CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2009 2.G Owners Manual

If a Crash Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in a crash.
Check to make sure that you are all right. If you are
uninjured, make sure that no one else in your
vehicle, or the other vehicle, is injured.
If there has been an injury, call emergency services
for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of. Move your
vehicle only if its position puts you in danger or you
are instructed to move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary and requested information
to police and other parties involved in the crash.
Do not discuss your personal condition, mental
frame of mind, or anything unrelated to the crash.
This will help guard against post-crash legal action.
If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 7-7for more information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from
the tow truck operator or write down the driver’s
name, the service’s name, and the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these
items in your vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need from
the other driver. Things like name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, vehicle license
plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN), insurance company
and policy number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from the
scene of the crash. They will walk you through
the information they will need. If they ask for
a police report, phone or go to the police
department headquarters the next day and you can
get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In
some states/provinces with “no fault” insurance
laws, a report may not be necessary. This is
especially true if there are no injuries and both
vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your
vehicle. Whether you select a dealer/retailer or a
private collision repair facility to x the damage,
make sure you are comfortable with them.
Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with
their work for a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and
make sure you understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you have a question,
ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome
this opportunity.
7-13

Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair
Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs,
GM recommends that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of
choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any required replacement
collision parts be original equipment parts, either new
Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts.
Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your
GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live
with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your
insurance company may initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts.
Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be
obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM
parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay
the full cost.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for the
repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with
that company. In such cases, you can have control of
the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it nds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a
recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA
cannot become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer/retailer, or General
Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:
1-800-424-9153); go to safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington D.C., 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from safercar.gov.
7-14

Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada
immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of
Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
2780 Sheffield Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9
Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a
situation like this, please notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-222-1020, or write:
Chevrolet Motor Division
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170
In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or
1-800-263-7854 (French), or write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service General
Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of
your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
7-15

Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example,
your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission performance, to monitor
the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy
airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide
antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to help your
dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some
modules may also store data about how you operate the
vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average
speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s
personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat
positions, and temperature settings.
7-16

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or
near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment
or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in
understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time,
typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by
law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used
for GM research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need is shown
and the data is not tied to a specic vehicle or
vehicle owner.
7-17

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the
OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and
Conditions for information on data collection and
use. See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-66in this
manual for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-18

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-77
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-107
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-35
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-19
Air Conditioning......................................3-20, 3-23
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-33
Readiness Light..........................................3-32
Airbag System................................................1-62
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-77
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-68
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-70
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-76
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-68
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-69
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-67
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-65
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-132
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-132
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-37Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-105
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-102
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-106
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Finish Damage..........................................5-106
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-102
Interior Cleaning........................................5-100
Leather....................................................5-102
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-106
Tires........................................................5-105
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-20
Audio System.................................................3-76
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-130
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-132
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-108
Radio Reception........................................3-131
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-128
1

Audio System (cont.)
Setting the Clock.........................................3-77
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-130
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-132
Audio System(s).............................................3-79
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-16
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-37
Autoride
®.......................................................4-47
B
Battery..........................................................5-39
Electric Power Management..........................3-18
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Bluetooth
®....................................................3-108
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brake Fluid....................................................5-36
Brakes..........................................................5-36
System Warning Light..................................3-36
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-32Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-48
License Plate Lamps....................................5-53
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps.................................5-51
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71
C
Calibration.....................................................3-55
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners............................................... iii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-116
Carbon Monoxide...................2-13, 2-23, 2-53, 4-29
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-102
Cargo Area, All-Weather..................................2-87
Cargo Cover Panels........................................2-78
CD, MP3 .............................................3-96, 3-101
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-76
Center Overhead Console................................2-76
2

Center Seat...................................................1-13
Chains, Tire...................................................5-78
Charging System Light....................................3-34
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-39
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-106
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-45
Infants and Young Children...........................1-41
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-49
Older Children.............................................1-37
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position..................................................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position........................1-58
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-59
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-48
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-20
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-105
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-103
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-101
Finish Care...............................................5-104
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-102
Interior.....................................................5-100
Leather....................................................5-102
Tires........................................................5-105Cleaning (cont.)
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-106
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-103
Weatherstrips............................................5-103
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-104
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Dual Automatic............................................3-23
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-29
Clock, Setting.................................................3-77
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compass.......................................................3-55
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-28
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-25
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-38
Cooled Seats................................................... 1-7
Cooling System..............................................5-24
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Cruise Control Light........................................3-43
Cupholders....................................................2-76
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors....7-15
3

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-14
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
D
Daytime Running Lamp...................................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Locking.............................................2-11
DIC Compass.................................................3-55
Disc, MP3............................................3-96, 3-101
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-18
Dome Lamps .................................................3-17
Door
Delayed Locking..........................................2-11
Locks........................................................2-10
Power Door Locks.......................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-46
DIC Operation and Displays..................3-46, 3-52
DIC Vehicle Customization............................3-67
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-58Driving
At Night.....................................................4-26
Before a Long Trip......................................4-28
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-28
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-28
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-27
Off-Road ....................................................4-12
Recovery Hooks..........................................4-33
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-32
Winter........................................................4-29
Driving for Better Fuel Economy......................... 4-2
Dual Automatic Climate Control System.............3-23
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment System..................3-119
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-107
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block.............5-111
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-108
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.......................5-109
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-108
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-112
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-108
4