ESP CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2007 2.G User Guide

2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this
position to turn on the headlamps together
with the following lamps listed below.
When the headlamps are turned on while the
vehicle is on, the headlamps will turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off. When the headlamps are turned
on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will
continue to stay on. Turn the control to the
off position to turn the headlamps off or the
battery will be drained.
A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition switch is off
and the headlamps are on.
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
You can switch your headlamps from low to high
beam by pushing the turn signal/multifunction
lever toward the instrument panel.
Headlamps on Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime will sound
when your headlamps or parking lamps are
manually turned on and your key is out of the
ignition. To turn off the chime, turn the headlamp
switch to off or AUTO and then back on, or
close and re-open the door. In the AUTO mode,
the headlamps turn off once the ignition is in
LOCK or may remain on until the headlamp delay
ends (if enabled in the DIC). See “Exit Lighting”
underDIC Vehicle Customization (With DIC
Buttons) on page 278.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Fully functional daytime running lamps
are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
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Language
This display allows you to select the language
in which the DIC messages will appear.
To select a language, do the following:
1. Press the trip odometer reset stem until
ODOMETER displays.
2. While in the ODOMETER display, press
and hold the trip odometer reset stem
for three seconds until the currently set
language displays.
3. Continue to press and hold the trip odometer
reset stem to scroll through all of the
available languages.
The available languages are ENGLISH
(default), FRANCAIS (French), ESPANOL
(Spanish), and NO CHANGE.
4. Once the desired language is displayed,
release the trip odometer reset stem to
set your choice.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the
driver that the status of the vehicle has changed
and that some action may be needed by the driver
to correct the condition. Multiple messages may
appear one after another.
Some messages may not require immediate
action, but you can press any of the DIC buttons
on the instrument panel or the trip odometer
reset stem on the instrument panel cluster
to acknowledge that you received the messages
and to clear them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared from the
DIC display because they are more urgent.
These messages require action before they can
be cleared. You should take any messages
that appear on the display seriously and remember
that clearing the messages will only make the
messages disappear, not correct the problem.
The following are the possible messages that can
be displayed and some information about them.
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DISPLAY LANGUAGE
This feature allows you to select the language in
which the DIC messages will appear.
Press the customization button until the
DISPLAY LANGUAGE screen appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset button once
to access the settings for this feature. Then press
the customization button to scroll through the
following settings:
ENGLISH (default):All messages will appear
in English.
FRANCAIS (French):All messages will appear
in French.
ESPANOL (Spanish):All messages will appear
in Spanish.
NO CHANGE:No change will be made to this
feature. The current setting will remain.
Choose one of the available settings and press
the set/reset button while it is displayed on the
DIC to select it.
You can also change the language by pressing
the trip odometer reset stem. See “Language”
under DIC Operation and Displays (Without DIC
Buttons) earlier in this section for more information.
AUTO DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select when the vehicle’s
doors will automatically lock. SeeProgrammable
Automatic Door Locks on page 103for more
information.
Press the customization button until AUTO DOOR
LOCK appears on the DIC display. Press the
set/reset button once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the customization button to
scroll through the following settings:
SHIFT OUT OF PARK (default):The doors,
including the tailgate, will automatically lock when
the vehicle is shifted out of PARK (P).
AT VEHICLE SPEED:The doors, including
the tailgate, will automatically lock when the
vehicle speed is above 8 mph (13 km/h) for
three seconds.
NO CHANGE:No change will be made to this
feature. The current setting will remain.
Choose one of the available settings and press
the set/reset button while it is displayed on the
DIC to select it.
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+e−e(Volume):Press the plus or minus
button to increase or to decrease the radio volume.
¨(Seek):Press the seek arrow to go to the
next radio station while in AM, FM, or XM™
(if equipped). Press this button to go to the
next track or chapter while sourced to the CD
or DVD slot. Press the button to go to the next
disc while sourced to a CD or DVD changer,
if multiple discs are loaded.
Radio Reception
You may experience frequency interference and
static during normal radio reception if items
such as cellphone chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic devices
are plugged into the accessory power outlet.
If there is interference or static, unplug the item
from the accessory power outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for
FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with each other.For better radio reception, most AM radio stations
will boost the power levels during the day, and
then reduce these levels during the night. Static can
also occur when things like storms and power lines
interfere with radio reception. When this happens,
try reducing the treble on your radio.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km).
Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM
signals, causing the sound to fade in and out.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio
reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM,
tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite
radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out.
In addition, traveling or standing under heavy
foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause
loss of the XM™ signal for a period of time.
The radio may display NO XM SIGNAL to indicate
interference.
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But the ability to drive is affected well below a
BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that
the driving skills of many people are impaired
at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that
the effects are worse at night. All drivers
are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent.
Statistics show that the chance of being in a
collision increases sharply for drivers who have a
BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a
BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her
chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of
0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having
a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of
0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the
alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or
number of cold showers will speed that up.
“I will be careful” is not the right answer. What if
there is an emergency, a need to take sudden
action, as when a child darts into the street?
A person with even a moderate BAC might not
be able to react quickly enough to avoid the
collision.There is something else about drinking and driving
that many people do not know. Medical research
shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make
crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the
brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means that when
anyone who has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance
of being killed or permanently disabled is
higher than if the person had not been drinking.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reexes, perceptions,
attentiveness, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after
drinking. Please do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a
group, designate a driver who will not drink.
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So here are some tips for passing:
Drive ahead. Look down the road, to the
sides, and to crossroads for situations
that might affect your passing patterns. If you
have any doubt whatsoever about making
a successful pass, wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings,
and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead
that might indicate a turn or an intersection,
delay your pass. A broken center line
usually indicates it is all right to pass, providing
the road ahead is clear. Never cross a solid
line on your side of the lane or a double
solid line, even if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want
to pass while you are awaiting an opportunity.
For one thing, following too closely reduces
your area of vision, especially if you are
following a larger vehicle. Also, you will not
have adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming
up, start to accelerate but stay in the right
lane and do not get too close. Time your move
so you will be increasing speed as the time
comes to move into the other lane. If the way
is clear to pass, you will have a running
start that more than makes up for the distance
you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel
your pass, you need only slow down and drop
back again and wait for another opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow
vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that
someone is not trying to pass you as you pull
out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to
glance over your shoulder and check the
blind spot.
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Check your vehicle’s mirrors, glance over
your shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out of the
right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its
front in your vehicle’s inside mirror, activate
the right lane change signal and move
back into the right lane. Remember that,
if your vehicle’s passenger side outside
mirror is convex, the vehicle you just passed
may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a
time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before
passing the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are
not ashing, it may be slowing down or
starting to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for
the following driver to get ahead of you.
Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip, especially
when going to a remote area. Know the terrain and
plan your route. You are much less likely to get bad
surprises. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain.
Try to learn of any blocked or closed roads.
It is also a good idea to travel with at least
one other vehicle. If something happens to
one of them, the other can help quickly.
Does your vehicle have a winch? If so, be sure to
read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a
winch can be handy if you get stuck. But you will
want to know how to use it properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is
safe and close to home before you go into
the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some
new and different skills. Here is what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals.
Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep
the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears
need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.
With your arms, hands, feet, and body, you will
need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off-road driving. One of the best ways to control
your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are
some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
You approach things faster and you have less
time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
You have less time to react.
You have more vehicle bounce when you drive
over obstacles.
You will need more distance for braking,
especially since you are on an unpaved
surface.
{CAUTION:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction can easily
throw you out of position. This could
cause you to lose control and crash.
So, whether you are driving on or off the
road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
372

Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different
kinds of terrain. You need to be familiar with
the terrain and its many different features.
Here are some things to consider.
Surface Conditions:Off-roading can take you
over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand,
mud, snow, or ice. Each of these surfaces affects
the steering, acceleration, and braking of your
vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind
of surface you are on, you may experience slipping,
sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor
traction, and longer braking distances.
Surface Obstacles:Unseen or hidden obstacles
can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or
bump can startle you if you are not prepared for
them. Often these obstacles are hidden by
grass, bushes, snow, or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly
up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
There is more discussion of these
subjects later.
Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly?
When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain,
keep a rm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts,
troughs, or other surface features can jerk
the wheel out of your hands if you are not
prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other
obstacles, your wheels can leave the ground.
If this happens, even with one or two wheels,
you cannot control the vehicle as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns, or sudden braking.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected
on the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the
body structure, steering, suspension, wheels,
tires, and exhaust system for damage. Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need
to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
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