory Power (RAP) feature will allow certain features on your vehicle to continue to work for up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to LOCK. 2-29 When starting your engine in very cold weather (below 0°F or −18°C), do this: 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START and hold it there up to 15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key. 2. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops), it could be ﬂooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for about three seconds. When the engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the vehicle starts brieﬂy but then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for ﬁve or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly. Starting Your Engine Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t start in any other position – that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm. Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter. 2. If it doesn’t start within 10 seconds, push the accelerator pedal all the way to the ﬂoor, while you hold the ignition key in START. When the engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try. 2-30 Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal If your vehicle has this feature, you can change the position of the throttle and brake pedals. This feature is designed for shorter drivers, since the pedals cannot move farther away from the standard position, but can move closer to you for better pedal reach. This feature can be programmed to work with the memory function (if equipped) on your vehicle. See Memory Seat on page 2-88. The vehicle must be in PARK (P) for this feature to operate. The buttons used to adjust the pedals are located on the driver’s side door panel. Engine Coolant Heater Your vehicle may be equipped with an engine coolant heater. In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required. Press the button closest to you to move the pedals closer to you. Press the button farthest from you to move the pedals away from you. 2-31 4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could be damaged. How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular area. To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The cord is located on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, near the power steering ﬂuid reservoir. 3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet. {CAUTION: Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause a ﬁre. You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong extension cord rated for at least 15 amps. 2-32 Automatic Transmission Operation Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission and features an electronic shift position indicator located within the instrument panel cluster. There are several different positions for your shift lever. PARK (P): This position locks your drive wheels. It’s the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle can’t move easily. CAUTION: (Continued) be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-42. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-66. {CAUTION: It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To CAUTION: (Continued) {CAUTION: If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will be free to roll — even if your shift lever is in PARK (P) — if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear, two-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel high (4H) or four-wheel low (4L) — not in NEUTRAL. See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-42 2-33 REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped. To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-48. NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t connect with the drive wheels. To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. {CAUTION: Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is ﬁrmly on the brake pedal, your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed. Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting your vehicle. 2-34 DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving. If you need more power for passing, and you’re: (cid:127) Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your accelerator pedal about halfway down. (cid:127) Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the accelerator all the way down. You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power. DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills or for off-road driving. You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, however it offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on. If you manually select SECOND (2), the transmission will drive in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing the speed of the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces. Once the vehicle is moving, shift into DRIVE (D). FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power, but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving forward, the transmission won’t shift into ﬁrst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. On cold days, approximately 32°F (0°C) or colder, your transmission is designed to shift differently until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. This is intended to improve heater performance. 2-35 Four-Wheel Drive If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your engine’s driving power to all four wheels for extra traction. To get the most satisfaction out of four-wheel drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the part that follows before using four-wheel drive. See the appropriate text for the transfer case in your vehicle. Notice: Driving on pavement in four-wheel drive for an extended period of time may cause premature wear on your vehicle’s powertrain. Do not drive in four-wheel drive on pavement for extended periods of time. Front Axle Locking Feature The front axle locks and unlocks automatically when you shift the transfer case. Some delay for the axle to lock or unlock is normal. Tow/Haul Mode Your vehicle is equipped with a tow/haul mode. The button is located on the end of the column shift lever. You can use this feature to assist when towing or hauling a heavy load. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under Towing a Trailer on page 4-66 for more information. 2-36 Automatic Transfer Case {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-41. The transfer case buttons are located to the left of the instrument panel cluster. Use these buttons to shift into and out of four-wheel drive. You can choose among four driving settings: h (2HI): This setting is used for driving in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is not engaged in two-wheel drive. This setting also provides the best fuel economy. 2-37 AUTO 4WD: This setting is ideal for use when road conditions are variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO 4WD, the front axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is sent only to the rear wheels. When the vehicle senses a loss of traction, the system will automatically engage four-wheel drive. Driving in this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than 2HI. G (4HI): Use the 4HI position when you need extra traction, such as on snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations. This setting also engages your front axle to help drive your vehicle. This is the best setting to use when plowing snow. 5(4LO): This setting also engages your front axle and delivers extra torque. You may never need this setting. It sends maximum power to all four wheels. You might choose 4LO if you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep snow and climbing or descending steep hills. {CAUTION: Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set the parking brake before placing the transfer case in NEUTRAL. See Parking Brake on page 2-41. NEUTRAL (N): Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-51 or Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-51 for more information. Indicator lights in the button show which setting you are in. The indicator lights will come on brieﬂy when you turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. An indicator light will ﬂash while shifting the transfer case. It will remain illuminated when the shift is complete. If for some reason the transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting. 2-38 If the SERVICE 4WD message stays on, you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service. See ″Service 4WD message″ under Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-49. Shifting into 4HI or AUTO 4WD Press and release the 4HI or AUTO 4WD button. This can be done at any speed (except when shifting from 4LO), and the indicator light will ﬂash while shifting. It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed. Shifting into 2HI Press and release the 2HI button. This can be done at any speed (except when shifting from 4LO). Shifting into 4LO To shift to the 4LO position, the ignition must be in RUN and the vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for shifting into 4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4LO button. You must wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain illuminated before shifting your transmission in gear. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the 4LO indicator light has stopped ﬂashing could damage the transfer case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop ﬂashing before shifting the transmission into gear. It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signiﬁcant engagment noise and bump when shifting between 4LO and 4HI ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine running. If the 4LO button is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the 4LO indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds the transfer case will shift to 4HI mode. 2-39 Shifting Out of 4LO To shift from 4LO to 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI your vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the ignition in RUN. The preferred method for shifting out of 4LO is to have your vehicle moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Press and release the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI button. You must wait for the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI indicator light to stop ﬂashing and remain illuminated before shifting your transmission into gear. Notice: Shifting the transmission into gear before the 4LO indicator light has stopped ﬂashing could damage the transfer case. To help avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the 4LO indicator light to stop ﬂashing before shifting the transmission into gear. It is typical for your vehicle to exhibit signiﬁcant engagment noise and bump when shifting between 4LO and 4HI ranges or from NEUTRAL with the engine running. If the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI switch is pressed when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the 4HI, AUTO 4WD or 2HI indicator light will ﬂash for 30 seconds but will not complete the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). 2-40 Shifting into NEUTRAL To shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL do the following: 1. Make sure the vehicle is parked so that it will not roll. 2. Set the parking brake. 3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to RUN. 4. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle. 5. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N). 6. Shift the transfer case to 2HI. 7. Simultaneously press and hold the 2HI and 4LO buttons for 10 seconds. The red NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer case shift to NEUTRAL is complete. 8. Shift the transmission to REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second. 9. Turn the ignition to LOCK. 10. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P). 11. Release the parking brake prior to towing. Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down with your right foot. Push down the parking brake pedal with your left foot. A chime will activate and the warning light will ﬂash when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for at least three seconds. Shifting Out of NEUTRAL To shift out of NEUTRAL: 1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake pedal. 2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the ignition to RUN with the engine off. 3. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position (2HI, 4HI, AUTO 4WD OR 4LO). 4. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL the red light will go out. 5. Release the parking brake. 6. You may start the engine and shift the transmission to the desired position. Excessively shifting the transfer case into or out of the different modes may cause the transfer case to enter the shift protection mode. This will protect the transfer case from possible damage and will only allow the transfer case to respond to one shift per 10 seconds. The transfer case may stay in this mode for up to three minutes. To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of the lever, located above the parking brake pedal, with the parking brake symbol, to release the parking brake. 2-41 If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released, the brake system warning light will go off. Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can overheat the brake system and cause premature wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off before driving. If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-66. Shifting Into Park (P) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. With four-wheel drive, if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL, your vehicle will be free to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not in NEUTRAL. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-66. 2-42 1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this: (cid:127) Pull the shift lever toward you. (cid:127) Move the lever up as far as it will go. 3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear – not in NEUTRAL. 4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK. 5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). 2-43 Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running. Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake ﬁrmly set. If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will be free to roll – even if your lever is in PARK (P) – if your transfer case is in NEUTRAL. So be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear – not NEUTRAL. See “Four-Wheel Drive (Automatic Transfer Case)” in the Index. And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat and even catch ﬁre. You or others could be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the engine running unless you have to. If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the parking brake is ﬁrmly set before you leave it. After you move the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without ﬁrst pulling it toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK (P). Torque Lock If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may ﬁnd it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To ﬁnd out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-42. When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). 2-44 Shifting Out of Park (P) Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-33. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way up into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then, move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of PARK (P), try this: 1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY. There is no shift interlock in this key position. 2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4. 3. Shift the vehicle to NEUTRAL (N). 4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you want. 5. Have the system ﬁxed as soon as possible.

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2004 Chevrolet Avalanche Owners Manual