light CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2008 2.G Owner's Manual

If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to
be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the fuse, seeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-108. If the engine still
does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs
service. If your vehicle does start, the rst key may be
faulty. See your dealer/retailer who can service the
PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made. In an
emergency, contact Roadside Assistance.
It is possible for the PASS-Key
®III+ decoder to learn
the transponder value of a new or replacement key.
Up to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle.
The following procedure is for programming additional
keys only. If all the currently programmed keys are
lost or do not operate, you must see your dealer/retailer
or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key
®III+ to
have keys made and programmed to the system.
See your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to get a new key blank that is cut
exactly as the ignition key that operates the system.To program the new additional key:
1. Verify that the new key has a
1stamped on it.
2. Insert the original, already programmed, key in the
ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not
start, see your dealer/retailer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to
LOCK/OFF, and remove the key.
4. Insert the new key to be programmed and turn it to
the ON/RUN position within ve seconds of turning
the ignition to the LOCK/OFF position in Step 3.
The security light will turn off once the key has been
programmed.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to
be programmed.
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key
®III+ key, see
your dealer/retailer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
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You can choose among ve driving settings:
Indicator lights in the switches show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition and the last chosen setting will
stay on. If the lights do not come on, you should take your
vehicle in for service. An indicator light will ash while
shifting. Fast ashing means the conditions were not met
to make the desired shift, typically the vehicle was going
too fast, the automatic transmission was not in neutral.
Slow ashing means the shift is in progress. It will stay
on when the shift is completed. If for some reason the
transfer case cannot make a requested shift, it will return
to the last chosen setting.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High):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.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive):This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle’s software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High):Use the four-wheel
high 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.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low):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 Four-Wheel
Drive Low if you are driving off-road in deep sand,
deep mud, deep snow, and while climbing or descending
steep hills. StabiliTrak
®will not engage in this mode.
SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-6for more
information.
{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. SeeParking Brake on
page 2-44.
2-40

NEUTRAL (N):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-42orTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-42for more information.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message stays on,
you should take your vehicle to your dealer for service.
See “SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE message” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-59.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive High or
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive)
Turn the knob to the Four-Wheel High or AUTO position.
This can be done at any speed, except when shifting
from Four-Wheel Drive Low. The indicator light will
ash while shifting. It will remain on when the shift is
completed.
Shifting Into Two-Wheel Drive High
Turn the knob to the Two-Wheel High position. This can
be done at any speed, except when shifting from
Four-Wheel Drive Low.
See shifting out of Four-Wheel Drive Low later in this
section for more information.
Shifting Into Four-Wheel Drive Low
When Four-Wheel Low is engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 45 mph. Extended high-speed
operation in 4L may damage or shorten the life of
the drivetrain.
To shift to the Four-Wheel Drive Low position, the
ignition must be in ON/RUN and the vehicle must be
stopped or moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) with the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N). The preferred method for
shifting into Four-Wheel Drive Low is to have your vehicle
moving 1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel Drive Low position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing and
remain on before shifting your transmission in gear.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have signicant engagement noise and
bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from NEUTRAL
while the engine is running.
2-41

If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive Low
position when your vehicle is in gear and/or moving,
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light will ash
for 30 seconds and not complete the shift unless your
vehicle is moving less than 3 mph (5 km/h) and the
transmission is in NEUTRAL (N). After 30 seconds the
transfer case will shift to Four-Wheel Drive High mode.
Shifting Out of Four-Wheel Drive Low
To shift from Four-Wheel Drive Low to Four-Wheel
Drive High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High, your
vehicle must be stopped or moving less than 3 mph
(5 km/h) with the transmission in NEUTRAL (N) and the
ignition in ON/RUN. The preferred method for shifting out
of Four-Wheel Drive Low is to have your vehicle moving
1 to 2 mph (1.6 to 3.2 km/h). Turn the knob to the
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High
position. You must wait for the Four-Wheel Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator light to stop
ashing and remain on before shifting your transmission
into gear.Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have signicant engagement noise and
bump when shifting between Four-Wheel Drive Low
and Four-Wheel Drive High ranges or from NEUTRAL
while the engine is running.
If the knob is turned to the Four-Wheel Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High switch position when
your vehicle is in gear and/or moving, the Four-Wheel
Drive High, AUTO or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator
light will ash for 30 seconds but will not complete
the shift unless your vehicle is moving less than 3 mph
(5 km/h) and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N).
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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 and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-44for more
information.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in NEUTRAL (N).
5. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel Drive High.
6. Turn the transfer case dial clockwise to NEUTRAL
till it stops and hold it for 10 seconds. Then slowly
release the dial to the four low position. The
NEUTRAL light will come on when the transfer
case shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify that the transfer case
is in NEUTRAL (N) by shifting the transmission to
REVERSE (R) for one second, then shift the
transmission to DRIVE (D) for one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY, which will
turn the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in PARK (P).
10. Release the parking brake prior to moving
the vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Shifting Out of NEUTRAL
To shift out of NEUTRAL do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal.
2. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N) and turn the
ignition to ON/RUN with the engine off.
3. Turn the transfer case dial to the desired transfer
case shift position (Two-Wheel Drive High,
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO).
After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL
the NEUTRAL light will go out.
4. Release the parking brake prior to moving the
vehicle.
Notice:Shifting the transmission into gear before
the Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light has stopped
ashing could damage the transfer case. To help
avoid damaging your vehicle, always wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive Low indicator light to stop ashing
before shifting the transmission into gear.
5. 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.
2-43

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 sounds and the warning light ashes when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 5 mph (8 km/h).
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then pull the bottom edge of the lever,
with the parking brake symbol and located above
the parking brake pedal.If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light goes off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
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,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-47.
2-44

{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 rmly 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 be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set the parking brake and move the shift lever
to PARK (P).
{CAUTION:
Four-wheel drive vehicles with the transfer
case in NEUTRAL will allow the vehicle to roll,
even if the shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear — not
in NEUTRAL. Always set the parking brake.Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into Park on page 2-45.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-47.
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®, Compass and
Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have this feature. When on, the
automatic dimming mirror dims to the proper level to
minimize glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror has a dual display in the upper right corner
of the mirror face that shows the compass reading
and the outside temperature.
Control buttons for the OnStar
®system, if equipped, are
at the bottom of the mirror. SeeOnStar®System on
page 2-61for more information about the services
OnStar
®provides.
P(On/Off):This is the on/off button.
2-49

Temperature and Compass Display
Press the on/off button, located on the far left of the
mirror face, to turn the compass/temperature display
on or off.
If the display reads CAL, the compass needs to be
calibrated. For more information, see “Compass
Calibration” following.
To adjust between Fahrenheit and Celsius, do the
following:
1. Press and hold the on/off button until either a
ashing F or C appears.
2. Press the button again to change the display to the
desired unit of measurement. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked
in and the compass/temperature display will return.
If an abnormal temperature reading is displayed for an
extended period of time, please see your GM dealer.
Under certain circumstances, a delay in updating
the temperature is normal.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
The automatic dimming mirror function is turned
on automatically each time the ignition is started.
To operate the automatic dimming mirror, do the
following:
1. Make sure the green indicator light, located to the left
of the on/off button, is lit. If it is not, press and hold the
on/off button until the green light comes on, indicating
that the mirror is in automatic dimming mode.
2. Turn off the automatic dimming mirror function by
pressing and holding the on/off button until the
green indicator light turns off.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set in zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary to adjust the compass to compensate
for compass variance if the vehicle is outside of zone
eight. Under certain circumstances, as during a long
distance cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust
for compass variance. Compass variance is the
difference between earth’s magnetic north and true
geographic north. If not adjusted to account for compass
variance, the compass could give false readings.
2-50

Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature
Display
Your vehicle may be equipped with this feature.
When on, an automatic dimming mirror will dim to
the proper level to minimize glare from lights behind
you after dark.
The mirror also includes a dual display in the upper
right corner of the mirror with the compass reading and
the outside temperature. The display can be turned
on or off by briey pressing either the TEMP or
the COMP button.
Temperature Display
The temperature can be displayed by pressing the
TEMP button. Pressing the TEMP button once briey,
will toggle the temperature reading on and off. To
alternate the temperature reading between Fahrenheit
and Celsius, press and hold the TEMP button for
approximately four seconds until the display blinks F
and C. Press and release the TEMP button to toggle
between the Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. After
approximately four seconds of inactivity, the display
will stop blinking and display the last selection made.
Press and release the TEMP button to toggle the
temperature display between Fahrenheit or Celsius.
If an abnormal reading is displayed, please consult your
GM dealer.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Press and hold the TEMP button for approximately
eight seconds to turn the automatic dimming feature
on or off. The indicator light to the left of the TEMP
button will turn on or off to indicate when the feature
is on. Once the mirror is turned off, it will remain off until
it is turned back on, or until the vehicle is restarted.
2-52

The display is located
above the rear window and
can be seen by looking
over your right shoulder.
URPA uses three color-coded lights to provide distance
and system information.
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically when the shift lever is
moved into R (Reverse). The rear display briey
illuminates to indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less than 5 mph
(8 km/h). If the vehicle is above this speed, the red
light on the rear display will ash.To be detected, objects must be at least 10 inches
(25.4 cm) off the ground and below tailgate level.
Objects must also be within 8 feet (2.5 m) from the
rear bumper. This distance may be less during warmer
or humid weather.
A single beep will sound the rst time an object is
detected between 20 inches (0.5 m) and 8 feet (2.5 m)
away. Beeping will occur for a short time when the
vehicle is closer than 1 foot (0.3 m) from the object.
The following describes what will occur with the URPA
display as the vehicle gets closer to a detected object:
Description English Metric
amber light 8 ft 2.5 m
amber/amber lights 40 in 1.0 m
amber/amber/red lights 23 in 0.6 m
amber/amber/red lights
ashing and beep for
three seconds1 ft 0.3 m
2-59