tow CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2007 2.G User Guide

Raising the Midgate®
To return the Midgate®to its normal position, raise
the Midgate®up with a rm swinging motion until it
latches into place securely. This will help to ensure
that the Midgate
®closes with enough force to
engage the latches.
If the rear glass is removed and you would like to
put it back, do so using the instructions given
previously.
Tailgate
Use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
or power door lock switch to lock and unlock
the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle while
pulling the tailgate toward you.
To shut the tailgate, push it rmly upward until it
latches. Push and pull on the tailgate to be sure it
is latched securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate is not to be removed. This may cause
damage to electrical connector resulting in loss
of lock/unlock and rear vision camera function.
Power Running Boards
Your vehicle may have power running boards.
The power running boards automatically extend
from beneath the vehicle on the side in which the
door has been opened. Once the door is closed,
the running boards will automatically move
back under the vehicle. The vehicle must not be
moving for the running boards to extend or retract.
The switch used to
disable the power
running boards is
located on the center
console below the
climate control system.
The running boards cannot be disabled in the
extended position.
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To program the new additional key do the
following:
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 for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key
to OFF, and remove the key.
4. Insert the new key to be programmed
and turn it to the RUN position within
ve seconds of removing the original key.
5. The security light will turn off once the
key has been programmed.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 if additional
keys are to be programmed.
If you are driving and the security light comes on
and stays on, you may be able to restart your
engine. Your PASS-Key
®III+ system, however,
may not be working properly and must be serviced
by your dealer.
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key
®III+ key,
see your dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
®III+ to have a new key made.
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:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h)
or less for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed,
fast or slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst
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.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer on page 414for the trailer
towing capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
122

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 toward the driver
for better pedal reach.
The switch used to
adjust the pedals
is located on the
instrument panel
below the climate
control system.
Press the arrow at the bottom of the switch
to move the pedals closer to your body.
Press the arrow at the top of the switch to
move the pedals away from your body.No adjustment to the pedals can be made when
the vehicle is in REVERSE (R) or while using
the cruise control.
Your vehicle has a memory function which allows
pedal settings to be saved and recalled. See
Memory Seat, Mirrors, and Pedals on page 13for
more information.
Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater.
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder,
the engine coolant heater can help. You will 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. Your vehicle
may also have an internal thermostat in the
plug end of the cord. This will prevent operation of
the engine coolant heater when the temperature
is at or above 0°F (−18°C) as noted on the cord.
126

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for the
shift lever.
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission with
an electronic shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. This display will show
the position anytime the shift lever is moved out
of PARK (P).
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start
your engine because your vehicle cannot
move easily.{CAUTION:
It is 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 your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
SeeShifting Into Park (P) on page 139.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing
a Trailer on page 414.
128

{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, four-wheel high or four-wheel
low — not in NEUTRAL. SeeShifting
Into Park (P) on page 139.
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, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 400.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when your two-wheel
drive vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly
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.
129

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. It
provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
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.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see “Skidding”
underLoss of Control on page 367
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal
driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed
more than DRIVE (D) without using your brakes.
You can use THIRD (3) 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.SECOND (2):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than THIRD (3) without using your
brakes. 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 select SECOND (2) and the Tow/Haul has
not been selected, the transmission will drive
in SECOND (2) 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.
If you select SECOND (2) and the Tow/Haul has
also been selected, the transmission operation will
be limited to FIRST (1) and SECOND (2) gears.
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.
FIRST (1):This position reduces vehicle speed
even more than SECOND (2) without using
your brakes. 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 will not shift into rst gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
130

Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only
the accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. The repair will not be covered
by your warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
When temperatures are very cold, the
Hydra-Matic
®Automatic Transmission’s gear
shifting may be delayed providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts may
be more noticeable with a cold transmission.
This difference in shifting is normal.
The transmission torque converter clutch operation
is restricted during cold operation. When the
startup transmission temperature is approximately
64°F (18°C) your torque converter clutch will
temporarily not operate. Once the transmission
temperature rises above 68°F (20°C), normal
operation will resume.
Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle has a tow/haul mode. The button
is located on the end of the column shift
lever. Press the button to enable or disable the
tow/haul mode. You can use this feature to
assist when towing or hauling a heavy load.
See “Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on page 414for more information.
131

{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 138.
NEUTRAL (N):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 408or
Towing Your Vehicle on page 408for 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” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 267.
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.
134

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, seeTowing a Trailer on page 414.
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 rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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, seeTowing a Trailer on page 414.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right
foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position by pulling the shift lever toward
you and moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear — not in NEUTRAL (N).
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).
139

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 rmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive and 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and
even catch re. You or others could be
injured. Do not 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 rmly 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 rst pulling it toward you.
If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked into PARK (P).
140