transmission CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2007 2.G Owner's Manual

Timer
Press the trip/fuel button until TIMER displays.
This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press the set/reset button
while TIMER is displayed. The display will show
the amount of time that has passed since the timer
was last reset, not including time the ignition is
off. Time will continue to be counted as long as
the ignition is on, even if another display is being
shown on the DIC. The timer will record up to
99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds (99:59:59)
after which the display will return to zero.
To stop the timer, press the set/reset button briey
while TIMER is displayed.
To reset the timer to zero, press and hold the
set/reset button while TIMER is displayed.
Transmission Temperature
Press the trip/fuel button until TRANS TEMP
displays. This display shows the temperature
of the automatic transmission uid in either
degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C).
Instantaneous Economy and Active Fuel
Management™ Indicator
If your vehicle has this display, press the
trip/fuel button until INST ECONOMY V8 MODE
displays. This display shows the current fuel
economy at a particular moment and will
change frequently as driving conditions change.
This display shows the instantaneous fuel
economy in miles per gallon (mpg) or liters
per 100 kilometers (L/100 km). Unlike average
economy, this screen cannot be reset.
An Active Fuel Management™ indicator will
display on the right side of the DIC, while
INST ECONOMY displays on the left side.
Active Fuel Management™ allows the engine to
operate on either four or eight cylinders, depending
on your driving demands. When Active Fuel
Management™ is active, V4 MODE will display
on the DIC. When Active Fuel Management™
is inactive, V8 MODE will display. SeeActive Fuel
Management™ on page 127for more information.
Blank Display
This display shows no information.
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TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE
Notice:If you drive your vehicle while
the transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC,
you can damage the transmission. This
could lead to costly repairs that would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not drive
your vehicle with overheated transmission
uid or while the transmission temperature
warning is displayed.
This message displays along with a continuous
chime if the transmission uid in the vehicle
gets hot. Driving with the transmission uid
temperature high can cause damage to the
vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it idle to allow
the transmission to cool. This message clears
and the chime stops when the uid temperature
reaches a safe level.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime sounds if a
turn signal is left on for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km).
Move the turn signal/multifunction lever to the
off position.
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
This message displays when the windshield
washer uid is low. Fill the windshield washer uid
reservoir as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 444for the
location of the windshield washer uid reservoir.
Also, seeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 470
for more information.
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Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the
StabiliTrak®system. Traction control limits wheel
spin by reducing engine power to the wheels
(engine speed management) and by applying
brakes to each individual wheel (brake-traction
control) as necessary.
The traction control system is enabled automatically
when you start your vehicle. It will activate and
the StabiliTrak
®light will ash if it senses that any
of the wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction while driving. If you turn off traction control,
only the brake-traction control portion of traction
control will work. The engine speed management
will be disabled. In this mode, engine power is not
reduced automatically and the driven wheels can
spin more freely. This can cause the brake-traction
control to activate constantly.
Notice:If you allow the wheel(s) of one axle
to spin excessively while the StabiliTrak
®,
ABS and brake warning lights and the
SERVICE STABILITRAK message are
displayed, you could damage the transfer case.The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Reduce engine power and do
not spin the wheel(s) excessively while these
lights and this message are displayed.
The traction control system may activate on dry
or rough roads or under conditions such as
heavy acceleration while turning or abrupt
upshifts/downshifts of the transmission. When
this happens, you may notice a reduction in
acceleration, or may hear a noise or vibration.
This is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the system
activates, the StabiliTrak
®light will ash and
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to use cruise
again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 212.
StabiliTrak
®may also turn off automatically if it
determines that a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself after restarting
the vehicle, you should see your dealer for
service.
362

Q:What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or
is about to stall, and I cannot make it up
the hill?
A:If this happens, there are some things you
should do, and there are some things you
must not do. First, here is what youshoulddo:
Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle
and keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply
the parking brake.
If the engine is still running, shift the
transmission to REVERSE (R), release the
parking brake, and slowly back down the hill
in REVERSE (R).
If the engine has stopped running, you will
need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed
and the parking brake still applied, shift the
transmission to PARK (P) and restart the
engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R), release
the parking brake, and slowly back down the
hill as straight as possible in REVERSE (R).
As you are backing down the hill, put your left
hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock
position. This way, you will be able to tell if thewheels are straight and maneuver as you back
down. It is best that you back down the hill with
the wheels straight rather than in the left or right
direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or
right will increase the possibility of a rollover.
Here are some things youmust notdo if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting
into NEUTRAL (N) to rev-up the engine
and regain forward momentum. This will
not work. Your vehicle will roll backwards
very quickly and you could go out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop
the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake.
Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking
brake, and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep
enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep
enough to cause you to roll over if you turn
around. If you cannot make it up the hill, you
must back straight down the hill.
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Q:Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down
the hill and decide I just cannot do it.
What should I do?
A:Set the parking brake, put the transmission in
PARK (P) and turn off the engine. Leave the
vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the
uphill side and stay clear of the path the
vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do not
shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL when
you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL
can cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). This is
because the NEUTRAL position on the
transfer case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be injured.
If you are going to leave your vehicle,
set the parking brake and shift the
transmission to PARK (P). But do not
shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL.
Leave the transfer case in the Two-Wheel
High, Four-Wheel High or Four-Wheel
Low position.
378

Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill, you will want
to consider a number of things:
How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to
maintain vehicle control?
What is the surface like? Smooth? Rough?
Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel?
Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts?
Logs? Boulders?
What is at the bottom of the hill? Is there a
hidden creek bank or even a river bottom
with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a hill safely, then
try to keep your vehicle headed straight down,
and use a low gear. This way, engine drag
can help the brakes and they will not have to
do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping
your vehicle under control at all times.
{CAUTION:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can
cause your brakes to overheat and fade.
This could cause loss of control and a
serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly
when descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under control.
Q:Are there some things I should not do
when driving down a hill?
A:Yes! These are important because if you
ignore them you could lose control and
have a serious accident.
When driving downhill, avoid turns that take
you across the incline of the hill. A hill that
is not too steep to drive down may be
too steep to drive across. You could roll over
if you do not drive straight down.
Never go downhill with the transmission in
NEUTRAL (N). This is called “free-wheeling.”
The brakes will have to do all the work
and could overheat and fade.
379

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
SeeOff-Road Driving on page 368for information
about driving off-road.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These
parts can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, the brakes could
get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine assist
the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
394

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would then have
poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have the
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift
down to a lower gear. The lower gears help
cool your engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
395

Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to spin
the wheels too fast. The method known as rocking
can help you get out when you are stuck, but you
must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at
high speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
And, the transmission or other parts of
the vehicle can overheat. That could
cause an engine compartment re or
other damage. When you are stuck, spin
the wheels as little as possible. Do not
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting the
transmission back and forth, you can destroy
the transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 514.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around the front wheels.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, shift into
Four-Wheel High. Turn the StabiliTrak
®System off.
400

SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 359. Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you
shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions,
you will cause a rocking motion that may free your
vehicle. If that does not get your vehicle out after a
few tries, it may need to be towed out. Or, you can
use the recovery hooks if your vehicle has them. If
your vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing Your Vehicle on page 408.
Recovery Hooks
{CAUTION:
These hooks, when used, are under a
lot of force. Always pull the vehicle
straight out. Never pull on the hooks at a
sideways angle. The hooks could break
off and you or others could be injured
from the chain or cable snapping back.Notice:Never use recovery hooks to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged
and it would not be covered by warranty.
Your vehicle has recovery hooks at the front of the
vehicle. You may need to use them if you are
stuck off-road and need to be pulled to some place
where you can continue driving.
401