tow CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2006 1.G Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-10
Child Restraints
.......................................1-29
Airbag System
.........................................1-54
Restraint System Check
............................1-69
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-22
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-24
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-27
Mirrors
....................................................2-45
OnStar
®System
......................................2-57
Universal Home Remote System
................2-59
Storage Areas
.........................................2-63
Sunroof
..................................................2-89
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-90
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-49
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-70Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-56
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-11
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-52
Front Axle
...............................................5-53
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-63
Tires
......................................................5-64
Appearance Care
...................................5-103
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-112
Electrical System
....................................5-113
Capacities and Specications
...................5-122
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Index................................................................ 1
2006 Chevrolet Avalanche Owner ManualM

Power Reclining Seatbacks
If your seats have power reclining seatbacks, use the
vertical power seat control located on the outboard side
of the seat(s).
To recline the seatback, press the control toward
the rear of the vehicle.
To raise the seatback, press the control toward the
front of the vehicle.
1-6

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
The rear seat is a 60/40 split bench seat that can be
folded to give you more cargo space and access to the
folding midgate. SeeMidgate
®on page 2-11for
more information on operation of the folding midgate.
To fold either side of the seat do the following:
1. Push the rear seat head restraints all the way down.
2. Pull the seat loop
located where the
seatback and
seat cushion meet. The
seat cushion will
release and allow you
to tilt it toward the
front of the vehicle.
Notice:Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.3. Fold the seatback forward until it is at. You may
have to move the front seats forward slightly to
do this.
4. Repeat the procedure for the other side.
To return the seats to the normal position, push the
seatback up and fold the seat cushion down.
1-8

{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child’s face or neck?
A:If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window,
move the child toward the center of the vehicle.
If the child is sitting in the center rear seat
passenger position, move the child toward the
safety belt buckle. Also seeRear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides on page 1-27. In either case, be
sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
1-30

{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous at
surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.
1-35

{CAUTION:
Children can be seriously injured or strangled
if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck
and the safety belt continues to tighten.
Secure any unused safety belts behind the
child restraint so children cannot reach them.
Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the
retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has
one, after the child restraint has been installed.
Be sure to follow the instructions of the child
restraint manufacturer.
Notice:Contact between the child restraint or the
LATCH attachment parts and the vehicle’s safety
belt assembly may cause damage to these parts.
Make sure when securing unused safety belts
behind the child restraint that there is no contact
between the child restraint or the LATCH attachment
parts and the vehicle’s safety belt assembly.Folding an empty rear seat with the safety belts
secured, may cause damage to the safety belt or the
seat. When removing the child restraint, always
remember to return the safety belts to their normal,
stowed position before folding the rear seat.
1. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that
the top tether be attached, attach the top tether to
the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the
child restraint instructions and the following steps:
1.1. To access the top tether anchors, raise
the seat cushion by pulling up on the strap
loop at the rear of the seat cushion and
fold the seat cushion forward. Then fold the
seatback forward until it is at. SeeRear
Seat Operation on page 1-8for additional
information.
1.2. Place the child restraint in the vehicle, near
the seating position that you are using.
1-45

The airbag 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. SeeOff-Road
Driving on page 4-17for tips on off-road driving.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the airbag. The inator, the airbag and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal
airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For seating positions with side impact
airbags, there are also airbag modules in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
How Does an Airbag 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 airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags 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 airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including many
frontal or near frontal collisions, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. Airbags 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 frontal airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for vehicles with a side impact
airbag.
1-61

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-34for 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. SeeAdding Equipment
to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-68for
more information about modications 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.
1-67

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..............................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-11
Midgate
®.....................................................2-11
Tailgate.......................................................2-20
Windows........................................................2-22
Power Windows............................................2-23
Sun Visors...................................................2-24
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-24
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-24
Passlock
®....................................................2-26
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-27
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-27
Ignition Positions..........................................2-28
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-29
Starting the Engine.......................................2-29
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-30Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-31
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-32
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-35
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-35
Parking Brake..............................................2-40
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-41
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-43
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-43
Engine Exhaust............................................2-44
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-44
Mirrors...........................................................2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®and Compass...............................2-45
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
®, Compass and Temperature
Display....................................................2-47
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass.................................................2-50
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display...............2-52
Outside Camper-Type Mirrors.........................2-54
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-55
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-56
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-56
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror with
Curb View Assist.......................................2-57
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

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.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.
2-14